The saying goes, "you are what you eat." Well if that's the case, everyone should be having an identity crisis.
Why on earth do people want to put something into their bodies when they don't know what it is?
It's a question I have been asking myself for years, and something is finally being done about it.
In New York City, a regulation was passed this week that requires any chain restaurant with 15 or more outlets anywhere in the U.S. to post calorie information on its menus and menu boards.
It will take effect in March.
I think this is a big step toward trying to make America a healthier country.
Now if only everyone would agree that this is necessary in all cities of all states, we might be able to lower our rank as one of the most obese countries in the world.
I don't understand how restaurants were ever allowed to get away with not telling customers what ingredients they put into their menu items.
I'm not talking about specific recipes or trade secrets that they cannot disclose, but the nutritional information that we all deserve to know, like basic ingredients and preservatives.
Obviously you can go online right now and search for the calorie, fat and carbohydrate counts of anything you order from most chain restaurants. But I have noticed flaws in this system that make New York's regulation a good idea. By posting information online, restaurants rely on the fact that people can't see this information as they are getting ready to place their order.
I realize that there are a select few food establishments that will give you a calorie and fat count of certain items right on the menu.
On each napkin at Subway, for example, you can view the subs that have six grams of fat or less. They don't take into account cheese or condiments, though.
But it's not just the calories and the fats, or even the lack of trans fats, that concerns me. What about sugar?
Restaurants are forgetting one of the main causes of obesity and diabetes in our country. Also, what the heck is an "artificial sweetener?" You may have read that on the back of many food products you purchase from the grocery store. Thanks for telling me it's in there, but I am going to need more specifics.
What they are probably referring to is a product like Splenda, which advertisements declare is a healthy alternative to sugar. It is actually made by combining a sugar molecule with chlorine atoms. This so-called "healthy product" contains no natural ingredients - it is completely artificial.
Don't be fooled by ads claiming Splenda is all-natural. Studies have shown that sucralose, the chemical that's in Splenda, is 2 percent harmful substances. Among these substances is arsenic -you know, poison.
So when Starbucks claims its new "sugar free" syrups are better for you, you should be able to know the truth.
Why would you want that in your body?
There are countless amounts of harmful substances in foods we consume every day. Of course corporations don't want people to know about them because that would take money out of their pockets.
Since apparently no one is going to tell you what exactly is in the food you're eating, I am begging you - please do the research for yourself. Know what you put into your system before it gets there.
And then you won't be surprised when it starts showing up on your menu.
Rebecca Ganzak is a journalism senior. Her column appears on Thursdays.
