Uncle Sam Wants You to Take Small Steps

Under mounting pressure to help curb skyrocketing obesity rates, predicted to soon overtake smoking as the number one cause of preventable death in the United States, federal health officials have launched a quirky advertising campaign they are calling “small step.” (Yes, it’s singular: www.smallstep.gov.) The goal of the campaign is to have people take small, achievable steps to improve their health and reverse the obesity epidemic, says Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson. He says people don't need “extreme measures” to lose weight, such as following a strict diet or joining a gym.

The campaign includes public service ads aimed at getting Americans to lose weight. One shows boys playing on a beach discovering a human belly and another features shoppers finding a double chin in a grocery store. Several print ads focus on close-up shots of heavy stomachs, thighs, and buttocks and show how they might slim down as their owners get more active. Some experts worry that the ads may offend overweight Americans, while others question the campaign’s impact. The Center for Science in the Public Interest called it “more talk and no real help" for millions of Americans. And of course, more talk aimed at educating individuals conveniently avoids taking a more politically-charged industry regulatory approach.

Source: USA Today, 03/10/04
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/10/health/main605181.shtml

It’s Official: Calories Count

In March, Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson released a report from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) outlining another element in the federal government’s strategy for combating the obesity epidemic—this one with a focus on the message, "calories count." The report by FDA's Obesity Working Group includes recommendations to strengthen food labeling and to encourage restaurants to provide calorie and nutrition information. "Counting calories is critical for people trying to achieve and maintain a healthy weight," Secretary Thompson said. The report's specific suggestions include encouraging manufacturers to use dietary guidance statements, such as, "To manage your weight, balance the calories you eat with your physical activity; have a carrot, not the carrot cake; or have cherry yogurt, not cherry pie."

Sources: FDA Press Release, 03/12/04
http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2004/hhs_031204.html
The full report from the FDA's obesity working group is available at: http://www.fda.gov/oc/initiatives/obesity

Frito-Lay Beats Back Snack Tax in Maryland

The Maryland state legislature has eliminated a five percent snack tax from its proposed budget bill because the tax, which would have generated an estimated $16 million a year in revenue, represented a major threat to a possible expansion of a Frito-Lay plant in the state. The snack food giant currently operates a distribution center and a manufacturing plant, which makes pretzels, Tostitos and Doritos. The company has already invested more than $115 million in the site. County Executive James M. Harkins said Frito-Lay contributes more to Maryland's economy than the snack-food tax would generate. Harkins also said the House decision "bodes well for 400 jobs in Harford County, and the retention of Frito-Lay seems more secure today." The retention of obesity and other diet-related illnesses seems even more secure.

Source: Baltimore Sun, 03/24/04
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.snack24mar24,0,54012.story?col
 

  Fighting Back: Legal Strategies and Other Good News

BBC Bans Cartoon Junk Food Ads

The British Broadcasting Corporation announced that it would phase out ties between its popular children's television characters and fatty or sugary snack foods. The BBC, largely funded by British taxpayers, licenses its children's TV cartoon characters around the world for a variety of products, such as books and videos. The change is expected to be completed within two years as the current licenses expire. The move was made in response to growing concern over children's diets and the rise in childhood obesity, BBC officials said. Last year, the company ended its joint promotions with fast food restaurants. Now if only PBS would take the BBC’s lead and end Sesame Street’s connection to McDonald’s, among other promotion of unhealthy children’s food.

Source: Associated Press, 04/05/04
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/health/20040405-0907-cartoonjunkfood.html

Washington State Requires Healthy School Food

In March, state lawmakers approved a measure directing the Washington State School Directors' Association to develop a model policy for nutritious foods and exercise programs in public schools. Because of research highlighting weight and disease statistics in school-age children, proponents of the measure want a model state policy to address access to foods high in sugar, fat and salt by January, 2005, and for schools to adopt either the model or their own policies by August, 2005. "We do not have anything in the bill that would require districts to do away with their vending machines," said Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, primary sponsor of the bill. "Vending machines can offer more healthful food options." Don Sloma, president of the Washington State Public Health Association said it best: "Who wants schools to be models of bad health behavior?" Well, we could think of a few certain soda companies.

Source: Seattle Post-Intellegencer, 03/15/04
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/164788_gcenter15.html

Local Residents Oppose McDonald’s

On April 7, more than 500 residents in Oakland, California packed a community meeting to tell McDonald’s that they are not welcome in their neighborhood. The standing room only crowd was passionately united in its opposition to the proposed franchise opening. CIFC’s own Michele Simon (also an area resident) spoke about the obesity epidemic and the company’s relentless marketing to children. The response to her presentation was overwhelming. "In 29 years with the Alameda County Public Health Department, I never saw a community rally give a standing ovation for a public health message,” observed area resident Bob Matthews. In addition to vocal community opposition, McDonald’s faces a ruling from city officials that would require them to apply for additional zoning permission, which residents hope will kill the deal. Stay tuned!

Source: http://www.greatergrandlake.org

Editorial

'Big Food' Lawsuits Can Help Trim America's Waistline
Commentary, Michele Simon, Pacific News Service, April 01, 2004 

On March 10, the so-called "Cheeseburger Bill," a ban on lawsuits blaming the food industry for obesity and other health-related effects of eating too much junk food, passed the House of Representatives. Along with 20 similar state measures, the federal legislation is a deliberate, pre-emptive strike aimed at fending off an imaginary onslaught of litigation. Orchestrating the effort is a powerful cadre of food companies determined not to be victimized by policy battles similar to those waged successfully against the tobacco industry. 

Full article:
http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=46522d2cbbce7094682c78c8dad20704

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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