[Sundae]

[Deleted part as it was explained better by Glatt]

Do I believe companies are deliberately adding calories to make people fatter? No, I'm not that much of a conspiracy theorist. There is no logical reason for that unless they are run by aliens sent to create easy pickings for their hungry planet.

But I do think that they are acting irresponsibly in not considering the amount of calories and fat in their products, and making it simpler and easier for people to buy large amounts of food/ drink they would not choose if everything were sold separately? Yes I do.

The same criticism has been levelled at pubs & bars in this country that offer special deals on alcohol, especially during limited hours (buy 2 get one free for the next hour, all shots double for the next hour etc) then turf the whole sodden drunken mess out on the streets for the Police to deal with. It's not that alcohol should be banned. It's not that city centre pubs shouldn't be allowed to compete with eachother. It's just that if you give a drunk person a chance to drink more and drink quickly using a special promotion they will take it.

If you offer a fat person a chance of a ready made burger with bacon AND cheese AND another burger in there too and then package it all up with extra large fries and an extra large drink they will take you up on the offer. That's why they're fat in the first place - they haven't learned to modify their eating habits.

No I don't want these places forced to reduce sizes, or the pubs forced to sell smaller measures of beer or spirits. I would just like to see some responsibility in the way it's approached. Let people build their own meals, their own burgers. Offer mix & match so the extra large fries don't automatically come with the biggest burger. Offer 1 soft drink with every 2 alcoholic ones in a bar.

For the record, I'm not trying to palm off responsibility for people being fat onto those who make and sell high fat products. I certainly make my own choices and accept the responsibility fully, and believe other people should too. And other people includes the people behind the promotions. I just like the idea of corporations sitting and shrugging and saying, "Well, no-one's holding a gun to their head!" Kerching!