KRAFT KAVES! Maker of Oreos to Revamp Products: Cites Obesity

Associated Press -- "Kraft to Revamp Products: Cites Obesity" ^ | July 1, 2003 | Deborah Cohen

[L.N. Smithee]

By Deborah Cohen

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Kraft Foods Inc., the biggest U.S. maker of processed foods, on Tuesday said it would cap portion sizes, eliminate marketing in schools and reformulate some products as the food industry faces increasing legal blame for obesity and unhealthy eating trends.

The maker of Oreo cookies and Velveeta cheese spreads said this year it will develop a range of standards to improve the overall nutritional content of its products and the way it sells them. It will begin making changes to the way it manufactures and markets foods beginning next year.

The cost of the measures, which are sweeping, could not be estimated, according to a spokesman for the company, based in the Chicago suburb of Northfield, Illinois.

Critics are quick to point out that Kraft may be on the defensive at a time of heightened criticism over the role big food companies play in contributing to growing health problems in the United States. No. 1 fast-food chain McDonald's Corp. has already been the target of a highly publicized lawsuit linking its burgers to obesity in children.

"This is sort of a preemptive move to stave off the lawyers and the critics," said Henry Anhalt, an endocrinologist and director of the "Kids Weight Down" program at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn.

"What I think is going on is that the soothsayers are saying that coming down the pike are going to be large lawsuits, class action suits looking at cardiovascular disease, premature death, diabetes, and they're going to turn to the food industry and lay it on their feet," he said.

Still, he applauded Kraft for making changes that he believes will make a difference. Kraft could set standards that other major food companies could follow.

Obesity among adults in the United States has doubled since 1980, and tripled among adolescents, according to the U.S. surgeon general.

Kraft acknowledged that the moves may in part help indemnify the company against potential lawsuits.

"We're making these commitments first and foremost because we think it is the right thing to do for the people who use our products and for our business, but if it also discourages a plaintiff's attorney or unfair legislation, that's fine with us." said Michael Mudd, a Kraft spokesman.

GLOBAL EFFORTS

Kraft said its efforts would be global, focusing on product nutrition, marketing practices, information for consumers and public advocacy. It is forming an advisory council to help develop standards for the company's approach to health issues.

Marketing fatty and sugar-laden foods to children has been a hot-button in the news. Last week, New York City's school system decided to remove candy, soda and sweet snacks from school vending machines.

Last month, the head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (news - web sites) said that agency plans to push for expanded nutritional labeling on food products.

Kraft said the changes it will make will include advertising and marketing to children to encourage appropriate eating behaviors and active lifestyles.

The company, which used to promote its products on Channel One, a news channel played in secondary schools, will now cease all in-school marketing.

Other big food industry players are also taking defensive measures. McDonald's in March announced worldwide initiatives to help promote healthy lifestyles and provide consumers with expanded product information. It has also assembled an advisory council.

"This is an ongoing battle," said Keith Patriquin, a buy-side analyst with Loomis Sayles, which holds shares of Kraft and other big food names. "Trial lawyers ... are looking for the next big thing."

Earlier this year, a lawsuit was filed in California seeking to ban Kraft's Oreo cookies. The suit, which drew criticism in legal circles for potentially abusing the U.S. court system, was withdrawn less than two weeks later.

Shares of Kraft, which is majority owned by tobacco giant Altria Group Inc., were off 25 cents at $34.30 in mid-morning New York Stock Exchange (news - web sites) trading. (With reporting by Brad Dorfman in Chicago)

[MarkL]

Like real butter, lard, and sugar!

On my Atkins diet plan, for dinner, I'm planning on having a salad w/ blue cheese crumbles and dressing, broccolli, and chicken alfredo, with home-made Alfredo sauce. Simple to make: Butter, heavy cream, grated (not shredded, it simply won't incorporate before the sauce breaks) fresh parmagian and peccorino romano cheese, and a little bit of nutmeg. That sauce has about 2 grams of carbs per cup! The greatest amount of carbs will come from the veggies! Yum!

Of course, that sauce would be called "evil" by the food police, since it's so high in fat. Never mind that the entire meal will have less than 8 grams of carbs!

Mark

[honeygrl]

I swear if they take away my double stuffed oreos i'll boycott!

[newgeezer]

Why do I hear the sound of half-full New Coke cans hitting the pavement?

Maybe because, as this "news" spreads throughout the land, Oreo sales will go through the roof as consumers stock up, expecting the new ones can't possibly taste as good as the present ones.

Then, after a few weeks of making relatively bad-tasting new ones, Kraft will announce they've discovered a way of making healthy Classic Oreos^TM.

I just wish Coke could make a Diet Classic Coke instead of that awful tasting diet cola they sell. Why anyone chooses that horse p*ss over Diet Pepsi is truly one of life's mysteries. ;O)

[honeygrl]

"Anyone attempts to change these and there will be some physicality! "

If they start messing with Krispy Kreme they'll have all the police officers in town hunting them down.

[newgeezer]

Krispy Kreme: The cotton candy of donuts. (Blecch.)

[nina0113]

And I'll bet the change was driven by a consumer panel of Oreo "experts" who wanted their frosting to remain on one side of the cookie because that's the way they ate them.

That is the CORRECT way to eat them. Anything else is subversive.

[Quilla]

It does, Mo! Actually, I followed a modified version as I haven't read the book. I ate all the meat, eggs, and cheese I wanted. Anything else I ate, I read the label - if there were no carbohydrates it was fair game. I was shocked to find no carbs in mayonnaise and butter. The only cheating I did was an occasional beer or glass of wine - red wine containing very few carbs per glass.

With unlimited quantites, it really wasn't like dieting at all.

[jim_trent]

You mean that 1 package is not 1 serving?

[MarkL]

You're right about that... You just have to "want it." I'm sure that there are people who do have metabolic problems that make it difficult to lose weight, but you CAN overcome it, if you just decide to do it. I take a medication, prednisone, that makes me hungry all the time! I've always been good about ignoring the hunger, but now, when I do eat, it's either meats or veggies. Nothing else. I am looking forward to being able to excercise again. I need to drop another 20 or 25 pounds before I start walking again, due to osteoporosis, from the prednisone: I break the bones in my feet. Saturday, I was down to 295, and I'm looking at getting down to a svelte 34" waist and 200# (I'm 6'4", and pretty "big boned").

Mark

[Laura Earl]

Yum-yum!!

[MarkL]

Give up meat protein? No way. I figure teeth are for something, and it just isn't tofu!

Two phrases to remember...

If G-d didn't want us to eat animals, he wouldn't have made them out of meat.

I didn't claw my way to the top of the food chain for a salad!

Mark

[MarkL]

I don't want that to happen again. I find orange juice just as satisfying.

That's been the hardest thing for me about the Atkins diet. No fruit or fruit juice. Too much sugar. :-(

Mark

[Carolinamom]

I make oreo cookie bread w/the fat oreos. It will not be the same tasty bread w/fat depleted oreos.

[MarkL]

Cookies don't kill people, people kill people

Actually, people kill people who take away their cookies!

Mark

[SamAdams76]

I was at 295 myself just three months ago and we are about the same height (I'm 6' 3 1/2"). Down to 256 and it makes a huge difference already. For one thing, I can walk further and further without getting tired. Down to a 44 waist (from a 50) and I could probably squeeze into a 42 today if I wanted to. I wore a 34" waist in the Marine Corps and that is what I am aiming for as well. Good luck on your quest! It's not easy but the results are definitely rewarding.

[nina0113]

Grocery stores in a metro area usually will have the "Kosher for Passover" Coke - it only comes in the two-liter bottles and has yellow caps. If you tilt the bottle, you can see that it is stamped Kosher for Passover. I don't think stocking clerks know about it because it is always mixed in with the regular Coke (which I hate) and I have to look for the yellow caps.

[dansangel]

Nope, not your fat assed fault at all. Blame someone else. Anyone else, but your fat assed self!

But tell us how you *really* feel!

BTW, I agree with every word.

[honeygrl]

"Find out what products are made in your State and buy them. Support the small cheese makers and one of your few remaining local hamburger stands."

Those are usually out of my price range and to me rarely taste as good. I have yet to find anyone who can make fries that are as good to me as burger king. I was raised eating fast food a lot and I'm not fat. I eat ice cream and cheese cake when I have it around and I don't gain weight from it because I don't eat it for every meal. I shouldn't have to suffer because some moron can't control their urge to buy oreos and eat them all at once or some parents buys their kid oreos and lets them eat the whole bag. Kraft shouldn't be held responsible for irresponsible parents who buy too much junk food for their kids and then complain about their kids being fat. And if any one here wants cookies that really taste good but aren't too bad for you try SnackWell's chocolate chip cookies. They are really good and only 4g of fat for 13 of the bite size cookies. They also have a bit of fiber, protein, and Iron in them and are only 130 calories for the 13 cookie serving size. They are as good as any other chocolate chip cookies I've had.

[dansangel]

B.S. The only thing less-read than the nutritional label on a bag of cookies is the Owner's manual on a new car.

ROFL - Guilty as charged!

[WoofDog123]

""Find out what products are made in your State and buy them. Support the small cheese makers and one of your few remaining local hamburger stands." "

Unfortunately, unlike much of europe, the local cheesemonger with walls of wheels of farmhouse cheeses simply doesn't exist in much of the US.