Thanks (I think) to Hugh Joseph for forwarding the YouTube video, “The guy from CSPI.” When I see things like this, I assume they are bought and paid for by the Center for Consumer Freedom, but it doesn’t say who made it or who paid for it. I’m curious: how much does it cost to produce something like this, and who paid for it? Anybody know?
Center for Science in the Public Interest has posted a collection of photos of New York City menu boards with calorie labeling. Take a look and see what you think of how this requirement is working.
Public health groups have filed an amicus curiae brief in support of New York City’s calorie labeling initiative. If you want to see what one looks like, here it is (I signed it too). Michael Jacobson tells me that the Center for Science in the Public Interest has received documents in response to its Freedom of Information Act request. These say that the FDA told the restaurant industry a year ago it would not interfere with the City’s proposal, suggesting that the FDA does not view federal laws as blocking calorie labeling. In the meantime, the labels are drifting up on menu boards. Go take a look! Next: will they do any good?
New York City readers: Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is collecting photos of calorie labels on restaurant and take out menu boards. Have a digital camera or cell phone handy? They are asking for photos of menu boards and close ups of the calorie information from Starbucks, Chipotle, Quiznos, Jamba Juice, Subway, etc. Upload the photos at www.flickr.com. This requires establishing a free account. Once you’ve done that, join the group “CSPI Menus” and upload. If that doesn’t work, you can mail photos to hhenry@cspinet.org. Thanks!
New York City’s calorie labeling proposal, which seemed to be heading for menu boards at the end of March, is now back in litigation thanks to the NY State Restaurant Association. CSPI filed an amicus curiae brief on the previous round of litigation and is working with Public Citizen on a new version. The saga continues.
CSPI has just completed its investigation of the extent of food marketing in the Montgomery County, Maryland, school district. Guess what? There is plenty of it, even in elementary schools:30% of elementary schools use candy, baked goods, soda, fast food, or restaurant food at fundraisers. Guess what? Most of the marketing in junior high and high schools is also for junk foods. And all this is still happening despite excellent wellness policies. We have work to do!
Kentucky and Oregon have initiated reasonable school food policies, according to the latest report from Center for Science in the Public Interest, but two-thirds of the states still get bad grades on their report cards. CSPI is working with Senator Harkin to get national standards into the farm bill. The report card is good evidence that voluntary standards aren’t working.
The FDA has just announced that it will be holding public hearings on November 29 to discuss issues related to salt labeling. Right now, the FDA considers salt Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) for human consumption but petitions from Center for Science in the Public Interest and other groups are challenging that designation. Should the FDA instead regulate salt as a food additive? How could the FDA best use its regulatory authority to help Americans reduce their salt intake? Expect fireworks at this hearing as the various stakeholders–health advocates vs. industry–weigh in.
I’m moderating an online webinar on the new Slow Food book, Ark of Taste, with authors David S. Shields and Giselle Kennedy Lord. For information and registration click here. It’s at 4:00 p.m. EST.