Los Angeles fast food clampdown

[squash500]

Sounds to me like the soup nazi on Seinfeld. "No soup for you". This time in South L.A. it's the slogan, "you're too fat, no Cheeseburger for you "


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25896233/

 

[ig-88]

It's a one-year ban on allowing new fast food joints into one section of L.A.

The problem, I would think, is that fast food is cheap due to its efficient processing, ability to be preserved, assembly-line production, and the overall marketing power of the corporate parents. Not to mention, the stuff is addictive, and people (just like animals) have a tendency to gorge.

Fruits and veggies are expensive and cumbersome to prepare in a manner that is convenient. A health food place would most likely be owned by a mom-and-pop outfit, or a much smaller corporate entity. IMO, they're not going to make it in a poor neighbourhood, where they can not offer low prices, or bring in sufficient revenue.

There are also cultural factors as well. It's unlikely that people in these parts of town are going to start eating asparagus and tofu, without some financial incentive or some massive marketing campaign.

 

[Primetime21]

I remember visiting L A when i was 10, going to Jack-in-the-Box for the majority of my meals. That place was great, and i can see why so many NORTH Americans are overweight. It doesn't always cost more to eat healthier, especially at the grocery store. The problem is that too many people are just to lazy to buy better foods that may take a bit longer to prepare. They are looking for the quickest, easiest thing to make. A lot of the time that ends up costing more. But do people care, not really. In theory this is a good idea, but in practical terms this will take away quite a few job opportunities for the people that live in that area. How do you weigh the trade off?

 

[squash500]

Fruits and veggies are expensive and cumbersome to prepare in a manner that is convenient.

In local Toronto supermarkets, the price of fresh fruits and veggies are astronomical. Even the price of pasta and rice have gone up recently. It is very hard to eat healthy when you are on a tight budget.

What really bothers me about this article is that if an overweight person wants to eat a Cheeseburger why can't they? IMHO, no matter what good intentions L.A has citizens should be allowed to eat whatever food they want no matter how fat they are.

IMHO, they should have as many fast food restaurants as the area can handle.

 

[tboy]

In local Toronto supermarkets, the price of fresh fruits and veggies are astronomical. Even the price of pasta and rice have gone up recently. It is very hard to eat healthy when you are on a tight budget.

What really bothers me about this article is that if an overweight person wants to eat a Cheeseburger why can't they? IMHO, no matter what good intentions L.A has citizens should be allowed to eat whatever food they want no matter how fat they are.

IMHO, they should have as many fast food restaurants as the area can handle.

Well then, I bet you're ok with providing crack and meth to those who want it also?

Sorry, there are all kinds of costs associated with people who have eating disorders and sometimes people with problems need politicians to point them in the right direction via things like this.....

You COULD argue that it's a free country but in reality, it really isn't all THAT free.....

 

[squash500]

Sorry, there are all kinds of costs associated with people who have eating disorders and sometimes people with problems need politicians to point them in the right direction via things like this.

Tboy, I do see your point . All I'm saying is the head of the restaurant association made a very good point in the article. He said basically " are all Mcdonalds and Burger King's now supposed to hire security guards to determine if a person is skinny enough to be allowed to eat a Cheeseburger." ?

Where do you draw the line?

 

[goodtime]

Well then, I bet you're ok with providing crack and meth to those who want it also?

Sorry, there are all kinds of costs associated with people who have eating disorders and sometimes people with problems need politicians to point them in the right direction via things like this.....

Sorry the few $$$ for Happy meal hardly enough to buy crack or meth.
I understand what you're saying but not the right solution.

True, well-known fact fast food chain target poor neighborhoods. Better solution would be exercise program in schools, SF is doing it with some success. For adults, more funding for social programs with health related. Money for community associations to get people out of the house & be active. For home-bound, money for home-care to allow more hours with clients instead of cuts.

 

[Tarkus]

It's a one-year ban on allowing new fast food joints into one section of L.A.

The problem, I would think, is that fast food is cheap due to its efficient processing, ability to be preserved, assembly-line production, and the overall marketing power of the corporate parents. Not to mention, the stuff is addictive, and people (just like animals) have a tendency to gorge.

Fruits and veggies are expensive and cumbersome to prepare in a manner that is convenient. A health food place would most likely be owned by a mom-and-pop outfit, or a much smaller corporate entity. IMO, they're not going to make it in a poor neighbourhood, where they can not offer low prices, or bring in sufficient revenue.

There are also cultural factors as well. It's unlikely that people in these parts of town are going to start eating asparagus and tofu, without some financial incentive or some massive marketing campaign.

First of all most fast foods if not all fast foods are essentially hugely high in salt, fat and sugar. Fat because it is cheap, (I mean every Government is so proud to say we stopped transfat which is the cheapest but so what a Big Mac now costs McDonalds 8.3 cents versus 8.275 cents), and salt because in combination with sugar and fat gives something akin to a taste. Keep in mind all the products in there are a mix of fat/salt/sugar so you wind up with this never ending combination.

Secondly it isn't just about being poor but what being poor means. We decry poor people who don't try to make it work and then when a single mother has two or three jobs and has no choice but feed her kids Mickey Dee's we lambaste her. While I concur that the food choice is awful quite often there isn't a choice and McDonald's etc. has stepped in with their $1. meals etc.

Finally I thought the whole CNN Black In America thing was marginal except for the nutrition part. You see that show and how a woman is told after having a heart attack that she has to eat better and she points out how she can buy a gun easier than a tomato. She had to take something like 4 buses to get to the nearest store that sold fresh produce meanwhile if she shops local it is all high fat, high salt, high sugar... feeding this to the one racial group in America that is fast becoming terminally diabetic and high blood pressure.

Will this solve the problem? Who knows. Maybe it will garner some attention so that McDonald's doesn't sell a salad that after you put their dressing on it in fact contains more fat than a Big Mac?

I agree people have a right to chose but at times this seems almost like 'carpet baggetry'.

 

[tboy]

I don't live in LA so I can't say what their prices are like there but anyone who says eating out (no pun intended lol) is cheaper than cooking in has to take a course in shopping.

I remember back when I first moved out and had trouble making ends meet. I couldn't afford to eat even at McD's so I had to watch.

For eg:
Dozen eggs: $2.98 loaf of bread $1.29. There's 12 fried egg sandwiches. for $4.29. or 36 cents each.

LOblaws version of Kraft dinner is 79 cents

3 litre bag of milk is $3.79 +/- last time I looked a 1/4 litre of milk at McDs was around $0.69 so that's $2.80 a litre.

Bag of McCain superfries fat free 1 lbs bag is about $2.29. For me, that's about 5 meals of a side dish. Plus I bake them so there is no fat added.

Mr Noodle (while not the best thing on the planet) are still 33 cents a pack and that still does me for a quick hot lunch when I want it.

Can of chunky chicken soup/stew is loaded with all the good things we need and they are only $1.89 a can (for store brand).

I don't know about prices in LA but whenever I DO eat at a fast food place my meal ALWAYS comes to over $10.00 for fries, sandwich and drink (no supersize).

Sorry, I don't buy it that eating at a fast food place is cheaper than eating at home.

Although I WILL say this: When I travelled for business I used to stay at places like the Residence Inn and go buy groceries. It took 2 or 3 times for me to realize that it was cheaper to eat at a restaurant than buy groceries.

For eg: One time I was in Atlanta and bought what I figured would be groceries for 3 days. Cereal for breakfast (with milk), smoked turkey cold cuts and bread for lunch, then a chicken breast and a couple of other things for dinners. The bill came to $45.00 US.

Previous to that I had eaten at restaurants for lunch and dinner and bought a snack sandwich off the coffee truck for breakfast. The lunches and dinners cost me less than $10.00 total per day and the breakfast snacks were $2.00. I distinctly remember going to TGI Fridays with a co-worker and I had their 2 chicken breast meal (which I couldn't finish) and he had something else. Our total bill, including beer for him, was $24.00 with tip.That's a HUGE meal for $12.00....far better and far cheaper than groceries.

So maybe the problem isn't the fact that fast food is so prevalent, but that groceries are so pricey compared to it. Maybe instead of limiting the number of fast food outlets they should be controlling the pricing of healthier foods.

For eg: I know the government controls the price of milk by buying up huge quantities and dumping it to keep the price high. I'm sure the US government does the same.......and I bet this isn't the only food it is done to.

 

[Tarkus]

I don't live in LA so I can't say what their prices are like there but anyone who says eating out (no pun intended lol) is cheaper than cooking in has to take a course in shopping.

It isn't just about the cost though but also the cost of time. If the single mother has two or three jobs she hardly has the time to prepare and cook.. fast food becomes an attractive alternative. Also keep in mind that many inner city areas do not have easy access to produce and other quality foods. Also when you compare your price of about $10 for fast food, (btw I agree on this because I find fast food expensive), that isn't what they are buying. To address this 'void' the fast food companies have come up with all sorts of specials so over the course of the week you can probably keep your meal costs down below $5.

The Star did a study years ago on the cost of food in various Loblaws stores and found that their most expensive stores were in areas where there were high levels of poor people and the single most inexpensive store? The one at Bayview and Sheppard which almost had valet parking. Seems to be an endemic practice to some level North America wide.

However your examples are correct although not necessarily all that great in terms of nutrition but again I think the issue is more about time to cook for this target audience and not just the cost.

 

[tboy]

I agree tark about the nutrional value of the meals I suggested but they are certainly no worse than a burger......

But furthermore, has anyone eaten at KFC in the states? I tell you, I had a craving for it (once every 10 months or so lol) and they have a "sides" bar. Where you can load up on 1 2 or 3 sides. Well, mashed potatos with gravy, corn (in and of itself isn't bad), stuffing, and all kinds of stuff. Plus they give you a PLATTER to heap it onto. I actually kind of felt a little bad having this huge plate with only a little bit on it lol....(it kind of looked like those posh restaurants where presentation is everything lol)

 

[ig-88]

Tboy, Tarkus:

1) You don't have this in Canadian fast food restaurants (yet), but in the U.S., almost every fast food restaurant has the infamous dollar menu.

Here's the McDonald's Dollar Menu (each item $1): Double Cheeseburger, Small Fries, Small Soda, Side Salad, Two Pies, Hot Fudge Sundae, McChicken, Fruit N' Yogurt Parfait, 3 Cookies

For $3 + tax, you can get a full meal. A happy meal should be around $3, and the kids get a free toy.

2) For all those grocery store items you mentioned, you need to get to the grocery store first. Many of those big grocery stores in the States have pulled out of the inner city areas due to constant crime. So where are inner city folk going to go (assuming they don't have a car)?

You also need a stove (let's consider a microwave a luxury item). Assuming the stove isn't broke or infested with roaches, you also need the time to cook it. Time which isn't there if the parents are working multiple jobs, as Tarkus noted.

 

[DannytheManny]

Total & absurd infringement of personal liberties......what next - NO new escorts in LA either!

 

[Don]

Might be good intentioned but I dislike policies that take away freedoms. This does not compare to smoking where second hand smoke can be harmful.

 

[shakenbake]

Tboy, I do see your point . All I'm saying is the head of the restaurant association made a very good point in the article. He said basically " are all Mcdonalds and Burger King's now supposed to hire security guards to determine if a person is skinny enough to be allowed to eat a Cheeseburger." ?

Where do you draw the line?

Oh, if they are doing it in Kalifornication, then it must be the cat's ass.

Won't we ever get tired of just one region dictating what is in and what is not for the rest of the world? Personally, I wish that the San Andras Fault would take that politically anal retentive pock off the face of the earth.

 

[shakenbake]

Might be good intentioned but I dislike policies that take away freedoms. This does not compare to smoking where second hand smoke can be harmful.

Why don't you just stick to the topic of the thread and not confuse the issue? We were talking about obesity, not smoking. Please get back on topic. Thank you.

 

[shakenbake]

Tboy, Tarkus:

1) You don't have this in Canadian fast food restaurants (yet), but in the U.S., almost every fast food restaurant has the infamous dollar menu.

Here's the McDonald's Dollar Menu (each item $1): Double Cheeseburger, Small Fries, Small Soda, Side Salad, Two Pies, Hot Fudge Sundae, McChicken, Fruit N' Yogurt Parfait, 3 Cookies

For $3 + tax, you can get a full meal. A happy meal should be around $3, and the kids get a free toy.

2) For all those grocery store items you mentioned, you need to get to the grocery store first. Many of those big grocery stores in the States have pulled out of the inner city areas due to constant crime. So where are inner city folk going to go (assuming they don't have a car)?

You also need a stove (let's consider a microwave a luxury item). Assuming the stove isn't broke or infested with roaches, you also need the time to cook it. Time which isn't there if the parents are working multiple jobs, as Tarkus noted.

For $3, even at today's prices, I could buy a lot of fresh peachs or apples or pears. And, they would be tastier and more filling for a lot longer. Funny thing, my young kids have always liked to munch on fresh fruits and veggies over fast foods, given the choice. Maybe, they are wierd or raised wrong........

 

[Tarkus]

I agree tark about the nutrional value of the meals I suggested but they are certainly no worse than a burger......

But furthermore, has anyone eaten at KFC in the states? I tell you, I had a craving for it (once every 10 months or so lol) and they have a "sides" bar. Where you can load up on 1 2 or 3 sides. Well, mashed potatos with gravy, corn (in and of itself isn't bad), stuffing, and all kinds of stuff. Plus they give you a PLATTER to heap it onto. I actually kind of felt a little bad having this huge plate with only a little bit on it lol....(it kind of looked like those posh restaurants where presentation is everything lol)

I am at the point where I cannot actually eat it. It is as if my body simply rejects it... but yes lots of people almost need it.

A few years back my daughter went into this whole poutine phase and my wife says "STOP" and I said 'NO.. let her seek the dark side" one month later given the alternative that we offered (and remember most inner city kids are never allowed the alternative), she has eaten fast food 2 times in the last 2 years.

Like all things nothing is simple.

 

[tboy]

Might be good intentioned but I dislike policies that take away freedoms. ........

That's a little naive: We have thousands of laws and policies that take away a lot of our personal freedoms and not all of them are dangerous to others, just dangerous to us period.

For eg:
- Base jumping off buildings
- Discharging firearms within the city limits
- Noise by laws (while an irritant to others it isn't dangerous)
- Speed limits
- Storage of junk in your front yard
- Raising farm animals in your back yard
- Building codes
- Banned substances (ie: pesticides)
- Water use bans when needed
- Public Nudity and intoxication
- Restriction of importation of certain items that are known hazards ie: drugs and chemicals
- Pollution control and waste disposal
- Building permits (which prevent people from doing whatever they want whenever they want. For eg: you can't build a smelting tower in your backyard or erect a 10 story apartment building on your property).
- Drinking hours and availability of places to buy alcohol.
- Drugs (illegal ones like pot, coke, meth, crack etc).
- Public solicitation

Sorry, there is a tremendous amount of rules already in place that we readily accept and are there to protect us from ourselves and I see this as no different.

 

[goodtime]

but that groceries are so pricey compared to it. Maybe instead of limiting the number of fast food outlets they should be controlling the pricing of healthier foods.

True, healthy food is more expensive. You're more likely to find a liqore store than a decent supermarket in inner city. The foodstamp program is a joke.

As been pointed out, much faster to buy from fastfood when you're trying to hold down 2 or more jobs or looking after kids.

As as been pointed out, there's tons of dollar specials or jumbo size promo to lured you in & consume fatty greasy junk lack carbo, at end of day the person is tired & live in a couch. It's sad but that's how they live their life same as the day before.

Rarely any parks or courts with working basketball hoops or fields to play in. The little precious public space are either not maintained or vandalized.