SIZE MATTERS:

On Monday, January 9, 2012 the New York City Health Department launched a “hard hitting” ad campaign encouraging us to cut our portions to reduce our risk of health problems - particularly type-2 diabetes. The unfortunate back story being that the size of a beverage at a fast food chain has increased fourfold since 1955 (from 7 to 32 ounces) while the size of a portion of fries has more than doubled (from 2.4 to 5.4 ounces).

One of the new subway posters features an overweight man with type-2 diabetes and an amputated right leg sitting behind a graphic showing how soda portions have increased over time. “Cut your portions. Cut your risk,” the text reads below.

It is a powerful and appropriate message as in 2006 (the last year for which there are figures) more than 3,000 New Yorkers with diabetes were hospitalized for amputations. Unfortunately, instead of finding one of those amputees to feature in their ads, the lazy agency (DCS) settled for digitally altering a picture of a man with all his limbs, by photoshopping his right leg off at the knee. 

The knee-jerk reaction of the American Beverage Association was to cry foul: “Clearly, the straight facts don’t support their singular attacks on our products, so they keep falling back on distortions and scare tactics that are over the top,” association spokesman Chris Gindlesperger said in a statement. “That’s disappointing.”

No, what is disappointing is that anyone would oppose a move to improve public health by reducing gluttony.

In our mission to de-junk fast food we have limited the size of our beverages to 16 ounces and developed a unique “flying saucer” shaped bun, the result is that our sodas weigh in at 40-42 calories, and taste-busting burgers like Big Fat Greek (305), Catch Me If You Can (240), Enter The Dragon (446), Green Giant (385), Giving Thanks 365 (333), Juke Joint (450), Nang Kwak Curry (405), The Piper (495), Better Turkey Burger (430), CaliBurger (475), Erica (405), MGR Lamb Burger (430), The American (445), and The 1% (470) all come in under 500 calories.

On The Buildboard Chart/Chartbeat:

With 33.8% of chart sales turkey is for the first time in Buildboard Chart history the equal of beef, thanks to JFAVUZZA’S Better Turkey Burger fluttering up 3 places from #5 to # 2 on a 43% rise in sales, NEWMANRA’S  Cali4nication at #5, and SIRBORI’S Multigrain-Turkey- Spinach & Garlic-Avocado-Manchego-Lettuce-Pickle-Tomato-Hummus-Tzatziki The 1%, which storms into the chart at #8. Our second new entry this week is SECKLERM’S Pumpernickel-Wild Salmon-Red Lentil Dahl-Pancetta Bacon-Pickle-Basil Pesto-Tzatziki Life Forever Burger, the first 4foodie salmon burger to chart this year. We are proud that in a week in which the efforts to de-junk fast food became a battleground and misinformation reigned supreme that you continued your search for great tasting and responsible nutrition.