Big Food's big lie: Rely on personal responsibility

Last time I wrote, I decried the stain of Big Food’s insistence that “personal responsibility” should be the only standard of conduct, when it works its ass off to ensure it won’t be held responsible for its actions. It’s scum-suckingly low.

But here’s another part of its duplicity:

They.

Don’t.

Mean.

It.

It is the only logical conclusion.

When commenting on potential obesity-fighting measures such as what they so glibly dismiss as Twinkie taxes, and they pound on “personal responsibility” as the alternative, what they’re saying is that people should decide for themselves what, and how much, to eat.

But the only way that is going to address obesity is if we eat less in general, and particularly less of the foods most likely to fuel obesity. Like, say, Twinkies.

But only a moron could think that’s what Big Food wants people to do. They spend billions of dollars every year, persuading us to act otherwise.

Unfortunately, I think this slimy strategy is certain to succeed. I don’t think they think there’s any chance that most people will act more responsibly around their food choices, especially in the atmosphere of eat more/eat happy/eat fun that toil to foster and maintain.

And on that, I don’t disagree with them.

Here’s one more thing to consider: “Personal responsibility,” as an anti-obesity measure, has not suffered for lack of testing. It’s been our predominant “policy” for years, and two out of three American adults, and one out of three American children, are overweight or obese.


Author and wellness innovator Michael Prager helps smart companies
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