Food Regulators Out of Control

[Guest guest]

- The Foundry: Conservative Policy News Blog from The Heritage Foundation -

http://blog.heritage.org -

Morning Bell: Food Regulators Out of Control

Posted By ka Andersen On September 1, 2011 @ 9:56 am In Enterprise and Free

Markets | No

Comments<http://blog.heritage.org/2011/09/01/morning-bell-food-regulators-out-of\

-control/print/?utm_source=Newsletter & utm_medium=Email & utm_campaign=Morning%2BBe\

ll#comments_controls>

First Lady Obama's obsession with " childhood obesity " has bothered many

since it began two years ago, especially those who think that White House

nagging of parents should be reserved for more pressing issues. Now it is

getting more serious, with food regulators starting to infringe on the free

speech rights of advertisers.

In the latest upset, four federal agencies known as the Interagency Working

Group (IWG) have delivered a plan to drastically censor food advertisers with

products deemed to be " too high " in sodium, sugar, or fat that cater to any

viewing audience between the ages of two and 11. These advertisers would lose

key slots during some of America's most popular shows, like American Idol,

America's Got Talent, and Glee-simply because the nanny state is " uncomfortable "

with what they are selling.

The IWG, formed within the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act to study childhood

obesity and offer possible solutions, has gone far beyond their descriptive

reach. Now, perfectly reasonable companies may be penalized severely.

The regulators plan to get away with this by disguising their rules as

" voluntary guidelines. " In reality, the guidelines are anything but optional,

according to food manufacturers affected by them.

As Heritage's Diane Katz

explains:<http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2011/08/The-Diet-Dictators-At\

tack-on-Consumer-Choice-and-Free-Speech> [1]

The restrictions are voluntary in name only. Food manufacturers can hardly

ignore " recommendations " from the very federal agencies that exercise regulatory

authority over their every move. It is akin to a cop asking for ID or to search

one's vehicle: While the law treats such citizen cooperation as voluntary, most

individuals would not view it as such, nor would the police look kindly on

anyone who denies their requests.

It's not just Twinkies and cookies that will be affected, either. Anything

deemed to have a little too much sodium or fat will be tested under the new

rules, including foods whose very production requires a high sodium content

(like pickles) and those that are naturally high fat (like peanuts).

As Katz wrote, " Nutritional staples such as Cheerios, peanut butter, and yogurt

are verboten under the proposed standards, which effectively constitute a

government-regulated grocery list. "

The regulations hit traditional favorites where it hurts. In turn, the free

market and consumer choice is manipulated to fit a misplaced government agenda

that doesn't solve the problem.

Even if the feds are well-intentioned, their action plan isn't grounded in

reliable research. The whole point of the regulations is to curb the growing

epidemic of childhood obesity-but the Institute of Medicine found no link

between advertisements and children's food choices.

According to Katz, children have seen about 50 percent less food advertising in

the last six years than before that time-yet obesity rates continue to climb.

Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Mark McClellan attributes the obesity problem to

" physical inactivity " -not caloric intake. In fact, McClellan noted that

children's calorie intake has remained about the same for the last 20 years.

Not only do regulations hinder the market and censor speech; they hurt the

businesses behind the labels. Sara Lee CEO J. Fraleigh recently

spoke<http://www.suntimes.com/news/7372372-418/roskam-business-leaders-bash-obam\

as-new-regulations.html> [2] on the overextended regulations, which will hurt

his business in particular:

A turkey sandwich made with Sara Lee fat-free lean turkey meat, we would not be

able to advertise that on venues, be it the Superbowl or anything that would

have a significant child audience, because the product is a little bit too high

in sodium.... Current regulation of advertising toward children is a perfect

example of regulation that just goes way too far.

The Obama Administration's food regulators think that if you give them an inch,

they can take a mile. But when free speech is on the cutting board, they will

certainly hear from the people, and the people will not stand for it.

[Guest guest]

These strict regulations are needed and long overdue!

Shirley EkVALL ``Ph.D,RD,LD

Food Regulators Out of Control

  - The Foundry: Conservative Policy News Blog from The Heritage Foundation -

http://blog.heritage.org -

Morning Bell: Food Regulators Out of Control

Posted By ka Andersen On September 1, 2011 @ 9:56 am In Enterprise and Free

Markets | No

Comments & lt;http://blog.heritage.org/2011/09/01/morning-bell-food-regulators-out\

-of-control/print/?utm_source=Newsletter & utm_medium=Email & utm_campaign=Morning%2\

BBell#comments_controls & gt;

First Lady Obama's obsession with " childhood obesity " has bothered many

since it began two years ago, especially those who think that White House

nagging of parents should be reserved for more pressing issues. Now it is

getting more serious, with food regulators starting to infringe on the free

speech rights of advertisers.

In the latest upset, four federal agencies known as the Interagency Working

Group (IWG) have delivered a plan to drastically censor food advertisers with

products deemed to be " too high " in sodium, sugar, or fat that cater to any

viewing audience between the ages of two and 11. These advertisers would lose

key slots during some of America's most popular shows, like American Idol,

America's Got Talent, and Glee-simply because the nanny state is " uncomfortable "

with what they are selling.

The IWG, formed within the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act to study childhood

obesity and offer possible solutions, has gone far beyond their descriptive

reach. Now, perfectly reasonable companies may be penalized severely.

The regulators plan to get away with this by disguising their rules as

" voluntary guidelines. " In reality, the guidelines are anything but optional,

according to food manufacturers affected by them.

As Heritage's Diane Katz

explains: & lt;http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2011/08/The-Diet-Dictators\

-Attack-on-Consumer-Choice-and-Free-Speech & gt; [1]

The restrictions are voluntary in name only. Food manufacturers can hardly

ignore " recommendations " from the very federal agencies that exercise regulatory

authority over their every move. It is akin to a cop asking for ID or to search

one's vehicle: While the law treats such citizen cooperation as voluntary, most

individuals would not view it as such, nor would the police look kindly on

anyone who denies their requests.

It's not just Twinkies and cookies that will be affected, either. Anything

deemed to have a little too much sodium or fat will be tested under the new

rules, including foods whose very production requires a high sodium content

(like pickles) and those that are naturally high fat (like peanuts).

As Katz wrote, " Nutritional staples such as Cheerios, peanut butter, and yogurt

are verboten under the proposed standards, which effectively constitute a

government-regulated grocery list. "

The regulations hit traditional favorites where it hurts. In turn, the free

market and consumer choice is manipulated to fit a misplaced government agenda

that doesn't solve the problem.

Even if the feds are well-intentioned, their action plan isn't grounded in

reliable research. The whole point of the regulations is to curb the growing

epidemic of childhood obesity-but the Institute of Medicine found no link

between advertisements and children's food choices.

According to Katz, children have seen about 50 percent less food advertising in

the last six years than before that time-yet obesity rates continue to climb.

Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Mark McClellan attributes the obesity problem to

" physical inactivity " -not caloric intake. In fact, McClellan noted that

children's calorie intake has remained about the same for the last 20 years.

Not only do regulations hinder the market and censor speech; they hurt the

businesses behind the labels. Sara Lee CEO J. Fraleigh recently

spoke & lt;http://www.suntimes.com/news/7372372-418/roskam-business-leaders-bash-o\

bamas-new-regulations.html & gt; [2] on the overextended regulations, which will

hurt his business in particular:

A turkey sandwich made with Sara Lee fat-free lean turkey meat, we would not be

able to advertise that on venues, be it the Superbowl or anything that would

have a significant child audience, because the product is a little bit too high

in sodium.... Current regulation of advertising toward children is a perfect

example of regulation that just goes way too far.

The Obama Administration's food regulators think that if you give them an inch,

they can take a mile. But when free speech is on the cutting board, they will

certainly hear from the people, and the people will not stand for it.

[Guest guest]

These strict regulations are needed and long overdue!

Shirley EkVALL ``Ph.D,RD,LD

Food Regulators Out of Control

  - The Foundry: Conservative Policy News Blog from The Heritage Foundation -

http://blog.heritage.org -

Morning Bell: Food Regulators Out of Control

Posted By ka Andersen On September 1, 2011 @ 9:56 am In Enterprise and Free

Markets | No

Comments & lt;http://blog.heritage.org/2011/09/01/morning-bell-food-regulators-out\

-of-control/print/?utm_source=Newsletter & utm_medium=Email & utm_campaign=Morning%2\

BBell#comments_controls & gt;

First Lady Obama's obsession with " childhood obesity " has bothered many

since it began two years ago, especially those who think that White House

nagging of parents should be reserved for more pressing issues. Now it is

getting more serious, with food regulators starting to infringe on the free

speech rights of advertisers.

In the latest upset, four federal agencies known as the Interagency Working

Group (IWG) have delivered a plan to drastically censor food advertisers with

products deemed to be " too high " in sodium, sugar, or fat that cater to any

viewing audience between the ages of two and 11. These advertisers would lose

key slots during some of America's most popular shows, like American Idol,

America's Got Talent, and Glee-simply because the nanny state is " uncomfortable "

with what they are selling.

The IWG, formed within the 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act to study childhood

obesity and offer possible solutions, has gone far beyond their descriptive

reach. Now, perfectly reasonable companies may be penalized severely.

The regulators plan to get away with this by disguising their rules as

" voluntary guidelines. " In reality, the guidelines are anything but optional,

according to food manufacturers affected by them.

As Heritage's Diane Katz

explains: & lt;http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2011/08/The-Diet-Dictators\

-Attack-on-Consumer-Choice-and-Free-Speech & gt; [1]

The restrictions are voluntary in name only. Food manufacturers can hardly

ignore " recommendations " from the very federal agencies that exercise regulatory

authority over their every move. It is akin to a cop asking for ID or to search

one's vehicle: While the law treats such citizen cooperation as voluntary, most

individuals would not view it as such, nor would the police look kindly on

anyone who denies their requests.

It's not just Twinkies and cookies that will be affected, either. Anything

deemed to have a little too much sodium or fat will be tested under the new

rules, including foods whose very production requires a high sodium content

(like pickles) and those that are naturally high fat (like peanuts).

As Katz wrote, " Nutritional staples such as Cheerios, peanut butter, and yogurt

are verboten under the proposed standards, which effectively constitute a

government-regulated grocery list. "

The regulations hit traditional favorites where it hurts. In turn, the free

market and consumer choice is manipulated to fit a misplaced government agenda

that doesn't solve the problem.

Even if the feds are well-intentioned, their action plan isn't grounded in

reliable research. The whole point of the regulations is to curb the growing

epidemic of childhood obesity-but the Institute of Medicine found no link

between advertisements and children's food choices.

According to Katz, children have seen about 50 percent less food advertising in

the last six years than before that time-yet obesity rates continue to climb.

Former FDA Commissioner Dr. Mark McClellan attributes the obesity problem to

" physical inactivity " -not caloric intake. In fact, McClellan noted that

children's calorie intake has remained about the same for the last 20 years.

Not only do regulations hinder the market and censor speech; they hurt the

businesses behind the labels. Sara Lee CEO J. Fraleigh recently

spoke & lt;http://www.suntimes.com/news/7372372-418/roskam-business-leaders-bash-o\

bamas-new-regulations.html & gt; [2] on the overextended regulations, which will

hurt his business in particular:

A turkey sandwich made with Sara Lee fat-free lean turkey meat, we would not be

able to advertise that on venues, be it the Superbowl or anything that would

have a significant child audience, because the product is a little bit too high

in sodium.... Current regulation of advertising toward children is a perfect

example of regulation that just goes way too far.

The Obama Administration's food regulators think that if you give them an inch,

they can take a mile. But when free speech is on the cutting board, they will

certainly hear from the people, and the people will not stand for it.