Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - Reduce subsidies for unhealthy food

Reduce subsidies for unhealthy food

Oct 28, 2007 - 08:23:30 CDT

By JENNIFER K. REILLY
Washington

As a dietician who works with cancer survivors, I have witnessed the lifesaving power of healthy diets. That is why I am appalled that some lawmakers in the U.S. Senate are backing a $228 billion farm bill that subsidizes unhealthy foods that increase the risk of cancer, obesity and heart disease.

Hundreds of cancer specialists from across the country, as well as the American Medical Association and the President's Cancer Panel, have urged Congress to reform agriculture policies to support and promote healthy foods. But the farm bill now under consideration in the Senate would channel billions of dollars a year in subsidies and price supports to producers of sugar, oil, meat, alcohol and feed crops used to fatten farm animals. High-fat meat products and sugary, processed foods foster America's obesity epidemic, as well as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.

There is an alternative. Sens. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., and Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., recently introduced the Fresh Act that would reduce subsidies for foods high in fat, cholesterol and sugar and increase funding for nutrition programs that encourage fruit and vegetable consumption. Concerned Americans should ask their senators to support the Fresh Act and other healthy changes to the farm bill.

(Reilly is a registered dietician who works as senior nutritionist for the Cancer Project. - Editor)

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Comments

Eva wrote on Oct 29, 2007 8:56 AM:

" Though it may sound like a dry, boring piece of legislation, the Farm Bill has tremendous repercussions on our nation’s health. There is a direct link between the rising rates of chronic disease and access to cheap and unhealthy food products that are high in fat and cholesterol. The surplus pork, cheese, beef, and other junk food products, which the Farm Bill produces, ultimately cause our nation’s rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease to skyrocket. U.S. subsidies need to be dramatically revamped to facilitate the availability and consumption of nutritious foods—fruits, vegetables, and whole grains—that are known to promote good health. "

Matt wrote on Oct 28, 2007 10:21 PM:

" I think congressmen should stop ACTing, go home and stay there instead of going to Washington to spend the money and send US the BILL. "

Fat & Cancer wrote on Oct 28, 2007 4:04 PM:

" Technically, there is a myth that correlates fat with cancer. However, since the feed for most livestock is laced with substances that accumulate in the fatty tissues of the livestock, and are detrimental to humans, there does happen to be a link between fat and cancer. But it is not due to the fat. This fact is most obvious by the high rate of cancer in older pets, as the pet food industry buys high quantities of waste fatty materials, which are loaded with these chemicals/hormone by products. "

to ironic wrote on Oct 28, 2007 1:44 PM:

" 2/3rds of us are obese. So 66% odds are your cardiologist, your pharmacist and your dietician are obese. But the postman/woman is not. HE/She WALKS! "

docvinod wrote on Oct 28, 2007 1:41 PM:

" They keep demonizing fat when the problem for obesity is sugar/HFCS. And the myth of fat and cancer is just that a myth. Also they keep talking about sugar in food when the biggest issue is high fructose corn syrup(subsidized) in POP and icecreams and frozen treats and not as much the sugar eaten in foods. It almost looks like this letter was vetted by the soda pop industry as their name is conspicuously missing. "

What I find Ironic wrote on Oct 28, 2007 12:46 PM:

" I love nutritionists - they always know what's best for EVERYONE. What I love even more is obese nutritionists who claim to know what everyone else MUST eat but don't practice what they themselves force on other people. I'm not saying this person is obese but many nutritionists I have met are obese and it's an oxymoron to have an obese person dictate what you should or shouldn't eat. "

big picture wrote on Oct 28, 2007 10:22 AM:

" It's crucial to the solvency of social security, medicaid, and the new drug program that average life expectancy is reduced. We need the majority of citizens to die before the age of 62. Encouraging the consumption of these high fat, sugar laced food is very important to this requirement. Therefore, be a good American and wash down that Big Mac combo meal with a large Mountain Dew!! "

dante wrote on Oct 28, 2007 9:23 AM:

" tragically, the people in my city subsidise meth, weed, AND alcohol. the house on main street is full of welfare moochers with just these things. and they have little children. "

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