Should the fast food industry be regulated in a similar manner to the Research Paper

Should the fast food industry be regulated in a similar manner to the tobacco industry Explain the factors behind your reasoning - Research Paper Example More than three hundred people die every year out of obesity-linked diseases. There have been few sober trials to regulate the food industry just like tobacco. One is left wondering if fast food industry should be regulated in the same way as the tobacco industry. Industries being threatened by the government regulation, have always undertaken to do self-regulatory actions. The food industry has been making promises to curb food marketing for children, trade less unhealthy goods in schools and put labels in foods responsibly. In industries like the tobacco, self-regulation failed. However, in some industries like the forestry and marine, it has been effective. Acting in response to the public outcry and the call for government regulation, the key food industry players have taken action as other businesses have done before. The industry has opted to adopt a self-regulatory initiative. The self-regulatory promises by the food industry are new and may be as the industry claims be, to the advantage of the public health or they may be deceptive and self-serving. Today, food industry self-regulation comprises of four key initiatives. One is that which deals with food and beverages in schools and pertains to marketing to children and addresses menu and labeling. On the beverages in schools, the industry in conjunction with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation released guidelines on school beverages. These guidelines comprise pledges to restrict portion sizes of drinks and set standards for the nutritional and caloric content of drinks to be traded in schools. The pledge was to implement the guidelines before 2009 to 2010 school year. After two years of implementation, the guidelines have reduced beverage calories taken to schools by more than 50 percent. The potential advantage of the guidelines provided and taking part of key players could be considered. The drinks industry has