[Tammyjh]

NYC Soda Ban Could Include Frappucinos And Popcorn At Movie Theaters

As Mayor Bloomberg's controversial proposal to ban large sugary drinks in New York
City

gains traction with the Board of Health, other highly caloric
food items including movie-theater popcorn and Frappucinos may be the city's
next target.

During Tuesday's Board of Health
meeting

in which members unanimously voted to begin a six-week public
comment period, board member Bruce Vladeck suggested the ban go further and
said, "The popcorn isn't a whole lot better, from the nutritional point of
view."

Similarly, another member presumably took aim at
beverages like Starbucks' popular Frappucino drink and said, "There are
certainly milkshakes and milk-coffee beverages that have monstrous amounts of
calories...and I’m not so sure what the rationale is not to include those."

I don't even know what to say about this. Makes me want to go out and buy a van load of junk food

I somehow missed this one from earlier in the year
Bloomberg Bans Food Donations To NYC Homeless Shelters

CBS reports on the bizarre rule that turns away
food
, perhaps the most needed item for any shelter, because according
to health officials, it's impossible to gauge the items' salt, fiber, and other
nutritional stats.

New Yorkers may have conceded to his war on salt, obesity, and trans-fat, but
when it came to limiting alcohol sales in
January, a quick firestorm ultimately forced Bloomberg to go back to the drawing
board and chuck the idea.

But in a more pressing and contested issue, the mayor is also fighting to
maintain a new law that requires homeless individuals to prove their
homelessness
by providing evidence they have nowhere else to turn
to.

[L-SBB]

but Tammy, you just don't understand that govt always knows what's best for you, far better than you yourself could ever possibly determine

if anything this just proves what a slippery slope paternalistic big brother govt is....first it's sodas, then everything else b/c hey it's "just as bad!". I am appreciating the irony that they're focused on the nutritionally negligible benefits of popcorn as a reason to ban it, yet tons of other things equally responsible for poor health (alcohol, tobacco) apparently are just fine to continue selling - last I checked those weren't stellar for you either....or for that matter, neither is a ton of other dangerous activities (skiing - how many knee surgeries a year from that alone?) but we don't try to hyper-regulate them.

It is truly enough to make one want to be an anarchist....

[Tammyjh]

Originally Posted by L-SBB

but Tammy, you just don't understand that govt always knows what's best for you, far better than you yourself could ever possibly determine

I know but I don't think that is something I am capable of learning.

[*Jennifer*]

I say we all go eat cauliflower and broccoli and go visit Mr. Bloomberg. Let him get a whiff of just how bad his over-the-top bans really stink.

At least we would be eating healthy.

[Rinchan]

CBS reports on the bizarre rule that turns away
food
, perhaps the most needed item for any shelter, because according
to health officials, it's impossible to gauge the items' salt, fiber, and other
nutritional stats.

So wait? It's better that these people starve rather than eat unhealthy food? What if there is a shortage of the healthy food at the shelter?

Originally Posted by *Jennifer*

I say we all go eat cauliflower and broccoli and go visit Mr. Bloomberg. Let him get a whiff of just how bad his over-the-top bans really stink.

At least we would be eating healthy.

Don't forget beans and hard boiled eggs!


To the OT, OMG this is getting ridiculous.
I don't like popcorn, so guess what I'm not forced to buy whenever I go to the movies?!
I know there's a healthful eating problem in this country but jeez. Like a PP said, what about tobacco? Is New York going to ban everything but steamed rice and veggies?

[Tammyjh]

I just fed my kids a big bowl of popcorn with melted butter. Now I'm working on my first Dr Pepper and will try to get another 12 ounces down before the day is out. I'm thinking spaghettios for dinner might be fun.

[Banned-midnight.train]

I am pregnant and it is summer and a million degrees out (give or take a few degrees), my favorite thing to do is go into a nice air conditioned theater, get bag of buttery popcorn, a large icee, and watch some stuff blow up on screen. If the government takes this simple pleasure away from me I cannot be held responsiable for my actions and I do not believe a jury of my peers will convict me.

[K.A.T]

This man needs a mary poppins outfit. I'm getting so sick of all this freaking nannying it's insanity. This will never end until he's finally out of office. I can't wait. I so hope the people speak up and this doesn't come to pass. If it does, I swear I will move out of NYC sooner over later.

[plan4fate]

Oh good word... he's getting a little out of hand.

What bugs me the most is the donations of food to homeless shelters. wtfudgesticks man?! I've had to live off Ramen noodles and water on more than one occasion in my life.. and seriously it's better than starving to death!