Gov. Paterson has backed off a proposed tax on sugary soft drinks and juices that contain less than 70 percent fruit juice. Commonly known as a ‘fat tax,' the plan was intended to discourage consumers from abusing unhealthy products.
Though Gov. Paterson has conceded that the Legislature will never spring for his ‘fat tax' proposal, he feels that the scheme has raised awareness about weight related health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and strokes.
Gov. Paterson's main objective was to increase awareness of the high caloric food and drink consumed by children, who don't have the wherewithal to make their own dietary decisions.
In the end, people are responsible for their own dietary decisions. And parents are responsible for their own children, for the most part.
If the state is to have any influence on future generations, it should closely monitor and investigate the food that the state supplies for school lunches. And what items are available for purchase with food stamps.
I know what I used to eat in school, and I can say that tremendous strides have been made in the last decade to promote farm to school programs, nutrition education and to encourage healthier choices. But there is obviously much more work to be done.
As it stands right now, one in four Americans is obese. As a result, health care costs are rising and everyone must share in the financial burden. But healthy foods are extremely expensive.
And if the state wants to eke even more out of an already lean budget, it makes no sense to make unhealthy food unaffordable as well.
One solution would to be to place heavier restrictions on food stamps and to what can and can't be purchased with them.
Another solution is to better educate people about the importance of a healthy diet and exercising together.
I personally believe that the Food and Drug Administration should ban trans fats altogether and stop leaving it up to local and state governments.
In the meantime, it makes no sense to penalize the product makers, especially in a tight economy. Besides which, just about any product can make you obese if you abuse it.
Carole Estabrook's column appears Mondays can be reached at estabrookcarole@yahoo.com.
Gov. Paterson's main objective was to increase awareness of the high caloric food and drink consumed by children, who don't have the wherewithal to make their own dietary decisions.
In the end, people are responsible for their own dietary decisions. And parents are responsible for their own children, for the most part.
If the state is to have any influence on future generations, it should closely monitor and investigate the food that the state supplies for school lunches. And what items are available for purchase with food stamps.
I know what I used to eat in school, and I can say that tremendous strides have been made in the last decade to promote farm to school programs, nutrition education and to encourage healthier choices. But there is obviously much more work to be done.
As it stands right now, one in four Americans is obese. As a result, health care costs are rising and everyone must share in the financial burden. But healthy foods are extremely expensive.
And if the state wants to eke even more out of an already lean budget, it makes no sense to make unhealthy food unaffordable as well.
One solution would to be to place heavier restrictions on food stamps and to what can and can't be purchased with them.
Another solution is to better educate people about the importance of a healthy diet and exercising together.
I personally believe that the Food and Drug Administration should ban trans fats altogether and stop leaving it up to local and state governments.
In the meantime, it makes no sense to penalize the product makers, especially in a tight economy. Besides which, just about any product can make you obese if you abuse it.
Carole Estabrook's column appears Mondays can be reached at estabrookcarole@yahoo.com.
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drivebytrucker wrote on Feb 16, 2009 6:08 PM:
“I personally believe that the Food and Drug Administration should ban trans fats altogether and stop leaving it up to local and state governments.” – Huh?
But what about people being responsible for their own dietary decisions? Seriously, what the heck are you trying to say? Because you are all over the map here.
For example, you offer two “solutions”, but never state what the problem is that they are a “solution” to!
Paterson was dead serious about trying to get this tax passed. He is now pretending that he wasn’t serious so he doesn’t look like a loser.
The only awareness that he has raised concerns the meddling of the nanny state in our lives. It is disturbing. "
sabrina5487 wrote on Feb 16, 2009 4:37 PM:
cc57 wrote on Feb 16, 2009 1:21 PM:
qwerty1234 wrote on Feb 16, 2009 10:24 AM:
irritated wrote on Feb 16, 2009 9:21 AM: