NYC Health Department cracks down on French fries

NYC Health Department cracks down on French fries

New York City's Health Department has issued a long list of do's and don'ts to its children -- I'm sorry, its employees -- including a ban on French fries.

Also: Employees also cannot serve cookies and a special occasion cake during celebratory get-togethers. That's just too much sugar and fat.

Other food guidelines laid out in the health department's "Life in the Cubicle Village" guidelines:

-- All fried food -- not just French fries -- is a no-go.

-- Tap water is one of the beverages of choice. "Other beverages must be less than 25 calories per 8 ounces."

-- "Cut muffins and bagels into halves or quarters, or order mini sizes. Offer thinly-sliced, whole-grain bread," the brochure states.

-- Air-popped popcorn -- "popped at the party and served in brown paper lunch bags" -- is allowed.

My question - what right does an employer have to dictate what you eat? I could understand if they were limiting the food choices provided by the employer (e.g. company functions), but if I bring in a 100 oz Dr Pepper, some fries and a bacon cheeseburger for lunch, can they *legally* tell me "no"?

Employees also got a bright-colored brochure stipulating what can and can't be served at meetings and parties.

"The Health Department is leading by example by updating its guidelines for food and beverages served at agency meetings and events," spokeswoman Erin Brady said.

My question - what right does an employer have to dictate what you eat? I could understand if they were limiting the food choices provided by the employer (e.g. company functions), but if I bring in a 100 oz Dr Pepper, some fries and a bacon cheeseburger for lunch, can they *legally* tell me "no"?

According to the NYDailyNews which broke the story, this only deals with food at meetings and parties. Which basically makes it a non-story in my opinion. I think it's fine for a private or public organization to have guidelines for such functions.

but seriously.. how long till they do this in the entire public sector (especially with ObamaCare lingering)? My guess is maybe 2 years at most?

In Soviet New York nanny state runs you.

the level of fascistic Big-Brother type oppression is getting infuriating...I doubt even the Nazis, Romans, Red China / USSR or any other oppressive government (other than Islamic theocracies) one can think of has deigned itself the authority to tell people what to eat and what no to eat !!! Even the Islamic theocracies ban what is banned by the religion (pork, alcohol), not dictate calories per drink, type of popcorn, size of muffins, etc.

-- Tap water is one of the beverages of choice. "Other beverages must beprovide less FEWER than 25 calories per 8 ounces."

If liberals are going to create stupid rules and be elitists about their importance of liberal arts educations, at least they should get the grammar right.

My question - what right does an employer have to dictate what you eat? I could understand if they were limiting the food choices provided by the employer (e.g. company functions), but if I bring in a 100 oz Dr Pepper, some fries and a bacon cheeseburger for lunch, can they *legally* tell me "no"?

"These standards are mandatory for meetings and events sponsored by the Health Department," the brochure states.

Health honchos say they are just practicing what they preach.

"The Health Department is leading by example by updating its guidelines for food and beverages served at agency meetings and events," spokeswoman Erin Brady said.

What about partisan hyperbole?