Banning the spice of life
Mark reports on the effort in Congress to give the FDA regulatory authority over tobacco products and to ban some flavorings from cigarettes.
Yeah, can't allow smokers to derive any pleasure from their filthy addiction. It only encourages them.
I'm for applying the strategy to other unhealthy products.
Congress should ban ingredients that make doughnuts taste good. And fatty hamburgers. And chocolate. No more salt on potato chips or pretzels! No more frosting on cakes! No more sweetener in soft drinks!
Then there are alcoholic beverages. Before I swore off tequila back in 1983, I was sucker-punched by several tangy margueritas. I say ban margueritas!
And those flavored vodkas. They entice drinkers who wouldn't touch the stuff straight up. Outlaw them.
Congress and the FDA have a lot of work to do if they're going to take all the enjoyment out of our bad habits.
Comments (4)
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Of course these measures are ridiculous. As Allen noted, the Los Angeles City Council wants to ban fast food in poor neighborhoods.
But you and Allen frequently argue in favor of big government. Is it any wonder that some would try to use those same levers of power in ways you find distasteful (pun intended)?
Posted on July 31, 2008 10:24 AM
Doug:
You've clearly been in tobacco states for too long if you are referring to the artificial flavoring that makes cancer sticks more tolerable as a "spice of life."
Posted on July 31, 2008 11:32 PM
You may be right. How about hot sauce on my barbecue? I hope the FDA will let me keep that.
Posted on August 1, 2008 7:51 AM
Doug:
That sauce is lubricating a slippery slope of your own creation. By all means you should be allowed to keep it.
I would draw the line though at sauces that include artificial smoke flavors. As a matter of fairness, if we ban artificial flavorings for smokers, we should also ban artificial smoke for flavorings.
Posted on August 1, 2008 11:54 AM