There are, however, a few things I didn’t know before that I thought to share.  You won’t find any study or survey results here.  If you’re interested then go ahead and use one of the links here or your favorite search engine to dig a little deeper.

California Law limits trans fat (0.5 grams per serving) used by “food facilities”.  Come 2011 these restrictions will include the frying of yeast dough and cake batter.   Interestingly enough the law doesn’t define food facilities so be careful if you’re operating a catering business.  There is a nice big loophole though.  The law makes an exception for food sold or served in a manufacturer’s original, sealed package.

Several states like NY, CA, and AR have, or are trying to get passed laws that add a tax of soft drinks.  This explains why I’ve seen TV spots about the major soda distributors voluntarily pulling sweetened soft drinks and replacing them with diet versions.

The FDA is looking to make changes to the recommended amount of salt

Oh and a lot has been shouted about HFCS good and bad.  But NY is even considering a law on that too. (No, I’m not picking on NY.  Just that I used to live there.)

Do you have any thoughts about these?  What other interesting consumer food regulations do you know that I’ve left out?

I love debates. I just worry when things aren’t reviewed. Today I got yet another chain letter regarding H.R. 1388. The subject and title was “WAKE UP AMERICA!!!”

Wake Up America? Yes, please do and quickly!!

H.R. 1388 was passed behind our backs? What? By the way the bill is also entitled “The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, an Act to reauthorize and reform the national service laws.”

How could a HOUSE RESOLUTION get passed behind our backs? Did they (our elected representatives) get to vote on this? Yep. And it passed right in front of us on March 31, 2009 Roll call number 169 in the House Question On Motion To Concur in the Senate Amendments: H R 1388 Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act Take a look at the results here – http://www.opencongress.org/roll_call/show/5405

I’m amazed anyone would be against an act invigorating volunteerism and education but there were. Just not enough to keep it from passing right in front of us.

Oh, and that $20Million? It has nothing to do with H.R. 1388 nor does it say anything about migrating anyone to the USA.

Unlike the House Resolution it’s a short note so here it is:

THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the Press Secretary ­ For Immediate Release February 2, 2009 January 27, 2009 Presidential Determination No. 2009-15 MEMORANDUM FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE SUBJECT: Unexpected Urgent Refugee and Migration Needs Related to Gaza By the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including section 2(c)(1) of the Migration and Refugee Assistance Act of 1962 (the “Act”), as amended (22 U.S.C. 2601), I hereby determine, pursuant to section 2(c)(1) of the Act, that it is important to the national interest to furnish assistance under the Act in an amount not to exceed $20.3 million from the United States Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund for the purpose of meeting unexpected and urgent refugee and migration needs, including by contributions to international, governmental, and nongovernmental organizations and payment of administrative expenses of the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration of the Department of State, related to humanitarian needs of Palestinian refugees and conflict victims in Gaza. You are authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in the Federal Register. BARACK OBAMA

And the kicker of it all is that the link at the very bottom of the chain email http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2009-02-04-E9-2488 points the exact copy of what I’ve included above. I’m sure the original creator of the email figured if people saw the link they’s assume everything in the email was accurate so why bother to read for themselves.

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