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NYC Health Department cracks down on French fries

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New York City’s Health Department has issued a long list of do’s and don’ts to its children -- I’m sorry, its employees -- including a ban on French fries.

Also: Employees also cannot serve cookies and a special occasion cake during celebratory get-togethers. That’s just too much sugar and fat.

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Health officials insist they are just walking the walk and leading by example, and expect their 3,000 children -- sorry, I mean employees-- to do the same. To do otherwise would be hypocritical given Health Commissioner Thomas Farley’s push to reduce New Yorkers’ salt, sugar and alcohol consumption, according to this story in the New York Daily News, which has to be read in its entirety to be truly appreciated.

Other food guidelines laid out in the health department’s ‘Life in the Cubicle Village’ guidelines:

-- All fried food -- not just French fries -- is a no-go. -- Tap water is one of the beverages of choice. ‘Other beverages must be less than 25 calories per 8 ounces.’ -- ‘Cut muffins and bagels into halves or quarters, or order mini sizes. Offer thinly-sliced, whole-grain bread,’ the brochure states. -- Air-popped popcorn -- ‘popped at the party and served in brown paper lunch bags’ -- is allowed.

What do you think about these rules? Do you think that the health department’s employees should indeed set the example? Or is this just one more example of the nanny state? Would you like to see rules like this implemented in your workplace to keep the temptations at bay?

I want to know: How much partying do they do at the NYC health department that such a detailed memo was required.

Finally, I say this as someone who sits at a desk at a computer all day: Have you ever heard of a more depressing and less motivating title than ‘Life in the Cubicle Village’?

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--Rene Lynch
Twitter / renelynch

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