More evidence that, as far as food goes, Americans believe in magic. Vitamin Waters and pomegranate juice and açai berries are magical potions and, sure, “trans-fat free” magically erases calories!

The cause of such irrationality? I agree–I would bet that it has something to do with a lot of food marketing seeking to convince us that the answer to slenderness and health is to buy their product, and LOTS of it! (The idea that consuming less of something might be a good idea just isn’t that great at selling stuff.) Thus we have chips and breakfast cereals that promise the most remarkable things!

I’m betting the regulations about health claims on packaging are a lot stricter in Europe. That probably helps people not get in the habit of magical food thinking. But I bet our habitual sunny American optimism plays a part here, too–perhaps we need to cultivate some sunny American skepticism.

Ok, malicious glee aside (and really I do so love America, if amused by it), I think Sara is right on the money. I find it astonishing that half of the American quiz-takers in the first scenario (sans crackers) guessed nearly correctly, as I’d think the word “salad” alone would trigger massive underguessing. Nah, it seems they were OVERguessing. Which is interesting: by now, the majority of us have received the bulletin that salads are deceptively fattening. Zap: halo gone.

Not true for trans-fat frees, however. It amazes me that what’s artery-clogging is confused with what’s high-cal, and vice versa. We’re totally programmed, and who among us eats solely for the joy of food? It’s the media’s fault, of course (I am vigorously excluding Camille and Sara from this).