Should the Government Regulate What People Eat?

In 2013, New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed the Sugary Drinks Portion Cap Rule, more commonly known as the soda ban, in an effort to regulate the size and sale of sweetened drinks. Support for the regulation was equally as fierce as the opposition, leading many New Yorkers, legislators, and drink manufacturers to engage in a lengthy and public debate about the role of government in food and drink regulation. This book examines the various issues that complicate this controversial topic, including food consumption in terms of combating obesity; controlling the consumption of sugar, sodium, and fat; school lunches; and the labeling of food content. Includes primary and secondary sources from a variety of perspectives; eyewitnesses, scientific journals, government officials, and many others.