It should be up to each individual to regulate how much salt is in their diet. Federal regulation is not the answer....free enterprise is.
For those that believe there should be salt free or reduced salt alternatives for consumers, I say put your money where your mouth is. Open a salt-free restaurant or produce a line of salt free products and let the laws of supply and demand decide.
It's like any other product in the marketplace. People will decide with their dollars. You can't regulate free will.
The only exception would be school lunches, but there are already nutritional mandates in place.
It's sad that most people rely so heavily on processed foods for their dietary needs. The amount of sodium processors place in things like soup and spaghetti sauce is tragic. And most people don't lead labels, so this sounds like a reasonable step to gradually wean Americans off from salt that most of them don't even know they're consuming.
AMA says 150,000 Americans die prematurely each year, and that everyone's health care costs are higher because of high sodium intake.
Should we rely upon a diet of processed foods? Are they good for us? No and no. Should the government regulate the level of salt in food? No. The government can inform, and it has. If our country is truly free, we each have the right to decide what and how much food we ingest. Where will this end? Rationed salt and sugar purchases in the baker's aisle? No more lard or butter for cooking and baking?
Amazing how people claim to be 'pro-choice' and embrace 'live and let live' but forbid people the right to choose an unhealthy diet.
I agree, Dennis, it is sad that so many people rely on overly processed foods for their dietary needs. I am a chef, and it amazes me that so many people do not know how to cook a healthy meal for themselves.
Whether it's laziness, necessity or lack of cooking skills or desire to learn that prompts people to reach for something ready to eat as opposed to raw ingredients to cook with, I do not know. I suspect it is a combination of all of these things. The fact remains that many people rely on processed foods.
There are plenty of reduced sodium and sodium free products popping up on store shelves, so there are healthy options available. The more people that buy them, the more you will see popping up.
While I don't doubt your AMA statistic, I do question the voracity of those that make it. I don't have a statistic handy, but I would be willing to bet that MORE Americans die prematurely each year, and that everyone's health care costs are higher because of high ALCOHOL intake...yet it seems to be more important to lower the calories in alcohol to prevent obesity rather than address the real problems.
How about we educate people on healthy diets and lifestyles? We obviously have a major problem in the US with obesity/heart disease etc. at a max and the probability of the next generation having a shorter life expectancy. Something has to be done! It is crazy how marketing can make a food appear healthy. For example...they can say whole wheat on a product that is primarily enriched flour (the root of all evil in my opinion) I feel fortunate that I can teach my kids about healthy foods, but I know that there are many out there that think they are eating something good that is complete garbage! I have a friend that has struggled with weight and has overweight children, she tries to pick out healthy foods for them, but it is difficult when the box says it’s healthy but the nutrition label tells a different story. They have a right to eat an unhealthy diet, but I think there are many people that just don't know the healthy limits for sugar, salt, enriched four etc. Watch Jamie Oliver…it is amazing what our government considers a nutritious school lunch. According to them ketchup is a vegetable!
Here's a simple rule for shopping healthy. Only shop the perimeter of the supermarket. That is where the major food groups are located. Then use what you have purchased to cook healthy. If you don't know how to cook...learn. It's not rocket science and chances are you will be deliciously surprised at the results.
Sarah...as far as the whole wheat thing. They CAN'T say whole wheat if it is not. You have to make sure the word "whole" is in the product name...like whole wheat bread or whole grain cereal. If it just says wheat bread it is not a whole grain product.
I was reading the label on a salad dressing bottle. It listed propylene glycol as an ingredient. That's antifreeze! Needless to say, I didn't buy it.
And while on the subject of salads... Why do green salads all contain meat? I was in Wegmans choosing a salad- bacon, turkey, ham, hard-boiled egg; every green salad had meat in it. ...Not to mention cheese. Is nothing complete until it has been adorned with dairy fat?
I ended up buying salad ingredients and making my own. Still- evaluating the deli offerings, with the exception of sushi and a few side dishes like roasted yams and grilled spring vegetables, every entree had meat and cheese in it. Is this what the public wants or is this what the markets choose to sell?
Another note: Arizona Green Tea with ginseng and honey... It's not just sweetened with honey; it's got HFCS in it too. I now buy Wegmans generic green tea and add fruit juices to it.
There is intense competition for shelf space and product placement in supermarkets. Markets sell products that they think the public wants...new products are always a gamble. If a new product does not sell well, you are likely to soon see it in a clearance basket. If it sells well, it is given a more prominent(eye level or end cap display) position in the market. So yes, markets sell what the public demonstrates that they want to buy.
Healthy shopping tip #2: Bend down.
Healthier options are statistically less popular products and are given less favorable shelf position. In general, healthy alternatives are located on the lowest shelves, while the most popular, less healthy products are at eye level.
Products that contain mostly enriched flour but have some whole wheat still say whole wheat on the front...you have to look for 100% whole wheat. It is very deceiving to those who do not read labels. Fortunately I am a label reader.
If you want real insight into the food industry and why agricultural practices are so scewed up in this country, rent the movie "Fresh." Superchef Jamie Oliver also has an insight video on how to teach children about food: http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver.html
The bottom line is...there is enough information out there for anyone to become an informed consumer...and everything you need to prepare a healthy and well balanced meal/snack is readily available at your local grocer.
What is lacking, is committment on the part of the buying public to take advantage of either.
next thing ya know, feds will "regulate" salt peter. all part of an Obama population demographic "redistribution". courtesy of the red, white and billed. wait, ain't that what Toby sang? lol
It should be up to each
It should be up to each individual to regulate how much salt is in their diet. Federal regulation is not the answer....free enterprise is.
For those that believe there should be salt free or reduced salt alternatives for consumers, I say put your money where your mouth is. Open a salt-free restaurant or produce a line of salt free products and let the laws of supply and demand decide.
It's like any other product in the marketplace. People will decide with their dollars. You can't regulate free will.
The only exception would be school lunches, but there are already nutritional mandates in place.
It's sad that most people
It's sad that most people rely so heavily on processed foods for their dietary needs. The amount of sodium processors place in things like soup and spaghetti sauce is tragic. And most people don't lead labels, so this sounds like a reasonable step to gradually wean Americans off from salt that most of them don't even know they're consuming.
AMA says 150,000 Americans die prematurely each year, and that everyone's health care costs are higher because of high sodium intake.
Should we rely upon a diet of
Should we rely upon a diet of processed foods? Are they good for us? No and no. Should the government regulate the level of salt in food? No. The government can inform, and it has. If our country is truly free, we each have the right to decide what and how much food we ingest. Where will this end? Rationed salt and sugar purchases in the baker's aisle? No more lard or butter for cooking and baking?
Amazing how people claim to be 'pro-choice' and embrace 'live and let live' but forbid people the right to choose an unhealthy diet.
I agree, Dennis, it is sad
I agree, Dennis, it is sad that so many people rely on overly processed foods for their dietary needs. I am a chef, and it amazes me that so many people do not know how to cook a healthy meal for themselves.
Whether it's laziness, necessity or lack of cooking skills or desire to learn that prompts people to reach for something ready to eat as opposed to raw ingredients to cook with, I do not know. I suspect it is a combination of all of these things. The fact remains that many people rely on processed foods.
There are plenty of reduced sodium and sodium free products popping up on store shelves, so there are healthy options available. The more people that buy them, the more you will see popping up.
While I don't doubt your AMA statistic, I do question the voracity of those that make it. I don't have a statistic handy, but I would be willing to bet that MORE Americans die prematurely each year, and that everyone's health care costs are higher because of high ALCOHOL intake...yet it seems to be more important to lower the calories in alcohol to prevent obesity rather than address the real problems.
How about we educate people
How about we educate people on healthy diets and lifestyles? We obviously have a major problem in the US with obesity/heart disease etc. at a max and the probability of the next generation having a shorter life expectancy. Something has to be done! It is crazy how marketing can make a food appear healthy. For example...they can say whole wheat on a product that is primarily enriched flour (the root of all evil in my opinion) I feel fortunate that I can teach my kids about healthy foods, but I know that there are many out there that think they are eating something good that is complete garbage! I have a friend that has struggled with weight and has overweight children, she tries to pick out healthy foods for them, but it is difficult when the box says it’s healthy but the nutrition label tells a different story. They have a right to eat an unhealthy diet, but I think there are many people that just don't know the healthy limits for sugar, salt, enriched four etc. Watch Jamie Oliver…it is amazing what our government considers a nutritious school lunch. According to them ketchup is a vegetable!
Here's a simple rule for
Here's a simple rule for shopping healthy. Only shop the perimeter of the supermarket. That is where the major food groups are located. Then use what you have purchased to cook healthy. If you don't know how to cook...learn. It's not rocket science and chances are you will be deliciously surprised at the results.
Sarah...as far as the whole wheat thing. They CAN'T say whole wheat if it is not. You have to make sure the word "whole" is in the product name...like whole wheat bread or whole grain cereal. If it just says wheat bread it is not a whole grain product.
I was reading the label on a
I was reading the label on a salad dressing bottle. It listed propylene glycol as an ingredient. That's antifreeze! Needless to say, I didn't buy it.
And while on the subject of salads... Why do green salads all contain meat? I was in Wegmans choosing a salad- bacon, turkey, ham, hard-boiled egg; every green salad had meat in it. ...Not to mention cheese. Is nothing complete until it has been adorned with dairy fat?
I ended up buying salad ingredients and making my own. Still- evaluating the deli offerings, with the exception of sushi and a few side dishes like roasted yams and grilled spring vegetables, every entree had meat and cheese in it. Is this what the public wants or is this what the markets choose to sell?
Another note: Arizona Green Tea with ginseng and honey... It's not just sweetened with honey; it's got HFCS in it too. I now buy Wegmans generic green tea and add fruit juices to it.
There is intense competition
There is intense competition for shelf space and product placement in supermarkets. Markets sell products that they think the public wants...new products are always a gamble. If a new product does not sell well, you are likely to soon see it in a clearance basket. If it sells well, it is given a more prominent(eye level or end cap display) position in the market. So yes, markets sell what the public demonstrates that they want to buy.
Healthy shopping tip #2: Bend down.
Healthier options are statistically less popular products and are given less favorable shelf position. In general, healthy alternatives are located on the lowest shelves, while the most popular, less healthy products are at eye level.
JoAnne, Products that
JoAnne,
Products that contain mostly enriched flour but have some whole wheat still say whole wheat on the front...you have to look for 100% whole wheat. It is very deceiving to those who do not read labels. Fortunately I am a label reader.
If you want real insight into
If you want real insight into the food industry and why agricultural practices are so scewed up in this country, rent the movie "Fresh." Superchef Jamie Oliver also has an insight video on how to teach children about food: http://www.ted.com/talks/jamie_oliver.html
Yes...you are right...it has
Yes...you are right...it has to say BOTH 100% and whole wheat/grain on the front. It is intentionally deceiving.
Being a label reader is very important when you are trying to make healthy buying decisions.
The bottom line is...there is
The bottom line is...there is enough information out there for anyone to become an informed consumer...and everything you need to prepare a healthy and well balanced meal/snack is readily available at your local grocer.
What is lacking, is committment on the part of the buying public to take advantage of either.
No amount of regulation can change that.
C.M....Antifreeze huh? So we
C.M....Antifreeze huh? So we should only eat salads in the winter?
A good rule of thumb (and i will be the first to admit i DO NOT follow this, I am somewhat of a junk food jumkie) but here goes...
If it was not food 100 years ago, its not food today. :)
your right Dennis Jay. food
your right Dennis Jay. food processors use way to much sodium . only way to will be reduced is laws .
Antifreeze will also keep you
Antifreeze will also keep you from overheating in the summer.
next thing ya know, feds will
next thing ya know, feds will "regulate" salt peter. all part of an Obama population demographic "redistribution". courtesy of the red, white and billed. wait, ain't that what Toby sang? lol