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France 'fat tax'
France is considering plans to impose a "fat tax" by more than trebling the VAT on junk food to tackle soaring obesity levels.
Ministers are being urged by health experts to raise VAT from 5.5 to 19.6 per cent on all foods considered to be "too rich, too sweet, too salty and which are not strictly necessary".
The cost of pizzas, hamburgers, sandwiches, crisps, children's sweets and creamy coffees could soar as a result.
Although it is Europe's second slimmest nation after Italy, more than one in three people in France are overweight or obese and expanding waist lines have triggered a surge in heart disease, diabetes and certain types of cancer.
A panel of scientists also wants cigarette-style health warnings on packaging for fattening foods, and a ban on junk food advertising during children's television programmes.
Suggested wordings for warnings include: "For your health, eat at least five fruits and vegetables a day and undertake regular physical activity."
The recommendations will go before the French parliament this month, and could become law by next year.
However, experts acknowledge that "the least privileged sections of the population, who eat least well, could be most heavily penalised" by the tax increase.
A recent study found that of France's 63 million population, 19.8 million were overweight and 5.9 million of those were clinically obese.
It also found that there were 2.3 million more obese people than in 1987.
Europe's fattest nation is Greece, where 70 per cent of people are overweight, and 30 per cent are obese.
Britain has the second highest proportion of obese women at 25 per cent, compared with 22 per cent in Europe as a whole.
British men are Europe's fifth fattest, behind Germany, Greece, Finland and Ireland - 62 per cent of UK males are overweight and 20 per cent are obese, according a survey of 500,000 people across the EU.
A French health ministry spokesman said: "Just because we are among the least overweight in Europe, we have nothing to be complacent about. The figures show obesity is rising swiftly in France and other EU countries, and we want to take action now before it gets any more serious.
"We want people - and particularly young people - to cut back on the snacking and get back to healthy habits." France is considering plans to impose a "fat tax" by more than trebling the VAT on junk food to tackle soaring obesity level... more -
McDonald's Tests Changes In $1 Burger as cost Rise
Oak Brook, Ill. -- McDonald's Corp. is testing modifications to its popular $1 double cheeseburger, and higher prices for the sandwich, as it prepares to change its Dollar Menu by next year.
In an interview, Don Thompson, president of McDonald's U.S. business, said the company has tested ways to make the burger less expensive to make. Some restaurants are selling it with one slice of cheese instead of two, and billing it as a "double hamburger with cheese." Others are offering a double hamburger without cheese. Some are selling the traditional double cheeseburger at prices ranging from $1.09 to $1.19.
Company is also considering expanding what it considers the middle tier of its menu, items ranging from about $1.30 to $2. "We know customers are facing tough times in this economy," Mr. Thompson said.
Launched in 2003, the Dollar Menu has been a key driver of sales at McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants and has helped it ride out dips in consumer spending. But recently, franchisees have complained that the menu has brought too much unprofitable traffic into their restaurants.
The biggest question for the eight-item menu is what to do with the double cheeseburger, considered its anchor. High dairy prices have pushed up the cost of cheese, and McDonald's predicts more pressure because its beef costs will be higher this year. Mr. Thompson said if McDonald's moves the double cheeseburger off that menu, there would still be some type of $1 burger.
Internal sales documents reviewed by The Wall Street Journal show that, as of late June, sales of the chain's lattes, cappuccinos and other espresso drinks were off their peak in several main markets where they're being sold. Mr. Thompson said "the numbers really don't tell the story."
Lower-priced beverages, including $1.89 iced coffee and a $1 fountain-drink and sweet-tea promotion, have pulled some sales away from the espresso drinks, which range from about $2 to $3. That was something the company hadn't anticipated, he said.
McDonald's overall beverage expansion, adding espresso drinks, smoothies, cold tea, bottled drinks and ice-blended coffee beverages at U.S. locations, is on track to exceed the company's goal of adding $125,000 a year in sales per restaurant, even though it doesn't yet have national advertising behind it, Mr. Thompson said. He sees McDonald's target of the drinks adding $1 billion a year to the company's sales as "definitely achievable." The rollout will be complete at the end of 2009. Oak Brook, Ill. -- McDonald's Corp. is testing modifications to its popular $1 double cheeseburger, and higher prices for the san... more -
Frenemies: The McCain-Bush Dance
It was in Portsmouth, Ohio, the other day when a supporter neatly summed up the obstacle lying between John McCain and the White House. "When," the young man implored, "are you going to go out and say, 'Read my lips. I am not the third term of Bush'?"
In a business of bitter rivalries and awkward alliances, few political relationships have been more bitter, awkward or downright tortured than John McCain's eight-year entanglement with George W. Bush. After their nasty 2000 battle for the G.O.P. nomination, McCain's differences with Bush were so numerous and so deep that in 2001 he discussed with top Democratic leaders quitting the Republican Party. Three years later, McCain remained so estranged from the White House that John Kerry begged him to run with him on the Democratic ticket against Bush. Even though their rapprochement in 2004 drained some of the bile from their relationship, the two men have never been friends. At best, theirs is a partnership sustained by the benefits each has conferred on the other and a grudging admiration each has for the other's toughness.
McCain's embrace of Bush helped him emerge as the G.O.P. nominee this year from a crowded field of flawed candidates. But it came with a steep price, for his ties to the President now act like leg weights in his race against Barack Obama. They make it possible for Democrats to argue that a vote for McCain is a vote for more of what the country has endured over the past eight years. It was in Portsmouth, Ohio, the other day when a supporter neatly summed up the obstacle lying between John McCain and the White House... more -
World's Most Costliest Burger Record 2008 Video
The world's most expensive burger - flame grilled Wagyu Beef, topped with white truffles in an Iranian saffron and truffle bun - is to go on sale at a fast food restaurant.
Burger King's £95 sandwich, named simply The Burger, will make Guinness World Record history beating a similarly extravagant American Double Truffle Burger which cost just £65 in 1994.
For full story http://www.worldamazingrecords.com The world's most expensive burger - flame grilled Wagyu Beef, topped with white truffles in an Iranian saffron and truffle bun - ... more -
Burger Bling: $200 Burger made with Cristal Champagne
Their slogan is "Have it your way," but before you sink your teeth into this burger you'd better check your bank balance.
A new burger went on sale Wednesday only in Britain. It may not only be the world's most expensive, but it could also be the most controversial, too.
It comes from Burger King, but Burger "Bling" may be more like it.
Is it mouthwatering? Maybe. But it comes at an eye-watering price -- a whopping $200.
"That would have to be one really, really special burger," Erika Baroness Von Schubert said. "I'd give it a go."
Burger chef Mark Dowding said the formula is simple.
"Like any good food you start out with great ingredients," Dowding said.
Or most expensive. Check this out. The burger's ingredients include the following: Japanese wagyu beef, white truffles, onions fried in Cristal champagne, topped with pink Himalayan rock salt.
They even sold a few, with one Burger King employee saying how a couple split the bill.
Now of course, if you're dropping the better part of $200 on a burger, you don't really want to be washing it down with any old soft drink, which is why if you're eating in you get a complimentary glass of wine.
"Well, that would probably make the burger go down easier, right?" said Walter Nasdeo of New York.
What's not going down so easily is Burger King's controversial concept of "delicious decadence" during a time of global economic meltdown and worldwide food shortages. Food crisis campaigners view it as the wrong burger at the wrong place at the wrong time.
"To come out with this kind of hugely expensive and over-the-top burger and to have 800 million people going to bed hungry every night is just to shoot yourself in the foot," said Dave Tucker of the organization "War On Want."
Not everybody's buying it.
"Never in a million years," said Gary Higgerson of London. "No way."
The food chain's flipping all the proceeds of the megabucks burger to a children's charity in London. They're hoping that might make the price easier to swallow. Their slogan is "Have it your way," but before you sink your teeth into this burger you'd better check your bank balanc... more -
Protests in South Korea imperil government
President Lee Myung-bak confronted the biggest challenge to his young and increasingly unpopular administration Tuesday as tens of thousands of demonstrators filled central Seoul to protest his agreement to resume suspended imports of American beef and to denounce a broad range of other government policies.
The country’s entire cabinet offered to resign as a way to help Mr. Lee find a way out of the crisis. It was unclear if he would accept the resignations.
Mr. Lee’s 107-day-old government has been increasingly beset by fears that his agreement to reopen markets to American beef could expose the public to mad cow disease.
or the past 40 days, central Seoul has been rocked by demonstrations , which began as rallies by hundreds of teenage students, singing, dancing and holding candles to protest the importing of American beef. They have now evolved into a protest against government policies on education, health care and consumer prices.
Once hailed as a potential savior of South Korea’s troubled economy, Mr. Lee has lost public confidence in his leadership over a broad range of policies at a time South Korea is grappling with a slowing economy and a prolonged crisis over North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs, political analysts said.
"Lee Myung Bak, OUT!" the protesters chanted, brandishing yellow and red cards carrying the same message.
The rally almost had a mood of festivity, with the city center reverberating with anti-government slogans and people dancing to the tune of songs blared from loudspeakers.
Overhead, large balloons carried banners that read “Judgement day for Lee Myung Bak" and "Re-negotiate the beef deal." One widely distributed leaflet said: “Mad cow drives our people mad!” President Lee Myung-bak confronted the biggest challenge to his young and increasingly unpopular administration Tuesday as tens of tho... more -
S. Korea Cabinet Offers to Quit Amid Beef Protests
By CHOE SANG-HUN
Published: June 11, 2008
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s entire cabinet offered to resign on Tuesday and tens of thousands of people filled boulevards in central Seoul in the largest demonstration to be held against President Lee Myung-bak and his young but increasingly unpopular government.
The cabinet’s offer to resign came as Mr. Lee struggled to find a breakthrough in the biggest political crisis to face his 107-day-old government, one set off by fears that an agreement to reopen markets to American beef could expose the public to mad cow disease.
For the past 40 days, central Seoul has been rocked daily by demonstrations. What had started as a rally by hundreds of teenage students, singing, dancing and holding candles to protest the importing of American beef, has evolved into a broad protest against government policies on education, health care and consumer prices.
Once hailed as a potential savior of South Korea’s troubled economy, Mr. Lee has lost public confidence in his leadership over a broad range of policies at a time South Korea is grappling with a slowing economy and a prolonged crisis over North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs, political analysts said.
"Lee Myung Bak, OUT!" the protesters chanted, brandishing yellow and red cards carrying the same message.
The rally almost had a mood of festivity, with the city center reverberating with anti-government slogans and people dancing to the tune of songs blared from loudspeakers.
Overhead, large balloons carried banners that read “Judgement day for Lee Myung Bak" and "Re-negotiate the beef deal." One widely distributed leaflet said: “Mad cow drives our people mad!”
The protesters appeared to encompass a broad spectrum of South Korean society: teenage students, union members, Roman Catholic nuns, office workers in neckties and mothers and fathers holding hands with small children.
...
Also on Tuesday, thousands of conservative activists supporting the beef and free trade deals with the United States staged a rival protest in a plaza in the center of Seoul. But their rally was eclipsed by the much bigger rally by anti-government protesters.
Mr. Lee’s blunders in appointing people with doubtful ethical standards to his presidential staff only compounded his troubles. He himself was dogged by allegations of corruption during the election campaign, but voters largely overlooked the claims, betting instead that Mr. Lee, a successful business chief executive, would be able to revive the economy.
But his current trouble shows that South Koreans’ patience was wearing thin.
"South Koreans had a lot of doubt when they elected Lee, but they hoped he would save the economy," said Choi Jin, director of the Institute of Presidential Leadership. "But this doubt deepened when Lee failed to demonstrate any immediate improvement of the economy. The beef debacle was the trigger to explode the undercurrent of doubt."
But both Mr. Kang and Mr. Choi said the current demonstrations were not anti-American but rather protests against Mr. Lee’s performance. Many of the demonstrators said they supported a free trade deal with the United States. By CHOE SANG-HUN Published: June 11, 2008 ... more -
Finally! A burger built for 6 (but will probably be eaten by 1)
You know all those times when you’re like “Damn, I would love to get some burgers for the whole family, but I don’t want to order them individually,” so, you order a pizza instead? Yeah, me neither. But apparently, Burger King thinks we’re all having a whole lot of these moments as they’re going to start offering a six-pack of burgers in an attempt to compete with the pizza market.
How does a six-pack of burgers differ from six individual burgers? Glad you asked.
The rolls of the six burgers will be stuck together, so to grab a burger, you’ll have to tear one off. Just like when you grab a piece of pizza. And just like you can order a pizza half cheese/half pepperoni (or whatever your tastes enjoy), one pair of these burgers will be topped with ketchup, another with cheese, and another with bacon and cheese.
Unfortunately, these burgers are only launching in the UK, Germany, and Spain. Let’s hope and pray that they do well over there so that they come here soon. Until then, I guess we’re just going to be stuck ordering pizza when we’re craving a shared meal. Or drinking a six-pack of beer. That could work too. You know all those times when you’re like “Damn, I would love to get some burgers for the whole family, but I don’t want to order them... more -
$175 burger: You want gold with that?
NEW YORK - Its creators admit it is the ultimate in decadence: a $175 hamburger.
The Wall Street Burger Shoppe just raised its price from $150 to assure its designation as the costliest burger in the city as determined by Pocket Change, an online newsletter about the most expensive things in New York. NEW YORK - Its creators admit it is the ultimate in decadence: a $175 hamburger. ... more -
Why not to eat fast food
check out the McDonald's 4-year old cheeseburger and fries...i wish i aged like that! pretty crazy.
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Treading lighter with low-carbon diets
In honor of earth day, forgo meat for a day!
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Woman eats nothing but McDonald’s “Mega Burgers" and survives
Khalilah Aleem, an American expat in Fukushima, Japan, is believed to be the first person in Japan to eat all three “Mega” burgers introduced by McDonald’s Japan in a single day. She shares her harrowing experience that includes a lot of nausea, constipation and a smidgen of food regret.
Call me crazy, but the former fat kid that lives inside of me really wants to try all three of them. Khalilah Aleem, an American expat in Fukushima, Japan, is believed to be the first person in Japan to eat all three “Mega” burgers int... more -
Purdue students win for making hamburger assembly hella complicated
A team of Purdue University students concocted a 156-step recipe for preparing a hamburger to win Saturday's annual national Rube Goldberg Machine Contest.
This year's task was to assemble a burger consisting of no less than one precooked meat patty, two vegetables and two condiments, sandwiched between bun halves.
The victory by the 17-member Purdue Society of Professional Engineers was the team's third such win in the past four years in the contest, named for the late cartoonist known for his drawings of complicated devices performing simple tasks. Texas A&M University placed second; the University at Buffalo in New York was third.
"We put 4,000 to 5,000 man-hours into this machine since September, and all the hard work has been well worth it," said Wischer, a senior in aviation technology from Cedarburg, Wis. A team of Purdue University students concocted a 156-step recipe for preparing a hamburger to win Saturday's annual national Rube... more -
In-N-Out 100X100 Challenge
True story. And I downed 10 of those burgers... (Shot on my digital camera)
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Harold and Kumar have a romantic dinner at White Castle
Face it, couples: Valentine’s Day is a crock. It’s not celebrating of worth, outside of how much money can you spend proving your love to somebody. Since when did two-dozen roses and an expensive dinner once a year constitute a healthy, loving relationship?
This Valentine’s Day save yourself a few hundred-thousand dollars and treat your significant other to a candlelit dinner at White Castle. It’s uber-romantico, and as tasteful as the microwaved mush you’ll be served. What’s not to like?
Reservations are being taken now, so act quick. That’s right - you need a reservation. Genius!
Corporate America, I'm totally in love with you. Face it, couples: Valentine’s Day is a crock. It’s not celebrating of worth, outside of how much money can you spend proving your love... more -
Mickey Burgers
Disney actually sells these Mickey-shaped hamburger patties. Something looks a little too real about these for my taste.
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Exhaust Burger
No need to waste fuel on that BBQ. Cook a hamburger while commuting... or just rev up the car in your parking spot... just make sure to open the garage door.
Something tells me that saving the world one burger at a time will have dire consequences for the human race. No need to waste fuel on that BBQ. Cook a hamburger while commuting... or just rev up the car in your parking spot... just make sure ... more -
Flipping for burgers
What's up with the growing trend of $20 burgers?
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103 burgers in 8 minutes... Joey Chestnut strikes again...
that's like a whole cow.
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Mickey Mouse Burgers - Evil or Cute?
I was browsing a nearby grocery store this morning and I happened to find in the freezer section, mickey mouse shaped burgers (as seen on this flickr account) Honestly, I almost fell over in disgust, and subsequentially, almost bought them. I don't know. Disney's evil branding empire has officially gone too far. Also, for some strange reason, I cannot find much on these burgers online. I think it's a conspiracy. Or is it a mouspiracy? I was browsing a nearby grocery store this morning and I happened to find in the freezer section, mickey mouse shaped burgers (as seen... more
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Hamburgers
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Hamburgers
