Nutritional Values
Ok, I get it. Supply and Demand. Market-driven economies. Blah Blah Blah. I still think something like this should be illegal. I'm totally riffing right now and haven't thought any of this through, but the idea off the top of my head is that no single food product from a restaurant should contain more than 50% of the average DV of an average 2000 calorie diet from the major categories (calories, fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, and carbs) If you want to be a dumbass and by two or three of them, go for it. But by default everything listed on a menu should be in the less than 50% range for a single "serving"
Oh, and while I'm at it, nutritional values should be mandatory on all menus. Go through a fast food drive through, you get a nutritional value sheet in your bag with your Super-sized HeartClogger Combo. If you choose not to read it, so be it. Sit-down restaurant menus would have an extra page in the back that lists the nutritional values of everything contained in the menu. Disclaimers can obviously be included saying that the values are not exact due to variations in product, but it should be within the ballpark at least.
Take ignorance out of the equation. Be open and honest with your nutritional information. I'm wiling to be at least 75% of the general public wouldn't change a thing if these things were put in place, so companies can still profit off of making us sick. But for the 25% of us who are trying to say "No more!" it would be a helping hand.
Oh, and while I'm at it, nutritional values should be mandatory on all menus. Go through a fast food drive through, you get a nutritional value sheet in your bag with your Super-sized HeartClogger Combo. If you choose not to read it, so be it. Sit-down restaurant menus would have an extra page in the back that lists the nutritional values of everything contained in the menu. Disclaimers can obviously be included saying that the values are not exact due to variations in product, but it should be within the ballpark at least.
Take ignorance out of the equation. Be open and honest with your nutritional information. I'm wiling to be at least 75% of the general public wouldn't change a thing if these things were put in place, so companies can still profit off of making us sick. But for the 25% of us who are trying to say "No more!" it would be a helping hand.
2 comments:
Ruby Tuesday had that on their menu....I think they might all be gone now...
i totally agree with you on the part about giving consumers the info on calories & fat grams.
i disagree with regulating what restaurants serve.
i'm a real libertarian when it comes down to choice. i say give people the info, then let them decide.
i'd be ok with a 4 pounds steak & lard burger with a side of crytsal meth, as long as the info was given to the consumer.
:)
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