Spicy Hot Wing Anyone?

I realize it has been nearly a month since I wrote last. The machinery has been diverted to other things for while, though always contemplating, ranting, thinking, about a myriad of topics from local, national, and global news. Today, I caught this article on yahoo and it got me thinking about he upcoming ban on trans-fats that New York is examining. (For more info on this, please look here)

I first heard about this about a month ago when I read a similar article on how opposed businesses are to this change. It strikes me as strange that businesses are ready to fight this tooth and nail. Sure, there is a taste concern that will have to be addressed, if they have to change recipes and their food doesn't taste good anymore, well then they're in huge trouble. But by most accounts the alternatives out there are similarly priced and will have a limited effect on taste (with some exceptions).

The businesses are arguing that it will destroy their business and that the biggest source of trans-fat is grocery stores and in the home. Sure there is an element of this at the grocery store, but there is also a very significant amount of trans-fat free products out there that a consumer can choose. When you're at a restaurant you have no choice in how they prepare your meal (or limited choice). So, based on that logic, this seems like a good thing. You are removing something bad from part of your lifestyle (eating high trans fat food while out) which will allow you to go completely trans-fat free if you want. Yes there are plenty of people who don't care what is in their food, but by considering this, NYC is making the choice for them that when eating out in the city, you won't find any trans-fat. I for one am not usually for government intervening like this, but in cases of public health such as smoking or fat, I have to agree that I am completely for this.

It is a change that will help, for those of us that eat out a lot, reduce the unhealthiness of eating out. Yes, I would still eat too much, yes I can eat high fat, high calorie foods, but this is eliminating what we now know to be one of the most dangerous factors for heart problems. How is this bad? If anything, I think that this should be encouraged by restaurants! They get to make their menus more healthy without worrying about their competition not doing so, while at the same time consumer confidence in eating out will go way out. Even though this doesn't mean that a burger and fries is healthy, people will be more inclined to grab one after all the publicity this thing gets. They may in fact end up eating more unhealthily, but the attitude for the moment will be that they are eating healthier when they eat out. Heck, after seeing the KFC announcement I thought - maybe I should go there sometime and get me a nice bucket o' friend chicken...

mmmm.... fried chicken...