The Doctor Weighs In : Food politics

This one is so good, I can't add a thing

You don't have to go hungry anymore; we can fill you with fats and carbs more cheaply than ever. You don't have to chase your food; we can bring it to you. You don't have to cook it; we can deliver it ready to eat. You don't have to eat it before it spoils; we can pump it full of preservatives so it lasts forever. You don't even have to stop when you're full. We've got so much food to sell, we want you to keep eating. Read More

posted by: Pat, Sunday, September 17, 2006 10:32 PM 216 Comments
Filed Under: Public health, Overweight/obesity, Food policy, Nutrition, Social commentary, Healthy eating, Food industry, Food politics

Is the food industry playing games with our kids? You bet.

Advergaming (a contraction of advertising and gaming) is the use of online video games with embedded brand messages to engage your target audience. It is specifically designed to blur the boundary between advertising and entertainment. This report looks at advergaming that targets kids. Advergaming is a good deal for food marketers. It is cheap compared to TV advertising ($2 per thousand users compared with $7 to $30 per thousand viewers). Also, it can be tracked in a way TV ads cannot (number of visitors, time spent on the site, repeat visits and so forth). Sites with games hold the viewers attention much longer than 30 second or 60 second TV spots. Popsicle’s site, www.popsicle.com, for example has structured games that encourage you to play again and again so that you can improve your skills and improve your score. Read More

posted by: Pat, Thursday, July 20, 2006 11:45 PM 2 Comments
Filed Under: Public health, Children, Overweight/obesity, Food policy, Childhood obesity, Social commentary, Food industry, Food politics

Eat local

Next, “fresh” fruits and vegetables at most large chain grocery stores are not really fresh. According to Marion Nestle, author of What You Eat,” that California-grown broccoli you buy in New York was picked and stored in a local warehouse before being transported to a regional distribution center. It was then placed on a refrigerated truck and sent to another regional distribution center. Then, it’s onto yet another truck to be hauled to the local supermarket where it is placed in the stocking area and eventually put onto the shelf. This process can take a week to 10 days. Does that sound fresh to you? Read More

posted by: Pat, Thursday, July 20, 2006 1:01 AM 4 Comments
Filed Under: Benefits or hazards of certain foods, Public health, Food policy, Social commentary, Eat local, Fruits, Vegetables, Food industry, Food politics

7-Up 100% natural – really?

So, is the new 7-Up “natural?” Should it be allowed to be advertise in a way that makes you think it is as good for you as eating freshly picked fruit (which, by the way, also have other beneficial nutrients, such as vitamins and fiber, missing from 7-Up and other sodas). We applaud Cadbury on taking a baby step in the right direction, but consumers beware, 7-Up is still a high calorie, artificially sweetened, soda pop devoid of beneficial nutrients. No matter how much the company tries to convince us that 7-Up cans can be picked from fruit trees, this “natural” soft drink does not count as one of your recommended daily fruit and vegetable servings. Read More

posted by: Pat, Tuesday, May 30, 2006 4:32 PM 2 Comments
Filed Under: Benefits or hazards of certain foods, Public health, Food labels, High fructose corn syrup, Food policy, Social commentary, Food industry, Food politics