Rep. Rose DeLauro
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.
Count Your Calories Fatso Nanny State PING!
Moochelle’s school lunch fascism writ large.
I take it that this includes school cafeterias with fat ass Moochelle on the poster?
Washington wants to force healthy dining on us.
Forcing us to look at menu labeling info whether we want it or not.
Its not like we can be trusted to decide what food we want to eat.
“convenience stores”
I can understand that. when I decide to go to a 7/11 to buy premade, week old, plastic wrapped, overpriced, under nutrition food, the first thing I do is read the label.
Fascist government.
It’s not enough you live, It’s how we tell you to live.
Rep. Rose DeLauro
Business should tell the Feds to get lost!
Loudly and Publicly!
Have we been GRUBERED again?
Yeah, I know what she looks like.
I just ate, by the way. Thanks a lot.
How is it that this insect of a human infects my world?
Really?
They should just put that picture on food labels and that would guarantee no one would eat due to loss of appetite.
You’re thanking me for the four pounds you just lost?
Well, when you put it that way . . . :-)
The Republican candidate needs to make a list of all the freedoms that the dems have taken or have proposed to take since they took over. Read each bill and explain the loss of freedom, then say the liberal democrats want to take this freedom away. They could start with the NSA under BO, move to school lunches, then this this ridiculous mandate for these labels, Obamacare, sugary drinks, all the regulations they have put in place. The list would be long but worth repeating in every speech. Spell out what they are doing , then say voters have a choice on the direction of America. It would be easy to understand and the dem candidate could not deny any of it even though they would try. Liberal judges striking down what citizens have voted on comes to mind too.
I’ve seen her in person. {{shudder}}
US is 20th place in freedom in the world.
They could say that too. What country is first?
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