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June 02, 2006

The Rise Of The Nanny Plate

I'm starting to think John and Ilyka and Ken were right and I was wrong about these Federal agencies we've got, and how this "republican" administration (and all the liability lawyers) wants to micromanage every facet of our lives. Today's report from the Kremlin FDA (ok, "FDA commissioned and funded") is the latest example:

WASHINGTON - Those heaping portions at restaurants — and doggie bags for the leftovers — may be a thing of the past, if health officials get their way.

The government is trying to enlist the help of the nation’s eateries in fighting obesity. One of the first things on their list: cutting portion sizes....

The report encourages restaurants to shift the emphasis of their marketing to lower-calorie choices, and include more such options on menus. In addition, restaurants could jigger portion sizes and the variety of foods available in mixed dishes to reduce the overall number of calories taken in by diners...

“If companies don’t tell them, people have no way of knowing how many calories they are being served at restaurants. And chances are, they are being served a lot more than they realize,” said Wootan, adding that Congress should give the FDA the authority to require such disclosure.

No, I don't want anymore 'authority' being given to regulatory agencies; they should, in fact, have all of their unconstitutional powers stripped, which would effectively result in their elimination as they currently exist.

I don't want the government encouraging restaurants to change their menus, because the government encourages by coercion, and this gives ammo to a whole slew of "health" lawsuits.

I neither want nor desire nutritional information when I go out to eat, and if I choose to Mr. Creosote myself I will do so and blame myself. Now I know this "personal responsibility" bit sends shudders of horror through law firms and 'think tanks' across the land, but none of us need the government (or advocacy groups with lawyers) restricting the size of portions we get for dinner; we can make those decisons for ourselves, thanks.

"Eat Free Or Die"

Posted by Mr. Bingley at June 2, 2006 02:17 PM

Comments

"Eat Free Or Die"

I like it.

Posted by: Ken Summers at June 2, 2006 02:56 PM

As long as they outlaw the wafer thin mints, I think we'll be safe.

Posted by: Robb Allen (Sharp as a Marble) at June 2, 2006 03:17 PM

It could also be "Eat Free AND Die", "Eat Healthy AND Die", or the less sophisticated but equally accurate "Eat and Die".

Posted by: Rob at June 2, 2006 03:27 PM

Ah, shades of the Great Applebee's Fracas of 2004, where humble citizens were denied medium-rare burgers for their own good!

Posted by: Nightfly at June 2, 2006 04:38 PM

That's still on my local Applebee's menu, Nightfly. They only do "well done".

Posted by: Rob at June 2, 2006 04:45 PM

Manual Trackback since the regular ones don't seem to be working.

Posted by: KG at June 2, 2006 05:55 PM

Thanks, KG! I don't know what's up with those things...sigh.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at June 2, 2006 06:57 PM

"I have not yet begun to bite."

Posted by: Dave E. at June 2, 2006 07:29 PM

Don't forget the occasionally trendy "Don't eat and Die", Rob.

Posted by: Mr. Bingley at June 2, 2006 07:34 PM

"Get hit by a bus and die!"

So you might as well eat.

Posted by: tree hugging sister at June 2, 2006 08:07 PM