Polsci 440

food labeling and advertising

- require fast food restaurants to provide nutrition labeling on wrappers/ packages - require containers for soft drinks/ snacks to carry info about calories, fat, or sugar content - restrict tv advertising of foods of minimal nutrition value - prohibit misleading health claims in advertising and on package labeling

health care and training

- require health training programs to teach nutrition and methods for counseling patients about diet, activity, health - sponsor research on environmental determinants of food choice

DSHEA/ supplements

- safety shifted to consumers - freedom to choose for consumers - weakened power of FDA - FJ : unregulated --> potentially dangerous?

Chiquita Case

- Cincinnati enquirer published an investigation of Chiquita companies 'unsavory' practices - accused Chiquita of creating secret business entities to avoid local land and labor laws, bribing local officials, using pesticides in irresponsible ways that harmed workers and environment, moved plantation residents w/ out their permission - reporters stated they used company voice mail recordings as a source for allegations - Chiquita accused reporters of obtained recordings illegally --> threatened lawsuit - newspaper apologized fired reporters and paid 10 mill in settlement fee

Oprah vs. the Texas Cattlemen (violated food disparagement law)

- veggie libel laws permitted food producers to sue ppl who falsely disparage their products - Oprah invited a veggie activist from U.S. human society to discuss concerns about epidemic of mad cow disease "Cows fed back to other cows" - cattles future said to fall 10% - 10.3 million class action lawsuit against Oprah - cattle sued for defamation - Oprah clear of charge but cost her 1 mil in fees

Ensemble

- Line of products created by Kellogg's with psyllium husk fiber - Product line was marketed as cholesterol lowering - Psyllium husk is used in over the counter laxatives - The psyllium husk causes cholesterol to be excreted instead of absorbed by the body - Psyllium husk causes allergic reactions in some people, in worst cases it produced life threatening reactions - Product line was never available in stores

Role of FDA

- Mandate is to promote safety - to ensure that conventional foods, dietary supplements, and drugs are safe and labeled accurately - and that drugs do something useful according to the clinical trials

Role of FTC

- To promote business competition, prevents false advertising. - Promotion of consumer protection and the elimination and prevention of anticompetitive business practices, such as coercive monopoly regulates many types of advertising. - The FTC protects consumers by stopping unfair, deceptive or fraudulent practices in the marketplace

Olestra

- Uses sucrose polyester in it's products, which is a fat substitute. This is not digested or absorbed by the human body, so it yields no calories. - In theory, it is supposed to reduce risks of obesity and heart disease - It is an oil-like substance, which may have laxative effects and interferes with absorption of nutrients, phytochemicals, and drugs. - It is added in large quantities which makes the safety of the product hard to test and unprecedented.

Kelloggs All Bran

- claimed their products were high in fiber and therefore reduced risk of cancer - NCI backed this up since they were funded by kelloggs - sales increased/ good form of marketing - FDA could not control wording when it came to health based claims - FJ : misleading labeling - FDAMA created 120 day for FDA to address health claims or the heath claims could be used

education

- have a national campaign to promote "eat less, move more" - teach teachers about nutrition and weight management - in schools, ban junk food commercials - end soft drink sales in schools - require schools meals to be consistent with dietary guidelines - require daily opportunities for physical education and sports in school

check offs

- large scale farmers benefit "other white meat pork" - fee involved to be apart - at first voluntary but turned to be mandatory - improving quality of pork, image and worker/ animal welfare - saved pork producers from bankruptcy by giving them money from program dues - farmers pay price for each pig they own

taxes

- levy city, state, or federal taxes on soft drinks and other 'junk' foods to fund 'eat less move more campaigns - Subsidize the costs of fruits and vegetables, perhaps by raising the costs of selected foods of minimal nutritional value.

transportation and urban development

- provide incentives for communities to develop parks and other venues for physical activity - modify zoning requirements to encourage creation of sidewalks, pedestrian malls, and bike paths

McLibel Case

-McDonald's sued London Greenpeace activists for libel (saying bad things about them) - meat responsible for 70% food poisoning - exploited developing countries, kids and employees and destroyed rainforests and tortured animals all for unhealthy food -longest trial in British history & PR disaster for McD's -decision: McD's did exploit children thru ads

nestle baby formula

-convinced 3rd world countries that mixing polluted water with formula is better than breast milk - used fake nurses and sales ppl to convince locals - formed an action committee to oversee ethics of infant powdered milk formula and related promos - stoped proving free baby food samples

Lobbying 3 elements

1. promote views of social interest groups 2. attempt to influence government laws, rules, or policies that might affect these groups 3. communicate with government officials or their reps about laws rules or policies

Nutrification

A process that adds nutrients to a food with a low nutrient per calorie ratio so that the food can replace a nutritionally balanced meal. - Addition of nutrients to foods at such a level as to make a major contribution to the diet.

pouring rights

Contracts between schools and soft-drink companies where the schools receive a percentage of the profits of soft-drink sales in exchange for the school offering only that soft-drink company's products on the school campus. - typical contract period exceeds the tenure of most school boards - schools do it bc of funding -pro: creates brand loyalty - con: kids don't have access to healthier brands

DSHEA

Dietary Supplement, Health, and Education Act. 1994 REQUIRES: >Detailed directions for use >Specific warnings >Side-effects >Contraindications >Does NOT reach the level of labeling for OTC products >Sometimes warnings, Side Effects, and contraindications are conspicuously absent

fortification

The addition of nutrients that are not naturally present - beyond its natural state

softball methods

methods that food companies use in order to promote product sales and discourage unfavorable regulations/ perceptions - friendships (treat friends well and make friends in the right places) - PR - Check off programs

5 ways to change things

modifications of public policies that would promote better food choices and more active lifestyle

Litigation/ lawsuits

effect of lawsuits is intimidation which makes people think twice about publicly expressing their reservations

PACs (Political Action Committees)

a private group that raises and distributes funds for use in election campaigns or individual members of congress this is a hard money tactic used by food companies and other industries

science-based

evidence and research process involved FDA takes this approach

marketing to children and schools

exclusive pouring rights

techno foods

foods enriched or fortified or lesser evil foods that are lower in unwanted ingredients -- health benefits

functional foods

foods that have a potentially beneficial effect on health when consumed as part of a varied diet on a regular basis (beyond basic nutrition) - products created so they can be marketed just to use health claims -developed by adding minerals, vitamins, herbs etc or by removing stuff like trans fat, sugars salt etc. - more about marketing than health

GRAS

generally recognized as safe

price fixing

an agreement among firms to charge one price for the same good --> baby formula

PR -- "eat more"

infant formula vs breastfeeding Nestle promoted formulas to mothers that did not need them Increase in relationship of infant death and formula feeding

Hardball methods

legal and illegal methods used outside of advertising, PR, lobbying & arrangements w/ experts - litigation/ lawsuits - price fixing

Check offs

legislation cooperation programs - laws that require a fee for certain commodities for generic advertising/ promotion - largest are dairy, beef and soybeans

making friends method

make friends with federal officials with gifts to representatives i.e. Clinton Admin Mr. Epsy and Tyson food violation of meat inspection act b/c accepted gifts

2 cultures

science based and belief based

enrichment

the restoration of micronutrients that were originally present in the food but were lost during processing - bringing it back to its original state

revolving door

the tendency of public officials, journalists, and lobbyists to move between public and private sector (media, lobbying) jobs transform gov officials -> lobbyists and lobbyists -> gov officials common with FDA and USDA

supplements

under DSHEA: supplements are amino acids, herbs, botanicals, metabolites, diet products, vitamins, minerals - not regulated by the FDA and not proven to prevent any disease

belief based

what we think and prefer overtime FTC takes this approach - food justice : ppl make believe that products are helping them when they are not - misleading and there to promote sales

Food secruity

when someone has enough food in their cabinets for the next 3 days and have an access to calories food pantries give out canned food (not healthy)

Disclousure

where funding for research comes from - who paid for the research? - funding and results do not need to be disclosed

moderation

federal claims that allow/ encourage ppl to eat more processed foods in a "safe and healthy" manner hard to understand bc how much is moderate?

history of food pyramid

1992 - food guide pyramid: total diet approach visualization of food groups and added fats and sugars, portion control, range of daily food amounts for three calorie levels 2005 - my pyramid: continued pyramid concept but simplified illustration, added band for oils, added concept of physical activity 2011 - my plate: very simplified with portions of the five food groups and how they fit in on a plate

food justice

Response to food insecurity and economic pressure that prevent access to healthy foods in some communities - food is basic human right - it should be distributed evenly - food that is nutritious diverse, healthy, fresh and affordable - access to healthy calories at affordable prices

Deregulation of Supplement Market

- Proxmire Amendment (1976) First success to say supplements are over-the-counter drugs. - NLEA (1990) Authorized health claims on labels, scientific experts. Jelly-Bean Provision - low salt & low fat = healthy - DSA (1992) Pre-cursor to DSHEA Exempted supplements for 1 year safety check - DSHEA (1994) -Safety shifted to consumer (pg. 225) -Freedom to choose for consumers established -FJ: unregulated = potentially dangerous (?), financially predatory - FDAMA (1997) Supplements now tested and compared to food. Gave more time for medical claims and testing to 120 Days. Food allowed to make health claims without FDA approval. If FDA does not get to case on time for a health claim, company's case is automatically ruled in their favor and allowed to make health claims. - Pearson vs. Shalala (1999) FDA must allow corporate health claims (this product may reduce your cholesterol, "may reduce the risk of cancer"), since the first amendment right, but FDA can require disclaimer to be included.