"When the FDA analyzed the Obamacare menu labeling rule, it acknowledged the competitiveness of the restaurant industry, consumer demand for nutrition information, and the fact that nutrition information is provided to restaurant patrons." (The Heritage Foundation). This quote clearly shows that the market is working as intended; in other words, when the consumers asked for nutritional information, they did not get it. Instead, they got employees who knew about the information. In Fahrenheit 451, they keep information away from their citizens as well.
The labels we see in our foods at grocery stores are not honest. The big companies put information that will make customers buy their product. In the essay “Don’t Blame the Eater”, written by David Zinczenko focuses on how bad customers are being informed about the food they consume. Zinczenko states “They would do well to protect themselves, and their customers, by providing the nutrition information people need to make informed choices about their products. Without such warnings we’ll see more sick, obese children and more angry, litigious parents,” (464).
I do not believe that anyone in the food industry should be required to post calorie information. I think that the price would be way too high to post the calories on every food item. In the text “Why Should Posting Calorie Information be required”? it states” the cost for business would be very high. Imagine the work and money involved for posting the calorie count for every unlabeled food in the grocery stores.
The Dietary Guidelines help Americans make smart choices about food and physical activity, so they can have healthier lives. So these guidelines give people a basis on what they should eat, instead of people eating the wrong foods or just eating things without knowing what is healthy for them and what isn’t. Another thing the Dietary Guidelines allows is for the government to speak with one voice to the public when presenting advice about proper dietary habits for healthy Americans ages two years of age and older. These guidelines also tell individuals how to make food, and tell you what physical activity you should choose to promote health and prevent chronic disease. With the government speaking as a whole about these guidelines this will get individuals more involved in their health.
In recent decade, the United States has seen supermarkets continuously get filled with packages labeled with things like “Low sodium” or “No Trans Fats.” Companies stick these labels on their food to match the current fads of what is good for you and what is not. In his essay Unhappy Meals, Michael Pollan advocates a return to natural and basic foods, and deplores nutritionism. Pollan argues that nutritionism does not actually tell people what is healthy or not, and that the only way to be sure you are eating healthy is to eat natural, fresh food.
“New York City’s Board of Health today passed a rule banning super-sized drinks at restaurants, concession stands and other eateries.” (Doc A). Individuals in the United States are overweight because they do not know how to limit themselves. If the government were to control one of the main reasons people are obese, then several people would not be overweight because the government would take care of the problem. Banning sugary drinks over 16-ounces would help people lower their sugar intake, which would help people stay in excellent health.
Although high fructose corn syrup may be a contributor to obesity, it is not the main cause. H.F.C.S. may not be the culprit, overeating is one of the most crucial factors of obesity. Most Americans eat portions that are beyond healthy. Studies show that over the last twenty years, food portions in American’s restaurants have doubled or even tripled. This distorted the amount of food people think is healthy for them at home and when eating out.
Jessica Garcia-Alvarez Professor Fred Hess English 101 Section 23 Essay 2 First Draft 25 October 2015 Fast Foods Obesity is an increasing national crisis. The main cause is hiding in between the wrappers of those yummy and tasteful fast food meals that we cannot simply resist. Some corporations blame it on the one who is consuming the product and some try to make better choices to change them. However, others are ignoring the claims that the fast foods are unhealthy and refuse to change it to a healthier food product.
It is just common sense. At least two-thirds of all American adults are considered obese (Park), not including the children and teens. But a government influence on our diet alone will not be able to solve this issue. They need the motivation. They need to become used to smaller and healthier portions.
That is true, however this argument is weak because there are in fact bigger problems than soda being a health issue. Itś your choice on whether you drink soda or not. It won't do much damage unless it becomes a very consistent thing. Though soda is bad, we have much bigger problems killing people. For example, cigarettes or smoking in general.
This source has helped my research a lot because the survey they put on this source states how many people want to live a healthier lifestyle but cannot because they have trouble understanding what foods are healthy and what aren 't because they don 't understand what is being said on the nutrition labels. This source also states that these confusing nutrition labels don 't just make it hard for people who are dieting but it also hard for people who have allergies or sensitivity to some types of foods. The nutrition labels don 't state clear enough of what is actually being processed into the food. I also chose this source because it says that ingredients are a major part in how consumers pick their foods. On most food labels the ingredients are so small that most people cannot see what it says.
They want to believe that the food is okay to consume simply because it tastes good and satisfies a hunger and therefore they process the information in a manner that suits them. Of course the goal is for fast food companies to keep selling and us to keep buying, whether the food is healthy or not. We can either keep thinking that a “sugar free” product is healthier than one without sugar and continue to consume them or do some research and see the actual reality. In the end the fast food industry alters the information in a way
Accurate, easy-to read and scientifically valid nutrition and health information on food labels is an essential component of a comprehensive public health strategy to help consumers improve their diets and reduce the risk of diet-related diseases. Consumers often compare prices of food items in the grocery store to choose the best value for their money but comparing their purchases using a comprehensive food label can help make the best choices for their health. That is what makes food labeling a public health issue – inadequate food labels may lead to poor quality food choices. Indeed today food labels could not confidently be referred to as accurate, easy-to read and containing scientifically valid nutrition and all necessary health information. They are often referred to as misleading, containing flawed or inaccurate information and sometimes very difficult to understand by various health specialists.
Should Fast foods have warning labels? From the skyrocketing obesity crisis to convenience, it's time to put warning labels on fast food. In May 1988, Canada passed the Tobacco Sales to Young Persons Act; this act required tobacco companies to put warnings labels such as; “smoking increases the risk of lung cancer” or “smoking during pregnancy can harm the baby” on their packaging. The same should happen to all fast-foods, fast-foods should have warning labels on them warning potential customers about their dangerous hazards.
A major reason for regulating sugary drinks is to prevent non-communicable diseases among children. If children consume sugary beverages every day, they may experience symptoms such as: weight gain, poor diet and health and tooth decay in children. Meanwhile, there is less control of sugar level which leads to diabetes. Another reason for regulating sugary drinks is to reduce pollution. Literature Review Sugary drinks are a major contributor to the obesity epidemic.
