McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) chief executive cry baby Jim Skinner told attendees at the National Restaurant Association's annual convention that the increasing popularity of state regulations requiring fast food chains to disclose calories counts are "redundant and flawed" and referred to the activists pushing for these measures as "CAVE people - Citizens Against Virtually Everything."

With all due respect to Mr. Skinner, he couldn't be more wrong or disingenuous.

Posting calorie counts on menus will give consumers greater and more convenient to nutritional information than they've ever had before. The reason McDonald's opposes these laws is that they know that if people knew what they were eating, many would eat less and save some of the money for the respirator.

The fact that Mr. Skinner is so worried about these laws that cities including New York have adopted demonstrates that they aren't redundant. If they were, there would be nothing to worry about!

It's a shame when the CEO of one of America's largest companies takes a stand against providing consumers with more information in a more convenient format.

Target (NYSE: TGT) announced something interesting this week. The nation's second-largest discount retailer said it will seek U.S. government approval to add a consumer warning to labels of meat treated with carbon monoxide. In a way, it is saying that all that fresh-looking red meat sold in its SuperTarget stores and other locations with grocery sections already carries meat with added chemicals.

Carbon monoxide, along with disgusting chemicals like sodium nitrite, is used to keep dead meat looking fresh and bright red, long after it has naturally lost its color in the process of being transported and stocked at your local grocer. However, the lack of information given to customers about these chemicals and additives to artificially keep some products presentable (while being a threat to health) bothered Target, apparently.

Target sells meat in 210 of its 1,537 stores, and wants to add verbiage to all red meat labels that reads: "Consumer Notice: Carbon monoxide has been used to preserve the color of this product. Do not rely on color or the 'use or freeze by' date alone to judge the freshness of the product. For best results please follow the Safe Handling Instructions."

Wow -- is this a move by Target to differentiate itself from other mainstream grocers in the actual information it gives to consumers about the products it supplies to them? If so, we could see other grocery retailers follow this model. It's a novel concept, you know -- actually empowering consumers with decision-making information. Kudos to Target here.

Next time anyone chows down on a $5 organic apple at Whole Foods Market Inc. (NASDAQ: WFMI) or counts carbs on the Atkins and South Beach diets, they should think about the consequences of their actions on the struggling maker of Twinkies.

ABC News is reporting that Interstate Bakeries Corp., which has been operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since 2004, is threatening to shut down unless the company's unionized workforce makes some major concessions by September 30. The Kansas City-based baker, which has already announced plans to exit the bread business in Southern California and lay off 1,300 workers, also makes other wholesome fare such as Wonder Bread.

Though the story argues that if Interstate Bakeries is liquidated, some buyer will be happy to take over the Twinkie business, I am not so certain.

Sancti-mommies and a few sancti-daddies now rule the world. Kids today think that carrot sticks are snacks to be washed down with organic juice made from fruit hand-picked by colonies of aging hippies living on a collective farm. They have driven out sugary sodas from the schools and are cracking down on childhood obesity through non-competitive cardio activities that do not include ducking from balls of any sort.

Twinkies need to continue for another generation because they also provide a valuable introduction to children to the world of investing. When I was a kid, the spongy, cream-filled snacks were like gold in the trading market in my elementary school lunchroom that could be traded for anything. Times probably haven't changed much, and I imagine kids trying to swap celery sticks continue to get a chilly reception from their peers.

The Boston Globe reports that "For more than four years, a small team huddled in the Dunkin' Donuts research lab trying to crack the code for a doughnut without trans fats that tasted just like those on which the chain had built its reputation over the last half century."

And now, at last, they have done it. In a few weeks, Dunkin's 5,300 stores will introduce trans-fat free donuts. While they can hardly be considered a health food -- they still contain the same amount of total fat -- this has to be considered a major accomplishment. Just a few years ago, there was doubt about whether such a feat could be accomplished. Competitor (sort of like saying the Tampa Bay Devil Rays compete with the Yankees ...) Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (NYSE: KKD) is still working on a trans-fat free donut, and doesn't yet have anything ready to market.

What's next for these doughnut-engineers? How many years are we away from a truly healthy donut? Will fat-free, sugar-free ice cream ever taste like something other than opening the freezer and sticking your head in? All of this talk about healthy junk food reminds me a bit of alchemy, but researchers seem to be making progress.

But would a healthy donut even be fun? Or would it become to common-place to count as a treat, and lose its allure?

I can only think of two words to describe embattled multi-level marketing firm Mannatech's (NASDAQ: MTEX) latest press release: transparent and pathetic.

In case you haven't been following, the Texas Attorney General Greg Abbot filed a lawsuit against the company in July accusing the company of illegal sales and marketing practices, "falsely claiming its products cure, mitigate, treat or prevent diseases such as cancer, autism and Down's syndrome, in violation of state and federal laws." (source: WSJ).

Well now Mannatech has a whipping boy of sorts. With great fanfare, including a press release, the company announced it had terminated the distributorship or Raymond Gebauer, who has been convicted of tax evasion:

"Mr. Gebauer's conviction places him in violation of his Associate agreement with Mannatech," said Terry Persinger, President and COO of Mannatech. "We expect, and the Company's policies require, all Mannatech Associates to comply with applicable laws, including tax laws."

Is Mannatech just putting out this press release to brag that it does take compliance with the law very seriously? Of course. Is anyone likely to buy it? Of course not. The Attorney General's complaint contained ample evidence to show just how seriously Mannatech takes the law. Now that it's under scrutiny, it has some work to do. But for now, we'll have to settle for PR work.

Gebauer was one of the company's top distributors, with a down-line of 718,000 people. The stock is up 2% in early-morning trading.

Toucan Sam, that maniacal colorful spokesbird for Kellogg Company (NYSE: K), always kind of gave me the creeps as a child -- and sugary cereal wasn't allowed by my parents anyway. (Only during the occasional visits to my 12-hours-away grandmothers was I allowed the sweetness of Frosted Flakes, Fruity Marshmallow Krispies, and others).

But the crazy cartoon bird may be joining Joe Camel in that great advertising icon zoo in the sky, as Kellogg's plans to do away with advertising aimed at children 12 and younger, unless the advertised foods meet specific nutrition guidelines for calories, fat, sugar, and sodium. Licensed characters and branded toys will also be abolished for foods that don't pass nutritional muster.

Company officials say that 27% of Kellogg's advertising budget is spent on the 6-11 age group (a policy is already in place to prevent targeting ads on children younger than 6). The new guidelines mean that Kellogg cannot publish an advertisement on any television, radio, Web site, or print source with an audience that is 50% or more of children under 12.

Under the new regulations, one serving of food must contain 200 calories or fewer, no trans fat, no more than 2 grams of saturated fat, no more than 230 milligrams of sodium, and no more than 12 grams of sugar. Cocoa Krispies, Fruit Loops, and Apple Jacks don't make the cut, but Frosted Flakes (with only 11 grams of sugar) does. Looks like Tony the Tiger won't be seeking alternate employment just yet.

Beth Gaston Moon is an analyst at Schaeffer's Investment Research.

After researching the Volumetrics plan, I'm convinced it's among the best eating strategies yet. So does Consumer Reports.

Notice that the word "diet" is not mentioned. "Diet" implies temporary while "eating strategies" and another commonly used phrase "eating plan" implies permanent changes. The book "The Volumetrics Eating Plan" by Barbara Rolls, who is a professor in the department of nutritional sciences at Pennsylvania State University, is worth a read for anyone looking to take control of their nutrition for the long term rather than just lose a few pounds for the summer.

The runner-up is the review was the Weight Watchers International Inc. (NYSE: WTW) diet plan (I'm a fan of this one) and Jenny Craig also came in a very close third.

The rest? Well, do your homework and see if there are solid tracts of science behind whatever diet plan you choose -- and don't fall for the marketing hype or baseless celebrity endorsements.

It's easy to do.

From the recent Atkins Diet craze to the newest "Best Life Diet" that counts Oprah Winfrey as an endorser, there are many plans making claims to be the best.

As Consumer Reports shows, very few are worth the bother.

Last week I accompanied my 14-year-old son as he attended a weeklong baseball camp in Lakeland, Fla. He got to play and learn; I got to watch and yearn. I had a bit of spare time, about six hours a day, so I decided to ride around Lakeland, a city of about 100,000 residents, and do some real research: things like go to the mall and see which brands are hot and which ones are not. I even did something personally wicked and had lunch at a McDonald's Corp. (NYSE: MCD) restaurant. I had not been to a McDonald's in over a year. But, all in the name of research.

What struck me next was paralyzing as well as perplexing. Seated next to me was a family of six: grandma, grandpa, mom, dad and two 12- or 13-year-old brothers. I was astonished as I witnessed the amount of food on their table. I was also astonished by the obesity of this entire family. I figured between the six of them they weighed in at about 2,000 pounds. The two boys, even at their tender ages, probably tipped the scales at more than 200 pounds each. Mom and dad went an easy 300-350 pounds each, and grandma and grandpa, the same.

Then today I read that Florida ranks 46th out of our 50 states in fitness and health. My home state of Minnesota ranked second just behind Vermont. We'll catch 'em next year. But back to my story ...

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (NYSE:KKD) is gaining friends on Wall Street.

CIBC World Markets analyst John S. Glass upgraded the shares to "sector performer" from "sector underperformer" and set a $13 price target, saying the stock was "poised to reenter the investible universe," according to the Associated Press.

People already think that the donut chain will come back. Its shares have soared almost 54 percent over the past year. They gained 2 percent today and were last trading at $10.38.

Doubts about the chain linger. One long-time critic of Krispy Kreme, MarketWatch columnist Herb Greenberg, remains as skeptical as ever. He convincingly argues that the company's turnaround plan is based on strategies that haven't worked before such as increasing sales to convenience stores and adding new varieties.

Moreover, the battles over trans fats doesn't help the chain. Donuts, in case you are completely clueless, are loaded with them. Krispy Kreme recently introduced a whole-wheat donut with 180 calories, to try and show customers that it at least thinks about nutrition. If whole-wheat donuts are in your dieting plan, perhaps you need a new plan. They also don't sound particularly yummy.

McDonald's Corp. (NYSE:MCD) has gotten on the bandwagon against trans-fats.

The company told the Associated Press that its using a trans-fat free oil at more than 1,200 U.S. restaurant. McDonald's wouldn't provide any further details, which makes me think that fries cooked in the new oil don't taste as yummy as the current artery-clogging stuff though the company claims otherwise.

Ronald McDonald's parent got in hot water with public health advocates in 2002 for backing away from its pledge to create a new cooking oil, citing concerns about the taste of its fries.

Restaurants are under the gun because of trans-fats. New York City is banning artificial trans-fats effective July 1. Other cities, including Philadelphia are probably going to follow. Plus, Yum! Brands Inc. (NYSE:YUM) has already gotten positive press for phasing out the bad oil at KFC and Taco Bell.

Now that the food police are winning this fight, you can bet that portion sizes will be next on their agenda. Look for warning labels on the double Quarter Pounder. Then McDonald's will have to certify that that its beef, chicken and produce came from organic farms. Finally, federal authorities will demand that anti-cholesterol drugs be added to the ketchup.

I am not against nutrition, but I do worry that we are becoming a nanny state. Where does it stop?

McDonald's Corp. (NYSE:MCD) had a whopper of a fourth quarter.

The world's largest restaurant chain said it earned 61 cents, ahead the 58 cents expected by Wall Street analysts, according to a press release. The company reports complete results on January 24. Shares of corporate master of Ronald McDonald, Grimace and the Hamburglar shot up on the news.

"We begin 2007 from a position of strength and remain focused on providing relevant menu choices and everyday affordability to serve the needs of our customers," Chief Executive Jim Skinner in the statement.
" I am confident that we can continue our momentum as we enter the new year with ongoing dedication to outstanding restaurant execution."

My colleague Sarah Gilbert should take comfort in the fact that her love for the Egg McMuffin is shared by many. McDonald's mentions breakfast as well as the chicken sandwiches as reasons for the 6.9 percent rise in comprable same-store sales.

Is this a good sign for the economy? I don't know. This does show consumers are spending albeit on inexpensive food.

McDonald's diversification away from burgers is paying off. A.G. Edwards & Sons analyst Jack Russo estimates that that the company sells $5 billion worth of chicken in the U.S., about equal to the amount of burgers, Bloomberg News says.

I know you can buy salads and other healthy snacks at McDonalds. but I consider them like the articles in Playboy magazine. It's something that's available if you want it, but not the main attraction.