Jul 25, 2008

Letters to the Editor

Daily News

Menu labeling

Dear Editor: Your July 20 article suggests that the menu labeling proposals at both the local and state level unfairly target chain restaurants. The American Cancer Society begs to differ.

Chain restaurants are a reasonable focus of the mandate because they have standardized menus, thus making it easier for them to analyze and distribute the nutritional information. Because of this, they are the most feasible, impactful and effective places to start menu-labeling practices.

At the state level, Sen. Alex Padilla has introduced SB 1420, which would require chain restaurants with 15 or more locations to post nutritional information on all menus and menu boards. By providing the total amount of calories, saturated fat, trans fat, carbohydrates and sodium on menus, consumers can make an informed decision about their health and diet, if they choose to.

The competing bill mentioned in the article, AB 2572, is backed by the restaurant industry and is neither consumer-friendly nor effective in helping to stave off the devastating health impacts of obesity.

As more people continue to dine out, it's crucial they have the information they need to make healthy choices. For this reason, public health groups, including the American Cancer Society, strongly support SB 1420.

Linda Hom Frasch,

American Cancer Society volunteer,

Atherton



Editorial cartoon

Dear Editor: I have a few questions regarding Dana Summers' editorial cartoon you published on July 18. Did the original cartoon show only three missiles with one retouched when Summers wasn't looking? And should I take geography over again, so that I can be corrected in my assumption that the United States is not across the Strait of Hormuz from Iran? In any case, now, on top of everything else, the cartoon informs me that the Iranians are also guilty of forest clearcutting.

Bruce England,

Mountain View



Presidential race

Dear Editor: Has this man no honor? Speaking in a Nightline interview, Barak Obama says he didn't realize the surge in Iraq would "converge" with events in Anbar province, where the tribal leader actually took up arms against Al-Qaida and the falling back of the Shiite militias. What?

No credit for the troops who carried out the surge and made it possible for the warlords to fight back against Al-Qaida?

No credit for their successes in putting fear into the hearts and minds of the Shiite militias?

Every one of our troops serving in Iraq should be insulted at this put-down and outright denial of the successful surge, just as I, an American voter, am.

Eleanor Traeg,

Los Gatos



Dear Editor: When the New York Times published Sen. Barack Obama's op-ed and then refused to publish Sen. John McCain's op-ed, it lost the last bit of credibility it had to pretend unbiased news coverage. I was surprised that your paper would continue publishing New York Times opinions like the one by Tom Teepen, New York Times News Service, July 22, that ridiculed those who have suggested Obama could be a socialist. All we really know about Obama is that he is for change.

I am old enough to remember the mainstream media telling us that Fidel Castro was not a socialist - he was an agrarian reformer interested in bringing change to Cuba.

Robert Parkhurst,

Redwood City