An increasing number of newspaper writers can’t resist blaming the so-called “obesity epidemic” on restaurants. Today, it’s influential New York Times food writer Marion Burros, who says: “[R]estaurant portions have also increased and food eaten away from home is generally filled with more calories than a home-cooked meal. Combine that with the tremendous increase in eating out and it is pretty easy to understand why there is an obesity epidemic.” In the damning-with-faint-praise department, Burros acknowledges that in offering consumers a wide variety of packaged snack and meal choices, food manufacturers “are doing nothing illegal.” (Free sign-in required to access story.)
