U.N. Says Unhealthy Diets Pose Even Greater Health Threat Than Tobacco

A Real Public Health Issue

What should the Re-Public Do?

***

U.N. food chief says obesity, unhealthy diets pose an even greater health threat than tobacco. "The United Nations' leading voice on hunger has declared that the international community must mobilize to combat obesity and unhealthy diets, not a lack of food, and called on U.N. members to rally around a 'bold framework' of regulations limiting access to salty, sugary foods that are high in saturated fats and contribute to obesity. Olivier De Schutter, special rapporteur to the U.N. on the right to food, said Monday that the global struggle against tobacco use offered a model for efforts to stem the rising tide of obesity and poor nutrition in countries both developed and developing." Melissa Healy in the Los Angeles Times.

Burgers and fries take healthcare dollars from your pocket.

Other groups are getting involved, but don't expect Congress to do much... "Consumers International and World Obesity Federation are presenting the global framework this week to the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. Ultimately, the groups say governments should remove artificial trans fats from all food within five years of their guidelines being adopted. Much of the policy would face a difficult, if not impossible, path to passage in the U.S. Congress, but the groups did have one suggestion that is already being put into place. The groups recommend that restaurants be required to post calorie information about their food--a requirement already being implemented in the U.S. as part of the Affordable Care Act." Clara Ritger in National Journal.

...except try to roll back healthy-school-lunch standards. "First lady Michelle Obama vowed in a private conference call Monday to fight industry efforts at rolling back healthy school-lunch standards....The remarks to health activists were made at the beginning of a week of intense lobbying around changes in the national school-lunch program, which sets standards for fat, sugar and sodium levels in food....A House bill up for consideration this week by the Appropriations Committee would allow schools to apply for waivers from the federally mandated standards if the school's food program has recorded a financial loss for six months in a row. The Senate Appropriations Committee may take up a similar proposal Thursday." Tom Hamburger and Kimberly Kindy in The Washington Post.

"Nope, Don't Need No Nanny State Here!"

http://paxonbothhouses.blogspot.com/2012/12/nope-dont-need-no-nanny-state-here.html

***

Background on the House GOP agriculture budget. "House Republicans proposed a $20.9 billion budget for agriculture and food safety programs Monday...that challenges the White House on nutrition rules....In the case of nutrition programs, the House bill seeks to open the door for starchy, white potatoes to be added to the list of qualified vegetables under the WIC supplemental feeding program for pregnant women and their young children. The Agriculture Department would also be required to establish a waiver process for local school districts which have found it too costly to comply with tougher nutrition standards for school lunch and breakfast programs." David Rogers in Politico.

Other agriculture reads:

"Fed Up" portrays obese kids as victims in a sugar-coated world. Peggy Lowe in NPR.