New York's cupcake ban
Will outlawing bake sales in schools help in the fight against obesity?
There's a new rule in New York City schools, said Jennifer Medina in The New York Times. "There shall be no cupcakes." The city's Education Department has outlawed baked goods on campus under a new wellness policy seeking to "limit how much sugar and fat students put in their bellies at school."
"Yes, it is for the children," said Don Surber in the Charleston, W.V., Daily Mail. "It is always for the children. Guns are bad for kids. Old books with lead paint are bad for kids. Cupcakes are bad for kids. You know what is really bad for kids? The Nanny State."
Fighting "skyrocketing obesity" in our children is a worthy goal, said Maureen Downey in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, but turning schools into "no cupcake zones" isn't the answer. All that does is eliminate bake sales—which are a proven way for clubs and athletic teams to raise quick cash. What good will that do "in high schools where kids can leave school and get their own fries?"
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The $100mn scandal undermining Volodymyr ZelenskyyIn the Spotlight As Russia continues to vent its military aggression on Ukraine, ‘corruption scandals are weakening the domestic front’
-
Quiz of The Week: 15 – 21 NovemberQuiz Have you been paying attention to The Week’s news?
-
Can the UK do more on climate change?Today's Big Question Labour has shown leadership in the face of fraying international consensus, but must show the public their green mission is ‘a net benefit, not a net cost’