Rant #2: The Center for Science in the Public Interest

Usual caveat... not necessarily the opinions of my employer, etc.

There are a select group of public organizations I hate with a passion. But none get my dander up as much as the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

These folks want to be the country's food police. Previously their modus operandi was through guilt and bad publicity. Take a slow news period of the year, get your press release out to the media. News staffs, who often find it easier to retype a press release than do real journalism, would regurgitate the CSPI spin on things and it would be on the news for 24-36 hours before it would fade away. Whether it was Chinese food or Big Macs, CSPI warned us that it was bad food. No **** Sherlock--nobody eats every meal of the day at McDonald's or the Mom & Pop Chinese place down the street. We suspect that these meals are nutritionally wanting and we only stop by to eat there once in a while when it is convenient. It is our choice. The ever-expanding quantity of dunlops and dickidoos extending past America's belts is proof at how effective the CPSI's past campaigns have been.

They have advocated for the taxing of soft drinks and junk foods to pay for health care. Seeing the level of consumption of alcohol and tobacco in the US, it is obvious as to exactly how effective Nanny Taxes are. So lets add another one. Blame the item not the person who's consuming it.

Their website claims any number of wondrous things that they have done. The list is flimsy and they certainly claim a lot of credit for things other people have also claimed to accomplish (often being in positions of power where they can actually do these things). I did chuckle about the caffeine infused malt beverages and the fact that they bullyed the Budweiser people into stepping out of the arena but there are approach over 100 other brands and varieties of those beverages on the market today, often without the long standing experience of the Busch organization of how to make a safe beverage. And besides, most bars still stock regular energy drinks--mix it with vodka and you have a stronger beverage on both ends of the equation. Great move, folks.

Well, the old MO is no longer effective. We were ineffective trying to educate, so now it's time to litigate. They have filed a class-action lawsuit against Denny's for having too much salt in their food. And they've done so in New Jersey, no less. YHGTBFKM.

Anybody with half a brain knows that Denny's food is far from being the healthiest fare around. Anybody who's eaten their food can taste all the salt in it. It's not on my top ten list of restaurants but in a pinch it will do.

Certain populations should absolutely watch their salt intake. But of late salt has been getting both negative and positive reviews. Guidelines are present for "safe" levels of salt intake, but much like the infamous "Drink 8 cups of water a day" guidance, there is very little good science to go along with what should be the daily intake.

But beyond all of that, CPSI get the hell off of my plate. I am a healthy, average sized (BMI under 25) adult male with an outstanding cholestrol number and textbook 120/70 blood pressure. I know what food is good for me and what food is not. I am smart enough to know what is getting on my fork and making it to my mouth. I have the Internet that is full of places where I can look up nutritional information. Let me make my food choices and go somewhere else.

CPSI you're wasting this country's oxygen. Pay attention to your own eating habits and leave the rest of us alone.