Adieu Foie Gras

Foie gras will become illegal in California in July 2012, so eat up now....if you so choose.  Foie gras, a delicacy popularized in France but eaten by many who desire luxury in fine dining, is a dish made from the liver of ducks and geese that has been specially fattened.

The liver is made fatty by a forced feeding (gavage) of the ducks and geese in the last 12-15 days of their lives, by inserting a tube down their throat which forces the food (corn mash) directly into their stomach, thereby fattening up the liver. This tube is said to not hurt the animal. 

Foie gras has been banned in certain areas before, notably in 2006 in Chicago.  The ban there lasted two years before protestors had it brought back on the market.

Do you think the California ban of 2012 will stand?  Would you support the ban or are you against banning foie gras?  

Fat tax

"On Saturday, Denmark became the first country in the world to introduce a "fat tax," surcharge on unhealthy foods that are high in saturated fat in hopes of curbing bad eating habits."

Everything that contains more than 2.3% saturated fat (bacon, butter, pizza, oil, red meat, cheese, milk etc.) will have an extra $1.28 per pound ($2.87 per kilogram) of saturated fat added to the price.  They are doing this in order to fight the rate of obesity in their country and to encourage healthier eating.  The money that is raised by this additional tax will be used to educate consumers and other obesity-fighting measures.

What are your thoughts on this?  Is it right for the government to try to mandate healthier eating?  Is it fat that is the culprit?  What about taxing sugars and refined carbohydrates as well (or instead)?   Do you think that other countries will follow?

Economist Steve Sexton says that instead of taxing food that is fat, we should tax people who are fat.  He lays out a way for doctors to report to the government who is fat and who is not (allowing for genetic per-disposition) and then levying a tax on those individuals.  Thoughts on this?

Making Tobacco Less Attractive. Literally.

We talked about how, in the U.S., labeling of cigarettes will change in September 2012.  The new labels will require one of the vivid health warnings to cover 50% of the front and 50% of the back of the cigarette package and to be in the upper 20% of each cigarette advertisement.  
 
There are new laws being considered in the UK that would prevent cigarette packages from being colorful and "glitzy."

This is one company's idea of what the packages could look like.  

Australia has already enacted a similar law that will take place in 2012.  "From July 2012, manufacturers would be required to drop all colour and branding logos from cigarette packets."

What are some of the positive points of these laws in the UK and Australia?  Negative points?

Is that meal "all natural?"

Marketers put many words on labels that form an instant connection with the consumer.  "Wholesome," "Healthy," and "Natural" are some of them. There is much controversy (read that as "lawsuits") in the food labeling world regarding the use of the term "natural."  What does it mean to you?   All of these bottles of Wesson Oil are labeled "All Natural" (it is in the banner, above the type of oil). 

The truth though, is that approximately 75% of corn and 95% of soybeans in the United States are genetically modified (GMOs).  This then leads to the oil that results from that corn or soybeans to be GMO as well.  Is this natural?  Maybe so.

Some of you are familiar with the bottled drink known as "Skinnygirl Margarita."  Until recently it was sold in Whole Foods, but in September was pulled off the shelves due to a claim that is contained an ingredient that is "unnatural," sodium benzoate, which is a common (although synthesized in a lab) food preservative. Sodium benzoate is in a large majority of preserved foods and drinks.

What in the heck is natural??  Does anyone know?  Does the FDA have a definition for it and do they regulate the use of that word?  Um, no.  They have largely declined to define the term.  "With the few precious dollars the FDA has, we largely choose to focus on topics that affect public safety.  The 'natural' issue doesn't. That's not to say it's not important, but we frankly have more pressing issues to deal with."

When I type "natural food" into google images, I get the following images:

To me, this means that most people think of fresh fruits and vegetables as natural. But does that preclude other foods or drinks from being in that category as well?  Are we misinforming our consumers if we label something as "natural," since we don't have a hard and fast rule on just what that means?