Food Politics

Dr. Nestle:

I am wondering what you think of Pepsico’s recent announcement that it is voluntarily stopping sales of its full sugar beverages to schools (elementary and secondary) worldwide. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/booster_shots/2010/03/pepsico-pledges-to-not-sell-sugary-beverages-in-schools-worldwide-.html I had two questions: First, which beverages fall under the self-imposed ban and which do not? The LA Times blog says that Gatorade is exempted. Which other beverages? (And are beverages sweetened with high fructose corn syrup covered as well as sugar sweetened beverages?) Second, my kids go to a parochial school and last time I checked (last week) there were refrigerated cases of Pepsi in the lunchroom and I’ve heard the same from friends with kids at private school. The wording of the press release makes it sound like they are voluntarily withdrawing Pepsi from “all” schools but it may be that they are only withdrawing from public schools. So even though it seems like it is good news, I suspect that between sales of Gatorade and other beverages and sales to private and parochial schools, Pepsi is still generating a lot of revenue from sales of their products in schools.

Hi Marion,

I am in the process of reading What to Eat, and am enjoying the straightforward advice about food choices, and am getting excited (read: angry) about food marketing. You say in the sugar section that sugar is not a poison, and so I was wondering what you thought about this video:

http://www.your-bodysupplements.com/2010/01/16/are-you-slowly-killing-yourself-the-damage-caused-by-sugary-foods/

Thanks,

Kelly

Hi Marion,

I know this email is out of the blue, but I just posted an article on my blog entitled “50 Nutritionists You Should Follow on Twitter”
http://www.physicaltherapyassistantschools.org/50-nutritionists-you-should-follow-on-twitter/ . Anyway I figured I’d bring it to your attention in case you thought it interesting enough to drop a quick mention on your site about it as I’m trying to increase readership of my blog.

Either way, sorry for the unsolicited email and hope you have a good week.

Thanks,
Jeanne Peterson

There are two events this week in Ithaca/Cornell.
Monday 3/15 4pm
Thursday 3/18 4:30pm

I just wasn’t initially aware that the Cornell community was lucky enough to have TWO Marion Nestle presentations this week.

Hello Dr. Nestle!

I would love to dattend your next public appearance at Cornell University–but I’m ust confused as to when it is:

I’m confused about this event:

per
http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/12/ithaca-ny-cornell/

It is:
Mar 15 2010
Ithaca, NY: Cornell

Graduate Field of Nutrition seminar, 100 Savage Hall, 4:00 p.m. on “Food politics: has the food revolution reached Washington?” Free and open to the public.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
and per

http://www.cornell.edu/events/profile.cfm?id=34004&instance=2010-03-18%2016%3A30%3A00.0&y=2010&m=3&d=15&show=future

“The Food Revolution and its Implications for Public Policy”
Thursday March 18, 2010 – 4:30PM

>>>>>>>>

Thanks for straightening this out for us!

Hi Marion,

We love your books and blog. We have a question about Kosher Food. Can you provide us with some insight especially for meats and chicken. M<y mother in law is alway pressing for us to buy Kosher. To us it appears like its a protected industry in itself. Very tough to get information on how the animals are fed and taken care of. What are your thoughts in this area.
Thank you
David and Liza Horowitz

Hi Ms. Nestle:

I’ve got a question about the proposed New York City salt law: given the number of restaurants who are using processed foods as their “raw ingredients,” will this law have much effect at all? Based on what I see delivered to restaurants, I think this is most restaurants.

A customer thinking they’re ordering healthy by getting a Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad, even with the dressing on the side, in many cases is being served a Sysco “Grilled Chicken Breast”.
As you can see from the nutrition info, there’s 33% of recommended sodium in the pre-grilled breast, even though it’s what I would call low calorie.
http://www.livestrong.com/thedailyplate/nutrition-calories/food/sysco/6oz-grilled-chicken/

And that’s with no salt added by the chef. I doubt that most chef’s would add anywhere near that amount of salt and stay in business. What would that be, about 1/2 a teaspoon per chicken breast? Blech.

I’d love to hear your take on this.

Dr. Nestle,

I have been reading your books and this blog. I also have been listening to various talks and discussions of yours made available on iTunesU. I can’t get enough! I am sucking up your knowledge like a sponge. Your talks, like the one I listened to today from the Thirteen Forum from 2/23/10, really make me think and I appreciate that.

I am a graduate student in Nutrition and am pursuing a public health path in that regard. Thank you for all that you share and for the inspiration!

Dear Marion,
I wonder if you heard about the recent polemics in Italy regarding the launch campaign of the new McDonald’s McItaly and the endorsement of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Kind Regards,
M.

Dr Nestle–

After attending Monday’s Sugar Sweetened Bevergage Tax Symposium in Albany, I’m excited to know there is so much support behind this proposal.

There is the letter of support that I encourage New York State residents to sign,
http://www.nyam.org/initiatives/sp-sbb.shtml

but what’s next? This isn’t yet a bill, right? Is it recommended to call NYS legislators at this point? I think it would be wonderful if this gets through!

Dr. Nestle, I am wondering if you are planning to write anything about the current Salmonella Tennessee in hydrolyzed vegetable protein..and how it just might be in “everything”..
Thanks..I also enjoy reading your articles (lost 2 cats in the melamine scandal) and especially Pet Food Politics..
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm203067.htm