By now we’ve all heard the inevitable news of the first case of mad cow disease identified in the United States. Also predictable has been the government and industry reassurances to Americans to go back to their blissful enjoyment of Big Macs and milk shakes. (Never mind all those other countries banning our imports.)

While many beef and fast food companies are relying on the trusty USDA to calm fears, others are taking their own actions to desperately spin its way out of this potentially damaging news. For example, ad execs at Burger King are going ahead with a new Whopper television campaign but will retool the ads to include the chicken Whopper. The National Cattleman's Beef Association is getting a little more aggressive, holding press briefings almost daily, starting a Web site, but not being too deterred: Look for yet another "Beef, It's What's for Dinner" television campaign later this month.

According to PR Week, meat industry trade groups were “scurrying” during the holiday season “to coordinate key messages” to answer the barrage of media calls. The American Meat Institute's top spokeswoman, Janet Riley, even allowed NBC News into her kitchen on Christmas day to tape "her preparing beef for dinner in an effort to demonstrate her faith in the safety of the beef supply.”

Similarly, USDA Secretary Ann Veneman told Americans not to change any plans for their holiday meal, as she planned to serve beef at hers. (How touching.) But can we really believe an agency whose top staffers come from the meat and dairy industries? For example, Veneman's chief of staff Dale Moore, press secretary Alisa Harrison, deputy under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs Chuck Lambert, and senior advisor for food and nutrition Elizabeth Johnson all previously worked for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

And just for further proof that the USDA is in the pockets of industry, the agency continues its almost daily practice of bailing out Big Agribusiness by buying up overproduced beef products. In their latest report, the USDA “purchased 5,418,000 pounds of frozen ground beef at a cost of approximately $7,250,000. These products are for use in federal food and nutrition programs.”

Sources:
New York Times, 01/01/04
PR Week, 01/05/04
http://www.prweek.com/news/news_story.cfm?ID=198740&site=3
PCRM press release, 01/05/04
http://www.pcrm.org/news/health040106.html
USDA Food Purchase Report, 01/07/04
http://www.ams.usda.gov/lsg/cp/beef/2i29fpr.txt

We Send Potatoes, They Make Chips

“We have succeeded in opening the Korean market for Washington state chipping potatoes,” Locke said. Pat Boss, executive director of the Washington State Potato Commission explained: “For the past couple of years, the Potato Commission had envisioned that there would be a demand for chip potatoes in countries like Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.” As a result of our continued efforts to educate Korean snack food manufacturers about the quality of our chip potatoes, we are seeing some good things happen.” Not so good for the consumers in these Asian countries whose obesity rates are sure to rise along with their increasing adoption of American-style junk food eating habits.

Sources:
Tribnet.com, 12/11/03
http://www.tribnet.com/business/v-printer/story/4506577p-4484383c.html
Washington Governor’s Office Press Release, 12/10/03
http://www.governor.wa.gov/press/press-view.asp?pressRelease=1486&newsType=1

Let ‘em Take Drugs

Last month, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the use of the obesity drug, Xenical, for adolescents, marking the first time that a weight-loss drug has been permitted to treat overweight children. With 15 percent of American children overweight, Terence Hurley, a spokesman for the drug’s manufacturer, Hoffman-La Roche, called the move good news for teens who battle obesity. "We're thrilled with the approval," he said.

Xenical works by blocking the body's ability to digest fat and works best when combined with a low-calorie diet that limits high-fat foods. Instead of being digested, one-third of the fat a person eats will accumulate in the intestines and be excreted. Children taking the drug are advised to avoid some common teenager foods like pizza and french fries. Cheaters can suffer an array of side effects like bloating, flatulence, oily stool, diarrhea and fecal incontinence. By blocking fat absorption, the drug also blocks absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins as well as beta-carotene, so people have to take daily vitamin supplements—more pills to counteract the effects of the other pills. How about instead our government put some money into educating teens about eating healthier and exercising more?

Source: New York Times, 12/16/03
 

Legislators and Litigators Take on Obesity

An excellent cover story in the Los Angeles Times on January 3 spelled out a number of legal strategies, from the “statehouse to the courthouse” to help stem the rising tide of obesity. The article highlighted efforts of California state Senator Deborah Ortiz who led a legislative victory that will restrict soft drink sales in the state's elementary and middle schools starting this year. In addition, school boards across the country are ordering the removal of snack foods high in sugar and fat from vending machines, revamping the nutritional content of school lunches, and reinvigorating physical education programs.

Also, New York legislators are considering a bill to require chain restaurants to display nutrition facts. Lawmakers in Maine are considering a similar measure, along with a bill that would allow health insurance companies to offer 20 percent discounts to people within their ideal weight range. And across the country, almost a dozen states have recently repealed exemptions from state sales taxes on candy, baked goods, and soft drinks.

The article also featured George Washington University law professor and anti-tobacco crusader John Banzhaf who has spearheaded a courtroom strategy against the food industry. He points to litigation as a way to raise public awareness and create a groundswell for lawmakers and regulators to mandate change. Thus far, Banzhaf concedes that courtroom victories have been modest. Nevertheless, he is encouraged by modest changes in corporate practices. "These companies are saying, look, this litigation has potential," says Banzhaf. "Fat could be the next tobacco, and it's enough of a threat to do something about."

Source: Los Angeles Times, 01/03/04
http://www.latimes.com/la-he-fatfight3jan03,1,4306706.story

Sodas Out of Canada Schools While AAP Speaks Out

In response to concerns about obesity in children, the Canadian soft drink industry will pull all of its carbonated beverages from elementary and junior high schools in the country by the beginning of the next school year. A spokeswoman for Refreshments Canada, a lobby group for companies such as Coke and Pepsi, said it believes its products are appropriate for school children but has heard the message from Canadian parents.  Still, some are calling for the industry to extend the ban to high schools, suggesting that the action was really a preemptive strategy designed to protect that more profitable venue, knowing that any school board action would likely include high schools.

Meanwhile in this country, the big related news is the policy statement released on January 5 from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The policy recommends that school districts consider restricting the sale of soft drinks and that pediatricians work to eliminate sweetened soft drinks in schools.

While much was made in the press over this announcement, a closer look reveals many of the recommendations as fairly obvious and not going far enough. For example, the statement recommends that if a school district already has a soft drink contract in place, “it should be adapted so that it does not promote over-consumption by students.” What does that mean? Why not work to rescind the contract all together? The policy also recommends that “soft drinks not be sold as part of, or in competition with, the school lunch program,” a rule that is already part of the USDA’s national school lunch guidelines, so no controversy there. While we applaud any major medical establishment group speaking out on this important issue, a stronger recommendation would have been to simply ban soda sales in schools, period.

Sources:
Montreal Gazette, 01/07/04
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgazette/editorials/story.asp?id=2E6F37CB-7923-4D3D-96C4-015932510969
American Academy of Pediatrics Press Release, 01/05/04
http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/jansoftdrinks.htm

MEDIA WATCH: ABC News Special on Food Politics

Well-known nutrition advocates Marion Nestle and Michael Jacobson spoke eloquently about how industry and government bore their share of the responsibility for Americans’ overeating, and while Jennings did give requisite air time to industry spokespeople, they came off sounding transparent and cold. But most pathetic was Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson, who readily admitted that agricultural subsidies are based on political decisions that are unlikely to change. For the top public health official in the country, he didn’t really seem all that concerned about any connection to the obesity epidemic.

Big kudos to ABC and Peter Jennings for telling the American people the truth. Let’s hope this sets a new trend in honest journalism. And no more diet stories!

To purchase a video tape or DVD of the program: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/WNT/Living/obesity_031208-1.html

The Center for Informed Food Choices in a nonprofit organization that advocates for a whole foods, plant-based diet and educates about the politics of food.

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