April 27, 2004 Recent News
Lawyers shift focus from big tobacco to big food
Obesity: It's super-size mania
Rising number of deaths from obesity/inactivity cited by C.D.C.
WHO advocates taxes to combat obesity
Poll sees moderation in carb-counting diets: annual Meat Conference 2004
Lawyers shift focus from big tobacco to big food
At a recent conference in Washington on how to prevent and defend against new obesity lawsuits, representatives from industry and about 100 lawyers heard that "conditions are ripe" for such litigation. Companies were warned that lawyers involved in the battle against tobacco companies are now getting ready to enter the food venue. Lawyers at the conference noted ten prominent cases against the food industry so far, five of which have had some success. Attorneys say companies are vulnerable to suits about misstating fat, calorie and carbohydrate content. The director of the Public Health Advocacy Institute at Northeastern University School of Law, who was active against tobacco products, said the institute will file suits against the food industry within the year. When the new suits are filed, they are likely to involve children, and lawyers for the defense are especially concerned about marketing plans, which target children. According to one defense lawyer, it is a mistake "to underestimate the creativity and the imagination and very frankly the aggressiveness of the plaintiff's bar. They kept slogging away on tobacco and eventually they prevailed."
(Extracted from New York Times, 4/9/04)
Obesity: It's super-size mania
Portion size seems to play a key role in the development of improper dietary behavior, and a study of this issue should contribute to understanding the recent alarming rise in obesity. Many hormones and neuropeptides are factors in the complex regulation of body weight, and their study is important, but cannot explain the "French paradox," the fact that French eat fatty foods but the population is significantly thinner than in the US. A team of psychologists and sociologists decided to study the "ecology" of portion sizes in Philadelphia and Paris. Portion sizes were measured, emphasis in restaurant guidebooks on portion size was checked, the interaction of low-fat foods and portion size was noted, and serving sizes on labels were recorded. Overall, the data suggest that smaller portion size and longer time devoted to meals might contribute to an explanation of differences in obesity between the US and France. It is suggested that treatment of obesity needs to take into account the cultural environment, and a return to "a sense of elegance to eating" is recommended.
(Extracted from American Dietetic Association, 3/1/04)
Rising number of deaths from obesity/inactivity cited by C.D.C.
On March 9, data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicating that obesity and inactivity could surpass tobacco as a cause of death in the US were presented. In 2000, the CDC reported 400,000 deaths from poor diet and physical inactivity, compared to 435,000 from smoking and tobacco. The death rate from obesity/inactivity went up 33% from 1990, while it was up less than 9% for tobacco. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson said the government needed to tackle the obesity problem with the same aggressiveness as it had tobacco and smoking. The government is launching an advertising campaign for "Health Lifestyles & Disease Prevention" to educate Americans on small steps to improve health. "Each small step makes a difference," Thompson said.
(Extracted from Food Institute Report, 3/15/04)
WHO advocates taxes to combat obesity
The World Health Organization (WHO) will continue to advise governments to consider using taxes to help combat obesity, despite intense lobbying by the US and the worldwide food industry to water down its recommendations. In the final version of its draft global strategy on diet, physical activity and health, the WHO suggests governments should use fiscal measures to discourage consumption of too much sugar, salt and saturated fat. It stops short, however, of advocating specific "fat taxes" or subsidies for healthy foods.
(Extracted from Financial Times, 4/20/04)
Low-carb all around
An editorial piece notes various surveys investigating the high interest in low-carb foods. Among them are: (1) Opinion Dynamics reported 11% of Americans (24 million adults) are on a low carb diet, based on a survey of 1,800 US adults. Another 44 million could be likely to try one in the next two years. (2) US sales of low-carb foods and beverages (excluding meal and replacement bars) grew from $40 million in 2002 to $830 million in 2003, according to Research and Markets. About 80% of UK consumers believe the Atkins diet is unhealthy long-term but about 70% believe it works. (3) A Harris poll, done in summer 2003, estimated 32 million American are on some type of low carb, high protein diet. (4) A January 2003 survey in Prepared Foods found that 65% of 258 respondents were interested in developing low-carb foods. The writer says it is tempting to compare the rise of reduced-fat foods to the low-carb trend but they are different. He says it is easier to make great tasting low-carb foods than tasty low-fat foods, though there are more concerns over the health of those following low carb diets over time. Similarities are the fact that the market is ahead of regulation. An upcoming report from the Obesity Working Group is expected to be highly influential. Over time, the real test is whether low-carb will take and keep weight off.
(Extracted from Prepared Foods, 3/1/04)
Poll sees moderation in carb-counting diets: annual Meat Conference 2004
According to a poll conducted by the Hartman Group on low-carb diets, only 5% of respondents were "core" or strict, low-carb dieters who followed a formal plan, and most of those were dieting for short term goals. Only 1% were considered long-term core low-carb dieters. Of the respondents, 67% were in the "moderate" category, and 28% were "peripherals" (not interested in a low-carb diet). Most consumers were a bit dubious about low-carb diets. It appears that carb-watching is often not diet-driven but is lifestyle-driven. Carb counting may be around for some time to come but will more likely become part of general health maintenance like low-fat and low-cholesterol eating. The study indicated that people are much more aware now of what is in their food and tend to pay more attention to food labels. A pie chart illustrates the results of the survey. -- "Calorie Counting Beats Carb Watching" reports on a study by analysts at the Mintel Group. In spite of the increasing popularity of low-carb diets, consumers surveyed said the ingredients they were most interested in were fat, vitamins and minerals, and calories. Carbohydrates moved from fifth to seventh place on respondents' lists of most-watched ingredients. (Chocolate & Confectionery International 1 Mar 04) -- "IBA Makes Pitch For Carbohydrate Claim" - The Independent Bakers Association (IBA) related concerns to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) in a letter sent before the DGAC met to discuss possible revision to the guidelines and the Food Guide Pyramid. In their letter, they quoted studies done by the American Kidney Fund, the American Heart Association and the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). The PCRM study found that 42% of low-carb dieters said they had a loss of energy, 31% reported difficulty concentrating, 22% reported kidney aliments and 20% reported heart problems. The IBA concluded by saying there is no way that a low carb diet is a healthy one. (Baking Management 1 Mar 04)
(Extracted from Supermarket News, 3/29/04)
