What's next, sue Grandma?

An article in today's New York Times, If You Pitch It, They Will Eat, brings to light yet another example of political correctness gone too far. Nutritionists, many of whom undoubtedly subsist on tofu and other less than appetizing food choices, are now berating McDonald's, Kraft and others for making American kids fat. PI lawyers have jumped on the bandwagon, of course, eyeing the deep pockets of American institutions such as McDonald's and Kraft as targets for lawsuits contending that making snacks and meals that appeal to kids deserves punishment.

The latest piece of ludicrous information is that some of these anti-junk food zealots want to ban all food advertising aimed at children, pointing to a correlation between an increase in advertising and an increase in the weight of American kids. Never mind that at the same time other influences might have been at play, the rise in video game and computer use, for example, among kids. These nutritionsists think that kids and parents choose to eat what they want where they want because of the evil influence of advertising.

These folks think that just because companies make money they are wrong. Guess what? People want to eat food that tastes good, not just healthy food. Forget the fact that there has been no specific link made to any health problems from this specific food, these folks want to ban it. Not only that, they want to ban it from schools. Let me get this straight. We can't fund our schools well enough, private companies are willing to subsidize lunch programs and provide foods kids actually eat and this is a bad thing because it sends a "poor dietary message" and commercializes the schools.

Coca-Cola also makes bottled water products in addition to cola. Anyone who has been near a fast food restaurant knows that the fries are a mere shadow of their former greasy, delicious selves thanks to canola oil and the like. Yet, these lawyers want to accuse the schools of a breach of duty, as though parents have no role in the choices their children make, and, based on the degree of severity in his message, you would think that students are tied down and force-fed french fries and soda.

This is just wrong. Lawyers have to learn that not everything is someone else's fault. Parents buy the food, kids like it, and, most important, there is no proven link that consuming it causes damage to kids. Yet, you would think by the outcry that schools were handing out handguns rather than pizza.

Some of us remember a time when we would take bologna and Wonder Bread sandwiches to school in a brown bag, perhaps along with a homemade cookie or two made from Grandma's recipe with plenty of butter and sugar. Was that really so much better than the p.c. version of today's fast food? Maybe Grandma better make sure her liability coverage is adequate, the Georgetown lawyers might target her next.

Give me a break! (After all, don't I deserve one today?)