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DEL.ICIO.USBan Trans-Fat and Save the World
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m in full favor of health promotion by the government. I believe in educating the public about the dangers of foods at fast-food restuarants, etc. However, I am not in favor of banning trans-fats by legislative means.
You may not expect to hear that from me, especially considering that I am fitness guru and preach about staying away from fast-food restaurants. The only problem with banning trans-fats is that it really isn’t going to decrease health risks that much. If you go to a fast-food restaurant, you’re still going to get high amounts of fat, sugar, products stripped of nutrients, artificial flavorings and colors, and who knows what else. Besides, it’s still going to be in other products that you buy.
You may say, “well it’s a step in the right direction.” I disagree for two reasons.
Reason number one is that tax dollars and time are spent making decisions on regulating foods that are still going to be unhealthy for you. I think that the time and money could be better spent elsewhere.
Reason number two is that is a continual message to the public to leave it up to the government to make decisions about your health.
If they really want to make an impact, they need to look at what they feed their kids in their public schools. To be fair, I don’t know what kind of food NY city gives its kids, but something tells me it’s probably similar to that of the movie Supersize Me.
Ultimately, there is only one person that can have a positive impact on your health and force corporations to create better food. That would be you. If you think you’re going to be safe eating food at restaurants without trans-fats means you’re not going to have a heart attack, then you need to think again. If you frequent restuarants like Mickey D’s, chances are you need a lifestyle overhaul.
Permalink | Comments (24) | Post your comment | Categories: Health
Comments
By ABOUT TIME
December 11, 2006 08:35 AM | Link to this
If the tax dollars are not spent on this, then we will spend them on the healthcare and the diseases associated with poor health choices. The problem is that the Food Industry portrays these meals like they are so good for you or it is so great to eat here. They use decpetive marketing, they should have to make healthier decisions for consumers, they make enough profit from it. If the cigratte industry has to then so should they.
By KA
December 11, 2006 08:37 AM | Link to this
Trans fats, high fructose sugar, in fact any added sugar and salt should all be banned. People really have no idea what they are eating when they eat out, and the fast food and chain restaurants are only interested in the profit, not in promoting health. Legislating FOR good health cooking practices will put all vendors on a level playing field for added costs of improving the health content and preparation of their menus. BTW authentic Mexican food vendors use LARD to cook with, GAG!!!!
By Ella
December 11, 2006 09:06 AM | Link to this
I don’t care HOW you ban trans fats. Just do it.
It’s a fake substance created by the food industry to prolong shelf life and as an alternative to real (found-in-nature) food compounds.
I’d rather eat lard. And I’d rather foods with trans fats have a warning label on it—much like cigarettes.
By Free-Thinking American
December 11, 2006 09:17 AM | Link to this
Wow. How many more Communists are going to chime in on this blog?
Have you people never heard of “personal accountability”?
You don’t like the garbage Mickey D’s is serving you? Guess what? YOU DON’T HAVE TO BUY IT!! What a novel idea.
By Drew
December 11, 2006 09:31 AM | Link to this
“Personal Accountability”… So does this accountability apply to second-hand smoke as well? Sometimes, yes. There’s always going to be an argument either way, but I think this is a great step in the right direction. There are always situations where the choice is not clear or the “other choice” whatever that may be isn’t convenient. We’re not talking about Mc D’s, we’re talking about a huge swath of eating establishments that play a part in many people’s daily lives, not one singular restaurant.
Money better spent elsewhere? I think not Kelly. What else should we be paying for? You seem to have left that out. Make an argument, not a blank statement.
By Drew
December 11, 2006 09:41 AM | Link to this
Lard, as long as it is not the partially hydrogenated type, is completely acceptable and comparable to butter. No reason to gag KA.
By Freedom Fighter
December 11, 2006 09:53 AM | Link to this
This is America not the Soviet Union. The government should have nothing to do with trans fats. What do you expect from an AJC blog.
By koz
December 11, 2006 09:58 AM | Link to this
If there is enough backlash, the industry will regulate itself.
By Drew
December 11, 2006 10:17 AM | Link to this
Part of the problem here folks is that many people are uneducated. They are 110% clueless that trans-fat is a dangerous and completely unnecessary additive to many types of foods. They are even more unaware of when, where, and how it ends up in their food. When was the last time you gave your child some hot chocolate from a packet…? Did you check the label? Lots of them have trans-fat as an ingredient. That’s the kind of place people don’t expect something like that to show up. This isn’t about some glutton eating a stick of margarine, this is about regulating a dangerous product. For those who don’t think so, you are obviously ignorant. Do your research and then come back and complain.
By AMERICAN???
December 11, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this
Free America???? Ok so it is ok for major corporations to advertise all these healthy people eating thier foods, and in small print put warning, you will die and be fat if you eat this. It is not American to have Deceptive marketing, and to intentially sell food they know that is unhealthy. Put a bunch of overweight Americans, and some having heart attacks and then advertise the food. The problem I have is that they don’t market enough the fact of what you are really eating, and advertise and market deceptively. I believe everyone needs to eat helathy and excercise, but eating these foods for me as well should have some warning,may clog arteries and cause cancer even if you excercise and eat other healthy foods. Obviously with one of the fattest nations in the world we need to do something.
By Michelle
December 11, 2006 10:39 AM | Link to this
Cigarettes are far more harmful, they are still perfectly legal. Making stuff that’s harmful illegal seems like pushing a rock uphill.
By cool breeze
December 11, 2006 10:50 AM | Link to this
when does it stop? eating meat can cause heart disease, drinking carbonating beverages and sweets can rot your teeth, drinking alcohol will destroy your liver. When are these people “that know what’s good for me” going to stop telling me what i can and cannot have. If you don’t want the foods with fat/trans fat in them don’t eat them. If I want a donut with a gram of trans fat in it isn’t that MY choice? Maybe I’m crazy with this being america at all. It’s funny how my grandparents/aunts cooked with lard and lived/living to be in their 80’s and my dad is 71 but people today who are so “weak” in so many ways mentally and physically can’t handle things anymore.
By LEGAL
December 11, 2006 10:51 AM | Link to this
They should keep it legal, but advertise the truth. We should not stop them from selling, but should stop them from advertising false marketing. Look at all the people that have died due to addictive ingredients found in cigarettes, now we know, but what about those people that did not know and have a hard time quitting?
By Not the same today
December 11, 2006 10:57 AM | Link to this
Hey Cool Breeze, they are not using the same things they did back then. That’s part of the problem. My grandfather lived to be a 100, but there were not fast food joints at every corner, and now food corporations are concerned about how to keep food on shelves longer, not about if they are really good or not. You should be able to eat your foods I agree, but there should be more emphasis on what is in there.
“eating meat can cause heart disease, drinking carbonating beverages and sweets can rot your teeth, drinking alcohol will destroy your liver” All that is known, thats why you can make that choice and no one will feel sorry for you, but know it is time for the food industry to let us know what will happen to our bodies when we eat thier crap. This is America, not run by corporations who can make whatever decisons that make thier pockets bigger.
By Drew
December 11, 2006 11:00 AM | Link to this
Michelle - do your research. You’d be surprised at how dangerous trans-fat actually is. The other half of your post is incorrect. Trans-fat is not illegal, it is simply being banned for use in restaurants. You can still go to the store and buy your Crisco and margarine and eat it all day. Just leave me out of it.
By Michelle
December 11, 2006 11:05 AM | Link to this
Did I say trans-fat was illegal? I only pointed out that eliminating anything that’s bad for you is a slippery slope. I suspect I’m in better shape than you are.
By Drew
December 11, 2006 11:13 AM | Link to this
You most certainly inferred that it was. My point is, do the research - looking at where and how often this stuff appears will surprise you. What will surprise you more is how dangerous it is. Smoking is dangerous, but research shows that lungs can recover if you quit. Blocked arteries do not recover. They require surgery.
…And way to go with the childish arguments.
By Drew
December 11, 2006 11:15 AM | Link to this
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/2003/503_fats.html
By Michelle
December 11, 2006 11:16 AM | Link to this
I could point out that you’re being catty and childish yourself, but I won’t waste my time.
By Stephanie
December 11, 2006 11:48 AM | Link to this
Drew, I am trying to educate myself more on these things too. Great point, but I thought all lard was partially hydrogenated. Do they make some that’s not? I do know there are many products with that ingredient (“regular” peanut butter, most salad dressings, processed foods, etc). I try to use healthier oils, (evoo and canola) It can be overwhelming but the point is we all (if we so desire) can make steps to improving our eating habits/lifestyles. I agree with the comments to be honest and upfront and let consumers know what is in the products and present healthier choices for those who want them. I have given my two year old a great headstart with eating healthier and continue to learn so it will benefit him and his family. It is so much we have to learn and yes, if we research it is amazing the unhealthy things that harm us. Most of the stuff is shocking (nitrates in sandwich meats, hot dogs, sausages, smokey meats..) I just love all of those things but am making some changes. It is a shame we are killing ourselves at the dinner table and most of us do not even realize it.
Every bit helps for those of us who want to eat better.
By Drew
December 11, 2006 12:42 PM | Link to this
The kind you buy on the shelf in the baking aisle is partially hydrogenated. Unfortunately it’s quite hard to find non-hydrogenated, but look for products labeled leaf lard. It is a higher grade of lard, and to my knowledge is usually non-hydrogenated. Internet ordering my be your easiest source for such a product.
By Brett "the hitman" Hart
December 11, 2006 03:11 PM | Link to this
Caw caw.
By thathouguy
December 11, 2006 03:51 PM | Link to this
I think this is graet news! Hopefully high fructose corn syrup will be next. What no one has mentioned so far is that processed food contains drugs.
While we don’t think of trans fat the same way we think about a “drug”, the fact is that the body reacts to it just as if we were ingesting a “drug”.
High fructose corn syrup, for example, is now to cause a reaction in the brain that cancels the signal to stop eating!!
Now if someone sold a pill that gave a pleasureful reaction, yet was addictive and caused harmful, long-term consequences to overall health, we would scream to ban it; but someone how if it does these things and it’s in our food it become ok. Where’s the logic?
As for the “personal accountability” meme,one of the underlying foundations of a free market is access to accurate information so actors can act in their best interest. As it stands right now, the food industry does not have to provide that information.We don’t know and understand..even at a basic level, what’s in our food, so how do we hold people accountable given their lack of information?
By thathouguy
December 11, 2006 03:55 PM | Link to this
Uh..sorry for the spelling and grammatical errors in my above post, I was in a rush.