Should government increase their role in guiding food and nutrition selections?

Topic:
U.S. Political Debates

16 Contributors
in this discussion.

Yes
56% of users

  • Nutrition is an important thing to address.

    Considering the obesity epidemic plaguing this nation, it would be a great idea to keep a steady job on focusing on nutritional information for all consumers.

    Yes NumberlessClemente63

  • The government should increase its role in guiding food and nutrition selections by restricting funding for food products to only healthy choices.

    It is wrong to restrict what foods a corporation is able to sell. However, if a citizen is receiving food assistance (such as food stamps, free school lunches, et cetera), the government should only allow its funds to be used for healthy alternatives. For instance, food stamps could be used to purchase fruits, vegetables, meats, or dairy, but not candy bars, chips, or sodas. Candy bars, chips, and sodas are not necessary components of a diet, so by funding their purchase, the government is essentially funding a form of recreation that not only creates health problems, but increases its financial burden. Most people on government-funded food plans have no health-care plans, so when they become sick as a result of their unhealthy, government-funded diet, the government ends up paying for their emergency room health-care too.

    Yes A Paul

  • The government should promote the eating of healthy foods, without overstepping boundaries, because a healthy people are a productive people.

    A healthy and fit populous is a productive populous. Therefore, it is in the best interests of our government to promote eating healthy foods. They should not, however, go as far as taxing unhealthy foods, or making certain foods illegal. Regardless, they will never back healthy food programs, because an unhealthy and lethargic populous is an easy to control populous as well.

    Yes BrianDj

  • Even with the current regulation, a lot of unhealthy things are in our food.

    The government forbids certain foods such as tainted meats, and requires that ingredients be shown. However despite this there are a lot of chemicals and unhealthy compounds in our food today. Furthermore the government does not look at the synergy of the elements in our food. The chemicals by themselves may be more or less harmless, but working together they may be very harmful. Furthermore a lot of these chemicals have long term effects which no one pays attention to. Companies will do anything to sell as much of their products, and as cheaply as possible, disregarding the health of their consumers. The government must step in.

    Yes 4uncLife

  • Because of the state of the health care system, the government should increase their role in guiding food and nutrition selection.

    The way the health care system works is that we all are effected by each others actions. When I go for a check up to the doctor I am not just paying for the time it takes the doctor to look at me. Some of the money goes towards lighting, staff, other operating expenses and some goes to making sure the doctor can take care of other patience. If I go to an office where the doctor take cares of a lot of very sick people chances are I'll pay more money for things like check ups. If there are less sick people it means the doctor's expenses will be less and I will pay less. So the governments guidance will lead to healthier people. That will lead to cheaper health care, and hopefully a better economy .

    Yes ChrisFIirty

  • I support the government increase in guiding food and nutrition selections, because it is in everyone's best interest if our country is healthy.

    The sole purpose of business is to make money. Food companies get us addicted to their food, pharmaceuticals want to give us pills, and surgeons want their cosmetic surgery fees, all in order to make money. The government should dictate that nutrition labels be placed on all foods being sold anywhere, so people know what they are eating. The government should also require that healthy alternatives are available in schools and in restaurants. This will balance the freedom to eat what we want, with helping to provide us with healthier choices.

    Yes labusy

  • I think the government must increase their role in guiding nutrition selections due to the obesity epidemic facing our country.

    I believe the government has to step in and influence nutrition decisions more especially in our nation's schools. The school lunch program is not currently set up to teach children how to make good food choices and is contributing to the obesity epidemic in our country. Many children cannot learn proper nutrition at home therefore the only place they receive education about nutrition is schools. However, our governments policies allow children to consume chocolate milk on a daily basis which contains as much sugar as a soda. Children need to learn that French fries are not a good vegetable option but according to school program guidelines it is. Obesity is a contributing factor in the development of several life threatening diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. The costs associated with treating these diseases are driving health costs beyond where many people can afford proper medical treatment.

    Yes tae993ag

  • To an extent, the government should regulate food selection, because a government has a responsibility to protect its people, or at least its budget and its economy.

    People may say, "The only people who are harmed by bad eating habits are the ones who engage in them," but that is patently false. Food-related conditions such as diabetes tax the health-care system, creating opportunity costs in the economy which stifle its growth; in addition, the government loses money directly from the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

    Yes TheSans

  • The government should take a more active role in educating the public on healthy nutrition choices.

    Some people have grown up making poor food choices. If the government is more active in making information known, it will be easier for us to combat the growing problem of obesity. Knowing how to plan a meal, what options have less calories, which foods are healthier and other simple tips can create ease in changing lifestyles for those who were raised oblivious of nutritional guides. People need to understand that food is fuel, and what you eat is directly proportional to how you feel and how you look.

    Yes badmadicine
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No
44% of users

  • The government should decrease their role.

    The government should decrease their role in nutrition selections. In comparing the US government recommendations with that of other governments, particularly European governments, the US recommendations contains entirely too much starch and too little protein. This triggers a glycemic response, causing the body to produce an excess amount of insulin, and causes the body to retain fat.

    No VoicelessEmil67

  • If the government worries about what we eat, then what will be next?

    When a governments can micromanage what we eat, they can do anything else they want. If the government cannot provide basic food assistance to the millions on food stamps, while over half of the food in schools is thrown away, how can they expect to do a good job managing independent adults? The short answer is that they cannot. If the government seeks to manage adult food choices, seeking to punish those who buy sugar will interfere with punishing those who rape, maim and murder. Thus, controlling adults on food choices will harm them, as well as violate their adult rights.

    No Pir4And

  • The government already does too much in our lives, and they don't have the money to do more anyway.

    People are first and foremost responsible for their own care. The government should only take a supporting role in any fundamental lifestyle decisions, such as nutrition. While it is wise for the government to help people know what is healthy and good for them, it should not go beyond that. Should the government go beyond this role, then they are taking the responsibility away from the people to care for themselves, and this is neither appropriate, nor justified.

    No MariaR

  • Our governement came up with the food pyaramid to begin with.

    The previous "food pyramid" was more like a "feed lot pyramid". The foods recommended were more like what is used to fatten cattle in the Chicago feed lots. Americans are suffering from a epidemic of obesity. Get the government out of the food business and let common sense rule the land.

    No Anonymous

  • The government should not increase their role in guiding food and nutrition selections, because it already has too much control.

    Generally speaking, people are taught proper nutrition and what is healthy from an early age. As a guide, we also have the food pyramid. If people choose not to follow it, then that's their choice. People should be able to choose whatever they want to eat, just like choosing their outfit for the day. The government already has so much control. First, they made the fast food chains eliminate trans-fats, now there are regulations for restaurants and salt use. While I agree that these are poor nutrition choices, it is my choice to consume it. If I eat it, I suffer the consequences. If we let them control what we eat, what will be next? What will happen to the manufacturers of food that the government decides is bad for us? How do they decide what is bad? How many people will lose their jobs? The government should stay out of food and nutrition selections.

    No KimMyh3r0

  • I believe the food pyramid is all the government contribution people need in making food and nutrition selections.

    I think regardless of what the government does there are people that are going to continue to make unhealthy and unwise food choices. The government has already done its part when it created the food pyramid to assist people in make good choices. If people choose not to follow that then it is their fault and not the fault of the government.

    No 54nShaI

  • I do not support an increase in the government's regulation of food and nutrition selections because I feel the FDA already implements the right standards, and people should be allowed to decide what they consume.

    I believe that the FDA should continue to set the standards for what is safe and what is not for the public. However, beyond that I believe that people should have the freedom of choosing what they consume and what they do not consume. The government should address more political issues that they are better suited to handle than the consumption choices of the everyday American. As long as food is safe to eat, I think it is best to leave determining nutritional value to those who are considering it for dinner.

    No taffydelite
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Should government increase their role in guiding food and nutrition selections?
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