Trans Fat forums Tue & Thu at Metro Health

I don't mind a bit being notified that something has trans fat in it. Just don't ban it. We're adults. Let us make our own choices!

Apparently, that's the problem. Some people are too ignorant to make informed dietary choices. And, even if they are, won't stick to it.

How is that anyone else's business? I don't think anyone should have the right to tell anyone else what they can or cannot eat. We're adults. We don't need the gubment making our decisions for us.

Some call it totalitarianism, I think of it as being looked after by my loving and all knowing leaders. I enjoy the government telling me what I can eat, when I can eat it, and with whom I can eat it with. After all, they know what is best for me and my family. Since I am only an average person I am clearly not qualified to take care of myself nor my family. As long as I pay my taxes, the government will take care of me. All my wants will be taken care of, and my needs too.

Yeah, darn government. I really enjoyed it when I could have cigarette smoke in my lungs while I was dining. Now they don't let me do that anymore! rrrrrrrrrrrr...

Society as a whole pays for our health problems (I assume you've heard of medicare, which virtually every older person has, rich or poor). We're basically subsidizing junk food, if you look at it that way.

People want freedom, but they don't want to pay for it. If nothing else, these matters deserve serious discussion.

As for the above quote, I doubt the gov't will be telling you when to eat, or who to eat with. And I suspect you will still be able to go buy gallons of trans fatty oils and swill them down, both at home, and while driving home from the store. Just like you can still smoke cigarettes in your car with the windows rolled up and your kids in the back seat. It still is a free country. I think what is being requested is just some common sense and sanity - for the common good.

How is that anyone else's business? I don't think anyone should have the right to tell anyone else what they can or cannot eat. We're adults. We don't need the gubment making our decisions for us.

They make that decision on a daily basis. But, Nimbus has a point. We're only asking a balance between total government control and people dropping of heart attacks every 10 feet because they don't have the sense to watch their diet.

I think what it all comes down to is education. I am thoroughly convinced that educated people will tend to make good decisions. Notice the word "tend." Not all decisions will be good. If, after learning how bad certain foods are for your body, you still want to go for it, then that is your right. But just like we require certain health and safety standards in restaurants, why should foods that kill you slowly be ok? There is a big grey area.

The gov't really should be doing educational programs and advertising, rather than making mandates. But at a certain point, you need to put your foot down. It is almost human instinct to detest the phrase, "it is for your own good." Yet, it is sometimes true. And the truth can hurt.

Mandatory seatbelts are a decent comparison. Common sense tells you to buckle up. Drug laws are another. I haven't made any public statements on drug laws, but I think it is ridiculous to be locking up so many people for marijuana, for example (and expensive). I would rather see it regulated and taxed, thus raising money instead of spending money on law enforcement, incarceration, etc. Fr.eedom! (I'm not a user by the way)

I for one am happy not to have to breathe the smoke from other peoples' cigarettes when I go out to dine. I think it is all about balance overall. And education. Thus, public forums are a great starting point.

Cheers!

I don't mind a bit being notified that something has trans fat in it. Just don't ban it. We're adults. Let us make our own choices!

Apparently, that's the problem. Some people are too ignorant to make informed dietary choices. And, even if they are, won't stick to it.

How is that anyone else's business? I don't think anyone should have the right to tell anyone else what they can or cannot eat. We're adults. We don't need the gubment making our decisions for us.

Well, we do already daily tell people what they can and cannot eat. Various poisons are banned. Food cannot be stored at certain temperatures and then served to customers. We do this because of short term ill effects. And there is virtually no disagreement or controversy. Why should long term effects be totally neglected? That is the fundamental question here, as I see it. We're talking about public health and safety.

[Robin Garr]

There's another issue that some may be overlooking here: There is NO talk of any ban on fatty food in general. McDonald's hamburgers and Quizno's subs are safe.

TRANS fats specifically, manufactured fats that remain solid at room temperature, have been shown to be peculiarly hazardous for heart health ... and they are widely used in commercial cooking without disclosure to the public.

This is not an effort to force us to eat low-fat food. It's an effort to control the *unknowing* consumption of a fat that is likely dangerous to our health over long-term use.

I don't know about the rest of you folks, but this looks like a whole 'nuther story to me.

Well, we do already daily tell people what they can and cannot eat. Various poisons are banned. Food cannot be stored at certain temperatures and then served to customers. We do this because of short term ill effects. And there is virtually no disagreement or controversy. Why should long term effects be totally neglected? That is the fundamental question here, as I see it. We're talking about public health and safety.

I just got home from the transfat forum. The room was about half full. If they were talking about an education push, that would be great. The Health Department said it was a 'strategy' they're considering. Also perhaps requiring menu labels, much like the little chili pepper when a dish is spicy. Another 'strategy'.

There was a lot of talk about personal responsibility. If consumers understand what transfats are, where they are and still choose to consume them perhaps that should be their own decision without the government telling me what I can and can't eat.

I also appreciate no smoking in restaurants, but I see that very differently. If you're smoking at the next table over, your smoke is gonna drift over to me, and my only remedy is to leave. If I eat some transfats and keel over, it really doesn't hurt you. (Yes I have health insurance.)

IDK, the older I get the more Libertarian I get. Just get the government out of my house. Give me a fire department and police protection, and enough of an army to defend the borders.

I need to go eat something.

This issue is different than the smoking ban. And I think Robin is right that it is easy to conflate the issue of trans fats with the government trying to control fat intake. This is closer to past federal decisions like cyclimates (which you can still get in Canada) or Red Dye No. 2 or other food additives. If you can use other fats (heck, including lard), why defend the use of trans fats?

I agree with Leah completely. If I choose to kill myself through transfats, that's my choice. If you choose to blow smoke over my dinner, then that's not your choice - it's protected to a large extent. Dammit, I want my occasional Maccie D's fries! And I want them soggy with fat!

I think what it all comes down to is education. I am thoroughly convinced that educated people will tend to make good decisions. Notice the word "tend." Not all decisions will be good. If, after learning how bad certain foods are for your body, you still want to go for it, then that is your right. But just like we require certain health and safety standards in restaurants, why should foods that kill you slowly be ok? There is a big grey area.

Cheers!

I agree with this...."tend" is correct. Doesn't the leader of the free world and champion of healthcare reform still sneak smokes in private? (such an irrational decision makes me question his judgement in terms of healthcare policy)

Labeling is fine and as consumers we deserve full disclosure so we can make informed decisions. BTW...with the exception of smoking, genetics plays a much more significant role in primary heart disease risk as opposed to diet. Not down playing diet, I just want the facts clear.

edited for style

I agree with Leah completely. If I choose to kill myself through transfats, that's my choice. If you choose to blow smoke over my dinner, then that's not your choice - it's protected to a large extent. Dammit, I want my occasional Maccie D's fries! And I want them soggy with fat!

This is precisely to the point. You can still get them soggy with fat . . . but McDonald's converted to oil without trans fats last year. The issue is not fat, but trans fat.

OK, cool - I'll take the best fat available as long as it tastes good.

OK, cool - I'll take the best fat available as long as it tastes good.

That good taste would probably come from lard. I remember many years ago, I knew the owner of several Arby's franchises. It was back in the day when vegetarians were up in arms when they found out the fries weren't vegetarian. Anyway, Arby's switched to veg oil, but then sprinkled on flavored salt that did not contain, but tasted like, lard.

I just got home from the transfat forum. The room was about half full. If they were talking about an education push, that would be great. The Health Department said it was a 'strategy' they're considering. Also perhaps requiring menu labels, much like the little chili pepper when a dish is spicy. Another 'strategy'.

There was a lot of talk about personal responsibility. If consumers understand what transfats are, where they are and still choose to consume them perhaps that should be their own decision without the government telling me what I can and can't eat.

I also appreciate no smoking in restaurants, but I see that very differently. If you're smoking at the next table over, your smoke is gonna drift over to me, and my only remedy is to leave. If I eat some transfats and keel over, it really doesn't hurt you. (Yes I have health insurance.)

IDK, the older I get the more Libertarian I get. Just get the government out of my house. Give me a fire department and police protection, and enough of an army to defend the borders.

I need to go eat something.

But if you didn't have health insurance, we'd all be paying for your habits.

And, because the US will finally someday join the rest of the industrialized world and have universal health care, we're going to be paying collectively for your habits (good or bad). So yes, it does hurt me. Plus, I don't want to see you keel over, regardless of whether I'm paying for your med bills or not. So we have both ethics and financial concerns here..

I think what it all comes down to is education. I am thoroughly convinced that educated people will tend to make good decisions. Notice the word "tend." Not all decisions will be good. If, after learning how bad certain foods are for your body, you still want to go for it, then that is your right. But just like we require certain health and safety standards in restaurants, why should foods that kill you slowly be ok? There is a big grey area.

Cheers!

I agree with this...."tend" is correct. Doesn't the leader of the free world and champion of healthcare reform still sneak smokes in private? (such an irrational decision makes me question his judgement in terms of healthcare policy)

Labeling is fine and as consumers we deserve full disclosure so we can make informed decisions. BTW...with the exception of smoking, genetics plays a much more significant role in primary heart disease risk as opposed to diet. Not down playing diet, I just want the facts clear.

edited for style

Pulling out the genetics card is kind of lame. We have no control over our genes. But we do have control over what we put into our bodies. So what is your point? (yeah, genetics are important, and so do we just neglect the other factors? That would be kind of silly. Look at what you can control seems logical to me)\

Peace....no trans fats for me, thank you....