While I agree that a healthy diet is more a matter of education and individual choice than state control, government has an important role to play to ensure the food we eat is safe. For instance, we now know that trans fats (hydrogenated vegetable oils) are really bad for us, yet they are nearly everywhere in the processed foods we eat. Just one gram a day increases the risk of heart disease by 20%. The average Canadian eats 10 grams a day. The recommended daily intake is zero. When I asked Anne McLellan, the Minister of Health, to eliminate trans fats from our diet, her reply suggested that she will not do anything to remove this toxic garbage in our food as long as it is properly labelled. In other words, she's leaving it up to Canadians whether or not to feed poison to their children. Furthermore, she is giving the food companies five years to rewrite their labels and, amazingly, baby food is exempt! Most people do not read labels on processed food and many would not understand the technical data in the fine print. Low-income people are especially vulnerable. It takes a certain level of economic stability to plan and maintain a healthy diet for your family. In practical terms, high-flown arguments about informed choice are irrelevant. Other countries have effectively banned trans fats from their food. There are healthy alternatives that do not compromise quality or taste. It is the role of government to tell the industry to stop using trans fats. Pat Martin, MP, Winnipeg Centre, Winnipeg.
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