Ass-backward science

I used to think the Brits were far more evolved than we Yanks. But that was before Marcella sent me this unbelievable bit of rationalizing from the U.K Food Standards Agency.

According to guidelines passed by the FSA, cheese, honey, marmite (that's how you know you're in the UK), and breast milk* are unhealthy and therefore banned as the subjects of food advertising to kids.

On the other hand, chicken nuggets, microwaveable curries, oven chips (I assume this is french fries), and diet sodas are A-OK, according to these standards.

This is what I think of as ass-backward science: First you decide what result you want your data to show. Then you screw with said data until it shows it.

So the makers of chicken nuggets can happily continue to flog their stuff to the kiddies**, but the beekeepers and cheese makers are SOL.

Nice going, guys.



* Breast milk's fat content would render it unhealthy by the FSA's standards.

** I lived in London for a year and I speak Brit too!