WASHINGTON - CuisineWire -- McDonald's new 1,000-calorie Big Arch burger is eerily reminiscent of an earlier food offering called "The Bulge"; so dangerous to health that patrons were required to sign a liability waiver to protect the "5 Spot" restaurant from law suits should eating it trigger a heart attack.

"The Bulge" was an attempt to poke fun at a law professor whose lawsuit against McDonald's forced it to pay over $12 million to settle and yield to his other demands. He also played a role dozens of years earlier in requiring ingredient labeling on foods, end McDonald's supersizing, and defeating the infamous "Cheeseburger Bill" before Congress.

This is how the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics...) explained it: . .

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As the Washington Post also noted, Banzhaf's efforts were already - back in 2003 - having a significant impact on America's second most important public health problem (after smoking):

"Change does appear to be gathering momentum. McDonald's announced this week that it has hired talk show host Oprah Winfrey's trainer to include a fitness program brochure with its new meal-sized salad. To compete against salad meals at McDonald's and Wendy's, Burger King this week introduced a low-fat baguette chicken sandwich.  Under pressure from Banzhaf and others, New York City schools announced a decision, starting this month, to ban the sale of candy, soda and sweet snacks from school vending machines, while trimming fat from school lunches. Insurance companies, too, are worried. European insurance companies have reportedly begun warning restaurants to assess their social responsibility in the food and drink they serve."

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As the Post also reported, at least one of Professor Banzhaf's predictions and goals has long since come true: "Banzhaf said he believes that within three years most fast-food restaurants will be compelled, either by public opinion, legislation or fear of legal action, to post at the point of sale a prominent list of the calories and fat in each burger, order of fries and milkshake. Legislation to require such postings is pending in the District of Columbia and five other states."

Obviously, eating one Big Arch burger or one "The Bulge" is not likely to trigger a heart attack, but eating foods which are especially fattening is a major cause of the current epidemic of obesity; 100 million American adults are obese, and their obesity imposes over $260 billion in unnecessary and therefore avoidable medical expenses each year, he says.

http://banzhaf.net/   jbanzhaf3ATgmail.com   @profbanzhaf