July has brought two new food/government combos in fast food joints in New York City. The ban on trans fats and the calorie requirements on menu boards.
Trans fats — Revolutionary to ban them. Suddenly, the big players who haven't gone trans fat free are forced to comply (yes, McDonald's but not just them). You can argue the merits of whether government should ban food ingredients, but is that more a philosophical argument or a discussion in reality? And if we are going to have a ban, let's try banning high-fructose corn syrup.
Calorie requirements on menu boards — This confuses me greatly. I am in favor of information being dispensed. Consumers should have an idea of what they are consuming. As this article notes, the reaction among fast food chains has been to pull info rather than comply. And I am in agreement with the chains.
The requirements are to have calorie counts next to menu items in type that is at least as large as the price. Reminds you of the infamous "language police" in Quebec.
They post the information online. They had them on the wrappers of food. I've seen boards on the wall. These new rules discourage information, not encourage it.
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