The FastDay Forum

Really excellent viewing. Takes the guilt out of it. THe bit that most amazed me was how the American Government represented the sugar industry in influencing the WHO dietry recommendations. It might be legal, but it is certainly corrupt.

Fascinating documentaries, all. I will say that from the "Yankee" perspective, I think the journalist missed one very important point. Part of the reason the U.S. government resists legislating food regulation so vociferously is that 'we the people' are highly resistant to such governmental nanny-state attitudes and whenever the legislation even gets suggested, the politician who dares suggest it gets bombarded with phone calls and letters from his/her constituents and backs off.

In the end, at least in the U.S., it will take much longer for us to let go of the 'personal responsibility' aspect. Mostly because we know, logically, that the food companies want to sell us cheap crap for high prices and we feel that we should be 'smart enough' to separate the proverbial wheat from the chaff.

So, I agree with what that woman toward the end of the third documentary said - it is not a problem that is going to be solved by any one action. When we, the consumers, stop spending money on the crap (ie, no profits) and start spending money on the healthier stuff, the food companies will get excited about competing against one another in the truly healthier market and the consumer will win.

I also agree that honest food labeling is important, but I rather resent the idea that I'm not smart enough to choose healthy foods without a 'stoplight'.

Here in the U.S. at least, a huge portion of our current political and economic crisis is a huge portion of the population that does not want to take responsibility for themselves. I would hate to see the food industry be one more thing that erases personal responsibility from the health equation. I've struggled with my weight my entire life, but I know it's because I put too much crap in my pie-hole, not because some big evil corporation put the crap in a pretty package that said 'contains fruit'!

It would be very nice for me to believe that someone else "made" me fat. If it's someone else's fault, I can sit around on my too-large fanny and eat more and whine about how some mean, greedy corporate nabob did this to me.

But if I fall into that trap, I'll be stuck waiting around for someone else to "make" me un-fat.

I'm not willing to give up that control to anyone. I got myself into this mess, by God, I'll get myself out. The buck stops here.

Amen.

Oh sure blame the Americans. Just read the label of ingredients and you should know not to eat it 24/7. Common sense people. Obesity still boils down to overeating. Cook at home with basic ingredients like your grandma had to. You will save money and calories.

Moogie also thanks for the video. I too am guilty of grabbing convenience. But knowledge is power and we have freedom of choice. Couple of years ago I learned how to make soap at home. My grandsons eczema cleared within days something medications could not do. Mass produced anything is not so good. Cook like your grandma and you'll live a lot longer. That older generation of mine all lived to ninties and 104. Grandad that lived to 104 actually had a good deal of stomach removed due to ulcers and survived good 40 years on gerber jarred baby food. So that actually chalks one up for calorie restriction doesn't it? My parents not so lucky 60 and 79. I think the beginning of this food crisis started end of WWll. Next eye opener is all the pharmaceuticals they throw at us.