Headlines (page 394)

In covering Harper's magazine's recent absurd story linking obesity and restaurants, Boston Globe correspondent Cynthia Dockrell draws the unfounded conclusion that, "[I]t's enough to say tha the fast food industry, with its cheap super-size meals, is largely to blame [for obesity]. Children and teens are especially vulnerable to the harm done by aggressive marketing at Burger-and-fries chains, because, while being persuaded to save money by buying bigger, young consumers are eating themselves into a metabolic nightmare." ("Literary Life," The Boston Globe, 3/1/00)

A coven of nannies are coming together to push bills sponsored by Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) and Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) that would require mandatory labeling of GE foods. Through…

Even journalists in the heart of dairy country are promoting the soy myth. The Madison Wisconsin’s Capital Times says, “If women seek to ease symptoms of menopause without using hormones…

Ambassador Duke of the "Doonesbury" comic strip recently announced he was running for president. In a Larry King Live "interview," Duke voiced his support for the nanny's favorite weapon, a "fat tax." "I think there's a huge social cost for obesity here… We tax smokers. Why not overeaters?," said Duke.

In reporting on a study showing some teenagers are suffering from problems associated with obesity, CNN correspondent Elizabeth Cohen, without any scientific evidence, places the blame on restaurant food.

Ralph Nader's group of anti-everything nannies at Public Citizen are opposed to Wal-Mart's selling of irradiated meat because "food irradiation has not been proven safe and because it merely masks contamination." That's a curious response considering the U.S. Department of Agriculture, World Health Organization, and American Dietetic Association all say irradiation is not only safe, it is a potential lifesaver.

Once again, restaurant portions are under attack. Restaurant pasta, steak, and fish portions are just too big, says Dr. Barbara Rolls of Pennsylvania State University. People in her recent study tended to eat "more when they were given larger portions." Therefore, she concludes restaurant portions are contributing to obesity. The study does not address whether restaurant managers physically threatened patrons to ensure they ate the food that supposedly leads to their obesity. ("Health Tips," United Press International, 3/15/00.)

The militant People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) joined '99 Nanny Award winner Paul McCartney in urging local Earth Day festivity organizers to declare their April 22 events "meat-free." PETA warns they will disrupt Earth Day's main event on the Washington Mall, threatening, "In the event animal flesh is sold on the Mall, animal rights activists have vowed to overturn food tables."

Last year, Center For Consumer Freedom voiced skepticism about Berkeley, California's school district scheme to serve students only organic, pesticide-free, politically correct fare. Now, not surprisingly to us, Restaurants and Institutions magazine is reporting that since starting the all-organic program, participation levels among kids eligible for free or reduced-cost meals has plunged 50% for breakfast and 30% for lunch. ("Food, news & people," Restaurants and Institutions, 3/15/00.)

Gloating over what they consider a victory in the USDA’s new organic food standards, the anti-agribusiness nannies from the Organic Consumers Association are setting their sights higher. “The challenge…