First of all, thanks, Andrea, for an intriguing new conversational opportunity! It may turn out to be us agreeing amongst ourselves how smart, educated, and devoted to health we are! But if someone else stops by, they might learn a thing or two.

Since I work for a major consumer products corporation, I know very well that you can't sell people stuff they don't want to buy. Can we blame food companies for making (in the words of the NYTimes article) food that tastes irresistibly good? Never mind the chemicals, etc.

I'm glad the government stepped in, and continues to step in, to require accurate and informative food LABELS. I'm glad government studies look at enviromental pollution as it affects food products. Same with controversial issues like livestock hormones and genetically altered vegetables. We need the govt. to ferret out information we can't find out for ourselves.

But when it comes to what people choose to put in their mouths--whether it's a MegaWhopper or an Atkins bar--caveat emptor. Unfortunately, that goes for things people choose to put in their minds as well--from reality TV to pornography. What a lot of people will buy, a lot of other people will supply.

Ultimately, we consumers hold the power. Notice how fast "low-carb" products (ie. junk food) proliferated--and how fast they went away! If you can't learn to do low-carb with fresh, whole foods, you don't really mean it. :fork:

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Barb L.
Atkins since Jan 2003
Maintenance as of 4/05


My Fitday Journal

Amen, Barb.
IMHO, all you can do is put the truth out there, and let people choose for themselves. But, it has to be the whole truth, not just one group's truth or a shaded truth.

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Trina

Vice-President of the Intergalactic Order of Brussels Sprouts Haters

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I agree...what we buy/choose to watch etc...speaks volumes more than what any lobbyist or company can do to/for the gemeral public. I can make one piece of evidence prove just about anything I want to...but each bit is my interpretation...the more I know about any given thing...the better off I am...but if all I know is part of each item..what I believe/choose/buy is shaded. I wish people didn't believe that what you don't know can't hurt you!

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Lori

232/190/130
My other journal http://www.lowcarbeating.com/bb/showthread.php?t=1130