Professor Brownell discusses the specifics of government and its role in people's food choices. He explores whether and how government should play a role in people's food choices. Professor Brownell highlights the American mindset which couples freedom with issues of personal responsibilities, explores how the framing of the issue influences policy, and proposes a more nuanced view. He then reviews what the current government does on the nutrition program front. He then reviews the three conditions under which business self-regulates, and suggests taxation as a potential government intervention, and a tobacco tax precedent.

Reading assignment:

Berman, Richard. "Should Government Ban Trans Fats? Con: Bans are Hysterical - but not Funny (OpEd)." San Francisco Chronicle, 18 October 2006, p. B8

Brownell, Kelly D. and Walter C. Willett. "Should Government Ban Trans Fats? Pro: Choose to Remove Trans Fats (OpEd)." San Francisco Chronicle, 18 October 2006, p. B8

Anton, Anthony and Lane Hoss. "Trans Fat Plan Would Be 'logistical nightmare.'" Seattle Post Intelligencer, 17 July 2007

Brownell, Kelly D. and Robert R. Friedman. "We Need to Know What We Ingest (OpEd)." Seattle Post Intelligencer, 14 February 2008

Brownell, Kelly D. and David S. Ludwig. "Fighting Obesity and the Food Lobby (OpEd)." Washington Post, 9 June 2002, p. B6

Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity. (2008). "Menu Labeling in Chain Restaurants: Opportunities for Public Policy [PDF]

Silver, Lynn and Mary T. Bassett. "Food Safety for the 21st Century." JAMA, 300 (2008), pp. 957-959

Time Magazine Debate. "Are You Responsible for Your Own Weight?" Time, 7 June 2004, p. 113