Nutrition And The Government: Donuts For Freedom
An interesting press release from the Competitive Enterprise Institute recently came across our desk and is reproduced in full below. I’m curious what our readers think of it, and of the government’s role in nutritional issues, given the link between nutrition and health:
Institute Calls for Civil Disobedience on National Donut Day
As Government Meddling in Nutritional Issues Mounts, CEI Advises, “Eat Two Donuts Today—One for Yourself, and One for Your Freedom”
Washington, D.C., June 4, 2010 — The Competitive Enterprise Institute today urged Americans to turn National Donut Day into a day of protest against growing government intrusion into nutritional issues. CEI urged people to eat two donuts — “one for yourself, and one as an act of patriotic civil disobedience.”
Federal regulation of nutritional issues is accelerating. Restaurant menu labeling mandates were included in the recently enacted healthcare legislation, the FDA is seeking “voluntary” cutbacks on salt in processed foods, and most recently the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity issued a major report proposing changes in everything from prenatal care programs to community planning. All of these measures are based on questionable science and major misjudgments of government’s proper role.
CEI General Counsel Sam Kazman stated: “When it comes to regulating the foods we eat and the places we dine, the federal government apparently knows no limits. People may not think of National Donut Day as a political event but, given current trends, it really is a fine occasion on which to tell the feds to mind their own business. And that’s why today we urge each person to eat not one but two donuts — one for themselves, and one as an act of patriotic civil disobedience.”
*This blog post was originally published at ACP Hospitalist*
I hope the people of the United States don’t allow themselves to be overgoverned by the United States government regarding food regulation but it may be necessary for the sake of our country. Too much obesity in children among many things. I don’t know how anyone else could take a lead other than taxing foods that are not good for you. Doctors of all kinds could get involved but do they really want to. All I know is that foods like fruits and nuts are good mid morning and mid afternoon snacks give energy and are good for the mind.