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With Mayo Clinic nutritionists Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.
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August 29, 2008
Thumbs up or down for the mighty burger?
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By Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D.

Two recent news reports caught my attention.

The Los Angeles City Council unanimously voted to ban new fast food restaurants from opening in south Los Angeles. It appears that this area of town already has 12.5 fast food restaurants every square mile. The council cited health and social issues (similar reasons are often used to zone liquor stores).

On the other hand, in Paris, hamburgers are now the "in thing." Chef after chef commented on how the taste is forbidden and subversive — so everyone wants it. Chefs are busy analyzing the gastronomic characteristics of the American burger — including soft sesame buns, pickles, onions, tomatoes and cheese. It appears that some chefs have even come to the United States to experience the "burger culture." The French are having it "their way" though:

  • with pickles, fleur de sel (sea salt) and fresh thyme
  • wagyu (Kobe) beef with black ketchup (made with blackberries and black currants)
  • topped with foie gras
  • with a sesame bun, toasted on the sesame side, brushed with butter on the soft side
  • with smoked bacon, lettuce, pickles, mustard, mayonnaise and a side of fries (for $56 US)

In 2002, the United Nations' World Health and Food and Agriculture Organizations met jointly to address the global obesity epidemic (now termed "globesity"). Worldwide there are more than 1 billion overweight adults, with at least 300 million deemed obese. It is thought that the obesity epidemic is driven by societal changes and behavioral patterns of communities — along with worldwide nutrition transitions, globalization of the food market, and reduced physical activity. Some scientists predict globesity will outstrip infectious disease deaths by the end of the decade.

It's interesting that while Los Angeles is exiling fast food, Paris seems to have welcomed the signature fast food item (le burger). To me, this is a pretty good example of what the WHO/FAO describe as changes in societal and behavioral patterns of communities — with the high-fat burger making the worldwide nutrition transition.

These examples offer glimpses of a human conundrum. What we want might not be what's good for us. It will be interesting to see how this plays for the svelte population of France.

What are your thoughts?

P.S. In April, France's parliament adopted a bill that makes it illegal for any form of media, including Web sites, magazines and advertisers, to promote extreme thinness. But this is another story.

7 comments posted
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November 13, 2008 12:26 p.m.
The truth about beef is seldom discussed from a factual stand point. While there is much discussion around nutritional values etc, there is none concerning where or how beef is obtained. In order to generate the most possible money per animal, beef producing animals are fed far beyond their needs, when they reach a point where they become miserable and can no longer support their own weight, they are killed by smashing in their heads with sledge hammers, grinding up their bodies and selling it to fast food restaurants, then you eat it! Few people wish to hear about or accept this reality but the fact is there must be a better way!
- Pete
October 21, 2008 4:42 a.m.
Aldous Huxley published his most famous novel Brave New World in 1932. The book is a cautionary tale of a dystopian future version of London, Huxley’s hometown, in the year 2540. The book’s vision is of a country ruled entirely by the government, and all conflict, suffering and ultimately, all free thought is against government’s regulations. In brief, it’s about what the world would look like of no one was able to choose for themselves, voice their opinions, or live how they saw fit, all being hampered by a governments’ iron fist. Huxley was criticized for his work, and still is to this day. Whether or not it was controversial, parallels exist in modern America, although not nearly as pervasive. The American government and state governments are beginning to impose many restrictions through legislation. For instance, certain areas in Los Angeles are off limits to fast food restaurants. Burger stands aren’t the only businesses starting to be zoned out; payday loan lenders are also feeling the pinch. Many state and national legislators are pledging to do away with this vital services if elected. They’re trying to get elected to serve their own self interest. Where do we, as people, draw the line at where the government can’t tell us what to do? Post Courtesy of Personal Money Store Professional Blogging Team Feed Back: 1-866-641-3406 Home: http://personalmoneystore.com/NoFaxPaydayLoans.html Blog: http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/
- No name given
October 21, 2008 4:41 a.m.
The novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley was published as a warning. It tells the tale of London in the year 2540, in a dystopian future in which the government controlled every aspect of the citizens’ lives, down to not allowing any dissenting, or in other words free, thought. This was Huxley’s vision of what will happen to societies if the government was allowed enough leeway to impose their iron fist into the everyday lives down to thoughts, words, and free choice of the citizens. This novel was controversial, and still is, but what is worse still is that his and also George Orwell’s cautionary tales of restriction of governmental regulation are beginning to come true, even here in the land of the free, the USA. For instance, the California government has allowed zoning of Los Angeles to include where fast food restaurants cannot have a store open. Burger joints are becoming outlawed, and one of the next targets is the payday loan industry, which has already come under fire. Many politicians and candidates are pledging to rid their respective states, municipalities, and also the entire United States of this legitimate and valuable service industry. Many of these politicians are hoping to get elected so that they can serve their own self interest or the banking lobby’s interests. How far should they be allowed to go before we, the American people, say enough? Post Courtesy of Personal Money Store Professional Blogging Team Feed Back: 1-866-641-3406 Home: http://personalm
- Payday Loan Advocate
September 7, 2008 1:26 a.m.
I have lived in the UK for most of my life and well remember the original burger bars, The Wimpy Bar. I have eaten burgers since then and believe that as long as you are discerning and moderate, burgers won't harm your health. As with sandwiches though, what you have with it is also very important. Use a little common sense.
- louis haar
September 6, 2008 1:15 a.m.
I bet the $56 burgers are not full of sodium as US fast food burgers seem to be 1/2 sodium to make the cheap cuts of beef taste better. The French burgers are probably 90/10 or 93/7 lean/fat content. If we could have restaurant burgers w/o so much sodium and using low fat hamburger (I make them at home and they are great), then they are nutricious with a salad or some other veggie on the side.
- Cheryl
September 3, 2008 6:38 p.m.
The author immediately jumps from "Fast Food" to the association with the hamburger. Fast food and beef patty are related, but not the same. If you analyze say the American hamburger, weight the beef content and then add, large french fries, mayonaise, pickles, secret sauce, milk shakes, etc. of course you are now talking huge fat content, large amounts of sugar, etc. Beef, or its fat content is a separate issue. It depends on the fat content, how it was raised, hormones involved in the raising of the steer, antibiotics, feed, etc. The French may be using lower fat content beef, organic beef, bison, beef mixed with soy, etc. you don't know. I think what makes American Fast Food so unhealthy for us is the trans fats, the sugar, the lack of overall nutrition in fast food. It is really not just the beef, which contains proteins at least. You may want to anyalyze a Domino's pepperoni pizza if you want to get critical, or bacon cheese crispy chicken sandwiches instead.
- Buzz
September 3, 2008 1:59 p.m.
They banned fast food chains, not burgers. Big difference between the meat served at fast food chains and upscale restaurants.
- ya
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