Herald Column: Donuts are Healthier than Fascism

This week's Calgary Herald column from yours truly looks at the aftermath of Calgary's now-defunct trans fat ban, and the opportunity it presents:

 

...It now requires minimal effort to be informed about trans fat content--people can check labels, check websites or simply listen to companies boasting of their reduced or eliminated trans fat content.

 

However, if a company truly believes its french fries taste better with trans fats and its fully informed customers agree, then, sorry, but none of us have any business in the matter.

 

Yes, I have no doubt that the regular consumption of french fries will inevitably lead to health problems. And, yes, I realize we live in a society with universal health care; however, "universal" means everyone --even the stupid. A mammoth government program is a poor excuse for further encroachment on people's lives--maybe fewer government entitlements would encourage smarter and healthier habits. If the ban is the sword of the nanny-state crusader, surely the health-care system represents his shield.

 

(...)

 

Also, the late Dr. David Kritchevsky--who was a renowned biochemist and nutrition expert--constantly warned about the "demonizing" of trans fats, calling it "the panic du jour."

 

(...)

 

Governments and advocacy groups should confine themselves to raising awareness and promoting healthy choices and healthy lifestyles. Unleashing the food police is both counterproductive and an affront to individual choice and freedom.

 

The rest is here. Earlier blog posts from me on this subject are here and here.

 

Further background here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.  

 

UPDATE: I guess I really am evil - a reader writes to say:

 

After reading your article, you have left me disgusted. Your approval of killing the uninformed with premature heart attacks so corporations can make a few extra dollars tells me a great deal about your character.