That's Fit poll says Harvard University Dining Services got it wrong

by Bev Sklar (Subscribe to Bev Sklar's posts)
Oct 2nd 2008 10:00AM

Categories: Motivation, Nutrition & Supplements

An overwhelming majority of That's Fit readers say Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS) missed the mark on their new, watered-down nutritional labeling policy. As I reported a few days ago, after parents and students voiced concern that nutritional labels posted directly next to individual cafeteria offerings could lead to or worsen eating disorders, HUDS reviewed the situation and pulled the labels. Nutritional details are now only available in cafeteria kiosks or on the Internet.

As of yesterday, nearly 100 That's Fit readers responded to our poll asking the question, "Did HUDS make the right decision?" Here are the results:

61.7 percent voted No
19.1 percent voted Yes
18.1 percent were undecided, voting 'this is a tough one, I'm unsure'.

Reader comments varied, with one person wondering why we should cater to every neurosis out there, while another thought HUDS really did the right thing. Personally, I was initially in the 'undecided' department, but ultimately voted 'no' in the poll minutes after publishing the post. Eating disorders are serious problems for a minority, while nutritional labeling is an important educational tool for the masses. The new trend of labeling food visually at point-of-purchase has powerful potential to steer us toward healthier choices. Any more thoughts out there?

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Comments (1)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kate 10-02-2008 @ 2:34PM

I didn't see this post earlier, or I would have commented then. I graduated from Northwestern University in 2006, and our student cafeterias posted the nutritional information for all the standard foods (usually didn't have the info for the rotating "specials") and I found it very helpful. I'm someone who's struggled with my weight on both ends, being chubby growing up and then dealing with an eating disorder in my teen years. By the time I got to college, I had learned that the only way to be truly healthy and happy was to exercise and monitor my diet, and having the calorie counts to the various food offerings was a wonderful help.
I personally think someone who is already insecure about their eating or has an eating disorder will be weary of food, calorie count or no. Why punish the healthy?