« Overcoming Bias | Main | Paul Romer on economic growth »
I guess it must be healthy then
Dunkin' Donuts Going Free of Trans Fat
Posted by Tyler Cowen on August 27, 2007 at 07:32 AM in Food and Drink | Permalink
Comments
I love how at least once in every article discussing trans fat, the phrase "trans fat" is immediately preceded by the phrase "artery-clogging." From the linked article:
About 400 locations nationwide that took part in a four-month test already have made the switch to a new blend of palm, soybean and cottonseed oils. That includes all restaurants in New York City and Philadelphia, which are forcing restaurants to phase out their use of artery-clogging trans fat.As if all trans fats do is "clog arteries," like that's their sole purpose as an ingredient. Also, to what Tyler said, by framing trans fats as being "artery-clogging," it makes it seem like the other fats being used must not be artery-clogging, and therefore healthy to consume.
Posted by: Christopher Monnier at Aug 27, 2007 10:48:29 AM
This has been one of the most successful 'health' marketing campaigns in history! They made up the whole brand of 'trans fat' as this evil substance that somehow snuk into the nations food supply, and now are able to rebrand themselves as more health conscious by ridding the food supply of its nefarious presence. Things that never even had oils in them at all (oatmeal, rice, etc.) now state 'no trans fats!!' on them. And the restaraunts can buy cheaper oils and save money at the same time as getting people to think they are eating healthy.
Posted by: Darin London at Aug 27, 2007 12:04:17 PM
It is true that large amounts of trans fats did not enter the food supply until Crisco commercialized the hydrogenation process in 1911.
There are trace amounts of trans fats to be found in meat and dairy products (which is why a "0% trans fat ban" would be impossible), but the eating of large amounts (>1g per day) of trans fats by humans is really something that did not occur until the 20th Century.
I'm normally a huge sceptic of any of these "food demonizations," but even I'm convinced that trans fats present real public health concerns.
Posted by: Mr. Econotarian at Aug 27, 2007 12:21:36 PM
Is it just me, or did health Nazis attack McDonald's (and others) for using animal fats back in the day? These people are like a virus, they spread around destroying businesses and scaring everyone, eventually making us all more unhealthy when we turn to less healthy substitutes, but we still listen to them every time.
Posted by: 8 at Aug 27, 2007 12:39:40 PM
If the trans fat bans and voluntary removals are so upsetting, why aren't you calling for a return of the artificial colors that the FDA has banned?
If we can rely on the market and rationally self-interested participants to decide whether or cheaper and more enjoyable food is worth the health hazard, in the case of trans fats -- then why not bring back FD&C Red No. 3?
Posted by: Joe Grossberg at Aug 27, 2007 1:21:58 PM
> I'm convinced that trans fats present real public health concerns.
Then you should have no trouble digging up good evidence to support that.
Posted by: Jon Kay at Aug 27, 2007 1:48:01 PM
8-- boy the trans fat issue has really destroyed McDonalds, Dunkin Donuts and so many other businesses. I'm sure if I worked hard I might actually find one actual example.
Posted by: spencer at Aug 27, 2007 5:22:29 PM
Lose the trans fat and increase the saturated fat by using cottonseed and palm oil. Saturated fats don't clog arteries though, right? Only trans fat.
Joe - If Red No. 3 received half of the media attention that trans fats have and was twice as dangerous, consumers would stop buying and eating processed foods that used it...so, yes, the market would correct for it. The cancer risks of Red No. 3 are extremely low unless you consume large amounts of it...kind of like anything.
Posted by: Dave K at Aug 27, 2007 8:10:09 PM
spencer, food isn't the only target of the health Nazis. See tobacco, asbestos, DDT, etc.
Posted by: 8 at Aug 27, 2007 8:49:03 PM
Bottled water is now on the list of things we shouldnt have.
Posted by: John Pertz at Aug 27, 2007 10:45:40 PM
>> I'm convinced that trans fats present real public health concerns.
>Then you should have no trouble digging up good evidence to support that.
It seems that trans-fats are indeed worse for us than similar levels of saturated fat consumption.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-fat
I'm not in favor of outright bans on the stuff, but I'm guessing the relatively unintrusive labeling requirements from the FDA represent a net gain.
Posted by: John El at Aug 28, 2007 10:07:34 AM
> I'm convinced that trans fats present real public health concerns.
Like the "obesity epidemic," trans-fats are a personal-health concern, not a public-health concern. See this discussion by David Boaz:
http://www.cato.org/dailys/07-20-04.html
Posted by: anon at Aug 28, 2007 2:03:50 PM
As you can see trans fat becomes more and more a big issue. One can observe steadily increasing health awareness in the society. A critical level is reached, where companies are forced to respond to this “new” health awareness. It is now so crucial that even food chains like Dunkin’ Donuts, with products known as the total opposite of healthy food, had to react on that.
Thanks to their strategic early warning system they are ahead of, not all but, some of their key competitors like Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. Obviously the managers took efforts on gaining strategic information about changes in society and the relevant market.
So with reference to Ansoff and his concept of the weak signals the managers of Dunkin’ Donut evidently did a well job on constantly monitoring the market and preparing for possible changes, which could affect their business and quickly responding to consequences, at least faster than other competitors.
Spending four years in research for alternative oils reveals that. They understood that scanning the market for weak signals of any issue, here the changed awareness for healthy food, and react to them in a proper way can be important for their business in the future. Those signals can become strong ones and the issues which occur mostly in the macro world tend to have a bearing on the micro world as they attract more supporters. Thus they become more and more important. Consequently, Dunkin’ Donut was able to use it as a competitive advantage and communicated that to the market without loosing credibility. Particularly, they did not claim to produce healthy food. Since, the tightrope walk between credibility and satisfying changed customer needs is a very big challenge, especially in their industry.
Posted by: hameed at Aug 28, 2007 6:08:20 PM
The "meat" link in the Wikipedia article isn't responding.
A contrary link:
http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2007/01/home-bakers-rise-up.html
Posted by: Jon Kay at Aug 29, 2007 1:39:36 AM
To some commenters: Health Nazis? Add Fascism to the list of topics you misunderstand.
To the poster: a marginal decrease in major health problems deserves a sneer from you? Do you take pleasure in the suffering of your fellow man?
Posted by: effell at Sep 2, 2007 6:12:40 PM
Who would've thought they had trans-fat in a donut? :p
Posted by: political forum at Sep 3, 2007 3:51:27 AM
China Tours and Yangtze Cruises A professional China travel agency offering private & group package tours, tailor-made vacations for families, couples and individual travelers, Yangtze cruises, hotel & ticket booking services.
China Travel and Tours One-stop China travel service delivering China package tours, discount Yangtze River cruises and best rate hotels.
Tibet Train Travel A reliable tour operator specializing in Tibet tour packages, adventures, hotel and train ticket booking.
China Maps A free web-based source for China travel and tour map users
Voyage Chine, Tour de Chine, Circuit Chine - Un agence spécialiste voyage en Chine
Great Wall of China A website for the Great Wall of China.
Posted by: China tour at Nov 27, 2007 2:21:59 AM
Hi! i hope to find a regular, good interior design室內設計. services company, I will let my new home beautiful, warm.I have already agreed the move搬家公司 as long as the decorations finished, we can immediately move into new homes.
Posted by: Tony at Dec 28, 2007 9:35:53 PM
