Food & Beverage (page 184)

The GE Food Alert Coalition is launching an internet-based “viral marketing campaign” against genetically improved foods. It should come as a surprise to no one that the folks behind this Halloween-themed “fear marketing” campaign are (once again) major organic food companies and Fenton Communications. Other participants include the Maharishi cult, the Natural Law Party and the Organic Consumers Association. Expect the worst.

In a letter to the Wall Street Journal, Genetic ID president Bill Witherspoon protests attempts to link the genetically engineered food testing company with activists through company founder John Fagan.

The Detroit News editorializes that it is time for the Food and Drug Administration to remove warning labels from products containing olestra because there is no danger from the fat substitute. The only group that seems to be against removing the labels is the Center for Science in the Public Interest. Does the $20,000 CSPI received from the Helena Rubinstein Foundation in 1997 to vilify Olestra have something to do with its position?

The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) is blaming obesity on the marketing practices of restaurants. “Value marketing has confused Americans about what a normal and appropriate portion of food…

National Public Radio gives a thumbs-up review of the no-calorie, no-cholesterol fat-substitute Olestra. However, the Center for Science in the Public Interest appears in the story, citing questionable statistics that disparage a product that millions of consumers could benefit from. Does the $20,000 CSPI received from the Helena Rubinstein Foundation in 1997 to vilify Olestra have something to do with its position?

Since they couldn’t challenge the research that supports the health benefits of chocolate,, anti-choice nannies complain that the studies were funded by the chocolate industry for use as marketing…

The organic industry has created a project in conjunction with Vermont public schools that will allow the industry to bring its baseless "organic is safer, organic is better" message into the classroom. If past behavior is any indication, the industry will be promoting organic by frightening children over genetically improved foods and conventional food production. ("Organic farmers group seeks to link schools to local farms," Associated Press, 10/9/00)

In the first change to the official dietary guidelines in years, the American Heart Association says Americans are eating too many calories and restaurant portion sizes are to blame. To address this alleged problem, the AHA plans to "put pressure on the marketplace by educating consumers."

Greenpeace has released a shopping list designed to steer people towards purchasing non-genetically improved foods. It's not surprising that an apparent majority of the products you should buy comes from the organic marketers that support Greenpeace and other activists' fear-mongering campaigns.

In the latest flare-up, the nannies at the Center for Science in the Public Interest stand accused of using bad science is their recent condemnation of “functional foods.” The Herb…