The Center for Consumer Freedom is either (a) a grassroots organization arguing that people should be left alone to make their own eating and drinking choices regardless of consequences and without a lot of nagging from “health” extremists and anti-obesity scolds, or (b) a front group financed by and propagandizing on behalf of various elements of the food and beverage industries.

A waiver for holiday meal guests

The answer depends on whether you believe the CCF’s self-description, or a host of evidence to the contrary. In any event, the CCF has issued what it considers a nifty bit of satire at the expense of the above-mentioned extremists and scolds, in the form of a Legal Release that persons who are hosting holiday dinners can require their guests to sign in advance, to avoid being sued by evil activist lawyers bent on ruining everyone’s enjoyment of life.

Here, lifted verbatim from the CCF website, is a portion of the Release:

In consideration of being allowed by host to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal, Guest hereby indemnifies Host from all liability for personal injury suffered by Guest — which may be directly or proximately caused, in whole or in part, by any element of Host’s meal . . .
This indemnification includes an agreement not to haul Host into court on the basis of:

1. Failure to provide nutritional information including calories, fat, carbohydrates, sodium, and trans fat;
2. Failure to warn of potential for overeating because food tastes too good and is provided at no cost;
3. Failure to offer “healthier alternatives” or vegetarian “Tofurky”;
4. Failure to provide information about other venues serving alternative, “healthier” Thanksgiving meals;
5. Failure to warn that dark meat contains more fat than white meat; and
6. Failure to warn that eating too much may lead to obesity.

The right way to use the list

The irony is that you could use the CCF’s sarcastic little list as a kind of reverse template of informal rules to set for yourself if you, as host of a holiday meal, want to temper the indulgence of the occasion with a concern for your guests’ health and well-being. For example:

1. To the extent consistent with taste enjoyment, do what you can to limit the calories, fat, and sodium in the dishes offered, and try to avoid trans fats altogether.
2. Don’t press your guests to take larger servings, or seconds, or at least some of every food item on the table; do caution them not to eat to the point of discomfort.
3. If possible, offer lighter, less fatty, and/or less caloric versions of main and side dishes.
4. Point out or otherwise indicate the above versions to your guests.
5. Remind everyone that dark meat contains more fat than white meat.
6. At the start of the meal, announce, lightheartedly, that you refuse to be responsible for anyone who eats so much that they shatter their diet, increase their waist size, become unable to breathe, or all three. Just as a gentle reminder.

Adopt these six rules and you can send home a group of happy, and healthier, friends, family and other guests. And just think — you owe it all to the folks at the Center for Consumer Freedom!

(By Robert S. Wieder for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 and is filed under Diet Tips, Holidays and seasons. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed. Permalink.