Snacks (page 25)

Since they couldn’t challenge the research that supports the health benefits of chocolate,, anti-choice nannies complain that the studies were funded by the chocolate industry for use as marketing…

In the first change to the official dietary guidelines in years, the American Heart Association says Americans are eating too many calories and restaurant portion sizes are to blame. To address this alleged problem, the AHA plans to "put pressure on the marketplace by educating consumers."

The “blaming restaurants for obesity” crowd is taking aim at the plate again. While popular chains strive to please customers by providing value in a competitive marketplace, industry critics prefer…

Kudos to The Ottawa Citizen for opposing a fat tax on high-calorie foods. The paper says, “[W]e oppose a special tax on food that health-care bureaucrats deem bad for…

The Ottawa Citizen says Canadians are facing an obesity epidemic and places the blame squarely on "supersize pizzas and hamburgers, monster muffins, 64-oz., 800-calorie Double Gulp soft drinks and all-you-can-eat buffets." Tomorrow, the paper will continue to focus on obesity, featuring an article on what it thinks government should do to stop people from eating what they want.

Because of potential liability over some students having food allergies, Fallingbrook Community Elementary School in Ontario has banned all snacks except fruits and vegetables. Lamenting the loss of her choice to feed her child whatever she wanted to, one mother said, "The school is going to have serious liabilities if my child chokes on a carrot because you've forced me to give her raw fruit and vegetables." ("School's snack ban sparks anger," Montreal Gazette, 8/27/00)

New York University food studies professor Lisa Young (colleague of "fat tax" promoter Marion Nestle) continues her ongoing campaign blaming portion sizes, especially restaurant portion sizes, for Americans' obesity.

The Onion lampoons the idea of suing a food maker for causing obesity, an idea increasingly showing up in the media. However absurd it may sound, the case is made that suing companies for providing consumers products they choose to eat or drink is analogous to suing cigarette makers.

Kelly Brownell, the father of the infamous "Twinkie Tax," says, "We can't look any longer at blaming individuals" for their obesity. Brownell says it's up to public health officials, following the tobacco model, to force Americans to change the way they eat. The first step, of course, says Brownell, is a "Twinkie Tax" on high-calorie foods.

The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel repeats the ridiculous idea of a “Twinkie tax” as a way to pay for national campaigns designed to promote healthier lifestyles. We remind you that this…