A lot of my writing in the past has been slanted toward the political, and I'm a big fan of freedom. So when a story comes along that combines food and freedom, I get sucked in.
Living in an area where there is still a semi-thriving dairy tradition, I've been intrigued by the surging popularity of raw milk and raw-milk cheeses. There is information out there on the laws that govern raw-milk sales, but as this video makes clear, a multitude of federal, state, and local agencies are just starting to get their noses in the barn door.
When it comes to food, I simply don't see a government role in the decision-making process. For example, the San Francisco decision to ban fast food kids' meals with toys in them represents all the worst of governmental in loco parentis -- note that the ban is binding even when the parents are present and ordering the meal for their kids.
Worse, the policing of your plate seems to grow each year: from salt to trans fat to foie gras to the latest danger du jour, caffeine and alcohol in energy drinks. The lesson in all is the same: Each time we give the government some sort of authority over what we do with our bodies, we commit two mistakes. First, we allow someone else to make decisions for us, which is usually a pretty bad idea. (Think back to the '70s, when we were all told that margarine was the way to go.) Second, once the state gains the power to regulate what goes on your plate in one way, it rarely remains satisfied for long. There are hosts of other hidden killers out there, from BPA to HFCS, that only your government can save you from.
If my body is a temple, I'll opt for strict separation of church and state.
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