[MrBrightside]

Originally Posted by CDB

Once more, how will publishing calorie information change this aspect of the problem for anyone? Healthy food will not magically become more available, nor will anyone's ability to make decisions about what to eat, and more specifically about what they want to eat, be changed.

Companies will probably acknowledge their astronomical caloric numbers will hurt sales, and will be inclined to take some unhealthy ingredients out of their foods/scrap their foods and rethink their menu as a whole.

[futurepilot]

Originally Posted by MrBrightside

Companies will probably acknowledge their astronomical caloric numbers will hurt sales, and will be inclined to take some unhealthy ingredients out of their foods/scrap their foods and rethink their menu as a whole.

[CDB]

Originally Posted by MrBrightside

Companies will probably acknowledge their astronomical caloric numbers will hurt sales, and will be inclined to take some unhealthy ingredients out of their foods/scrap their foods and rethink their menu as a whole.

That hasn't happened yet and likely won't. It's not exactly a secret that the targetted food is generally no good for you for various reasons, high calorie content being just one. For companies to change demand has to change, which means people have to change. Generally speaking, people don't change. They just get older.

You're looking at a very, very minimal and marginal change at best. It's a bit odd to think the sum total of knowledge, public awareness, propoganda, heart attacks, diabetics, sufferers of other obesity related diseases, along with easily available alternatives, hasn't changed things, but a calorie label will.

[MrBrightside]

For future reference, I don't give a damn about what anyone else eats but me. If a law is passed to enforce labeling (whether it be total calorie content, nutritional breakdown, ingredient specificity, etc.) on menu items, I'd be for it, simply because it benefits me. If fat people still eat what they want, great; I couldn't care less. If it means I get a good approximation of what I'm taking in, that, to me, is an improvement. I think that the situation of "government overstepping its boundaries and eventually rationing our food like a starving Ethiopian" is blowing the whole proposition way out of proportion. As your tag line indicates, it seems this mindset is fueled by sheer paranoia.

[futurepilot]

Originally Posted by CDB

Generally speaking, people don't change. They just get older.

By and large thats true.

But you under the assumption that your going to have to go blackmarket for a hotdog, im just talking about nutrition labels.

And honestly, in your worst case scenario world, i could care less if junk food was made illegal. The beach scene would be nicer, and if I wanted junk food I could just go too Amsterdam, right?

[CDB]

Originally Posted by MrBrightside

For future reference, I don't give a damn about what anyone else eats but me. If a law is passed to enforce labeling (whether it be total calorie content, nutritional breakdown, ingredient specificity, etc.) on menu items, I'd be for it, simply because it benefits me.

That's very short sighted, because the information is already available very easily on the web and via request at the restaurants. Pretty soon the law, because of its intent not its content, will morph into something that will generally not be in your interest. At which point you and others like you will stand around with a Who Farted? look on your faces, pretending not to see the line of laws progressively digging into people's personal lives that you supported whole heartedly until your oxe got gored, and then all of a sudden it becomes too much.

"government overstepping its boundaries and eventually rationing our food like a starving Ethiopian" is blowing the whole proposition way out of proportion. As your tag line indicates, it seems this mindset is fueled by sheer paranoia.

No, it's fueled by reality. Fat taxes and other such laws being discussed right now were what paranoids like me warned about when the government first initiated such laws and went after improving public health, enacting medicare and medicaid, going after cigarettes, weed, and what not. And now those laws are being seriously discussed at state and federal levels, among other restrictions and attempts at behavior modification.

In other words, we the paranoids were right.

[CDB]

Originally Posted by futurepilot

But you under the assumption that your going to have to go blackmarket for a hotdog, im just talking about nutrition labels.

Your complete inability to see the larger picture and the progressive nature of the law's intent is more than a little disturbing. No law is passed in a vacuum. They come with an intent, born out of precedent, and are usually progressive in their intrusiveness.

And honestly, in your worst case scenario world, i could care less if junk food was made illegal.

How considerate of you to take it on your modest self to see that decision is made for everyone else in the country. Perhaps you don't mid living in a nice, government managed nerf cocoon. I prefer my freedom, which includes the freedom to make bad decisions or decisions other disagree with. To you it's an off the cuff statement. In fact what you are saying is you don't give a **** about anyone else's freedom or ability to choose so long as you're comfortable. Nice mind set. Really, it's very enlightened.

[futurepilot]

Originally Posted by CDB

In fact what you are saying is you don't give a **** about anyone else's freedom or ability to choose so long as you're comfortable.

Im not asking for the government to come dig up your underground bunker, its just food labels for christ sake.

[CDB]

Originally Posted by futurepilot

Im not asking for the government to come dig up your underground bunker, its just food labels for christ sake.

Tell that to schmuck who just showed up at my bunker with a warrant to search it to make sure all the ready to eat meals are properly labeled in compliance with the new law...

[hardworker1]

I think this is the best idea NY has had...people definitely need to be more informed because you know the people eating fast food are not usually the type to go out of their way to find out this kind of information

[MrBrightside]

Originally Posted by CDB

That's very short sighted, because the information is already available very easily on the web and via request at the restaurants. Pretty soon the law, because of its intent not its content, will morph into something that will generally not be in your interest. At which point you and others like you will stand around with a Who Farted? look on your faces, pretending not to see the line of laws progressively digging into people's personal lives that you supported whole heartedly until your oxe got gored, and then all of a sudden it becomes too much.



No, it's fueled by reality. Fat taxes and other such laws being discussed right now were what paranoids like me warned about when the government first initiated such laws and went after improving public health, enacting medicare and medicaid, going after cigarettes, weed, and what not. And now those laws are being seriously discussed at state and federal levels, among other restrictions and attempts at behavior modification.

In other words, we the paranoids were right.

So, you're saying that I could ask my waitress at Applebees how many grams of protein are in my 9 oz. steak?

[CDB]

Originally Posted by MrBrightside

So, you're saying that I could ask my waitress at Applebees how many grams of protein are in my 9 oz. steak?

Depends. Restaurants like Applebee's have different sources for meat regionally so they can't provide a one size fits all nutrition menu at the international level. Their weight watcher's meals do have such information available though, and I've gotten a breakdown there before for some regular menu items, but it likely varies from restaurant to restaurant.

[Nabisco]

Originally Posted by futurepilot

I also get crazy looks when im on road trips and everyone has to stop at McDonalds, ill order chicken mcnuggets and peel the breading off.

Hahaha, I've done the same thing. Or get the grilled McChicken and only eat the chicken breast and throw the rest away. But I complained for a good five minutes first when they decided to eat at McDonalds.

[futurepilot]

Originally Posted by Nabisco

Hahaha, I've done the same thing. Or get the grilled McChicken and only eat the chicken breast and throw the rest away. But I complained for a good five minutes first when they decided to eat at McDonalds.

Thats always a good one, when you eat the burger without the bun and people act like you wasted something.

I was in a restaurant in Tennessee with some friends and the only half way decent meat item they had was a chicken fried chicken dish, so i ordered it, peeled the breading off and piled it on a seperate plate. then my buddy starts yelln at me, Your not going to eat that!!! and proceeds to eat the fried whatever that i just peeled off my chicken (insert: almost throwing up icon).