A Quality Franchise?

A JEP article on Sandpiper bringing “Burger King” to Jersey described it as a “quality franchise”.

I thought it might be interesting to look at the quality!

How many calories in a Burger King Whopper? Answer: 630.
How many calories in a large fry? Answer: 500.
How many calories are in a Double Whopper? Answer: 830.
How much fat in an Alaskan Fish Sandwich? Answer: 31 g.

Health-conscious patrons may substitute small orders of fries and onion rings, which contain about 400 calories and 16 grams of fat, with apple slices. Substituting milk for soda pop presents lower calorie and sugar counts, as well. Customers may reduce fat by leaving out cheese and forgoing the use of dipping sauces like ranch dressing.

Sarah Muntel, a registered dietician, writing for “Obesity Action” noted this:

McDonalds Big Mac: 540 calories and 29 g of fat
Burger King Whopper: 670 calories and 40 g of fat

Now let’s throw in the sides:

Medium fries: 380 calories and 19 g of fat

She says:

“These foods are highly processed, full of fat, calories and sodium. You could easily take in 1,500 calories from just one meal alone. Keep in mind that a general caloric recommendation for Americans is 1,500-1,800 calories per-day and around 50-60 grams of total fat. Choosing a typical fast food meal every day can lead to increased calories which can lead to weight gain and can lead to other health conditions like heart disease.”

It is already a problem in America, where CSPI nutrition policy director Margo G. Wootan says that "Parents want to feed their children healthy meals but America’s chain restaurants are setting parents up to fail McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, and other chains are conditioning kids to expect burgers, fried chicken, pizza, French fries, macaroni and cheese, and soda in various combination at almost every lunch and dinner."

“Besides being almost always too high in calories, 45 percent of the kids' meals at the 13 chains studied by CSPI are too high in saturated and trans fat, and 86 percent are too high in sodium. That’s alarming, according to CSPI, because a quarter of children between the ages of five and ten show early signs of heart disease, such as high LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) or elevated blood pressure.”

The 2014 Health Profile for Jersey noted:

“Many of the factors known to cause ill health, such as smoking, are decreasing while others, like obesity, are increasing. While our obesity levels are still lower than other countries, obesity continues to increase. .”

The “State of Men’s Health” compares the health of men in Jersey to those around Europe, and has some worrying findings – including that one in three Jerseymen is overweight. Poor diet is a contributory factor.

Obesity is an increasing problem in Jersey. Experts say obesity could replace smoking as the main cause of cancer deaths within 15 years

Will the introduction of Burger King do anything to help that?

Do we really want that kind of “quality franchise”?

Havana Worldwide and Legal Aspects

Following the JEP's coverage, the Mirror was the first to pick up on the story, followed by the Daily Mail, and now the Times. It has also reached as far afield as India! Mr Sayers has apologied saying it was a "moment of madness". Personally, I think the protestors should accept this apology - what more can the poor man do?

Some of the comments I've seen (including some on my blog) supporting Mr Sayers say he had a right to refuse entry to whoever he liked. Actually, that is false, if he started turning away people because they were Jewish, Asian, coloured, etc, he would soon find himself in bigger trouble, certainly in the UK, where such practices come up against the law, see, for instance (from 2007):

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/713639.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/6335541.stm

The Sonia Deol Show on the BBC Asian Network is looking into reports of racist door policies operating at UK nightclubs. Listeners have been contacting the show with stories of how they've been refused entry to clubs simply because of the colour of their skin.

http://www.fearandlothian.com/underground/main/articles/regulars.htm

Guardian investigation carried out this week has revealed evidence of racist door policies at some of Glasgow's most high profile nightclubs. In controlled tests, adhering to the requirements of the Commission for Racial Equality, a small group of Sikh students wearing microphones were filmed attempting to gain entry to a series of clubs. Two of the clubs, which cannot be named for legal reasons, rejected the Sikh group with the excuse that the club was full or only admitting regulars, while a control group of white students directly behind them were admitted.

The second one is directly pertinent, because it was noted by witnesses at the Havana that the policy was of barring larger women while letting in men of similar size, so in fact it was a form of sex discrimination. Again in the UK, that sort of thing is banned:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1507012/Europe-blasts-away-traditional-sex-discrimination-at-golf-clubs.html

The European Union says clubs that admit both men and women but then discriminate against one sex will be outlawed by the end of 2007.

Now not all these laws may yet apply in Jersey, but some of the comments which have said "club owners can do what they like" are based in the UK, where clearly posters do not know their own laws! It doesn't surprise me in the least, as Ian Le Marquand has shown a similar ineptitude with regard to human rights legislation and the possibility of refusing bail. I've not had a chance to dig deep into the law on discrimination, but I notice that if it is not yet on the statute, it will be, and certainly the draft law says:

The Committee recommends that the authorities complete the current process of enacting legislation outlawing all racial discrimination. In accordance with Article 26, the authorities should also promulgate legislation which prohibits any discrimination and guarantees to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status

The Discrimination Law is designed to establish the areas in which discrimination should not be tolerated. It will protect anyone who suffers a detriment as a result of discrimination or a range of prohibited acts such as victimisation, unlawful advertising, harassment and other discriminatory practices in certain conditions, and will provide an enforcement mechanism for complaints brought under the Law.

It is proposed that the scope of the law should extend to employment, including selection for employment, treatment of employees, contract workers, partnerships, professional or trade organisations, professional bodies and vocational training, and also discrimination in education, provision of goods, facilities and services, access to and use of public premises, disposal or management of premises and membership of clubs.

UK News:

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?in_article_id=239642&in_page_id=34
http://www.the-latest.com/club-owner-bars-women-for-being-too-fat
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/jersey/7531553.stm
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/07/29/jersey-nightclub-bans-girls-for-being-too-fat-115875-20675280/

and in India:

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/nightclub-refuses-entry-to-too-fat-girls_10077317.html
http://living.oneindia.in/insync/2008/nightclub-overweight-girls-300708.html
http://www.newstrackindia.com/printnews/8952


http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/article4425915.ece


A nightclub that barred fat women has backed down after international protests and claims that it was guilty of discrimination. The Havana nightclub in St Helier, Jersey, was accused of barring larger women while letting in men of similar size. Almost 1,000 people have joined an internet-based campaign calling for a boycott of the club and a protest on Friday night. More than 20 women are reported to be preparing to give statements to police claiming that they suffered discrimination. Police were called to the club on Saturday night to prevent public disorder after Martin Sayers, the club's manager, and his door staff started turning away larger women.


Georgina Mason, 23, one of the women refused entry, told the Jersey Evening Post: "About five or six or us got to Havana at about 11.30pm and the bouncers said we were not allowed in because we were too big." Miss Mason, a bank worker, said: "I told them not to be ridiculous and asked to speak to the manager. When the manager came out he would not look at me directly but said that they had received many complaints about fat people and he told me, 'Go and lose some weight before you can come in - fat people are bad for business'."

Jemma Warner, who saw larger women being turned away, said: "The man himself was far, far away from what we might call male perfection, making the situation somewhat ironic. Boycott the Havana club because this kind of discrimination is way more ugly then any kind of body shape."


Kierra Myles, who was also at the club, said: "Does this mean larger people can't go out and have a good time? Should they hide away because they might be overweight? As if there is not enough pressure on young girls to be thin and have the - in my opinion, disgusting - size-zero look. Then you have narrow-minded people like that stopping people that are perfectly happy within themselves from going out and having a good time."

Jersey's chief medical officer highlighted obesity as a key challenge in her recent annual report. However, the island has a relatively low level of obesity, with about half of adults classified as overweight or obese, compared with about two thirds in mainland Britain.

Mr Sayers, who has run the club, which has a capacity of 380, since 1992, defended his actions initially, saying: "We got a lot of people that I'd classify as morbidly obese and we were getting complaints. I am deeply apologetic but business is not good at the minute and I was trying to protect my business."


Last night, however, he said that the ban had been dropped and he appealed for those who had been offended to come back. Mr Sayers, who admitted being overweight himself and on a diet, said: "There was an error of judgment and I would like to apologise wholeheartedly to these people and say they are welcome back to the club. The vast majority of our customers are overweight. There should not be discrimination against people for any reason and if this incident highlights that then I guess something useful has come out of it." He denied that fat women were less attractive, adding: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/jersey/7531553.stm


Martin Sayers said he made "a wrong decision" by refusing entry to about 25 women at the Havana Club in Bath Street, St Helier, on Saturday night. "I'm just deeply sorry that people have been offended. It was a poor decision made," he said. He was highly embarrassed over a "moment of madness" which would not be repeated, he told BBC News."Anyone who was turned away will be very welcome in the future - there will be no restrictions," he said. "I don't like upsetting people. I just offer my apologies unreservedly.

Fat Night Club Owner Bans Fat Women

Marjorie Dawes: What advice can we give to Barbara, to turn her tragic life around? Paul?
Fat Fighter: [sighs] Cut out biscuits?
Marjorie Dawes: Cut out biscuits! erm... Mary?
Meera: Instead of sugar, use artificial sweetener in tea.
Marjorie Dawes: Something about sugar, but I think the best advice any of us can give you, is to look at the person on the inside, because you're obviously a very unhappy person...
Barbara: No, I'm not!
Marjorie Dawes: Well, you deserve to be! I know Mum doesn't speak to you, but that's not for here... but as far as she's concerned, if you were knocked down by a bus tomorrow the world would be a better place!
- Little Britain

A new form of discrimination!

Is it up to a night club to choose who it allows in? Should it be allowed to discriminate because of weight? The Havana club in Jersey, Martin Sayers - overweight proprietor - has decided to discriminate against women because of their weight. Interestingly, according to the witnesses, he cheerfully allowed overweight men inside!

http://www.thisisjersey.com/2008/07/28/club-tells-fat-women-to-go-home/

FEMALE clubbers were refused entry into Havana nightclub on Saturday night for being too fat. Police were called to calm the situation outside the Halkett Street club as bouncers and manager Martin Sayers allegedly told women to 'go away and lose some weight'. Over 20 women are expected to give statements to the police today.. Georgina Mason was one of the ladies refused entry. The 23-year-old, who works for Lloyds TSB, had been enjoying a night out with friends when it turned sour. 'About five or six or us got to Havana at about 11.30 pm and the bouncers said we were not allowed in because we were too big. I told them not to be ridiculous and asked to speak to the manager,' she said. 'When the manager came out he would not look at me directly but said that they had received too many complaints about fat people and he told me: "Go and lose some weight before you can come in - fat people are bad for business."

One wonders how many complaints he had in fact received and how he noted them. What if he had received complaints about coloured people, or Polish or Portuguese people? He would not think twice about refusing to act on those complaints, and yet he can discriminate against people on grounds of weight, or rather, of appearance - because I am sure he did not have a pair of scales and a height/weight chart handy!

Discrimination against weight may be on the rise. Airlines, especially in the USA, are looking to do just this. Southwest Airlines is to start charging passengers who are too large for the seats.

http://www.nationalpost.com/life/travel/story.html?id=665203

Could air travelers face the same penalties for being overweight as they do for excess baggage? A recent U. S. study showed that the additional 10 pounds gained on average by American passengers during the 1990s resulted in an increase in the use of fuel, to the tune of an extra 350 million gallons. Already, Southwest Airlines has begun charging passengers who can't fit in a seat without raising the armrest. The company argues that, in charging customers a double fare (when the flight is fully booked), it is acting on complaints from customers whose seats were infringed on by overweight neighbours. It also considers that weight costs, and that total weight - including passenger weight - should be considered in assessing fares.

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/182/story/420855.html

Southwest Airlines will soon begin to impose a second seat charge to a passenger who is so large as to have to lift up the armrest to fit into his or her already purchased seat. What will this mean to us at the airport? If the airline counter person or the gate attendant sizes you up and believes that you will not fit into your seat, is there a mock airline seat handy that can be used to measure while the rest of the line waits? Are we no better than a suspicious piece of carryon luggage? What if your traveling companion is thin and together you don't take up more than two seats?

Meanwhile Mr Sayers has achieved national fame. The story first in the JEP has now reached the National Media, and appears in today's Daily Mirror. Mr Sayers defends this on the grounds that it highlights the obesity problem. But at what weight are people refused entry? Is there a pair of scales available to tell people what is allowed and not? His comments seem like the desperate attempt to gain some semblance of credibility from the stupidity of his actions, and the lack of signs outside the club - note that no sighs refusing entry to obese people were shown - illustrate that this was an off-the cuff decision, badly thought out, and probably pandering to the prejudices of certain men (we know the type!). Now he will certainly lose business, and perhaps he should get the shoot-yourself-in-the-foot award for this month!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/07/29/no-weigh-to-treat-a-lady-115875-20675280/

No weigh to treat a lady By Laurie Hanna 29/07/2008

A group of girls hoping to enjoy a fun night out were refused entry to a club - for being too fat. Police were called to calm the situation after they say the manager told them to "go away and lose some weight". Georgina Mason, 23, who was among the group, was left feeling "disgusted" by the ban. She said: "About five or six or us got there about 11.30pm on Saturday and the bouncers said we were not allowed in because we were too big. "I told them not to be ridiculous and asked to speak to the manager. He would not look at me directly but said they'd received too many complaints about fat people. He told me to 'go and lose some weight before you come in - fat people are bad for business'. "I was disgusted he had the nerve to say this. My friend, who is only a size 14, was not allowed in either." Helen Warner witnessed the storm outside the Havana Club in St Helier, Jersey. Helen, who says she will never set foot in the club again, said: "I heard the manager say 'Go away and lose some weight, love'. I can't believe what happened." Altogether, 20 women have complained to police and a Facebook protest page has been set up. But yesterday manager Martin Sayers defended his controversial decision. He said: "We got a lot of people that I'd classify as morbidly obese and we were getting complaints. " I am deeply apologetic but business is not good at the minute and I was trying to protect my business. If this highlights the problem of obesity, then perhaps some good has come of this. I am overweight myself. I did not do this to hurt anyone."

Maybe Mr Sayers should go to America, where if Mississippi legislators had their way, they'd put forth a law that would ban obese people from being served at restaurants! He may say he "If this highlights the problem of obesity, then perhaps some good has come of this", but if so, he is clearly about as tactful about the matter as Marjorie Dawes in Little Britain's Fat Fighters!

Marjorie Dawes: What advice can we give to Christopher to help him lose weight? Paul!
Paul: Eat healthily?
Marjorie Dawes: Oh that's rich coming from you. Pat!
Pat: Don't eat too much chocolate!
Marjorie Dawes: What do you mean, don't eat too much chocolate, all the other kids hate him, chocolates the only friend he's got.

http://junkfoodscience.blogspot.com/2008/01/no-fat-people-allowed-only-slim-will-be.html