Dreadful black stop signs!
by JeffMN 
, Minneapolis MN USA, Thursday, March 03, 2022, 15:23 (1714 days ago)
Stunning, the appearance, in the two years since we've been here, of these ominous black stop-sign icons on nearly every packaged food item we saw at the Mega yesterday. "Exceso grasa, exceso azucar, exceso sodio."
Right now I'm so frightened that I've decided I'm on a strict tequila diet!
Dreadful black stop signs!
by ZihuaRob , Zihuatanejo, México, Thursday, March 03, 2022, 19:31 (1713 days ago) @ JeffMN
Stunning, the appearance, in the two years since we've been here, of these ominous black stop-sign icons on nearly every packaged food item we saw at the Mega yesterday. "Exceso grasa, exceso azucar, exceso sodio."
Right now I'm so frightened that I've decided I'm on a strict tequila diet!
Ha! My wife and I like them and think they're a good idea. Helps to keep folks healthier.
Dreadful black stop signs!
by Talley Ho , Playa la Ropa, Thursday, March 03, 2022, 20:27 (1713 days ago) @ ZihuaRob
We feel exactly the same way! We have always read labels, especially in "foreign" countries.
Mexico is not longer foreign to us because we now live here, and welcome this new labeling. It is already over a year old.
Dreadful black stop signs!
by Casa Juan , Thursday, March 03, 2022, 20:41 (1713 days ago) @ Talley Ho
I like the labels even though I do ignore them on occasion. Wish we had a system like this in the US that was as obvious and not hidden in fine print that most don t take the time to read.
Dreadful black stop signs!
by JeffMN , Minneapolis MN USA, Thursday, March 03, 2022, 20:44 (1713 days ago) @ ZihuaRob
In your experience, Rob, do many people change their buying habits due to these warnings? Maybe gradually...?
Dreadful black stop signs!
by Talley Ho , Playa la Ropa, Thursday, March 03, 2022, 21:04 (1713 days ago) @ JeffMN
We, at least, have always read labels about transfats. We are now checking for other things if there is a stop sign we don't expect.
Dreadful black stop signs!
by jaui , Zihuatanejo, Friday, March 04, 2022, 14:07 (1713 days ago) @ JeffMN
In your experience, Rob, do many people change their buying habits due to these warnings? Maybe gradually...?
@JeffMN
Though you directed your inquiry to Z Rob, I'll chime in to respond:
Although those labels aren't necessarily "fine print ", IF I had to hazard a guess, they are more often ignored than obeyed, and the warning goes in one eye and out the other 
The fine print gets ignored.
Nevertheless, the label may call the attention of the consumer, & possibly, it may heighten their awareness about those types of foods
Dreadful black stop signs!
by ZihuaRob , Zihuatanejo, México, Friday, March 04, 2022, 17:48 (1712 days ago) @ JeffMN
In your experience, Rob, do many people change their buying habits due to these warnings? Maybe gradually...?
My family finds the warnings helpful. We believe they tend to raise consciousness and steer us towards better nutritional habits. The science agrees.
Dreadful black stop signs!
by Padrino , Rosarito/Zihuatanejo, Sunday, March 06, 2022, 11:06 (1711 days ago) @ ZihuaRob
The science agrees.
Given the controversy and the political overtones of these public service endeavors, one would think that there would be plenty of research to prove or disprove their usefulness. Sadly, there is not. Here is a study in English that saw a benefit:
https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/12827-benefits-seen-in-calorie-count-posting-on-menus
Much of the other publicly available articles are subjective.
This is the dilemma of the public health official who sees the number of heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, etc. and the concurrent costs of life and national treasure. What can one do? It is reminiscent of F.D.R.'s approach to the Great Depression: “One thing is sure. We have to do something. We have to do the best we know how at the moment... If it doesn't turn out right, we can modify it as we go along.”
His fifth cousin, Theodore Roosevelt said, “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”
For more information than you can imagine could be available about diet and health, consult NutritionFacts.org and ForksOverKnives.com. Or better yet, visit Mitos / Entre Zankas and see if you can get the husband and wife chef team to engage in a "discussion" of the health merits of each's culinary offerings.
