US sugar barons 'block global war on obesity' [Laugh till you BARF]

The Guardian ^ | Jan. 18, 2004 | Jo Revill and Paul Harris

[Alouette]

Leading scientists accused the Bush administration last night of putting the interests of powerful American sugar barons ahead of the global fight against obesity. Professor Kaare Norum, leader of the World Health Organisation's fight to prevent millions developing diet-related diseases, has sparked an international war of words with a highly critical letter to US Health Secretary Tommy Thompson. In it he tells of his grave concern over American opposition to the WHO's blueprint to combat obesity. He accuses the US of making the health of millions of young Americans 'a hostage to fortune' because it has failed to take action over the fat epidemic as a result of its business interests, particularly the sugar lobby.

Since 1990, successive US governments have blocked WHO calls for action, claims Norum, professor of medicine at Oslo University.

'Obesity rates have risen so that now one in three Americans bears the burden of the very high health risks associated with this condition, with the poorest and most vulnerable worst affected,' he says. 'Obesity rates among American children have risen by 50 per cent.'

Norum is the most senior scientist involved in an attempt to formulate a worldwide policy to fight heart disease and diabetes resulting from a junk food diet. An estimated 60 per cent of disease worldwide is now due to cardiovascular illness, which causes 47 per cent of deaths.

The letter from Norum will put Bush under intense pressure at home to show that he is serious about tackling the epidemic. More than half of all Americans are overweight, and in some states, including Bush's Texas, nearly one-third of the population is classified obese.

The President insists fighting fat is a matter for the individual, not the state. But today The Observer reveals how he and fellow senators have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding from 'Big Sugar'. One of his main fundraisers is sugar baron Jose 'Pepe' Fanjul, head of Florida Crystals, who has raised at least $100,000 for November's presidential re-election campaign.

Norum's letter is an angry response to the Americans' decision to submit a 30-page report, criticising the WHO strategy for its lack of sound scientific evidence. It will be discussed at a key meeting of its executive board in Geneva on Tuesday.

The Bush administration, which receives millions in funding from the sugar industry, argues there is little robust evidence to show that drinking sugary drinks or eating too much sugar is a direct cause of obesity. It particularly opposes a recommendation that just 10 per cent of people's energy intake should come from added sugar. The US has a 25 per cent guideline.

Thompson's representative at Tuesday's meeting will be Bill Steiger, godson of George Bush Sr. He will argue there is no evidence that selling junk food to children increases overweight.

Another leading obesity expert supported Norum, describing America's position as a scandal. Professor Philip James, head of the International Obesity Task Force, a thinktank for experts worldwide said: 'People are far more tuned into what is now a much bigger obesity crisis and are more aware of some of the dangers such as diabetes. When they begin to see children developing these severe health problems, it brings home to people that this is not some vague risk in the future - it is happening here and now.'

Thompson is also due to speak at the World Economic Forum in Davos next week, where he is expected to have a private meeting with Douglas Daft, president of The Coca-Cola Company, one of the major users of American cane sugar and sweeteners.

In an Observer interview today, Britain's Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell urges people who take little or no exercise to start hobbies like DIY and gardening to get active, saying that she wants people to take responsibility for their fitness.

In the UK, nearly 16 per cent of teenagers were found to be obese in 2000 - three times the number reported in 1990.

[Destro]

Was this not a Simpson's episode?

[FreeKnight]

"Norum is the most senior scientist involved in an attempt to formulate a worldwide policy ... The letter from Norum will put Bush under intense pressure at home to show that he is serious about tackling the epidemic."

Yeah, sure...

[whereasandsoforth]

Was not Clinton a walking commercial for junk food and sugar? Now it's Bush's fault some people are plump?

Bush sure has accomplished more than any other human being in history in just three short years. The man must be a kerrying genius plus.

[Cobra64]

Professor Kaare Norum, leader of the World Health Organisation's (WHO) fight to prevent millions developing diet-related diseases, has sparked an international war of words with a highly critical letter to US Health Secretary Tommy Thompson.

And I say, who cares what WHO has to say.

I'm fed up with ferriners telling Americans what we can, and cannot, eat, think, or breath.

I say our ambassador types should tell them to, as the Brits say, "piss off."

[Gabz]

Norum's letter is an angry response to the Americans' decision to submit a 30-page report, criticising the WHO strategy for its lack of sound scientific evidence. It will be discussed at a key meeting of its executive board in Geneva on Tuesday.

Most WHO declarations are without scientific evidence or in contradiction to proper scientific evidence.

If WHO spent one third or even one quarter of the time and money they spend on bullcrap like over eating and smoking on real problems like TB, malaria and other such communicable diseases, MAYBE, just MAYBE they would become relevant.

[ladyinred]

These people are FREAKING nuts!!!

(rolled in sugar!)

[freeforall]

"The Observer reveals how he and fellow senators have received hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding from 'Big Sugar'."



http://www.bigsugar.ca/web/band/index.php

Has there ever been a Canadian band quite like Big Sugar? Who can they be compared to? More pointedly, who can compare to them? Music is a fickle pursuit and it seems that many bands are defined by a single or two, perhaps a couple of albums. In Big Sugar there lies however a more precious commodity. Here is a Canadian act that has aggressively pursued its muse, courting risk at every turn and assuring their future in the process. Always re-inventing, repositioning, re-contextualizing and not once bowing to a challenge, they have never sounded like anything but themselves. For better or worse, from good times to bad and back again, they have become storied and bigger than life – and they have fostered a Great Canadian Eccentric who will eventually become sanctified as such and books will be written about him.

[Cobra64]

"The letter from Norum will put Bush under intense pressure at home to show that he is serious about tackling the epidemic."

Tell that to Karen Carpenter's relatives. This guy Norum, is a dolt that couldn't find a productive job.

[avg_freeper]

Was this not a Simpson's episode?

Homer (still asleep) with a Spanish accent:   "In America, first you get the sugar, then you get the power, then you get the women..."   (snores)

[avg_freeper]

Marge : "Homer, when are you going to give up this crazy sugar scheme?"
Homer : "Never, Marge! Never.   I can't live the button-down life like you.   I want it all: the terrifying lows, the dizzying highs, the creamy middles.   Sure, I might offend a few of the bluenoses with my cocky stride and musky odor - oh, I'll never be the darling of the so called "City Fathers", who cluck their tongues, stroke their beards, and talk about "What's to be done with this Homer Simpson?"
Marge : "Look, just get rid of the sugar, okay?"
Homer : "Never!"

[Marge leaves, and a swarm of bees lands on Homer's sugar pile]

Homer: "Aah! Hey, get off my sugar. Bad bees! Bad!" (get's stung) "Ow. Oww! Oh, they're defending themselves somehow."

[adam_az]

George Bush pinned me to the ground while Dick Cheney force fed me twinkies!!!

What a joke.

[goodnesswins]

You know....these people should get together with those that say we have "starving people in the United States." They'd make quite a stir....(The "starving people" are the ones eating all the SUGAR - simple and complex!)

Frankly I'm getting very tired of being lectured.

[wizardoz]

Just say no to war! Give peace a (fat) chance.

[RightWingAtheist]

Big Sugar's a great band, sort of a fusion of reggae and blues with Neil Young. I highly recommend them to fans of Blues Traveler.

[RightWingAtheist]

Mmmm...Sugar shark!

[Destro]

LOL! You guys rock!

[freeforall]

A different type of Big Sugar for sure.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDMISS70311240929291141&sql=A2hmsa9lgu23d

Led by Toronto's subtle-guitar whiz Gordie Johnson, Big Sugar cover a dizzying number of bases on their second effort. The group kicks out the jams for a pair of mutant, acid blues in "Ride Like Hell" and "I'm A Ram," stokes a hypnotic, National Steel groove on "Sugar In My Coffee," wails out a lurching Tex-Mex riff for "AAA Aardvark Hotel," and fascinates with an open-prairie/R&B fusion on "Wild Ox Moan." Impossible to pigeon-hole and freshly uncentered. — Roch Parisien

[freeforall]

Who will represent the interests of Big Fat? This could be huge and cereal!

[Frank_2001]

You are right!