THE EU OFFENDS THE VIKINGS BY BANNING DANISH PASTRY: MELISSA GRAHAM

FEISTY SWEDEN FIGHTS BACK BY SERVING WATER INSTEAD OF VODKA- Swedish pub serves pure water as vodka, and not completely by mistake http://www.thecommentator.com/article/4532/swedish_pub_serves_pure_water_as_vodka_and_not_completely_by_mistake

http://www.thecommentator.com/article/4534/government_over_regulation_threatens_danish_pastry

Earlier this year New York City voted 8-0 to limit sugary drinks over 16-ounces. The purpose, argued by public health experts, is to prevent obesity and the diagnosis of type II diabetes.

Local businesses and national chains, such as Starbucks, were concerned with government regulation intruding on their business. New York City is known to be a dining capital and regulation will have an impact on their bottom lines.

A petition to block the plan was approved by New York’s Supreme Court calling the ban “unprecedented interference” and ruling it arbitrary and capricious. There is no research to prove that sugary drinks cause obesity or diabetes and the regulation was concentrated on certain businesses rather than being inclusive and citywide. A win for liberty and freedom from government regulation in New York City.

Meanwhile, in Denmark, the CATO Institute reported a proposal to limit the coumarin level found in the Danish pastries due to new European Union regulations. Denmark is famous for the kanelsnegler, or cinnamon swirls, containing high amounts of cinnamon. Hardy Christensen from the Danish Bakers’ Association explained the pastries have been made for 200 years and making them differently will “change the distinctive flavor and produce less tasty pastries.”

The regulation defines “traditional and seasonal” dishes compared to “everyday fine baked goods”. Sweden did something intelligent and classified their kanenbullar as “traditional” to allow the cinnamon levels to be at 50mg per kg, three times higher than the regulation defines. However, the “everyday” Danish is limited to 15mg per kg.

Denmark can fight the European Union on this ban by using the same measures as used in New York City. Government regulation is not needed when it comes to the individual freedom to consume legal products.

Personal accountability of health, fitness, and medical monitoring will alleviate the problem of obesity and type II diabetes, not government regulation that restricts business operations to producing less desirable products.

Whatever next in Scandinavia?

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