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)

[L.N. Smithee]

Sorry about the error. I thought it was an article written by APes.

[Im Your Huckleberry]

Our entire society is moving toward an end state where we are nothing more than pacified, sanitized, non-threatening drones. No one will be "offended", everything will be rainbows and sunshine, and we will live in a sterile, tasteless, odorless, non-threatening, non-offending world in which we no longer "live" but simply "exist".

It will be worse than the world of Orwell's "1984" or Huxley's "Brave New World".

[FairOpinion]

My point is that if you don't like them, you don't have to buy them. You can go make your own from scratch.

Food manufacturers do what the consumer wants and that's what they should stick to. If they make changes it should be because they think they will sell more, because that's what PEOPLE, CONSUMERS want, not to appease trial lawyers and government regulators waiting in the wings.

If the public wants more healthy food, there are plenty of various size business selling that. That's capitalism.

If they make their Oreos so they won't taste good, someone else will come along and make something similar to the original ones.

Or are you in favor of the government regulating how much sugar and fat can be in a cookie and give you ration coupons as to how many cookies you are allowed to eat per month?

[Bluntpoint]

"Same with adults except substitute Playstation with computer."

We all are not burning calories right now?

I guess I will take off my Nike headband while I type.

[adam_az]

The honey glazed donuts are very similar to the description of Manna from Heaven in Exodus.

They are so good I will never eat them again, since I'm trying to avoid my genetic predisposition to diabetes.

[FairOpinion]

And why can't people make those decisions for themselves?

[areafiftyone]

Our entire society is moving toward an end state where we are nothing more than pacified, sanitized, non-threatening drones. No one will be "offended", everything will be rainbows and sunshine, and we will live in a sterile, tasteless, odorless, non-threatening, non-offending world in which we no longer "live" but simply "exist".

Sounds like the DU doesn't it?

[adam_az]

Fornication isn't so bad. You should try it some time.

[hattend]

Add in being killed at 30 and you have described "Logan's Run"

[tiamat]

Wow. Good luck with that! I admire your discipline!

As for me, I may have to try them!

Thanks!

Tia

[Freedom4US]

That's exactly what's going to happen. Food prices will spike just as tobacco products did, to pay off the scum of the earth, trial lawyers. Look for the same on booze, of course. It will be a beautiful thing when one day, Americans throw off their chains and take care of these guys once and for all.

[Cyber Ninja]

Looks bad, can you servive on Twinkies?

CB^)

[Shooter 2.5]

Exactly. This is not not an article complaining about Mom's baking. This is an article of the hidden dangers of chemicals added to make the cookies crispy just so it can have a longer shelf life.

I wonder how many people who are defending Oreos have undergone an angioplasy? Did they think it was fun just so the companies didn't have to restock their shelves as often?

[adam_az]

I didn't say they can't. I did, and I'm happier for it.

Thanks to public awareness, I'm noticing more and more products that DON'T have transfats and partially or fully hydrogenated oil. I noticed one brand of microwave popcorn the other day that didn't have it... and bought that one.

I agree, public awareness is the solution.

Unfortunately, convenience junk food manufacturers choose the cheapest materials possible, add some chemical flavoring, and overcharge. A lot of the things they use, like massive amounts of sugar and transfats, are really unhealthy. I wish consumers would wisen up faster.

Smokers pay more for heath insurance - obese people should too. Why should I have to pay for their poor choices?

[hattend]

Fornication isn't so bad. You should try it some time.

Cute. The first definition of fornication is sex with someone other than your spouse. Do you do that and does your wife know?

[adam_az]

I wonder how many people who are defending Oreos have undergone an angioplasy? Did they think it was fun just so the companies didn't have to restock their shelves as often?

That's what it's all about. Shame on the ambulance chasing lawyers - and just as much on the freepers who defend the food chemists for poisoning America.

On that note, I think we should subsidize tobacco farmers who export to Europe and China. ;) j/k

[FairOpinion]

"to pay off the scum of the earth, trial lawyers"
---

While I have no love for trial lawyers, the REAL problem is the incredibly stupid jurors and the judges & politicians who allowed themselves to be bought by the trial lawyers.

With sensible judges, politicians and semi-intelligent jurors, they deep pocket cases would get thrown out of court, would lose, go nowhere and soon the trial lawyers would stop filing them and they would die out.

The problem is that the premise of our entire society is a total LACK of personal responsibility. Parents and schools should start teaching that and stop the "victimhood" culture, which fosters these lawsuits and the "Need" for "daddy government" to "take care of us".

[SamAdams76]

As one who is actively losing weight and getting in shape, I avoid like the plague every single food item that says "Kraft" on it. To me, Kraft is synonomous with "processed junk food." If I never eat a Kraft product again, my body will probably thank me by letting me be a cantankerous old man for a few years longer.

That said, I certainly don't support legal action being taken against food companies or even tobacco companies for that matter. I believe that the responsibility for getting fat due to eating too much junk food and/or getting lung cancer due to smoking must always fall upon the consumer.

I think Kraft is wasting their time. There is simply no way in hell you can make an Oreo cookie nutritious and good for you without turning it into a product totally unrecognizable from the original. Same goes for Kraft Macaroni & Cheese and that processed cheese crap that comes in the aerosol containers (Cheez Wiz deserves a special section in the Museum of Bad Taste).

So Kraft is apparently going to spend millions of dollars playing around with the ingredients of Oreo Cookies and still produce a barely edible piece of junk. For their troubles, they are probably going to get sued by the busybody nannies just the same.

[FairOpinion]

"public awareness is the solution"
---

Exactly. If and when people stop buying the junk, companies won't be selling it. But the threat of lawsuits and government interference shouldn't be the reason companies are forced to change foods.

[adam_az]

Unfortunately the food chemists are major advertisers, and the newspapers and other media don't like to kill the goose that lays the golden cadbury egg.