Victory for Jamie Oliver in the U.S. as McDonald’s is forced to stop using pink slime

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Frosty

By the way, as someone who has Celiac Disease and has to know what's in his food, I am all for full disclosure labeling, both in the store and in restaurants. I also like calorie info at restaurants because it makes it easier to figure out how to make food more reasonable (for example, leaving the mayo off of a Whopper cuts more calories than you would think).

I just wish people would educate themselves more on what really matters and not just freak out because some Internet or TV guru tells them they should.

The problem is the food industry is so non transparent that when people hear this, of course they'll freak out. Many don't realize it only gets worse. People can't educate enough as long as the food industry continues to stretch the truth, hide their processes, and if poor labeling makes it impossible to fully know what we are eating.

You're absolutely right. Moderation is fine. But many people try and think they are moderating, but don't because they don't realize they're eating like suit.

[Frosty]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

The problem is the food industry is so non transparent that when people hear this, of course they'll freak out. Many don't realize it only gets worse. People can't educate enough as long as the food industry continues to stretch the truth, hide their processes, and if poor labeling makes it impossible to fully know what we are eating.

You're absolutely right. Moderation is fine. But many people try and think they are moderating, but don't because they don't realize they're eating like suit.

I'm mostly railing against the gurus out there that get people all riled up (usually to benefit themselves). A good example is the "Aspartame makes formaldehyde, so therefore a deadly poison" meme.

Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring substance that is in a lot of foods naturally including milk and vegetable juice that our bodies handle just fine. In fact, formaldehyde plays an essential role in our metabolism. It is converted to formate (folic acid) and used to synthesize DNA in the cells. However, since it's toxic when inhaled (or ingested in large doses), the scare-mongers can get everyone would up by shouting "formaldehyde is a poison" or by associating it with embalming fluid for the "ick factor".

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Frosty

I'm mostly railing against the gurus out there that get people all riled up (usually to benefit themselves). A good example is the "Aspartame makes formaldehyde, so therefore a deadly poison" meme.

Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring substance that is in a lot of foods naturally including milk and vegetable juice that our bodies handle just fine. In fact, formaldehyde plays an essential role in our metabolism. It is converted to formate (folic acid) and used to synthesize DNA in the cells. However, since it's toxic when inhaled (or ingested in large doses), the scare-mongers can get everyone would up by shouting "formaldehyde is a poison" or by associating it with embalming fluid for the "ick factor".

This shit is going to happen when your regulating bodies are so frustratingly terrible at being the central authority on what's real and what's bullshit. If there was a credible organization to strike down exaggeration or false reports, these kind of stories would be debunked within days. Instead, our experts on food are like the NCAA. They let so much bullshit slide and even encourage so much bullshit behavior, that nobody can take their advice seriously.