government

And the bad news..?

If you count on blueberry muffins or chocolate brownies to banish the back-to-school blues, you might be disappointed.

The latest regulations from New York City's Education Department have banned most bake sales in schools, as well as cracking down on what can be sold in vending machines and student-run stores.

About one third of Americans are "very or extremely" concerned about food safety, with this percentage of people holding firm since 2007.

National food scares, like the salmonella-peanut butter outbreak, are blamed for propping up America's uneasy feelings.

That's why a new bill, on its way to the Senate, seeks to improve U.S. food safety.

Experts have advised the UK Government to change the guidelines for safe drinking: currently 2-3 units per day for women, and 3-4 units per day for men.

Liver specialist, Dr Nick Sheron (Alcohol Health Alliance UK), says the old guidelines were based on sound research, which stated a weekly limit of 21 units per week for men, and 14 units per week for women, and emphasised the need for alcohol-free days.

No one wants to win the booby prize, but sorry Mississippi, you just did.

The CDC says Mississippi is the fattest state in the U.S., where 32.5% of people are obese.

And, to make matters worse, obesity among adults increased in 23 states over the past year, with no state showing a major decline.

Lawmakers in the state of Mississippi have created a bill to prohibit restaurants from serving food to obese people.

Bill 282 reads: Any food establishment to which this section applies shall not be allowed to serve food to any person who is obese, based on criteria prescribed by the State Department of Health...

8 year old Connor McCreaddie at one point weighed around 15+ stone (over 210lbs). He may be placed into care unless his mother improves his diet.

In 1961 Americans consumed 2883 calories per person. By 2000 this had increased to 3817. Combine this with a decrease in physical activity and it's a no-brainer; in the space of 40 years people got fatter. Not only that - they also got sicker.

What foods made up this 935 calorie increase and what effect might those foods have had on overall health?

Are we eating a lot more animal-based protein? Red meat? Or is it the increase of saturated fats that have made us sicker?

The answers to these questions present a stunning contrast to traditional dietary dogma.

Diet books endorse processed foods. State health authorities endorse fast food. Welcome to the confusing and incoherent world of "healthy food".

McDonald's Australia have "persuaded" the National Heart Foundation to place the healthy tick on 9 of its meals.

UK celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has pointed the finger at US junk food culture. Oliver supports the New York City initiative to ban trans-fats."The junk food companies have got more resources than the government and more money to spend on poxy lawyers so I completely admire and condone the mayor for doing it," he said. (via Reuters)

Conventional state-sponsored nutrition guidelines have failed us. So what now?

H&R Block has been promoting National Tax Advice Day (10th Jan). Any mention of the word "tax" is enough to make my eyes glaze over. However one particular page is of interest - Lose weight, fatten your wallet.

In 2004, the IRS elected to allow tax deductions for "obesity" treatment. Previously this only covered related problems such as heart disease and hypertension.

If a brief perusal of MyPyramid (the USDA's new dietary recommendations) leaves you with a nagging sense of bewilderment - there may be some very good reasons why.

The following article (reprinted in entirety) highlights some peculiar anomalies in the food guidelines. Whether you concur or not - here is some real food for thought...