Maude, Memphis

May 21, 2010

WHO targets child obesity with food marketing curbs

Health ministers, alarmed at the growing number of obese children, agreed on Thursday to try to reduce children's consumption of junk food and soft drinks by asking member states to restrict advertising and marketing.

The global recommendations on marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children are guidelines to the 193 member states of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Diets containing large amounts of fat, sugar or salt contribute to chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancers, which cause 60 percent of all deaths worldwide, the United Nations agency says.

"Childhood obesity is increasing globally now. The rate of increase in the developing world is greatest because of a rapid change in diet and physical activity patterns," Timothy Armstrong of WHO's department of chronic disease and health promotion told Reuters.

An estimated 42 million children under the age of five are overweight, 35 million of them in developing countries, according to the WHO. Overweight is one category below obese.

"The risks presented by unhealthy diets start in childhood and build up throughout life," the WHO guidelines say.

Armstrong credited the United States with ringing the alarm bell. "The global attention to child obesity has changed significantly, with the new U.S. administration taking it on as a major issue."

U.S. Surgeon-General Regina Benjamin endorsed the plan at the WHO's annual ministerial meeting.

"The set of recommendations on marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages to children should play a significant role in helping member states promote healthier patterns of eating as part of efforts to reduce the growing epidemic of childhood obesity," Benjamin said in a speech.

"This is a priority for the Obama administration, in particular for the First Lady, who has raised awareness of childhood obesity and the importance of healthy eating."

Michelle Obama this month unveiled a 70-point plan for reducing childhood obesity within a generation, including a call for marketing healthier food, but stopping short of recommending regulatory action or a federal tax on sugary sodas.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say two thirds of American adults and 15 percent of American children are overweight or obese.

"Since 1980, our obesity rates have doubled for adults and tripled for children," Benjamin told a news briefing on Tuesday. "The problem is even worse for blacks, Hispanics and native American children."

The WHO recommendations include limiting children's exposure to television advertising and making schools and playgrounds free from all forms of marketing of junk food and sugary drinks.

WHO adopted a global strategy on diet and physical activity in 2004, a year after clinching a treaty controlling tobacco.

On Thursday, ministers also agreed to curb binge drinking and other growing forms of excessive alcohol use through higher taxes on alcoholic drinks and tighter marketing regulations.

— Reuters

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Retire Ronald McDonald? No way.

That's the message McDonald's Corp.'s CEO Jim Skinner gave Thursday to the red-haired clown's critics who say the cartoon promotes unhealthy eating and should go the way of the Marlboro Man and Joe Camel.

"The answer is no," Skinner told a room full of shareholders who gathered for a meeting at the company's headquarters in the Chicago suburb of Oak Brook, Ill.

"He is a force for good," Skinner said, adding that the nearly 50-year-old clown is an ambassador for the McDonald's brand and its Ronald McDonald House Charities. "He communicates effectively with children and families around balanced, active lifestyles. He does not hawk food."

Shareholders applauded Skinner. And they unleashed a chorus of boos when representatives from the advocacy group Corporate Accountability International requested the famous icon be shelved - for good.

"Ronald McDonald is a pied piper drawing youngsters all over the world to food that is high in fat, sodium and calories," said Alfred David Klinger, a retired Chicago physician who volunteers with the organization. "On the surface, Ronald is there to give children enjoyment in all sorts of way with toys, games and food. But Ronald McDonald is dangerous, sending insidious messages to young people."

The Boston organization, which calls itself a nonprofit corporate watchdog, has spent the past two months mounting a "Retire Ronald" campaign.

So far it has received support from about 10,000 people, said senior organizer Deborah Lapidus.

— Associated Press

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PepsiCo Inc. said Friday that it plans to invest an additional $2.5 billion in China in the next three years on new plants and research facilities as the food and beverage maker builds up its presence in the growing market.

The company made the announcement in a news release Friday from Shanghai, site of the Shanghai Expo, where PepsiCo is a sponsor of the USA Pavilion. That planned spending is in addition to the $1 billion investment it announced in 2008 and plans to complete this year.

The company's overseas business has become a strong factor in its success, with PepsiCo reporting last month that international growth pushed its first-quarter profit up 26 percent, as people in developing countries bought more of its snacks and drinks. The company, based in Purchase, N.Y., posted double-digit gains in sales of snacks and beverages in India and China.

But competition is fierce. PepsiCo, whose brands include Tropicana and Gatorade, has pledged to invest more in its international business as it fights stagnation at home and in Europe. Rival Coca-Cola Co. plans to do the same in these high growth markets.

Money from PepsiCo's additional investment in China will be used to open 10 to 12 new manufacturing plants, create a new research and development center, open five new farms for potatoes and oats and to build its brands.

The new plants will be used to make soft drinks, juices and other drinks and snacks. Additional production lines will also be installed at existing facilities. Plants will be built in the provinces of Fujian, Gansu, Henan and Yunnan in the next two years as part of PepsiCo's plan to expand in interior and western China.

The company will research and develop new products just for the Asian market. It already offers drinks inspired by traditional Chinese medicine and Lay's potato chips in flavors tailored just to the market, including cool cucumber and crispy prawn.

"We are building expertise and infrastructure now so that we can have a strong, sustainable manufacturing and agricultural base to serve the diverse and growing needs of consumers across China," CEO Indra Nooyi said.

The company currently runs 27 beverage and food plants and five farms in China, and has more than 20,000 employees there.

Shares in premarket trading Friday fell 76 cents to $63.10.

— Associated Press

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Wal-Mart has yet to officially announce that it is considering the Gateway II shopping center in East New York for its first New York City store, but protests are beginning already.

Citing what it claims is a history of employee abuses and discriminatory practices, a New York community group and roughly 100 East New York residents plan to protest Wal-Mart's reported plans this afternoon near Spring Creek Towers, a large low and middle income housing complex formerly known as Starrett City, in Brooklyn.

“We're not opposed to development,” said Jonathan Westin, an organizer for New York Communities for Change, a city-based non-profit. “We just want stores that will pay people fair wages and treat the community the way it should be treated.”

As The Journal reported in April, Wal-Mart has been looking for potential sites for stores across the five boroughs, saying that its presence would would bring jobs and tax revenue.

The Gateway shopping center is reportedly one of them.

Last year, the city approved development of Gateway, which is owned by Related Cos., the company that also developed the Times Warner Center in Midtown.

But in presenting its plan to the City Council, Related did not say that Wal-Mart might become one of its tenants. Bringing in Wal-Mart is a potential political liability for Related, the City Council already approved the company's development plan, and thus would not be able to block it.

“Wal-Mart is trying to come in the back door,” said Westin.

If Wal-Mart does indeed attempt to move to East New York, many pundits expect a heated battle between the City Council and unions, which spoiled the retailer's previous efforts to bring stores to Queen and Staten Island.

For years unions have thwarted the retailer's the much-needed expansion plans into cities.

In April, Mayor Bloomberg came out in favor of the discount retailer's plan to come to New York.

“People that live in this city are going outside the city to shop at Wal-Marts,” he said. “So, if they're going to shop at Wal-Marts, they might as well live here, they might as well have the jobs here and the tax revenues here.”

That argument seemed to work in Chicago where city officials had resisted Wal-Mart's overtures until 2009, when in the throes of the recession, officials suddenly became receptive to them.

On Tuesday, Wal-Mart said that its same-store sales declined by 1.1% as consumers continued to struggle with unemployment and high gas prices.

Earlier this month, the company said it was donating $2 billion in food and money to national food banks over the next five years.

— Wall Street Journal

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As anyone who has sought solace in a pint of Häagen-Dazs knows, food can be a source of comfort and pleasure as well as nutrients. While overdoing it on ice cream and candy is likely to cause more stress when you regret all those empty calories, consistently munching the right bites can actually help change your outlook from bummed to bright! Even better news: Since what's good for your brain is also a boon for your body, incorporating these five mood boosters into your diet may improve not only your outlook, but also your energy and your figure. Eat up and lighten up!

COLD CEREAL
Eat it for your brain: A handful of MultiGrain Cheerios or Kashi Heart to Heart offers folic acid, which can help fend off the blues. Those with low levels of the nutrient experience more symptoms of depression, a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health suggests, and a folic acid deficiency may prevent your antidepressants from working.

Eat it for your body: A quick bowl of whole-grain cereal brims with iron and vitamins, and gets your metabolism humming—and it sure beats skipping breakfast altogether, since that can lead to all sorts of problems later in the day. People who skipped breakfast only once every three months were 34 percent more likely to be obese than those who didn't, according to a study from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. So even if your body doesn't want it when you first wake up, find a breakfast you can live with, and eat up.

FISH
Eat it for your brain: Those with the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids, found in several kinds of fish, were happier than those with lower levels, a study from the University of Pittsburgh reveals. Omega-3 fatty acids enhance areas of the brain that affect disposition. Certain fish also pack B12, a known mood booster, which wards off the doldrums by stimulating the brain's production of serotonin, helping you relax. Aim to eat two servings of low-mercury fish (like catfish, cod, crab, flounder and halibut) weekly for more smiles!

Eat it for your body: Wild salmon, trout, herring and other cold-water fish are filled with vitamin D, which helps curb appetite, as well as omega 3's, which lower the risk for heart disease. Research also shows that eating fish regularly improves insulin insensitivity, which helps build muscle and decrease belly fat.

EGG YOLKS
Eat them for your brain: Feel sunnier by adding a bit of yellow. Egg yolks contain choline, a mood enhancer. Being low on this nutrient could lead to feeling anxious.

Eat them for your body: Yolks act as a multivitamin, delivering vitamins A and D, as well as folate and calcium.

CHOCOLATE
Eat it for your brain: Sweeten your mood by indulging your chocolate urges. Half of depressed people reported craving chocolate, and most of them felt soothed after indulging, according to a survey in The British Journal of Psychiatry. Since chomping too much chocolate sends you into a sugar coma, munch just 1 ounce and savor every bite!

Eat it for your body: Eating a couple ounces of dark chocolate a week (about one Ghirardelli square a day) may cut your risk for heart disease by 33 percent, according to a study in The Journal of Nutrition. Plus, it has more disease-fighting antioxidants than green tea, red wine or blueberries. Perhaps Willy Wonka was on to something!

FRUITS & VEGGIES
Eat them for your brain: Want a buzz booster? Frequent the produce aisle! People who ate the most fruits and veggies were least likely to feel depressed, a study by the University College London found.

Eat them for your body: Munching the recommended 2 cups of fruit and 2 1/2 cups of veggies a day reduces your calorie intake and bolsters your immunity. The darker and more colorful, the better! The shades in fruits and vegetables come from phytonutrients, which protect different organs. For example, lutein in greens protects your eyes, while lycopene-packed red tomatoes shield your heart. Color yourself healthy!

— Yahoo! Health

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SunChips multigrain snacks, Rold Gold pretzels and the Baked! line of products from PepsiCo's Frito-Lay division will donate $1 million to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, providing funding for educational materials and research to find the cures for breast cancer.

"As an avid supporter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Frito-Lay is joining the Komen promise to end breast cancer forever by directing this $1 million donation to help educate and empower scores of women to 'live fearlessly'," said Carrie Walsh, director, marketing, Frito-Lay North America.

Frito-Lay's supermarket chip aisles have received a makeover this month to help Komen for the Cure encourage women to 'be fearless' and promote the early detection of breast cancer. SunChips, Rold Gold and Baked! snack bags have a pink ribbon makeover, and there is in-store collateral and messaging to help teach women the steps to 'living fearlessly' against the risk for breast cancer by incorporating lifestyle practices that will help aid in early detection of the disease.

"Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of death among women worldwide," said Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, founder and CEO for Komen for the Cure. "Frito-Lay's commitment to educating and empowering women to be aware of their personal risk for the disease and lead healthy lifestyles is critical to our work in ending breast cancer forever."

Practicing breast self-awareness including knowing one's personal risk for breast cancer; getting regular screenings; knowing what is considered "normal" for their breasts considering size, shape and appearance; and making healthy lifestyle choices may reduce risk for breast cancer. These choices include maintaining a healthy weight, which can be accomplished by cutting down on "bad" fats (saturated and trans fats) and eating more "good" fats (poly- and mono-unsaturated fats) like olive and canola oil.

Frito-Lay has a long-standing commitment to health and wellness. In the mid 80's, the company launched Reduced Fat Ruffles potato chips. In the early 90's, the great tasting Baked! Lay's potato crisps and Baked! Tostitos tortilla chips were first introduced. Frito-Lay also led the industry with its response to trans fats. In 2003, Frito-Lay eliminated trans fats from its entire snack chip portfolio by converting Cheetos, Doritos, and Tostitos chips to corn oil. In addition, the company listed trans fat on the nutritional panel of its snack chips more than two years in advance of the 2006 Food & Drug Administration mandate. Frito-Lay's core snack chip portfolio uses healthier oils that have lower amounts of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fats and higher amounts of the "good" monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats.

This year nearly 200,000 women and men will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States and more than 40,000 will die from the disease. Getting screened regularly for breast cancer is the best way for women to lower their risk of dying from the disease. When breast cancer is found before it spreads beyond the breast, the five-year survival rate in the U.S. is 98 percent, up from 74 percent in 1982.

Frito-Lay associates across the country will support local Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure events through continued participation and fundraising. Frito-Lay's sales teams will install custom Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure point-of-sale collateral and host product sampling in-store in select locations throughout the year.

Frito-Lay is a member of the Susan G. Komen Million Dollar Council Elite, a special group of sponsors and partners who have committed to invest a financial contribution of $1 million annually in the fight to end breast cancer. Each of these organizations has found new and innovative ways to raise awareness about breast cancer and encourage people from all walks of life to get involved in finding the cures. In addition to the financial contribution, each of these organizations has involved customers and employees in raising awareness and hope to one day find the cure.

— PR Newswire

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