If You Like Your Trans Fats, You Can't Keep Them

Trans fats are back in the news with a vengeance.

I didn't go back and research this, but remember how a few years everyone (or the media, at least) was freaking out about trans fats, and then a bunch of restaurants & companies said, ‘Hey, we took all of the trans fats out of our foods,’ implying that their foods were now good for you, but it turned out they were still unhealthy? It seemed like the most of the public panic about trans fats dissipated after that episode.

Obviously trans fats should be avoided or eaten in moderation but getting rid of them is not the key to a healthy lifestyle.

But this week the FDA announced that it plans to seriously limit the amount of trans fats allowed in foods. Banning trans fats would change the essential yummy goodness of foods like doughnuts, popcorn, cake frosting and Doughboy-type products.

Obnoxiously, USA Today tried to hypnotize readers into thinking that they don’t really care if trans fats are banned; as their headline puts it, 'Trans Fat Doesn't Stir Much Nanny State Debate.' See, nobody really cares if trans fats are banned … but, oh, what’s this: a Pew Research poll finds that 52% of Americans are against banning trans fats (breaking down to a clear majority among Republicans and a slight majority among Democrats).

Don’t be fooled into thinking that most people don’t care if certain foods are banned; it’s just not the biggest problem on their minds. Right now, millions of Americans are more worried about losing the healthcare plans that they were promised they could keep.

Here's Pat and Stu's take on the whole situation: 

Will This 'Satisfry' the Tater Haters?

Burger King continues to experiment with its menu. Their latest dish is a new kind of French fry that's a little healthier than regular fries.

From USA Today: "In a move destined to shake up the fast-food industry, Burger King Tuesday will unveil a simple but startling french fry innovation: french fries with 30% less fat and 20% fewer calories than BK's current fries. (And 40% less fat and 30% fewer calories than McDonald's fries.)

BK's crinkly, new fries for your healthy-ish lifestyle.

"They've dubbed the new product Satisfries — not to replace BK's classic fries, but to be sold in addition to them."

An order of these fries will cost about 20 cents more for about 20% fewer calories than an order of normal fries. Time will tell if customers think it's worth it. The presumption behind the coverage anytime that a fast-food chain comes out with a healthier-alternative product like this is that consumers are demanding better-for-you choices. I believe that consumers say they want to eat healthier, but McDonald's has so far found that their customers aren't necessarily buying the healthier stuff. Surprise, surprise: most people actually want fast food when they visit a fast food place.

I suspect the real drivers behind all these attempts at healthier fast foods is pressure from the food police and the federal government's new labeling requirements. 

On a side note, I've always wondered why restaurants don't try selling baked fries as a healthier option? Maybe they wouldn't be quick n' crispy enough?

Land of Food Insanity

It's illegal to sell foie gras in California but it's okay to give away those fancy duck livers because of a loophole in the law. So a Bay Area donut shop called Psycho Donuts celebrated National Donut Day recently with free foie gras-filled donuts. 

That led to death threats from animal-rights extremists, who are the real psychos. Psycho Donuts went ahead with the donut giveaway, but there had to be police on-site to keep the peace.

Only in California. 

(Hat tip: The Alton Browncast)

Delivery Drones

Over in the UK, Domino's Pizza is reportedly testing a new way to deliver pizza: with drones.

"That's great for the folks across the pond, but drones are a far touchier subject here in the States," says an article on MSN Money. "Mounting criticism of drone strikes abroad, especially strikes targeting Americans, forced President Barack Obama to discuss the drone program at length and vow to reduce it. Understandably, critics aren't ready to take him or the military at their word ..."

Given the Obama Administration's fondness for using drones, I think it wouldn't be long before the government was spying on our pizza toppings. Or they could send a drone to assassinate you and disguise it as a harmless pizza drone. Hopefully drone delivery won't be instituted in the U.S. because it's just another White House scandal waiting to happen.

OK Krispy Kreme, You Can Top This

After years of mostly marketing its coffee, Dunkin' Donuts is raising its original game by taking its new donut, bacon & egg sandwich nationwide. 

The media have treated it as the latest freak fast-food sandwich. Businessweek says it doesn't taste as weird as it sounds, which makes sense because it's basically the same flavor concept as the McGriddle. 

Needless to say, the emergence of this new DD sandwich is not welcome news for the food police, who have been telling us that American customers demand healthy fast-food offerings so therefore the restaurant industry should just do what they say. If that were true, then why did McDonald's just report that they're focusing on meat products again because their salad sales are slow?

06/10 Update: A Krispy Kreme Sloppy Joe has been sighted at a fair in San Diego. Gawker speculates: "Perhaps Kripsy Kreme aficionados felt the need to step up their game after Dunkin' Donuts tried to end us all with the Glazed Donut Breakfast Sandwich." Yes, I think that's what happened, and I say bring on the donut-sandwich war!

So Now It's A War on Juice

Now NYC is cracking down on juice boxes; you know, what those bratty grade-school kids like to drink. 

Bloomberg doesn't just hate Big Gulps, you see, he also hates small gulps. No apple juice allowed in the Big Apple. Welcome to the city that never sips.

I guess if there is any upside to this latest stupid push, it's that he's treating kids like children instead of treating adults like children.

What is a 'Cronut'?

(Photo: zagat.com)

It's a cross between a croissant and a donut that was invented by a French bakery in New York City, so it's probably the next thing that Michael Bloomberg will try to ban.

Season to Taste, Salt Bans Are A Waste

Before he went after 'sugar water,' New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg was trying to regulate how much salt the citizens of the city he governs could eat. His ban on large sodas was blocked on the day before it was supposed to go into effect by a New York Supreme Court judge--and now there comes a scientific setback to his war on salt. The New York Times reports the following: 

No Benefit Seen in Sharp Limits on Salt in Diet

In a report that undercuts years of public health warnings, a prestigious group convened by the government says there is no good reason based on health outcomes for many Americans to drive their sodium consumption down to the very low levels recommended in national dietary guidelines. Blah blah, etc...

But don't worry, these setbacks won't hold back a powerful man like Bloomberg for long. I'm sure he'll find another reason why he and the rest of the food police should be able to tell us what we're allowed to eat.

In related news, one of the oldest people in America says that bacon is a key to longevity.

Stu-ing About Food Deserts

If you regularly read this blog then you know that 1) there is a such thing as "food deserts" in theory, and 2) there is no such thing as "food deserts" in reality. At least not in America. But not everyone reads this blog and therefore still needs to be informed of this big sham. Stu Burguiere, one of Glenn Beck's sidekicks, did a tongue-in-cheek video that investigated a so-called food desert in New York and oddly enough found quite a few accessible food sources.

 

But as a big fan of this blog, you probably saw that ending coming.

Coming This Summer: Twinkies

Twinkies are reportedly coming back in July, and this is only bad news if you're the food police ... or Little Debbie.

Hostess Brands Inc. sold Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Ho Hos and other brands to two private investment firms back in April. See? Capitalism solved the Twinkie disaster where government failed.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/04/24/3362179/twinkies-are-back-hostess-plant.html#storylink=cpy

If There Are Two Things ...

...the nanny state hates, it's fast food and private transportation. I like how this genius Japanese invention, the car fry-holder, combines them.