The food police, after attacking Colonel Sanders, are going after lattes and cappuccinos.
The public advocacy group, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), is planning to launch a campaign against Starbucks because of its use of trans fats in some of the products it sells, FoxNews.com reported.
Despite its academic-sounding name, the Center for Science in the Public Interest uses sensationalist soundbites instead of science. The website of a pro-consumer group, CSPI Scam, came up with a tongue-in-cheek nutritional label for public health advocacy groups. Check it out here.
If Starbucks doesn't cave in to CSPI's demands, the public advocacy group can always file a frivolous lawsuit (via FoxNews.com):
"And the possibility of legal action against Starbucks, similar to the case it is taking against KFC owner Yum Brands Inc. has not been ruled out, said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson."
CSPI wants Starbucks to list nutrition information on its menu boards, even though the coffee retailer already has the information readily available in store brochures and on the company's website.
Customers can't be bothered with picking up a brochure on nutritional information at the same time they are buying a Starbucks coffee.
CSPI wants Starbucks to use healthier alternatives to trans fat and to publicize its smallest size, "short", which is available but does not appear on the menu, according to FoxNews.com.
Here's what CSPI director Michael Jacobson would rather have America drink than coffee (via Washingtonian magazine):
"They really should develop an alternative for people to socialize -- a real fun coffeehouse. Maybe a carrot-juice house."
Because no one would go to a carrot juice...house. Can't these "demanders" realize that people want trans fats, caffeine, alcohol, unprotected sex, narcotics, bad hair styles, SUVs, tattoos, video games, body piercings, loud music, dirty jokes, war, and internet porn? That's why they are the most profitable and sustainable industries on Earth! We like things that are bad for us, so maybe they're good for us because they make us happy.
Oh, they're going to rue the day they decided to mess with Starbucks.
Posted by: Mike Laursen at June 20, 2006 04:02 PM