Probably would be. I don't blame McDonalds or anyone for these grossly overweight individuals, it's not their fault at all. However considering that the massive amount of people their restaraunts feed every day I think they do have a moral obligation to provide low fat alternatives or at least look at ways to tone down the amount of saturated fats in their current line up.

There is a degree of blame, though, that is due to some fastfoods. The MSG and other flavor inhacers they use, that addict people to certain tastes. Like the old Lays potato chip commercial, "No one can eat just one", the added MSG back then.

Are you saying that fast food chains are addicting people to their food? No one makes you buy a big mac. They offer a product, completely legal, and certified safe to eat by the FDA, and USDA(or similar government agency for those of you outside the USA). It's up to you to buy or not buy it. At the root of this contraversy is the idea that people are too stupid to know what's good for them, and that someone needs to shut down fast food places to save us from our own ignorance. These places aren't keeping secrets about what's in their food. I used to go to McDonalds a lot but I don't anymore because they keep raising their prices. Plus they're getting rid of supersize, and I liked supersize. Now my favorite burger is at Jack in the Box, and their cheese is really good too. Maybe I'll live a little longer if I eat rice cakes and tofu but that's my decision.

As for low fat alternatives, there's always been lowfat alternatives, it's called the produce aisle at the supermarket. The people who want low fat food don't go to fast food places anyway. People go to fast food places because they want something that tastes good. If these chains succumb to pressure and make everything they sell totally healthy (and not good) then they'll really feel the hurt. Do we expect people to say to themselves, "I really want a burger, but these guys don't have them anymore. I could go to the place down the street that still sells burgers, but that's too much work, I'll just stay here and have a crummy salad."

Let's get those missiles ready to destroy the universe!!

@ugn

I am only commenting on the fact that these chains (at least in my area) are now joining the "eat healthily" band wagon and that the only way I could see that happening is if their sales are being driven down by all the bad publicity.

"Fastfood doesn't kill people, obesity does!"

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Its been said, if it taste good, it's probaly bad for you. The MSG, and other additives make the bad food more appealing. For me, its like Wendys fries, they arn't that good tasting, so I am more likly to eat less. When foods taste too good, by what evermeans prepared, they are more addictve that you don't want to stop. I use to eat Bacon, but I havestopped for several reasons, but one is it tasted great and I could heat a pound at a sitting and use the grease to cook other things with. Fat in foods makes it taste good, but really hurts you.

what is msg?

MSG is a form of salt. Monosodium glutamate. It is a flavor enhancing ingredient which actually does make things taste better to most people.

Unfortunately, there is a small but significant population of people who are
allergic to it. Most commonly, it has been a food additive in SOME Chinese restaurants but, nowdays, not used by any honest restuarant.

AND as it is, in fact, a salt, it is not healthy for people who need to watch their salt intake levels. Again, why honest restaurants don't use it anymore.

Packaged foods are required to be labelled accurately for MSG content. Usually not present but some fast foods, potato chips (crisps) and the like still actually may have some in it. People who are allergic to it should know well enough to check the labelling before buying and eating.

" if it taste good, it's probaly bad for you"

seems like that might be true. what a dreadful state of affairs..

As soon as you're born you start dying
So you might as well have a good time

(that's from a song, I didn't make it up, and I don't totally agree with it)

Let's get those missiles ready to destroy the universe!!

Edited by - Ugnaught on 6/1/2004 12:46:56 PM

I disike fast food and this just refoced my hate of it, but the man who ate over 19000 Big macs, that was scary.

When I was In grade school I refered to me and my friends as the stoners who didn't use drugs to get stoned, we were either naturaly that weird and srewed up or we had been awake for 3 days. Beening Awake for 3 days has all the halucinations of drugs.
But its free, well not really, you have to pay for $100 worth of jolt, and red bull.
And the best part is just as Much Brain Damage!!!!

Final - Check the back of product packaging; most of the stuff I see has MSG in it. Check for "Flavour Enhancer 621" (I think that's it), and you will be suprised where it pops up.

I know. It's hard to find "healthy" potatoe chips that don't have something added, though I have run accross one that is cooked in olive oil and has no salt, presevitives, ect. And at $4.99 a bag which is highway robbery for leaving the bad stuff out.

Edited by - Finalday on 6/1/2004 4:13:47 PM

Tell me about it. I haven't had chips in months because of that very fact . So much for these "natural air-dried organic" chips *shakes head*; they have less fat but heaps of MSG.