Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Lawrence: Trans fat not a government priority
[George Diepenbrock, "Ban on trans fats may not have a place at city’s tables," The Lawrence Journal-World, 19 July 2006.]
Almost as if in response to The Kansas Health Policy Authority's recent statements that the body would be focusing on improving the health choices of Kansans, public officials in Lawrence are saying that personal responsibility is not something they should impose:
Edward M. Burke, a longtime Chicago alderman, is pushing to prevent fast-food and national restaurant chains from using trans fats to cook their food.
But Lawrence city commissioners lack appetite for city regulation of trans fats in the restaurant industry.
“My sense is we have so many things on our plate that I don’t know there’s much interest,” Lawrence City Commissioner David Schauner said.
“Individual businesses will react to what the consumers want,” Schauner said. “If consumers want that product, I think it’s likely that will cause food retailers to change their product.”
Allowing businesses to respond to consumer demand is a wise move, especially given that the attention given to trans fats likely oversteps the health concerns involved. If policymakers are interested in encouraging residents to more closely monitor their health, a more productive first step would be to offer municipal employees health savings accounts.
[Jonathan Williams, "Please Don't Tax My Pringles," The Kansas City Kansan, 5 July 2006.]
Almost as if in response to The Kansas Health Policy Authority's recent statements that the body would be focusing on improving the health choices of Kansans, public officials in Lawrence are saying that personal responsibility is not something they should impose:
Edward M. Burke, a longtime Chicago alderman, is pushing to prevent fast-food and national restaurant chains from using trans fats to cook their food.
But Lawrence city commissioners lack appetite for city regulation of trans fats in the restaurant industry.
“My sense is we have so many things on our plate that I don’t know there’s much interest,” Lawrence City Commissioner David Schauner said.
“Individual businesses will react to what the consumers want,” Schauner said. “If consumers want that product, I think it’s likely that will cause food retailers to change their product.”
Allowing businesses to respond to consumer demand is a wise move, especially given that the attention given to trans fats likely oversteps the health concerns involved. If policymakers are interested in encouraging residents to more closely monitor their health, a more productive first step would be to offer municipal employees health savings accounts.
[Jonathan Williams, "Please Don't Tax My Pringles," The Kansas City Kansan, 5 July 2006.]
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