Aren’t you thrilled that the Government is just looking out for your best interests, since you are obviously to incompetent to make your own decisions? FDA takes aim at salt content in processed food
The Food and Drug Administration is planning an unprecedented effort to gradually reduce the salt consumed each day by Americans, saying that less sodium in everything from soup to nuts would prevent thousands of deaths from hypertension and heart disease. The initiative, to be launched this year, would eventually lead to the first legal limits on the amount of salt allowed in food products.
The government intends to work with the food industry and health experts to reduce sodium gradually over a period of years to adjust the American palate to a less salty diet, according to FDA sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the initiative had not been formally announced.
At least they haven’t taken the New York City route, and straight up banned the use of salt in restaurants.
It begs the question, what right does the federal government have to make these decisions? If you want salt, go for it. None of the governments business. It is your decision, though I’m sure your doctor will tell you to chill out on the Margaritas and forgo the salt on hand part of your Tequila shooters (note: I am not a big salt person. I do not look for low salt foods, they have no taste, but, about the only thing I put salt on is scrambled eggs when they are not in a sandwich. I rarely touch salt. I also do Tequila shooters straight, no salt or lemon/lime. That’s me. You do what you want). And they wonder why a new Pew survey finds that 52% of Americans think that government is way too big and powerful, while 58% say that the federal government is interfering too much in state and local matters, and only 22% trust the federal government.
More: Damn. I hate when I am ahead of the curve and do not get the pull on Memorandum 
. Anyhow, Mother Jones unhinged lefty Kevin Drum
I am so in favor of this. It’s sort of like the Do Not Call list: I don’t really care about ideology here, and I don’t really care if this is nanny statism or government overreach or anything else. I’m just totally in favor. And you know what? By the time this is done, my guess is that nobody will even remember a difference. They’ll just be eating healthier food that tastes better and doesn’t cause as many strokes or heart attacks. Three cheers for the FDA.
Shorter Kevin: “woo hoo, someone else will tell me how to live my life, because I’m not capable.”
Interesting: both The Moderate Voice (left) and Legal Insurrection (right) agree on this slippery slope.
Moonbattery: If the government can tell you how much salt you can eat, it can also tell you how much you can weigh and how many jumping jacks you need to do in front of your Telescreen every morning.
Moe Lane: At any rate, I can’t wait to see the FDA explain to the American people why they can’t have proper bacon anymore…
Hot Air and theblogprof have more.
I smell a business opportunity for the future. Black Market Salt ! Just like Prohibition. THAT worked at well.
#1 Teach stop hyperventilating and calm down. New York has no law about salt use in restaurants. Please at least make an attempt to read the article you link to
#2 Would you be in favor also of having the government stop making dairy companies put expiration dates on their products ?
And fish if you think that is really going to happen I suggest you rush out right now and buy a couple of tons of salt and stock pile it for later. Or not.
Maybe he could lay down a bunch of money with Intrade backing it up huh Johnny-cakes?
New York has no law about salt use in restaurants.
The law has been proposed in a bill. Of course, whether it is proposed or an actual law doesn’t answer the core question of the post, which is “what right does the government have to regulate the input of adults for a legal product that causes no harm to anyone else?”
Would you be in favor also of having the government stop making dairy companies put expiration dates on their products ?
Of course salt in a food and a dairy product are not the same thing, but we have all come to expect such non sequiturs from you.
So to answer your question in a style you seem to enjoy, would you like the government to regulate your comments on blogs?
And fish if you think that is really going to happen……
So you are either saying that the regulation is bad and should not be implemented or the FDA is wasting our time and tax dollars.
In either case, you seem to disagree with this proposal, which just goes to show that your reaction is one of a knee jerk, rather than based on any factual argument.
Oh, and by the way Ryan, while you are ready to swallow anything that restricts freedom and choices, there are some of us that prefer to take a look at the actual science of issues such as this:
http://www.scientificblogging.com/news_releases/high_salt_intake_health_risk_debunked
You can take my salt from my cold dead hands….. after my heart attack. (but at least my food tasted great up till the end)