Interesting: my uber-boss, HHS Sec. Tommy Thompson now going after fast-food joints.

[Fausto]

Health Czar Warns Fast-Food Joints to Shape Up

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson on Thursday said public pressure may do far more than lawsuits and legislation to curb the junk food explosion that costs the government $117 billion each year in obesity-related health care costs.

'I'm going to start giving out awards and singling out ones that are doing good and the ones that aren't,' he told reporters at a food policy conference. 'If I get in trouble, I get in trouble.'

 

[FoBoT]

da gubberment will make us do what is right, we will be assimilated

 

[blackdogdeek]

Thompson specified PepsiCo Inc., Coca-Cola Co., McDonald's, Wendy's and Taco Bell as companies that could offer consumers healthier options and promote more sensible diets.

not taco bell! NOOOOOO! 🙂

seriously though they are filing lawsuits against the fast food companies for increasing the obesity rate? isn't this just as bad as obese people suing mcd's?

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek

Thompson specified PepsiCo Inc., Coca-Cola Co., McDonald's, Wendy's and Taco Bell as companies that could offer consumers healthier options and promote more sensible diets.

not taco bell! NOOOOOO! 🙂

seriously though they are filing lawsuits against the fast food companies for increasing the obesity rate? isn't this just as bad as obese people suing mcd's?

That's why I thought it was interesting. The HHS's job, IMO, is to inform people about obesity, exercise, nutrition, etc so they can make good choices. I have no idea why they've suddenly decided to go after the "dealers" as it were. I don't recall being held at gunpoint by a Taco Bell employee and forced to eat their food any time recently.

 

[blakeatwork]

Why does the Government just NOT cover anyone who has an obesity related problem??? I mean... why bother telling people what to do when they won't? Just don't help them when they fall down and go boom...

stupid fat people - those who can help their condition, not those with genetic disorders that naturally cause largeness, those people I can see helping..

 

[FoBoT]

its the "War on Obesity"

everything has to be a War

war on drugs, war on drunk drivers, war on Fat, etc, etc

 

[blakeatwork]

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek

Thompson specified PepsiCo Inc., Coca-Cola Co., McDonald's, Wendy's and Taco Bell as companies that could offer consumers healthier options and promote more sensible diets.

not taco bell! NOOOOOO! 🙂

seriously though they are filing lawsuits against the fast food companies for increasing the obesity rate? isn't this just as bad as obese people suing mcd's?

That's why I thought it was interesting. The HHS's job, IMO, is to inform people about obesity, exercise, nutrition, etc so they can make good choices. I have no idea why they've suddenly decided to go after the "dealers" as it were. I don't recall being held at gunpoint by a Taco Bell employee and forced to eat their food any time recently.

hehehe... it's the War on Fast-Food - each company is secretly run by a rogue taliban cell.... 😛

Edit - Sorta beaten to the punch... line...

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
its the "War on Obesity"

everything has to be a War

war on drugs, war on drunk drivers, war on Fat, etc, etc

Hmmm.....will we see GWB fast-roping from a Blackhawk onto the roof of a McDonalds any time soon? 😛

 

[vi edit]

Sorry, but I think this is absolute bullsh!t.

Every single fast food place you walk into either has a chart or a pamplet that you can look at that gives you the *cough*nutritional*cough* information of pretty much everything on the menu right down to how many calories are in a ketchup packet. It's not the fast food's fault people either a) don't look at it or b) aren't smart enough on their own to realize that 1200 calories and 40 grams of fat in one sandwhich is a BAD thing.

BTW - the latest "craze" in the fast food industry is "alternative" meals like specialty salads and low fat/calorie offerings. You are going to see more and more of these being offered because they are the "in" thing.

 

[blackdogdeek]

i think the lawsuits are bs too but i was thinking...

how is this lawsuit different from lawsuits against big tobacco? is it just the fact that cigs are addictive?

 

[CPA]

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek

Thompson specified PepsiCo Inc., Coca-Cola Co., McDonald's, Wendy's and Taco Bell as companies that could offer consumers healthier options and promote more sensible diets.

not taco bell! NOOOOOO! 🙂

seriously though they are filing lawsuits against the fast food companies for increasing the obesity rate? isn't this just as bad as obese people suing mcd's?

That's why I thought it was interesting. The HHS's job, IMO, is to inform people about obesity, exercise, nutrition, etc so they can make good choices. I have no idea why they've suddenly decided to go after the "dealers" as it were. I don't recall being held at gunpoint by a Taco Bell employee and forced to eat their food any time recently.

The article that I read states that they will NOT being using legislative or legal methods, but rather using a positive reinforcement (awards, recognition) approach to the problem. So you guys can calm down about the government suing. It ain't gonna happen.

 

[XZeroII]

'bout time

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: CPA

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: blackdogdeek

Thompson specified PepsiCo Inc., Coca-Cola Co., McDonald's, Wendy's and Taco Bell as companies that could offer consumers healthier options and promote more sensible diets.

not taco bell! NOOOOOO! 🙂

seriously though they are filing lawsuits against the fast food companies for increasing the obesity rate? isn't this just as bad as obese people suing mcd's?

That's why I thought it was interesting. The HHS's job, IMO, is to inform people about obesity, exercise, nutrition, etc so they can make good choices. I have no idea why they've suddenly decided to go after the "dealers" as it were. I don't recall being held at gunpoint by a Taco Bell employee and forced to eat their food any time recently.

The article that I read states that they will NOT being using legislative or legal methods, but rather using a positive reinforcement (awards, recognition) approach to the problem. So you guys can calm down about the government suing. It ain't gonna happen.

Uh...I never said anything about lawsuits. I just thought it was interesting that the HHS was shifting some of their focus directly to the fast food companies. He did also say that it would be a combination of praise for the "good" companies and scolding of the "bad" companies, not just positive reinforcement.

 

[Stark]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Sorry, but I think this is absolute bullsh!t.

Every single fast food place you walk into either has a chart or a pamplet that you can look at that gives you the *cough*nutritional*cough* information of pretty much everything on the menu right down to how many calories are in a ketchup packet. It's not the fast food's fault people either a) don't look at it or b) aren't smart enough on their own to realize that 1200 calories and 40 grams of fat in one sandwhich is a BAD thing.

BTW - the latest "craze" in the fast food industry is "alternative" meals like specialty salads and low fat/calorie offerings. You are going to see more and more of these being offered because they are the "in" thing.

I think that when they genetically engineer or "create" food that's more unhealthy and package it in "meals" that would make Karen Carpenter turn into a whale if eaten just once a day, the gov't can step in with guidelines or health warnings. After reading (so far) half-way through "Fast Food Nation" I have no problem with any gov't actions against the fast food industry.

I had one of the McSalads yesterday (grilled chicken w/bacon like flavorings) and it wasn't that great. Of course it was about on par with the rest of the food they make.

Wendy's has the best salads I've seen at a fast food joint.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Stark

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Sorry, but I think this is absolute bullsh!t.

Every single fast food place you walk into either has a chart or a pamplet that you can look at that gives you the *cough*nutritional*cough* information of pretty much everything on the menu right down to how many calories are in a ketchup packet. It's not the fast food's fault people either a) don't look at it or b) aren't smart enough on their own to realize that 1200 calories and 40 grams of fat in one sandwhich is a BAD thing.

BTW - the latest "craze" in the fast food industry is "alternative" meals like specialty salads and low fat/calorie offerings. You are going to see more and more of these being offered because they are the "in" thing.

I think that when they genetically engineer or "create" food that's more unhealthy and package it in "meals" that would make Karen Carpenter turn into a whale if eaten just once a day, the gov't can step in with guidelines or health warnings. After reading (so far) half-way through "Fast Food Nation" I have no problem with any gov't actions against the fast food industry.

I disagree. There is nothing addictive in fast food. Plenty of calories, yes, but no crack that I'm aware of. Every person is still responsible for what they put in their mouths. Saying they "didn't know this stuff was so fattening" is like saying you didn't know cigarettes were bad for you. This is the 21st century: fast food is fattening and smokes will do bad things to your lungs.

 

[Hammer]

people just need to workout more if they're gonna be eating like that. its not the government's role to do this.

 

[vi edit]

I think that when they genetically engineer or "create" food that's more unhealthy and package it in "meals" that would make Karen Carpenter turn into a whale if eaten just once a day, the gov't can step in with guidelines or health warnings. After reading (so far) half-way through "Fast Food Nation" I have no problem with any gov't actions against the fast food industry.

Once again - nobody is forcing you to eat there, and nobody is holding a gun to your head to make you superdoopersize your meal for $.39. I eat fast food quite a bit (probably 5-7 times a week) and I'm by no means slim, but I'm not a mega huge fatass either. But I do actually exercise some when I walk 18 holes of golf 3 times a week, and hit the weights 3 times a week.

This is a terrible band aid to the solution. Sure it might improve *Some* eating habits but it does NOTHING to help the fact that people don't exercise. Which is actually the real problem here.

If the government REALLY want's to help out - start offering tax incentives to buy weight or exercise equipment, or offer tax breaks for people that are members of health clubs. As of now they are considered frivilous things for the rich, and something that many people would like to be able to afford, but cant.

 

[Stark]

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: Stark

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Sorry, but I think this is absolute bullsh!t.

Every single fast food place you walk into either has a chart or a pamplet that you can look at that gives you the *cough*nutritional*cough* information of pretty much everything on the menu right down to how many calories are in a ketchup packet. It's not the fast food's fault people either a) don't look at it or b) aren't smart enough on their own to realize that 1200 calories and 40 grams of fat in one sandwhich is a BAD thing.

BTW - the latest "craze" in the fast food industry is "alternative" meals like specialty salads and low fat/calorie offerings. You are going to see more and more of these being offered because they are the "in" thing.

I think that when they genetically engineer or "create" food that's more unhealthy and package it in "meals" that would make Karen Carpenter turn into a whale if eaten just once a day, the gov't can step in with guidelines or health warnings. After reading (so far) half-way through "Fast Food Nation" I have no problem with any gov't actions against the fast food industry.

I disagree. There is nothing addictive in fast food. Plenty of calories, yes, but no crack that I'm aware of. Every person is still responsible for what they put in their mouths. Saying they "didn't know this stuff was so fattening" is like saying you didn't know cigarettes were bad for you. This is the 21st century: fast food is fattening and smokes will do bad things to your lungs.

Well of course we disagree... the first time we see eye to eye the mainframe that controls the ATOT Matrix will melt down and thousands of overweight computer nerds will be set free from it's mind-controlling grasp. It ain't gonna happen!

Back to the point, when places create a sandwich of enriched fatty crap and add top secret chemical flavorings that make it smell and taste good to people, then sell millions of them, someone should be able to raise a red flag. Normally that comes from gov't regulation, something the fast food industry is very good at avoiding through political allies and layers.

 

[Mallow]

wonder how he would get in trouble? :/ Sounds like a man with a plan 🙂

 

[Red Dawn]

They should force Taco Bell, McDonalds,etc to have mirrored doors so all the fat asses can see what they are doing to themselves when they eat there.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Stark

Originally posted by: Fausto1

Originally posted by: Stark

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Sorry, but I think this is absolute bullsh!t.

Every single fast food place you walk into either has a chart or a pamplet that you can look at that gives you the *cough*nutritional*cough* information of pretty much everything on the menu right down to how many calories are in a ketchup packet. It's not the fast food's fault people either a) don't look at it or b) aren't smart enough on their own to realize that 1200 calories and 40 grams of fat in one sandwhich is a BAD thing.

BTW - the latest "craze" in the fast food industry is "alternative" meals like specialty salads and low fat/calorie offerings. You are going to see more and more of these being offered because they are the "in" thing.

I think that when they genetically engineer or "create" food that's more unhealthy and package it in "meals" that would make Karen Carpenter turn into a whale if eaten just once a day, the gov't can step in with guidelines or health warnings. After reading (so far) half-way through "Fast Food Nation" I have no problem with any gov't actions against the fast food industry.

I disagree. There is nothing addictive in fast food. Plenty of calories, yes, but no crack that I'm aware of. Every person is still responsible for what they put in their mouths. Saying they "didn't know this stuff was so fattening" is like saying you didn't know cigarettes were bad for you. This is the 21st century: fast food is fattening and smokes will do bad things to your lungs.

Well of course we disagree... the first time we see eye to eye the mainframe that controls the ATOT Matrix will melt down and thousands of overweight computer nerds will be set free from it's mind-controlling grasp. It ain't gonna happen!

Agreed....




DOH!! 😛

Back to the point, when places create a sandwich of enriched fatty crap and add top secret chemical flavorings that make it smell and taste good to people, then sell millions of them, someone should be able to raise a red flag. Normally that comes from gov't regulation, something the fast food industry is very good at avoiding through political allies and layers.

I dunno about that. I mean, we're talking about burgers and fries here. You don't need to do too much to make them smell and taste really good becaue they're already fatty. Fat tastes really good to the human palate. Think about the last time you were out walking or whatever and caught a whiff of someone grilling burgers in the backyard. You wanted to hop the fence and have one, didn't you? How is fast food any different?

FWIW- I don't know about any "secret chemical flavorings" being added that make the food irresistible. Were that the case, then government involvement would be more justfied.