The whole 'low fat' labelling culture we have in the UK is out of order imo and should be changed. Cereal bars, yoghurts, crisps etc all labelled "50% less fat" or "1% fat" or conversely "1 of your 5 a day", "high in fibre", "wholegrain" when in fact they're incredibly high sugar or calorie dense snacks that should be eaten very occasionally as a treat - not a healthy treat replacement as the packaging and advertising would have you believe.

The show made some interesting points but was also very biased, as with most mainstream 'documentaries' which makes it hard to know where the truth lies in their claims. 

Dominos have started putting a kcal per slice value on their website, I ate a 2140kcal pizza to myself last night and I have no one to blame but myself.

Dave, you are just trying to avoid the facts. Just because the EU has production quotas doesn't mean that a lot of additional product is imported.

I'm providing facts....

your program is on the topic of HFCS... prevalent in the US as a replacement for sugar and potentially one cause of the greater obesity problem they have (yes we have an obesity problem too LDO...) - point is, re: this topic in particular its mostly a US problem - HFCS is significantly worse than sugar, and isn't anywhere near as prevalent in the EU - I've even provided you the figures....

here is an article outlining the problem with HFCS vs sugar

http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S26/91/22K07/

if you don't believe that this problem with HFCS is largely a US issue then you ought to actually provide figures to back up that assertion as I'll still stand by my point that its no where near as prevalent in the EU

Clock'd, it's not the stuff being in food, it's the fact you, me and everyone else isn't told about it being put there. Note addictweb's post above, anything which says low fat is invariably going to include a lot of sugars. They are promoting something which definitely isn't healthy as healty. And even if you and everyone else on this forums wants to be in ignorant bliss about the poisons being fed to you at the pig trough I don't conform to that idea.

Then again, when anyone complains about the people on the sick or unemployed, please remember not to care then. Both use up your taxes.

Dave

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1275498/Soft-drinks-linked-pancreatic-cancer.html
Pancreatic cancer
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7219473.stm
Gout
You can add any insulin deficiency issue to that, and a few more things. White sugar, sucrose, call it what you will, is changed into fructose in your body.

Beaniscoollike, you say that you don't really care, so why not just ignore the thread? You obviously think I want to change what you eat. What you actually shove down your throat is up to you. I'm just presenting a bit of education which you could read/watch or ignore. Had everyone simply ignored me this thread would have just one post. Instead there are a load of people trying to defend what they eat.

Although, perhaps the food can actually taste better without the crap being in there.

Clock'd, it's not the stuff being in food, it's the fact you, me and everyone else isn't told about it being put there. Note addictweb's post above, anything which says low fat is invariably going to include a lot of sugars. They are promoting something which definitely isn't healthy as healty. And even if you and everyone else on this forums wants to be in ignorant bliss about the poisons being fed to you at the pig trough I don't conform to that idea.

Instead there are a load of people trying to defend what they eat.

I don't see anyone defending the food itself or one claiming any degree of healthiness, all that has been discussed is choice and responsibility. I agree that these things aren't healthy and should be labelled but I also noted that it is still your own fault for not educating yourself/your family if you are quick to buy snack junk or convenience foods and not make fresh food with ingredients bought yourself. I guess arguing that some of this packaging represents lies and is deceiving people is the thin end of the wedge, but only if you choose not to look at what is in what you're eating and go off the marketing. We have much stricter regulations than America and there is all the information you need to decide if something is good for you on most packaging.

Everyone knows sugar is not good for you and makes you fat, its basic health knowledge I think they might even teach in primary school, if not at least secondary school. The fact that people don't bother to check how much sugar content is in food and drink is still their own fault, blindly following a label that says "Low Fat!!1" without checking the rest of the ingredients is naive. Don't forget Mc D's and all the evil fast food corporate monsters also have to list all the foods ingredients/nutritional value now. Surprisingly most of the food is not that bad either if consumed in moderation, but we know this is where people are going wrong already.

Everyone knows sugar is not good for you and makes you fat, its basic health knowledge I think they might even teach in primary school, if not at least secondary school.

Everyone Knows Argument

Here is a nice refutation of the everyone knows argument kindly submitted by Jim Smith.

The argument "everyone knows" to substantiate a belief is not one that will withstand logical examination. Here are a few examples of what "everyone knows" that are observably false.

At one time, over 99% of the people on earth "knew" the earth was flat. This is in spite of the fact that the curvature of the earth is observable from any seashore or mountain top. No matter where you go on earth, the curvature, to the eye, remains the same. This shows that it is not a local phenomenon but a consistent feature of the globe. Yet, "everyone knew" the earth was flat.

As recently as 1900, at least 99% of the population would tell you that, "Man will never fly". Even more recently many would have said, "If God wanted man to fly, he would have given us wings". Nonetheless, we do fly despite what "everyone knows".

Even in 1960, most people would not believe that men would ever walk on the moon. Even after the fact, many swore it was a stunt filmed in a Hollywood studio. Because "everyone knows" that is just "Buck Rogers stuff".

Even more recently, something as ubiquitous today as cell phones were a fantasy from the Dick Tracy comic strip. Because "everyone knows" you can't have a phone without wires that will send voice, text, and pictures.

The truth is, just because a lot of people say a thing is true, does not make it true. As Abraham Lincoln once said, "If I am right, everyone will know it soon enough. If I am wrong, a hundred angels swearing I am right will not change it."

This brings me to Rule seven in my list of universal truths. "Beliefs, no matter how sincerely held, do not alter facts." Even if millions of people share those beliefs, it does not change the facts. The one thing that never can change is that very few people ever bother to consider facts when forming their beliefs. Mark Twain remarked, "Common sense is the sum total of all prejudices acquired by the age of 16."

http://www.endevil.com/everyoneknows.html

I think you will find that stating 'everyone knows' is an assumption as well as an unfair argument. No matter what it is you will *almost* always find someone willing to truthfully say 'I didn't know that!"

Go have a look at ingredients in 'Weight Watchers' 'dieting products'. Many are high in sodium/salt but also sugar. Find a product that says it is low in fat and you will find that most are high in sugar. Find a good number of things that are described as 'only x calories' and it will invariably contain a lot of things with a very high amount of calories for the weight of product.

Weight Watchers Blueberry Muffins or Double Chocolate Muffins: 1 muffin (2.2 ounces) = 18-21 grams sugar, 180-190 calories

Weight Watchers Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cups (and other flavors): 1 small cup = 22 grams sugar, 140 calories

Weight Watchers English Toffee Crunch: 2 bars = 20 grams sugar, 220 calories

Weight Watchers Giant Chocolate Fudge Bar: 1 bar = 16 grams sugar, 110 calories

Weight Watchers Giant Cookies & Cream Bar: 1 bar = 15 grams sugar, 140 calories

And as for schools educating people about sugar - they are pushing the damn stuff! Just look at the vending machines installed in most schools.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-489613/Is-sugar-killing-you.html

I think most people on tekforums are in the top 20% of the educated. The bottom third will probably have no idea what Sucrose or Fructose is. I seem to remember a clip where people were asked to sign a petition saying DiHydrogen Monoxide should be banned...


Remember, DiHydrogen Monoxide is bad for you! Actually it can be, if you take too much of it! 

Edit: And now I'm opening a 250ml tin of Pepsi. 26.5 grams of sugar. I'm only drinking it cause my bro bought the non-diet and he prefers the 'calorie free' option. Normally I will only drink cola outside of the house.