Information about the Aspen Ideas Festival is here. I am scheduled for a session, The American Wellness Paradox, currently scheduled from 11:00-11:50 a.m., at the East Lawn Tent. This will be a discussion with senior HHS policy advisor, Calley Means. Here’s the blurb on it: “Americans are spending more than ever on healthcare, supplements, wellness trends, and “clean eating,” yet rates of chronic disease and metabolic illness continue to climb. As skepticism fuels the rise of movements like MAHA, debates over what Americans should eat have become deeply cultural, political, and economic. Two influential voices with sharply different perspectives on nutrition and food science explore how food systems, farming practices, consumer culture, and the wellness industry collided to create one of the defining public health debates of our time.”
FTC still begging for food company data on marketing to kids
OK, so “begging” isn’t quite the right word. The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has issued subpoenas to 48 food companies demanding information about their marketing practices aimed at children.
The FTC tried this once before and issued a report in 2008 based on the information it received. But companies were not exactly forthcoming with the data. In the present political climate, they will foot-drag this time too.
According to ThePacker.com, the FTC is asking for asked for nutritional data on the companies’ products as well as marketing information by December 1.
The FTC is quoted as saying that none of this is expected to lead to new regulations. I guess the FTC is trying to do what it can under challenging circumstances.
But let me ask again: where is the FTC’s long-awaited report on nutrition standards for marketing products to kids? If it can’t even get that report out, can the new subpoenas do any good?
