Comments on U.S. Food Policy: Setbacks for Smart Choices

For fresh produce, there is some labeling on packa...

2009-09-29T07:59:06.436-04:00

For fresh produce, there is some labeling on packaging (like plastic bags that hold apples or netting that holds potatoes), but the important signage is on shelf cards. If the Smart Choices label were fully accessible for promoting fresh produce, these are the places we'd see the label.

So I get how you put a nice green check logo on th...

2009-09-29T00:06:51.902-04:00

So I get how you put a nice green check logo on the front of a box of Fruit Loops, but how do affix a logo to a carrot (or any other produce for that matter). Even if commodity groups like the carrot growers could join Smart Choices how would that help them with branding and consumer recognition?

http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/issuesum.php?lnam...

2009-09-24T20:49:14.047-04:00

http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/issuesum.php?lname=Food+Industry&year=2008
here, FOLLOW the money, you NEED to! it's the problem that needs to be brought to the public's attention. If everyone knew how much money was being given to congress to protect the junk food companies, the public would be enraged! it's no wonder our health care expenses have skyrocketed! and they expect our taxpayers should pay for it? Why not the junk food manufacturers who are being protected by all this lobbying?

SarahB- As a current student, I can guarantee that...

2009-09-24T16:23:28.009-04:00

SarahB- As a current student, I can guarantee that, for many, the feeling is mutual. Students have mobilized to hold an interdisciplinary discussion forum on food labeling and in particular, Smart Choices. Our hope is to have the Friedman school contribute to the on-going dialog of what an effective labeling system should look like. Many of our students believe that the focus on nutrients alone is a limitation.

The Dean did hold a Town Hall meeting to explain the situation. She stressed that the criterion is dependent on consensus science and that the decisions were made consensus based.

In a slide presentation the Dean presented to the American Dietetic Association which she recently sent to students, "Acceptance and Support of - Governmental, health professionals, academia, NGOs, food processors,retailers, food service" was stressed. From what I have read they have been unable to engage half of the categories on this list.

Follow the money.

"or had the effect of encouraging consumers to cho...

2009-09-24T15:27:58.902-04:00

"or had the effect of encouraging consumers to choose highly processed foods and refined grains instead of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains"

That pretty much sums it up, doesn't it? As a Friedman grad, I found this whole Smart Choices business shameful.