David Kessler Goes Dumpster Diving (and Emerges With Garbage)

Jacob Sullum | April 30, 2009

In recent years, The Washington Post reports, former FDA Commissioner David Kessler was fired from his position as dean of the University of California at San Francisco's medical school, and he started dumpster diving. Kessler, who is still a professor at UCSF, was not living on the street after losing his job. The truth is more embarrassing: He was looking for the secret behind signature Chili's dishes such as Southwestern Eggrolls and Boneless Shanghai Wings. After many late-night forays into the garbage behind Chili's locations across California, Kessler emerged with his prize: nutritional labels on ingredient boxes indicating that the chain's offerings "were bathed in salt, fat and sugars." Kessler could have saved considerable time and effort by paying a Chili's employee to write down this information for him. Or by visiting the Chili's website, which provides numbers for the calories, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and sodium in the chain's food. Or simply by assuming that food promoted as a mouth-watering yet affordable indulgence probably has a lot of fat, salt, and sugar in it.

Since Kessler considers that fact a revelation, it's not surprising that he also thinks he is breaking new ground by pointing out in his new book, The End of Overeating, that tasty food affects brain chemicals associated with pleasure. Although that is true of everything that people enjoy, Kessler thinks it's the key to understanding why his weight "has swung from 160 pounds to 230 pounds and back, many times over"; why his refrigerator in college was filled with Entenmann's snack cakes; and why he was "helpless when confronted with a plate of chocolate chip cookies," to the point where "he couldn't focus on anything else until he had eaten them all." And this is not just Kessler's problem: He claims 85 percent of the population is unable to resist "highly palatable" foods, and the restaurant industry takes advantage of this weakness by sneakily selling people things they like to eat. "The food the industry is selling is much more powerful than we realized," he says. The only way to escape this overwhelming temptation, he thinks, is to imitate him by swearing off French fries and starting to think of heretofore appealing dishes as "disgusting."

Like many "public health" types these days, Kessler, whose brazen attempt to regulate cigarettes without statutory authority was rejected by the Supreme Court, has turned his attention from Big Tobacco to Big Food. But is he right that only 15 percent of Americans are capable of eating just a few cookies off a plate or of saying no to a Big Mouth Burger? While enjoying delicious food is a widely shared human characteristic, and while many of us have struggled to lose weight, the compulsive consumption and wild yo-yoing he describes (over a 70-pound range) are much less common. "The challenge," he tells the Post, "is how do we explain to America what's going on—how do we break through and help people understand how their brains have been captured?" I think the challenge might actually be how to explain to David Kessler that he may be overgeneralizing from his own troubled relationship with food.

Here I discuss the attempt to portray politically incorrect foods as irresistibly addictive. Here is my analysis of the War on Fat. Here is my story about the Center for Science in the Public Interest, whose founder and executive director, Michael Jacobson, shares Kessler's tendency to convert personal preferences into universal prescriptions.

[Thanks to Brandon Payne for the tip.]

Comments

Naga Sadow|4.30.09 @ 12:41PM|#

Keesler you fucktard! If everyone is healthy and good looking like me that diminishes my self image! Where's my bailout!?!?!

|4.30.09 @ 12:44PM|#

Jacob--I saw that article and couldn't stand the thought of reading the limitless idiocy and command and control proscriptions that were sure to follow. Thanks for taking that bullet for me.

hmm|4.30.09 @ 12:47PM|#

I think I have a case against White Castle for abuse of my bowels. At the least I should be able to recoup the damage to my underwear and crapper. There should be a law limiting the number of those lil burgers sold per customer.

ChrisO|4.30.09 @ 12:49PM|#

That will be one nice thing about the coming economic collapse--there won't be any money to subsidize the food/health/safety/PC nazis.

We sit around on the couch all day playing videogames and posting mindless crap (like this) on Internet fora, and then blame our fat asses on...the food! Lovely.

Naga Sadow|4.30.09 @ 12:51PM|#

hmmm,

What is this . . . White. Castle? Never heard of it. Sounds like a shitty version of Crystal's.

Paul|4.30.09 @ 12:51PM|#

Center for "Science" in the "Public Interest"

Fixed.

creech|4.30.09 @ 12:58PM|#

We "don't break through and help people understand." We stick a gun to their head and command obedience.

NLE|4.30.09 @ 12:59PM|#

Would you like some liquor with your whitecastles

Naga Sadow|4.30.09 @ 1:01PM|#

creech,

I like the sound of your philosophy. Can I get sent some pamplets or literature?

Xeones|4.30.09 @ 1:02PM|#

Yo, David Kessler's kind of retarded.

|4.30.09 @ 1:06PM|#

there won't be any money to subsidize the food/health/safety/PC nazis.

Yes there will be, they'll just print some more.

|4.30.09 @ 1:07PM|#

Kessler is one of Our Betters. Any weakness on his part clearly has to be the result of Capitalist Exploitation. It can't be his fault, because that would make him one of us flawed cattle that he is fit to rule.

|4.30.09 @ 1:09PM|#

Baked rustic pheasant recipe
For those new to cooking and the taste of game, this is a good introduction recipe.
By Mark Hinge
Monday, 27 August 2007
No fandangle nouveau cuisine here, simply old-fashioned game-bird cooking that gets the taste buds into gear.
This is an extremely rural dish. No fandangle nouveau cuisine here, simply old-fashioned cooking that gets the taste buds into gear and primes every shooter and countryman towards the forthcoming new season's fare of game.
Ingredients:
- butter
- shallots
-garlic
-mushrooms
-pheasant breasts (one per person)
-smoked bacon
-fresh rosemary
-l oz plain flour
-1/2 pint of milk
-sherry
-salt and pepper
Method
1. Using some butter, wipe and grease your cooking dish.
2. Roughly slice the shallots, garlic and mushrooms and place in the bottom of the dish.
3. Sit your pheasant breasts on top and season. Cover with a few slices of bacon and a sprig
of rosemary.
4. In a saucepan, make the white sauce by adding the flour to cold milk and mixing in l oz of butter.
5. Bring to the boil, whisking the mixture continuously until it becomes a thick sauce.
6. Add a glug of sherry.
7. Pour the sauce over the breasts and cook uncovered in a pre-heated oven at 180°C for
25 minutes.
8. Serve with a thick hunk of bread.
Tips
For those new to cooking and the taste of game, this is a good introduction recipe. Making the sauce (no pre-made sauces in jars here) couldn't be easier, by bringing cold milk to the boil and giving the mixture a good whisking. Making a white sauce is really as simple as that. If you can't get fresh rosemary then use dried. Use any

http://www.shootingtimes.co.uk/recipes/ 1381 64/Baked nsticpheasant recipe.html

|4.30.09 @ 1:09PM|#

Uh, like, I think hes onto something. Like, I used to eat Entenmann's chocolate donuts for breakfast, you know, and mid-morning snack, lunch, mid-afternoon snack, dinner, you know,and before bed snack (and after boneing my girlfriend, but I never had a girlfriend, so after boning my pretend girlfriend, I had a donutor two) and when I was doing that, I got fat...like really wide load fat. So I ate less donuts, and I got less fat.
So, uh, its like the donuts fault.

|4.30.09 @ 1:09PM|#

Yo, David Kessler's kind of retarded.

Xeones, do you mind if, for "Walk for Values Houston 2009", I walk for the value "Yo, F--K (insert left wing retard here)"?

Is there a pic of you online I can use for my poster? :-)

http://www.discoverygreen.com/en/cev/eb/3693366/

|4.30.09 @ 1:09PM|#

Vegetarian - Old Iroquois word for "bad hunter"

|4.30.09 @ 1:10PM|#

"has swung from 160 pounds to 230 pounds and back, many times over"; why his refrigerator in college was filled with Entenmann's snack cakes; and why he was "helpless when confronted with a plate of chocolate chip cookies," to the point where "he couldn't focus on anything else until he had eaten them all.

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Fatass. Have you ever noticed that most health Nazis are people that cannot control themselves and project the same failing on all of us? Jesus H. Christ on a popsicle stick, Kessler, you fat fuck--some of us can even do, you know, cocaine and opiates without being a weak fuck like you. Cookies are your weakness?!? What is this, Sesame Street?

Naga Sadow|4.30.09 @ 1:14PM|#

But Epi! Since I hurt my knee, I haven't been able to run and i'm surrounded by snackcakes . . . EVERYWHERE!!!

Warty|4.30.09 @ 1:20PM|#

I'm surprised this fat fuck can pull himself out of the dumpster. Yo Kessler, fuck yourself.

|4.30.09 @ 1:20PM|#

Naga...who is in control? You, or the ginger snaps? OH GOD THE MACADAMIA WHITE CHOCOLATE

Paul|4.30.09 @ 1:25PM|#

Cookies are your weakness?!? What is this, Sesame Street?

Mr. Kessler, cookies are a sometimes food!

|4.30.09 @ 1:26PM|#

Kesseler's still alive? I thought he would have died from a snit-induced aneurism over losing his fiefdom when the Republicans got the white house.

-jcr

|4.30.09 @ 1:29PM|#

Mr. Kessler, cookies are a sometimes food!

"Animal like to...eat drums!"

"No Animal, beat drums! Beat drums! Down, Animal! Back! Sit!"

Greatest movie of all time.

|4.30.09 @ 1:31PM|#

Jeebus H. on a pogo stick.

I lost about 20 pounds in 2 - 3 months (over the holidays even). I don't exercise a lick. The secret? Two words: Portion and Control.

I also exercise control at the grocery store, because I discovered a secret: If I don't have any cookies to eat, I don't eat cookies.

Now, I'll admit, when there's big plate of cookies or an oversized plate of chow in front of me, I eat. So I avoid such things by rarely going to places where such things are likely to occur. If you don't eat at Chili's, Chili's won't make you fat.

Color me unsurprised, BTW, that this borderline retard held a high government policy-making post.

|4.30.09 @ 1:31PM|#

Kessler was on Colbert last night, pitching his book. Colbert asked him how to break this addiction to tasty food (although I can't agree about Entenmann's--ick). Kessler's response was "rehab." He didn't say whether fatties would be given the option, or just committed involuntarily, but I can guess how that would work out if he had his way.

I have to go now. There's still ice cream in the freezer.

Reformed Republican|4.30.09 @ 1:36PM|#

That's alright. When we are all standing in soup lines, fat will be a thing of the past.

alan|4.30.09 @ 1:38PM|#

aPheasantPlucker,

Some years I raise quail. Your culinary taste sound most copacetic.

dhex|4.30.09 @ 1:38PM|#

he could indulge his cookie addiction and maybe cut down on calories if he learned to bake. it takes a lot longer to make cookies than to buy them, and maybe he'd enjoy them more.

Mad Max|4.30.09 @ 1:39PM|#

Dr. Kessler's findings have implications, not only for public health, but for the War on Terror.

Now that we have discovered that unhealthy food simply overpowers the human will, we have a new interrogation technique to be deployed against terrorist suspects, now that the spoilsport killjoys have abolished waterboarding.

Put a steaming plate of bacon and eggs in front of the suspect.

SUSPECT: "No, by Allah, I cannot eat the meat of the pig, it is forbidden!"

INTERROGATOR: "Sure you can eat it, Abdul - listen, it's calling to you."

SUSPECT: "Curse you, infidel, I have no choice but to eat the foul pig product. Now that I have betrayed Islam, I may as well tell you about my plan to blow up the Empire State Building."

|4.30.09 @ 1:41PM|#

aPheasantPlucker, have you done that recipe with rabbit? I think it would work well. For limey cuisine, that is.

|4.30.09 @ 1:42PM|#

Kesseler's still alive? I thought he would have died from a snit-induced aneurysm over losing his fiefdom when the Republicans got the white house.

Dude, he was dead, but Obama brought him back to life!

TXLimey|4.30.09 @ 1:43PM|#

I wonder how long it took him to come to the earth-shattering conclusion that tasty food is tasty. For his next book maybe he can climb into a furnace to find out if fire is hot or not, and if so how that's a big business conspiracy to sell burn ointment.

High Every Body|4.30.09 @ 1:44PM|#

Naga,

Are you a University Professor?

Sounds like a shitty version of Crystal's KRYSTAL'S.

High Every Body|4.30.09 @ 1:45PM|#

Unless you were talking about crappy hot sauce, then it would make even less sense.

|4.30.09 @ 1:46PM|#

Kessler thinks it's the key to understanding why his weight "has swung from 160 pounds to 230 pounds and back, many times over"; why his refrigerator in college was filled with Entenmann's snack cakes; and why he was "helpless when confronted with a plate of chocolate chip cookies," to the point where "he couldn't focus on anything else until he had eaten them all."

The real key to understanding this is simple: Kessler is an idiot.

High Every Body|4.30.09 @ 1:48PM|#

The real key to understanding this is simple: Kessler is an idiot.

You are too kind.

Naga Sadow|4.30.09 @ 1:50PM|#

Oh no!!!! OWNED!!! Damn your spelling powers HEB!!! Damn them straight to hell!!!

|4.30.09 @ 1:50PM|#

"helpless when confronted with a plate of chocolate chip cookies,"

HAHAHA!

Abdul|4.30.09 @ 1:51PM|#

The way cookies stimulate your brain isn't all that different from the way exercise stimulates your brain.

In fact, Kessler has already discovered that after doing spin class a few times, it became addictive. "Now Kessler tries to spin every day and belongs to multiple health clubs so that he has more options for class times."

Mr. Kessler, it's time to go after Big Spin! They're manipulating our dopamine levels just for profits!

High Every Body|4.30.09 @ 1:51PM|#

Naga,

I am normally not a spelling prude, unless the spelling really, really counts. As in KRYSTAL!

Naga Sadow|4.30.09 @ 1:53PM|#

HEB,

You may have won this battle but I shall return for vengeance!!!

Later.

Guess My Bra Size|4.30.09 @ 1:55PM|#

"I lost about 20 pounds in 2 - 3 months (over the holidays even). I don't exercise a lick. The secret? Two words: Portion and Control."

I agree. I live in the frozen north so every autumn, I load up on comfort food and manage to gain about 15 lbs as a hedge against cold weather and illness (though I never get sick).

Then, shortly after the first of February, I cut way back on the carbs and by early May, I'm back to what's considered my ideal weight.

I find it pretty easy to do, but then to be fair, I also have the ability to not eat at all for a few days (I do that about once every five years or so).

Warty|4.30.09 @ 1:57PM|#

Kessler goes to spinning classes? Dude. Just...dude.

|4.30.09 @ 1:57PM|#

The Kesslers of the world sure think we're all automatons, don't they? Sort of like Descartes viewed animals. Food. . .in. . .front. . .of. . .me. . . .Must. . .eat. . .as. . .instinct. . .demands. . . .Please. . .save. . .me.

Entenmann's: It's the food that made Kessler run in less than twelve snack cakes.

VM|4.30.09 @ 2:01PM|#

"tendency to convert personal preferences into universal prescriptions."

kinda sounds like social conservatives and PC liberals, too...

|4.30.09 @ 2:01PM|#

Warty went to a spin class once to scam on chicks, but they all blew him off. You should have done yoga, dude...or pilates. HAHAHAHAHA

High Every Body|4.30.09 @ 2:02PM|#

Entenmann's? Isn't that what Ward Churchill tried to BS his way out of the "little Eichman's" comment with?

High Every Body|4.30.09 @ 2:05PM|#

Back on topic, this Pudsey Bear has nothing on Pooh Bear. NOTHING!

|4.30.09 @ 2:08PM|#

I think I have a case against White Castle for abuse of my bowels. At the least I should be able to recoup the damage to my underwear and crapper. There should be a law limiting the number of those lil burgers sold per customer.

It's the onions, I think. They've gotta be some kind of osmotic laxative.

Warty|4.30.09 @ 2:08PM|#

Epi, at least I don't try to pick up chicks at rape survivors' support groups, like you.

|4.30.09 @ 2:09PM|#

No means yes, Warty. You of all people should know that.

Guess My Bra Size|4.30.09 @ 2:11PM|#

"It's the onions, I think. They've gotta be some kind of osmotic laxative."

Damn tasty though. For a laxative.

|4.30.09 @ 2:13PM|#

I have eaten at both White Castle and at Krystal. Those disgusting, ersatz miniature "hamburgers" are equally awful.

High Every Body|4.30.09 @ 2:15PM|#

Warty,

I picked up that chick who played Larry David's wife on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" at a Survivor reunion.

|4.30.09 @ 2:18PM|#

Has anyone else noticed how Kessler looks like that EPA official in "Ghostbusters," the one about whom Bill Murray's character said, "It's true; he has no dick"?

i\'ve come for your bowels|4.30.09 @ 2:20PM|#

Weight loss is easy; just abuse stimulants.

|4.30.09 @ 2:21PM|#

Seamus, that would be William Atherton. He also played Professor Jerry Hathaway in Real Genius and the reporter dickhead in Die Hard.

i\'ve come from your bowels|4.30.09 @ 2:23PM|#

entennmansssssss doooooonnnutttss aree soooo ogoooodododododod! RICH FROSTED FO' LIFE!

sersly, like 20g fat, 400 cal, eat ONE and ONLY ONE. well, at a time. dunk in milk, WHOLE MILK, let soak 11-17seconds stick in face. DIGEST...


YUM!

|4.30.09 @ 2:27PM|#

Seamus/Episiarch,

Oddly enough, I encountered this strange lack of respect for the excellence in asshole character acting that is William Atherton in a recent Urkobold posting. In the comments, it seemed that people didn't recognize him immediately. Distressing lack of respect for his greatness, if you ask me.

JB|4.30.09 @ 2:29PM|#

Abort this clump of cells. He is too stupid and has too little self-control to remain on the planet.

Xeones|4.30.09 @ 2:31PM|#

jsh, by all means. Here is a picture of me for your poster.

|4.30.09 @ 2:33PM|#

he was "helpless when confronted with a plate of chocolate chip cookies," to the point where "he couldn't focus on anything else until he had eaten them all."

This makes me wish I could hide and ring a bell every time he pops one of those cookies in his mouth. And then show up at all of his press conferences; with the bell.

|4.30.09 @ 2:34PM|#

ProL, you have redeemed yourself with the Atherton respect. Jerry Hathaway: huge asshole, or THE huge asshole?

"What are you looking at? You're laborers; you should be laboring. That's what you get for not having an education."

Warty|4.30.09 @ 2:34PM|#

We should tattoo POOR IMPULSE CONTROL across his forehead. Fucking fatties.

|4.30.09 @ 2:39PM|#

Alan @ 1:38 Here is one for quail that I really like.

E - One can substitute rabbit, chicken or chuckar to either recipe. Just adjust cooking time to suit thickness of meat. The cooking time on the pheasant recipe was bang on for the big Kansas pheasants I used it on, so I'd either cut a large chicken breast in half or add maybe five minutes to the cooking time for chicken.


The recipe is from Ted Nugent's book reply to this