Liberals move forward with controversial new law
Putting the calories of meals on fast-food menus has been debated for some time, but as far as the Ontario Liberals are concerned, there is no more time for debate and the law must be passed.
Health Minister Deb Matthews announced the tabling of this new bill on Feb. 24 after consulting with health professionals and businesses.
“We are focusing on calories because that’s the single best proxy up for the issue we are trying to tackle – childhood obesity,” said Matthews. “Our rates of childhood obesity are high and growing higher. We simply must invest now in healthier kids so that we’ll have a more sustainable health care system going forward.”
While the intent of Matthews and the Liberal party appears to be virtuous – especially with her consistent emphasis on the health of the province’s children – critics in the health industry question the effectiveness of this type of legislation.
An article out of The Boston Globe examined research from a 2009 study that examined four fast-food chains in New York City, which found that customers actually bought food with slightly more calories than average after the calories were mandated on menus.
These findings were supported in a 2011 study at New York University School of Medicine, which found that calorie postings at Wendy’s, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger King, and McDonald’s did not alter order choices.
“There could be 10,000 ways to make a pizza. How do you put that out there?” said James Rilett, the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association’s Vice-President for Ontario. “It’s not simply just ‘stick a number up there and people will understand it.’”
Nutritionists shared in Rilett’s sentiments, saying that we shouldn’t be making food choices based strictly off of caloric intake. “If you take a fruit smoothie and compare it to a Diet Coke, a fruit smoothie is going to have more calories. Does that mean that Diet Coke is a healthier option?” asked nutritionist Aviva Allen in an interview with the CBC.
Allen believes that companies need to start labeling trans-fats, as well as sugars, sodium, and a few other important indicators that can help consumers make healthier choices.
The comments online were largely of the libertarian variety, with respondents arguing that the government has no business interfering with business, and that people need to take responsibility for their own health – even if that means they choose to consume fast-food often.
Despite the statistics that argue this legislation will not help prevent obesity and cries from citizens who just want to be left to their own devices, the rhetoric is in place for the Liberals.
When asked when the legislation would pass and be seen on the menu items of Ontario’s fast-food chains, Matthews said, “very, very soon.”