MIAMI -- The fight to ban trans fats in food came to the Miami-Dade County commission Tuesday.

Local nutritionist Ronni Litz Julien had five minutes to plead her case. Apparently, that's all the time she needed.

Julien went before county commissioners to persuade them to pass legislation to ban trans fats from restaurants, schools, hospitals and even prisons.

"The studies show that the intake of trans fat is similar to ingesting plastic or poison," Julien said. "That is what some of the reports truly are saying. We don't want this in our bloodstream."

According to the Food and Drug Administration, trans fats have no known benefits and there are healthier and cheaper alternatives, such as canola or olive oil. Recent studies have linked trans fat to infertility, obesity, heart disease and death.

The proposal hit home for Commissioner Katy Sorenson, whose husband underwent a triple-bypass surgery a few weeks ago.

"I've been thinking about this legislation, especially since New York came out with its legislation, and the world hasn't come to an end and I think people are still going to New York," Sorenson said.

Even if county commissioners don't sign off on a trans fat ban, Julien said she would next try to convince the county school board to consider the same.