Scary news from msnbc

Neecee,  I agree with a lot of what you are saying but have the following to add:

1.  I think the posting of calories is a good thing because many are ignorant of what calorie counts are.  I would never have thought a slice of pizza to have over 800 calories.  It made me decide not to buy it.  If the pizza had half the calories, I might have said okay.   Even as food "smart" as I think I am after a lifetime of dieting, I was fooled by this Sbarro pizza at JFK Airport..

2.  The "Let the buyer beware" premise is probably not a good policy for food and health care.  I expect my Government to protect me by enforcing regulations on both of these industries.  I feel I have a right to know what's in the food I'm eating at a restaurant, particularly since while traveling, I have no choice but to eat in restaurants. 

For the first time in history, it is predicted that our children will have shorter lifespans than their parents.   This is a result of the food industry.  The only way this will change is if people start demanding healthier choices.  And that can only come about if they are aware of the unhealthy choices they are making.  Again, a slice of pizza - 800 calories?  Criminal!

I agree with your number 2 statement - by all means, yes for food and health care in government places like hospitals, schools, etc.

The difference in my mind is that privately owned restaurants are NOT responsible for my health. I am! I make the choice - or not - to go thru those doors. I make the choice to leave my home to travel with no food in my bag.

Sbarro in this area - i totally believe their "slice" = 800 cals! It looks like 1/4 of an 18 inch pizza. The one in our mall - the "slice" is as long as my forearm!

And the real issue overall is:  where do people get information about what is healthy? It is not taught in school anymore...not since No Child Left Behind.  Teachers are frantic to get reading-Writing-Arithmatic scores up. There is no such thing as Home Ec or even life skills.

I think labeling could be a lot simpler - heck i am in the nutrition business and it is very confusing. I am more for the meal component way of thinking; example: this slice of bread = 2.5 bread servings...18 chips = no nutritive value for RDA's whatsoever, etc.