Down Under...
Posted on 12/07/2014 7:13:44 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The Food and Drug Administration is going to try its hand at shaming consumers into making healthier choices when they go out to eat.
Just before the Thanksgiving holiday, the FDA announced a controversial and expansive rule that will require certain establishments with 20 or more locations -- including chain restaurants, grocery and convenience stores, and movie theaters -- to post calorie information on their menus and menu boards. A separate rule was also issued requiring operators of 20 or more vending machines to post calorie information.
Section 4205 of the Affordable Care Act, a provision included in the law by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), directed the FDA to promulgate and implement national calorie labeling mandates that, supporters argue, will combat obesity ostensibly by shaming consumers into making healthier choices.
The FDA estimates that the national calorie labeling mandates will cost affected industries nearly $1.7 billion over the next 20 years, substantially higher than the regulations the agency initially proposed in 2011. This cost estimate is probably conservative. The Food Marketing Institute says compliance costs will run in excess of $1 billion in the first year alone.
And though the FDA claims that the public health benefits of the regulations are greater than the costs, the evidence suggests otherwise. While these new mandates regulations may make nanny state lawmakers and bureaucrats feel good about themselves, similar schemes concocted by state and local governments around the country have had next to no impact on consumers' dining choices.
In New York City, for example, researchers discovered that consumers actually ordered fast-food menu items with more calories after its labeling requirements went into effect. "We found that 27.7 percent who saw calorie labeling in New York said the information influenced their choices. However, we did not detect a change in calories purchased after the introduction of calorie labeling," wrote Brian Elbel of New York University in Health Affairs. "People in New York City purchased a mean number of 825 calories before menu labeling was introduced and 846 calories after labeling was introduced."
It doesn't take rocket science to know that a Burger King Whopper, a Wendy's Baconater, or a Domino's pizza probably aren't the best meals for consumers concerned about calories. Many chain restaurants have responded to consumer demand with lower-calorie options included on their menus. Demand drives the market to respond. Overbearing government mandates, however, will not only hit businesses with costly regulations but also reduce healthy options consumers would've otherwise had.
Thanks a lot Dude, I was eating and my appetite us now ruined!
That mug will shrivel your gonads.
Amazing how the “Limited and Few” powers of the Federal Government has come to this. Is there anything exempt from the Commerce Clause anymore?
Would GOP candidates want to read something that would take as long as one of Fidel Castro's speeches?
She’s looking to whack a pee-pee.
Many of the people the Obammunists think they are helping with this can’t read complicated information like this in the first place.
I knew somebody was going to ask that & make me look it up.
It was from a study that came out about a week ago.
Be back if I find it.
DeLauro has "pissed off and angry at life all the time" lines.
She just wants to share HER "unhappiness" with everyone else.
Escaped straight from hell.
Can’t we until she goes back.
Couldn’t find that study right away & gave up after finding a couple others.
Economic freedom #1 Hong Kong US 12th
Freedom of press US #46
World Freedom House #1 Andorra #2 Australia #48 US
ObamaCare's costly __________ is destined to fail
Prediction, either Sharia or Malia will grow up to be a fat chick.
Down Under...
Black guys LOVE da BOOTY!
Biologically speaking, is that actually a female?
Trying to make people care about such tripe is like getting a Democrat to actually care about the Constitution - to them it's just a document that has no import.
Thanks for the ping!
Who, in their right mind, is going to pay any attention to this at all? This is about as important as Michele’s lunch program. It’s a terrible waste of time and money.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.