Thought of the Day
Unfortunately, the food industry has not yet faced this situation and begun taking measures to avoid exploiting our weakness for not knowing when we have had enough.
Marvin Harris
Mayor Bloomberg of New York City has drawn considerable attention over the past day or two for an interesting proposal that he’d like to put into law. He’s suggesting a ban on sweetened beverages in any container larger than 16 ounces. The rule would affect drinks sold at delis, fast-food franchises, sports arenas, and sidewalk carts. Violators would be fined $200 for every sale.
You can hear more about it directly from the horse’s mouth here:
And see a corresponding news report about it here:
I pumped my fist in the air with excitement when I read about this. It’s about time someone started enacting laws to counteract America’s plummet to larger waist lines, failing health and early graves.
Of course, we’re all personally responsible for the food and drink that we intake. Our health and wellness ultimately are based on our own lifestyle and habits. No one can accuse a soft drink company of tying us down, forcing us to consume their products.
And while I don’t believe it’s the government’s job to mandate how we live, I don’t believe it’s the food industry’s job either. We have been lulled to sleep over the last several decades as the portions that we are offered at every turn have grown to ghastly sizes, all in the name of higher sales and higher profits.
We’re seldom even offered small portions anymore. What used to be small, medium and large have grown to extra large, super size, and big gulp. This applies to food as much as beverage.
Mayor Bloomberg’s proposal is not a case of government mandating how we live. Drink and eat as much as you want! Bring your own two-liter bottle of soda to the restaurant to enjoy with your three sandwiches.
But I celebrate the fact that someone is wading through the rising tide in an attempt to bring the food industry under control. We’re still free to choose, but perhaps in the future we’ll be able to choose among healthier alternatives than those that are currently offered.
What do you think about Bloomberg’s crusade? Does he represent the voice of common sense, or Big Brother taking it one step too far? Chime in if the spirit moves.
Touche! In Japan, the vending machines often sell 3 different sizes of a product for the same price. For example, coca-cola. There’s a neat anecdote I heard when I got there where a Japanese person is showing an American how to purchase soda from the vending machine. The Japanese person gets the small size and explains to the American they can get any of the sizes for the same price. The American asks, “Why would you get the small size if the large is the same price?”. The Japanese person responds, “Well all I needed was the small.”
The “deal” price has tricked us all into ignoring need and seeking only a “special”. I catch myself doing it…why get the “tall” specialty coffee at Starbucks for $4 when the “Venti” is only $4.85. I convince myself I’m an idiot to do that, even though all I wanted was a small coffee.
Taking only what we need…that’s the ticket. Awesome comment, Corey.