According to an article in yesterday’s newspaper, the government of Ontario’s health ministry will be taking the warning labels on food products a step further. They are proposing legislation that will require major fast food chains to advertise, right on their menus, the calorie count and other pertinent information (fat content?) of the food they are serving. It will be right up there with the price, so we can see exactly what we’re doing to our bodies – at least those of us who understand the ramifications of ingesting 1,000+ calories in one sitting. For those who don’t, I suppose it’s not going to make a difference.
Is this information for the benefit of those who haven’t seen the movie “Supersize Me“? Or for those who didn’t realize when they watched it how, much like “Titanic,” predictable the ending would be?
I’m not saying I’m above anyone who ignores the obvious health risk of eating at fast food restaurants – I enjoy a Big Mac as much as the next guy. What gets me is that the government feels the need to plaster the fact in our faces each time we visit one of these chains. How much faith must they have in us to think we’re too stupid to realize what we’re doing to ourselves? The reason they’re planning this is to be proactive, and reduce the need for health care because as a society, we tend to be overweight… in essence they’re trying to save us from ourselves and in the same breath, admit that they are failing to educate us in the first place.
Part of me leans toward what it says in the picture, and the other part of me wishes the government would be even more proactive in the first place. By finding a better way to teach our kids to care about themselves and their future families while they’re still in school, maybe our society can learn what moderation means.
What do you think?
The posts in the category “Yesterday’s News” reflect inspiration found in the previous day’s edition of my local newspaper. They are not a retelling of the news. This is a challenge to post a blog entry once a day, every day until Hallowe’en, and possibly beyond.
lindaghill.com 
October 20, 2013 at 6:36 pm
I’m not really sure it’s going to sway anyone’s decisions. Caloric information is included on the Starbuck’s menu when I drive through and I am still happy to pay $6 to drink 380 calories.
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October 20, 2013 at 6:39 pm
Exactly. You’re either armed with the information in the first place and do it anyway as the occasional treat or you don’t care and go on a regular basis, regardless of the health risks. It’s old news!!!
Thanks for the comment and the follow 🙂
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October 20, 2013 at 5:01 pm
Reblogged this on Mind Chatter and commented:
Love the poster.
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October 20, 2013 at 5:01 pm
Two comments, I promise.
First, in regards for the poster, you have to keep in mind there would be no label, if a few people hadn’t gone into the tub with their radio to start off. Think about it.
Second, as to technology and how much we depend on others to teach us and lead us (like friggin’ sheep), ask the next cashier you encounter to count back your change. If they even know what you are suggesting, they will probably say, “Ok, you have $4.98 coming back, so here is the 98 cents and here is four dollar bills.” It is not often I find a cashier who know to count back from what the cost is to what you gave them. Change made through machines, and they are told what to give back. They are lost if the computer is broken, or if they put in the wrong amount given to them. We should not be dependent on government to teach us what food is bad for us, what getting into the tub with electronics will do, or that we shouldn’t leave small children unsupervised, period. It is all called common sense, something not taught in school, and government is supposed to take up the slack and be responsible for all the stupidity floating around.
Done. See only two points.
Peace
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October 20, 2013 at 5:22 pm
If common sense isn’t taught in school, and today’s young kids’ parents don’t have any, then where can it be taught? We have to not only hope that the schools are hiring people with it, but that they can somehow pass it on.
And yes, I’ve already written a blog post on the lack of math skills in stores. You can find it here: https://lindaghill.wordpress.com/2013/06/09/calculators-the-downfall-of-mankind/
I appreciate your comments. 🙂
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October 20, 2013 at 4:39 pm
They already do this in the land downunder as well. I don’t think it really makes that much difference (except to a few). Most people who really care about what they eat either don’t eat at McDonalds or they make an exception to their otherwise healthy diet every once in a while.
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October 20, 2013 at 5:05 pm
I can’t see a lot of people walking in to McDonald’s who realizing what they’re going in there for, turning around and walking back out again. And the ones who should care, won’t pay any attention to the calories… because they just don’t care.
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October 20, 2013 at 2:51 pm
I think there are way too many people who don’t understand the concept of moderation, or the link between what one eats and how one moves. While I am too far from perfect to judge anyone, I daresay the sort of people who need the knowledge most are often the same people who won’t read the labels.
I like those little cheeseburgers in yellow wrappers, )that I don’t think are actual food) but I consume one or two, maybe even three a year. I do that knowing it’s bad for me, so I’m unsure if labeling has much of an impact in that area.
I’m ready for the GMO labeling, and I’m ready to ask why store brand breads always contain HFC, but I’m already reading labels.
I teach my kids to read labels. And fine print. There’s a start..
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October 20, 2013 at 3:46 pm
That is a great start actually. There’s no point putting the information there if people don’t know what it means.
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October 20, 2013 at 2:09 pm
As stated, states put that up a while ago. One guy said, “Wait, the cheeseburger only has that many calories? I can have four!” I enjoy talking to my grandpa, when there weren’t warning signs on coffee cups to tell you they’re hot. They’d do things we’d say were monumentally stupid. And they didn’t die. The more we lower the bar, the more we lower their capabilities. The higher the bar and the fewer crutches we provide, the more capable they will become. Parents didn’t like that philosophy when I was teaching their kids.
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October 20, 2013 at 3:44 pm
Everything is going to pot where technology is concerned. I know people who don’t even know their own phone number – their philosophy is why bother to remember it when it’s on speed dial?
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October 20, 2013 at 3:51 pm
Hey now! I didn’t remember my phone number long before that! Chicks be all “What’s your number?” And I be all, “Uh, let me check the piece of paper in my wallet.” Later I wised up and was like, “I’ll call you. What’s your number?” It took me three years to memorize my phone number….
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October 20, 2013 at 3:55 pm
Haha! See? Please tell me you know your times tables without using a calculator. That one really gets my goat.
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October 20, 2013 at 3:58 pm
I have issues with 7 and 8. Otherwise I’m golden. I can still figure it out on my lonesome, just takes me a little time. I try to do all my math long hand then double check with a calculator. So no, I’m good there 😉
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October 20, 2013 at 4:04 pm
There’s hope for you yet. 😉
I’m such a tease, I’m sorry.
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October 20, 2013 at 1:43 pm
It is pointless shouting at those who will not listen!
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October 20, 2013 at 3:43 pm
Agreed!
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October 20, 2013 at 3:49 pm
😦
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October 20, 2013 at 1:28 pm
That movie, Supersize Me, was incredible! Everyone should see it!!
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October 20, 2013 at 3:42 pm
Was it really? Maybe I should see it.
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October 20, 2013 at 12:32 pm
It has started here in the states as well. I don’t think people really care
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October 20, 2013 at 12:37 pm
I think that’s going to be the case here too. People who can’t be bothered with what they’re doing to their bodies are going to ignore it and the rest are going to say it’s silly because they already know. One way or another, it’s a waste of time and money.
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