Bio
Will Hinton is a consultant and blogger who got his start with the blog, Dignan's 75 Year Plan. Over the past few years, Will has used his blog as a platform to explore running for Congress, spearheading volunteer efforts for Hurricane Katrina relief, and challenging common perceptions about politics.
Will has developed a reputation in the blogosphere for reasonable and gracious dialogue on contentious political and religious topics.
Will is also a guest contributor at PeachPundit, RedBlueChristian, Nation-Building, RedState, and DailyKos.
Will lives in Atlanta with his wife and two daughters.
Comments
Much like the smoking ban in
Much like the smoking ban in Decatur, I have mixed feelings: I hate the principle, but I love the effects.
It's more in tune with my philosophy to say it should be explicitly available information provided by the restaurants for all patrons to be made aware of easily and obviously (not necessarily on menus, but in a Health Code-like posting), just as restaurants should be able to handle smoking as they wish, but should make it obvious and explicit that they allow it. (This is often indicated by having smokers in the place, along with smoke hanging in the air ;-))
"Remember, son-
I didn't sell out,
I bought in."
"Remember, son-
I didn't sell out,
I bought in."
Agreed
Scott: I couldn't agree more; that is exactly my feelings.
Right to trans-fat?
Will,
You didn't link to the original article, but I assume that NYC has banned trans-fat on health reasons.
Considering that there are other options for preparing and cooking food without trans-fat, this ban seems to make sense.
I don't think people have a right to trans-fats anymore than they have a right to smoke or buy alcohol on Sundays.
From a center-left perspective, I'm not bothered by this action.
One more reason
to not want to ever go to New York
trans fats ban v. smoking ban
I think the difference b/w smoking ban and trans fat ban is that one can decide order food made w/trans fats. [You'll recognize them by how good they taste.] If you prepare that food or serve it, there are no health risks to you - as long as you don't eat.
If patrons where you serve that food smoke, there may be health risks to you. Also, non-smoking areas do little to decrease health risks (asthma or COPD exacerbations, carcinogen exposure) to other patrons or servers, so banning smoking at restaurants benefits those who don't want to be exposed to smoke.
I'm frankly surprised that more restaurant chains aren't voluntarily eliminating trans fats in order to head off potential lawsuits..........
I Usually Recognize the Trans By The Coating They Leave...
...in my mouth. They usually then come right out. There is no excuse for trans fats being put in anything we eat due to the proven health risks.
And that doesn't mean they should fed that to the cattle either.
Up there with banning smoking, I think that they also should let us know IF microwaves are used in any part of food preparation. Although many of the high end restaurants would never hear of such folly, I am becoming aware of others that are sneaking in and using them for part of their deeds...including using convection microwave combos.
Now on my wish list would be to know whether any GMO products are being served and whether the table condiments were irradiated.
heck, I'll probably just end up bringing my own!
They can have my Coney Island hot dog
when they pry it out of my cold dead hand.
Buzz
www.buzzbrockway.com
Buzz
www.buzzbrockway.com
Luckily hot dogs are boiled or grilled
Buzz,
You can probably keep your hot dog. They are grilled (the best way to prepare them) or boiled (a clearly inferior way to cook them), but not fried in transfats.
Fried dogs
Expat: you got a problem with fried hot dogs? :)
I like public smoking bans.
I like public smoking bans. I don't like the trans fat ban. I'd like to see people eat better as much as the next formerly obese fella, but I think health advisories should be sufficient. Anyone can avoid trans fats by choosing to avoid foods that contain them. There's no such thing as second-hand trans fat. On the other hand, there's really no way to avoid second-hand smoke in restaurants that allow smoking. Having a smoking section in a restaurant is like having a peeing section in a swimming pool. If I want to completely avoid choking on someone's foul cancer stick fumes, one of us has to choose a different restaurant.
As for where I fit in the political spectrum, the best I can come up with is "independent". Any other description pigeon-holes me.
Very slippery slope
Everyone gets tired of slippery slope arguments, but the smoking ban has proven to be one. Most of us younger types don't remember that when smoking was banned on flights that people predicted that an all-out smoking ban would eventually follow. Those who forecasted the ban were laughed at, but fast forward to today, and it's nearly here. I understand that there's no such thing as second-hand trans fat, but those who want to protect me from myself seem to know no limits.
Where is the natural end to the government's control over what I eat, drink, or otherwise enjoy? If it is the government's responsibility to ensure that I eat healthy food, then there is no natural end to its healthy mandates. I have no problem with requiring labels, etc. but if I want to order deep-fried frosted covered sugar bombs from my favorite restaurant, then why shouldn't I be able to order it?
fat tax
No, I didn't mean VAT (value added tax). I can see a day where you have to pay extra taxes if you're overweight. This will come shortly after we decide that all healthcare will be paid for from tax dollars.
Those who are lean will ask that those who are overwt (and therefore at least at risk for diabetes, high bp, high cholesterol, obstructive sleep apnea, skin infections) to pay more taxes since they are more likely to consume more healthcare dollars than the lean.
The thing is that some of us can or used to overeat without being overwt, because we're genetically more likely to be thin than the overwt. It's been shown that some people have a metabolism that is better suited to surviving in low calorie settings. Their bodies are set up to hold onto every last calorie they consume. These folks are also at risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.
The rest of us (lean by DNA, not thanks to all the nasty food I've eaten for the last 35 yrs) are set up for the Fast Food Nation. Our bodies aren't good at holding onto every last calorie.
Give us 10-20 yrs of continued social engineering and a total retooling of healthcare funding and you will see some form of fat tax (or lean tax credit).
Why all the hullabaloo over this?
From what I gather from your post, this ban only applies to restaurants and not prepackaged foods, rught? I could understand restauraturs being upset as it will affect their operations and expense perhaps, but why do we consumers care if they have to choose a better oil. From some of the replies, it sounds like people feel they will be restricted on what foods they consume. I don't care if they change the oil my french fries are cooked in as long as it's a safer alternative. Why are we so up in arms at this? I don't see many people up in arms that lead paint is no longer sold in the U.S. "Gosh darnit, I should be able to choose lead paint if I feel like it!" Yes, it's quite possible that by using a different source of oil/fat, the prices may go up slightly, but I don't think it will be detrimenal to any one's wallet. Will we really stop eating fried food? Of course not.
It's not as good
This isn't about cost. The type of oil which is used for frying makes a significant difference in the the taste of the food. According to one article I read, McDonald's has been really concerned about transfats for quite some time because without them their signature fries (by far the best tasting thing on their menu and in my opinion the best among fast food restaurants) don't taste right. I know that when cooking at home chicken fried in canola oil just doesn't taste as good as chicken fried in good old Crisco. If a chef has formulated a recipe which calls for preparing food with a particular oil, he has done so on purpose with careful consideration to his alternatives.
Since you bring it up, ask my friends and family - I regularly complain about not being able to buy lead paint. Today's paints just don't look good as long as the old lead paints did.
Frustrating
There's a very frustrating side to the trans fat ban. Trans fats were supposed to be a healthy alternative to lard and other fats. Before Crisco everyone fried their foods in lard and put real butter on their toast. Then we were all told to quit using butter and use margarine and use canola or olive oil instead. Now I read that margarine is being reformulated and I guess I'm supposed to use real butter again. Does anyone remember when carbohydrate-filled Italian food was considered health food???
It just seems that we're constantly chasing one health fad after another. It bothers me that the government is getting in on the act.
I think its a good thing
A lot of people have no clue about how to eat at least moderately reasonable diets, and subsequently quickly become a burden on the publicly funded health system - they need to be told what to do.
Post new comment