Making Whoopie: fat kids love pie.

• Author: Mangu-Ward, Katherine
• Position: Citings - Brief article

DURING A HEATED February debate in the Maine legislature over what sweet treat deserved to be designated as the official state dessert, state Rep. Donald Pilon (D-Saco) correctly described one contender, the Whoopie Pie, as a "frosting delivery vehicle" that "lists lard as its primary ingredient." Pilon would rather see blueberry pie named the Pine Tree State's official dessert. The Kennebec Journal quoted him fretting over the result of "glorifying" Whoopie Pie "at a time when 31.3 percent of Maine's children are considered overweight or obese."

But in preferring blueberry pastry to chocolate minicakes, he falls prey to the classic blunder in evaluating the merits of various foods. Most people--even savvy state reps--are easily confused by the halo effect when it comes to food. The presence of lard and chocolate sets off alarm bells, endowing the whole dessert with a wicked glow. Whereas healthy, natural blueberries...