The Baltimore Sun had an interesting story a few days ago about the desire of so-called "health advocates" to ban trans fat at the hallowed ground of unhealthy eating, county and state fairs. I worked at a food vendor at the Spokane Interstate Fair during high school, so I know something about this industry. In the land of funnel cakes, corn dogs, elephant ears, and deep-fried twinkies, it would seem to me that trying to force people to eat healthy is a lost cause. And, frankly, it should be. I generally eat pretty healthy, but when I go to the fair I want some good-tasting, high-fat, unhealthy food. I don't think I'm alone in this.

Julie Greenstein, who works at the mis-named Center for Science and the Public Interest (motto: Trying to Kill Everyone's Good Time Since 1971) says about trans fat, "People just realize it's not good for you. People don't want it in their food."

Really? As the Sun article points out:

"At the Maryland fair, Pearl Levengood helps manage the Little Richard's booth, where they fry everything from Oreos to Twinkies in creamy liquid shortening thick with trans fat.

"One of her cooks takes a Twinkie on a stick, twirls it through funnel cake batter, and then drops it into a vat of hot oil, which it hits with a sizzle. As the Twinkie bobs through the oil, nearly bumping into a corn dog and a funnel cake swimming nearby, it puffs up as it crisps.

"By the time the cook pulls it from its bath, dripping with grease, it's twice its original size. He slathers it with strawberry sauce and hands it though the window to an eager customer.

"'They don't ask how many calories,' Levengood says. 'They just say, "That's a heart attack in the making."

"'I say, "Oh, I take all the calories out. I just fry it in greasy oil."'

"Levengood has never had a customer walk away. In fact, they line up."

At the food booth I worked at, the only healthy thing we had on the menu was Diet Coke. We were busy pretty much from 10 in the morning until 10 at night. Why? People like the taste of unhealthy food. It's a main attraction of these fairs. CSPI and other do-gooders should relax and enjoy themselves, even if it's for only one day of the year.

Unfortunately, it appears their quest to police the eating habits of others will continue unabated. So during this fair season, eat all the funnel cake and fried twinkies you can. You may soon be denied the pleasure.