Comments on: Reply from the American Society of Nutrition

By: Nutrition Rating Systems – the problem and a solution : Foodessentials

Nutrition Rating Systems – the problem and a solution : Foodessentials — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:33:34 +0000

[...] Marion Nestle: Reply from the American Society of Nutrition [...]

By: Cindy

Cindy — Wed, 20 May 2009 14:23:51 +0000

What a nothing response by ASN! The letter states that Smart Choices is not an “industry-initiated” program. I would like to know then who funded the Keystone work? Perhaps ASN and Keystone should disclose the funders and amount of money provided to develop this “objective” system.

By: Auralee

Auralee — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:27:55 +0000

I would be interested to know if there were any other food activist nutritionists with the credentials of Marion Nestle involved in the program’s development.

My take is that if MN doesn’t bless it, I don’t buy it.

By: Kathy Dee Zasloff

Kathy Dee Zasloff — Mon, 18 May 2009 22:02:51 +0000

So, yes, Dr. Nestle, what do you think about the reply?

I noticed that there were no consumers on the development committee/planning process. And I wondered to whom is this program supposed to be transparent? It also felt as if there were many steps to the Ivory Towers where all the decisions were/are going to be made.

I actually saw one of the Check Mark brands on something I bought and it almost made me stop and not buy it. What is it that has been in all the news lately? “If it’s making health claims you may want to be suspicious.”

Looking forward to your response.

By: Anthro

Anthro — Mon, 18 May 2009 14:57:11 +0000

So, Dr. Nestle, what do you make of the reply? I think “too many cooks spoil the soup” and that this type of “consensus” had way too many people to please and did not reach a meaningful conclusion, hence the high limits of sugar and salt.

I also think the response is rather vague and doesn’t address your nutritional concerns, but only clarifies their position on how they are funded and where the money goes. It is wordy and doesn’t clarify the issues at all.