Re: Uncle Sam Wants You Fat

[Guest guest]

I draw a different conclusion. I *still* think PCRM got it wrong.

It's not the fat. It's the calories. And the excess calories in

children's diets aren't coming from milk but are due to (not

surprisingly) excess eating of all foods (including milk and junk food)

and a shortage of physical activity.

That said, I do NOT understand the USDA and why they co-sponsor things

like milk and cookie promotions. I also found curious the assertions

that the USDA is promoting things like Mcs McRib Sandwich and

Dunkin' Donuts Steak, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich. How (and why) are they

doing it?

Don

On Wednesday, June 23, 2004, at 09:01 AM, mharriman wrote:

> The following is an editorial advertisement which appeared in the

> Outlook (editorial) section of the June 20 Washington Post. It

> charges the USDA with pushing fattening foods. The editorial also

> contains alarming statements that fluid milk is the number one

> source of fat in the diets of American Children, and that milk,in

> conjunction with Oreo cookies,is currently being pushed on all

> Americans by the USDA: " The federal government- believe it or not-

> is pushing Americans to... drink more milk. "

>

> I wrote the sponsor of the advertisement, Physicians Committee For

> Responsible Medicine, questioning the main thesis of the essay. My

> observation of overweight chuildren and adults tells me that it's

> products like Oreos, not milk, that are making people fat. I checked

> out the said products. Skim milk contains 0 grams of fat, 30% of RDA

> for calcium, 25% RDA for Vitamin D, and 8 grams of protein; One

> serving of Oreo cookies (3 regular) contains 7 grams of fat and

> virtually no nutrients. I thought PCRM targeted the wrong food.

>

> I received a great response back from PCRM with a reference to the

> study:

> Subar Af, Krebs- SM, Cook A, Kahle LL. Dietary Sources of

> Nutrients Among US Children, 1989-1991. Pediatrics 1998; 102:913-23.

>

> Dr. J Lanou wrote: " According to the study, the single food that

> contributes the most fat in 2 to 19 year old children is fluid milk.

> Fluid milk won out over hamburgers, ice cream, chips, fries, donuts,

> cookies. While skim milk is quite low in fat, most children are

> still drinking whole or 2% milk, and consuming multiple servings a

> day. This adds up to dairy milk, despite the fact that a serving of

> skim milk has fewer grams of fat than a serving of cookies, being

> the number one contributor of fat to children's diets-at least

> during the period of time surveyed in the study. "

>

> Alkthough I'm an adult, I think the study gives pause for adults as

> well as children. So far, my CRON eating plan includes a one half

> serving of Stonyfield Organic vanilla yogurt (2 grams of fat/ 190

> cals per serving)a day.I suppose if I avoid multiple servings of it,

> I'm in the clear ;-).

>

>

> Uncle Sam Wants You Fat

> Physicians Committee For Responsible Medicine

> www.pcrm.org

>

> At a time when two-thirds of American adults and one in five

> children are already overweight, the federal government is-believe

> it or not- pushing Americans to eat more cookies and drink more milk.

>

> Last year, the United States Department of Agriculture got together

> with Nabisco and the Dairy Industry on a $1 million " Dunk and Win "

> promotion for Oreo cookies. The program is a not-so-subtle scheme to

> promote milk, the number-one source of fat-both total and saturated-

> in the diets of American children, and a food with links to prostate

> cancer and digestive problems. This month the USDA launched another

> sweepstakes: Spell M-I-L-K with specially marked Oreo cookies and

> you can win $100,000. A " back-to-school " milk-and cookie promotion

> aimed at school kids is set to kick off in August.

>

> These are just the latest in USDA's long history of shameless co-

> promotions for unhealthy foods. Mcs McRib Sandwish (490

> calories, 25 grams of fat), Subway's BBQ Rib Patty Sub (840/38), and

> Dunkin' Donuts Steak, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich (640/26) were all

> government projects designed to fatten industry wallets at the

> expense of your family's health. More recently, your government

> worked with Taco Bell to promote its Steak Quesadillaq (540/31) and

> with 's on its Cheddar Lovers' Bacon Cheeseburger, which tips

> the scales at 690 calories and 40 grams of fat.

>

> Had enough? Tell the USDA it's time to get serious about America's

> obesity epidemic. Tell Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman to worry

> less about the dairy and meat industries bottom line and more about

> America's waistline. Write to:

>

> The Honorable Ann M. Veneman, Secretary

> U.S. Department of Agriculture

> 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Roonm 200A

> Washington, D.C. 20250

> agsec@...

>

> -end of editorial advertisement-

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Probably for the same reason they promote corn sweetners in just about every

processed food. There are powerful lobbies in industry. And the affluent

private sector sponsors politicians who favor them........That's the kind of

world we're in.

We can only hope that media stuff like Marilyn posted exposes them to the

point that the public rebels and votes these politicians out of office.

on 6/23/2004 9:18 AM, Don Libes at don@... wrote:

> That said, I do NOT understand the USDA and why they co-sponsor things

> like milk and cookie promotions. I also found curious the assertions

> that the USDA is promoting things like Mcs McRib Sandwich and

> Dunkin' Donuts Steak, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich. How (and why) are they

> doing it?

>

> Don

>

[Guest guest]

>>>

From: " mharriman " <mharriman@y...>

Date: Wed Jun 23, 2004 9:01 am

Subject: Uncle Sam Wants You Fat

I received a great response back from PCRM with a reference to the

study:

Subar Af, Krebs- SM, Cook A, Kahle LL. Dietary Sources of

Nutrients Among US Children, 1989-1991. Pediatrics 1998; 102:913-23.

Dr. J Lanou wrote: " According to the study, the single food that

contributes the most fat in 2 to 19 year old children is fluid milk.

Fluid milk won out over hamburgers, ice cream, chips, fries, donuts,

cookies. While skim milk is quite low in fat, most children are

still drinking whole or 2% milk, and consuming multiple servings a

day. This adds up to dairy milk, despite the fact that a serving of

skim milk has fewer grams of fat than a serving of cookies, being

the number one contributor of fat to children's diets-at least

during the period of time surveyed in the study. "

>>>

I find appalling that the response fails to differentiate

between the types of fat. The fat in milk (butterfat)

contains many short-chain fatty acids that are directly

digestible and may support the immune system and intestinal flora.

With regard to the other foods mentioned (hamburgers, ice cream,

chips, fries, donuts, cookies), hamburgers have natural fat, ice

cream is basically butterfat and sugar (not a healthy combination,

but natural), but the chips, fries, donuts and cookies may contain

hydrogenated fats containing trans-fatty acids that can have bad

health effects. Some manufacturers like Lay's have stopped using

hydrogenated oils in their chips which does not make them more

nutritive, but makes them less dangerous.

ph, the attorney that sued Kraft over the

trans-fat content of Oreos has a web site that contrasts

permissive U.S. policies on hydrogenated oils to European

policies which basically ban them.

http://www.bantransfats.com/

The web site quotes Harvard University nutritionists as

saying that 30,000 to 100,000 premature coronary deaths per year might

be avoided by using natural vegetable oils instead of

partially hydrogenated oils.

The greatest risk in milk for children may come from hormones and

antibiotics used in traditional animal husbandry to keep the cows

lactating and in good health, rather than from the fat content of the

milk.

Tony

[Guest guest]

I have to agree, since all my gchildren eat all kinds of "bad" stuff and stay thin. But we are a thin family except one, and her mother was German. The genes make a large diff.

Remember, USDA is the department of agriculture - not the dept of nutrition (do we have one?).

I have 2 gchildren that will literally spend 24 hrs straight on their computers and stop to grab a snack. Thin as rails. They don't play football, either.

Perhaps the education dept is at fault for allowing emphasis on football and the thrill of big bucks? Footballers are obese, by the standard of 30# overweight, and they have virtually no real HEALTH CARE at any level. Like no regular stress test by cardiologist.

Regards.

----- Original Message -----

From: Don Libes

Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 8:18 AM

Subject: Re: [ ] Uncle Sam Wants You Fat

I draw a different conclusion. I *still* think PCRM got it wrong. It's not the fat. It's the calories. And the excess calories in children's diets aren't coming from milk but are due to (not surprisingly) excess eating of all foods (including milk and junk food) and a shortage of physical activity.That said, I do NOT understand the USDA and why they co-sponsor things like milk and cookie promotions. I also found curious the assertions that the USDA is promoting things like Mcs McRib Sandwich and Dunkin' Donuts Steak, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich. How (and why) are they doing it?Don

[Guest guest]

Hi folks:

It seems to me uncle Sam should have little relevance to this issue,

apart, perhaps, from providing access to accurate information

regarding nutrition science, most of which will have been learned

from research in educational institutions.

PEOPLE, for some reason that I cannot for the life of me understand,

do not seem to care one whit about doing anything to preserve their

health. I have quoted my doctor here before, when she tells me that

in her experience: " No one is prepared to do ANYTHING to change

their lifestyle in order to improve their health. "

To which my reply was: " Show me thoroughly persuasive evidence one

day, and (most of the time) I will change my behaviour the next " .

But it is clear that people have their priorities all backwards. Or

perhaps, don't consciously have any. That is their privelege of

course. But they shouldn't expect my sympathy when, after a lifetime

of abusing themselves, they are disappointed to find they are sick.

(There are people who get sick through no fault of their own. That

of course is entirely different). Blaming the government for people

being sick doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Blame the school

system? Perhaps. Blame their parents? Certainly. Blame the people

themselves? Absolutely.

Rodney.

--- In , " jwwright " <jwwright@e...>

wrote:

> I have to agree, since all my gchildren eat all kinds of " bad "

stuff and stay thin. But we are a thin family except one, and her

mother was German. The genes make a large diff.

>

> Remember, USDA is the department of agriculture - not the dept of

nutrition (do we have one?).

>

> I have 2 gchildren that will literally spend 24 hrs straight on

their computers and stop to grab a snack. Thin as rails. They don't

play football, either.

>

> Perhaps the education dept is at fault for allowing emphasis on

football and the thrill of big bucks? Footballers are obese, by the

standard of 30# overweight, and they have virtually no real HEALTH

CARE at any level. Like no regular stress test by cardiologist.

>

> Regards.

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: Don Libes

>

> Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 8:18 AM

> Subject: Re: [ ] Uncle Sam Wants You Fat

>

>

> I draw a different conclusion. I *still* think PCRM got it

wrong.

> It's not the fat. It's the calories. And the excess calories in

> children's diets aren't coming from milk but are due to (not

> surprisingly) excess eating of all foods (including milk and junk

food)

> and a shortage of physical activity.

>

> That said, I do NOT understand the USDA and why they co-sponsor

things

> like milk and cookie promotions. I also found curious the

assertions

> that the USDA is promoting things like Mcs McRib Sandwich

and

> Dunkin' Donuts Steak, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich. How (and why)

are they

> doing it?

>

> Don

[Guest guest]

--- In , " mharriman " <mharriman@y...>

wrote:

> <snip>

> Alkthough I'm an adult, I think the study gives pause for adults as

> well as children. So far, my CRON eating plan includes a one half

> serving of Stonyfield Organic vanilla yogurt (2 grams of fat/ 190

> cals per serving)a day.I suppose if I avoid multiple servings of

it,

> I'm in the clear ;-).

>

<snip>

This brand appears to have about 60 calories of sweetener in it per

serving - I think that's 4 teaspoons of sugar. Hopefully it's not

high fructose corn syrup. This is my biggest problem with yogurt as a

healthy food since these are empty calories.

[Guest guest]

True, football's not so great for one's health:

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/living/columnists/art_carey/5038288.htm?1c

or

http://snipurl.com/7a5f

>From: " jwwright " <jwwright@...>

>Reply-

>< >

>Subject: Re: [ ] Uncle Sam Wants You Fat

>Date: Wed, 23 Jun 2004 10:02:10 -0500

>

>I have to agree, since all my gchildren eat all kinds of " bad " stuff and

>stay thin. But we are a thin family except one, and her mother was German.

>The genes make a large diff.

>

>Remember, USDA is the department of agriculture - not the dept of nutrition

>(do we have one?).

>

>I have 2 gchildren that will literally spend 24 hrs straight on their

>computers and stop to grab a snack. Thin as rails. They don't play

>football, either.

>

>Perhaps the education dept is at fault for allowing emphasis on football

>and the thrill of big bucks? Footballers are obese, by the standard of 30#

>overweight, and they have virtually no real HEALTH CARE at any level. Like

>no regular stress test by cardiologist.

>

>Regards.

>

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: Don Libes

>

> Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2004 8:18 AM

> Subject: Re: [ ] Uncle Sam Wants You Fat

>

>

> I draw a different conclusion. I *still* think PCRM got it wrong.

> It's not the fat. It's the calories. And the excess calories in

> children's diets aren't coming from milk but are due to (not

> surprisingly) excess eating of all foods (including milk and junk food)

> and a shortage of physical activity.

>

> That said, I do NOT understand the USDA and why they co-sponsor things

> like milk and cookie promotions. I also found curious the assertions

> that the USDA is promoting things like Mcs McRib Sandwich and

> Dunkin' Donuts Steak, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich. How (and why) are they

> doing it?

>

> Don

>

[Guest guest]

Your point about the kinds of fat in milk, and the actual risks

(hormones/antibiotics in cows VS fat) is well taken.

Regarding trans fat, my initial response to PCRM included a question

on why they targeted the milk rather than the Oreos, mainly because

of the hydrogenated oils and lack of nutrition in the cookies.

PCRM's response to my question, interestingly, did not include an

answer to that question. I'm finding that quite a few groups based

in Washington DC have very specific agendas, and PCRM seems to be

against dairy products-period. Their editorial advertisement

targeting milk is based on one study. Their web site recommends soy

milk products instead of regular dairy. So, even though I applaud

their questioning of USDA's relationship with companies who produce

unhealthy foods (Mcs for example),and I applaud them for

responding to my email, I'm going to take their blanket statements on

dairy

products with a grain of brewer's yeast.

Marilyn

> >>>

>

>> With regard to the other foods mentioned (hamburgers, ice cream,

> chips, fries, donuts, cookies), hamburgers have natural fat, ice

> cream is basically butterfat and sugar (not a healthy combination,

> but natural), but the chips, fries, donuts and cookies may contain

> hydrogenated fats containing trans-fatty acids that can have bad

> health effects. Some manufacturers like Lay's have stopped using

> hydrogenated oils in their chips which does not make them more

> nutritive, but makes them less dangerous.

>

> ph, the attorney that sued Kraft over the

> trans-fat content of Oreos has a web site that contrasts

> permissive U.S. policies on hydrogenated oils to European

> policies which basically ban them.

> http://www.bantransfats.com/

>

> The web site quotes Harvard University nutritionists as

> saying that 30,000 to 100,000 premature coronary deaths per year

might

> be avoided by using natural vegetable oils instead of

> partially hydrogenated oils.

>

> The greatest risk in milk for children may come from hormones and

> antibiotics used in traditional animal husbandry to keep the cows

> lactating and in good health, rather than from the fat content of

the

> milk.

>

> Tony