Lieberman Targets Child Nutrition

[CoolerKing]

See, Joe Lieberman has some good ideas after all. I applaud him for making this an issue, and hope the other Democrats pick up on it. I think it's an issue that really cuts into the "pro-family" branding Republicans enjoy because when it comes to a child's health and a company's profits, which side do you think they'll be on?

Lieberman Targets Child Nutrition
By DAVID LIGHTMAN, The Hartford Courant

PETERBOROUGH, N.H. -- Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman said today that as president, he would immediately investigate what he called the "aggressive marketing to children" of food that has too much sugar and not enough nutrition.

--snip--

His plan today had these points:

Calling on the Federal Trade Commission to probe how junk food is now being sold to younger children, and to determiine if it is hurting what the senator called the "obesity epidemic.":

Asking Congress to tell the FTC to "develop standards for disclosing relevant nutritional information of foods that are routinely marketed to children."

Requiring national chains to "post clear labels with nutritional content on menus and wrappers, just as we currently have on food sold in supermarkets."

Directing the U. S. Agriculture Department to "develop sensible standards for the food that's sold in our public schools." He cited the food sold in vending machines as a particular problem.

More:

http://www.ctnow.com/news/custom/newsat3/hc-lieberman-nutrition-1204,1,4985644.story?coll=hc-headlines-newsat3

[DrWeird]

1. Boy, he's really going after the youth vote, isn't he.

First he wants to take away video games, now junk food. Expect a War on Recess coming up soon.

[La_Serpiente]

2. That is an awesome proposal

(I am trying to engage in rectificatory justice here)

[Malva Zebrina]

3. well it seems commendable

but merely pointing out why he thinks children are obese, and then recommended some sort of labeling, or "standards", will not impact the enormous power of the advertising, corporate food industry on a busy nation--one where parents are forever striving to make more and more money, or to just work a sixty hour week, both parents, to be able to pay rent and buy food. It is because of that, that fast food places thrive and prepared foods are all the rage now.

W e already see a food pyramid that is way off balance and that caters to the agri industry.How about all those little hearts on prepared foods attributing almost miraculous healing powers to prepared, mostly frozen foods, but full of fattening sugar? How about he demand that additives to meat, milk and insecticides sprayed on the vegetable crop, as well as the fruit crops, be exposed along with all of the health risks involved in eating that touted "fish" which is full of mercury.?

I don't have the answer except the old fashined concept that parents need to be back to basics, and I know that is not very practical in urban societies-it is, as a matter of fact, unrealistic to a certain extent-yet I still see the purchase of a few acres of land and the cultivation of the same as a wonderful, satisfactory lifestyle and a wonderful way to bring up children.

[Wonk]

4. A kick because there's a dupe with a misleading headline.

[fujiyama]

5. Yeah but the other thread...

has a catchy name. After all "Lieberman targets child nutrition" is so boring.

[sandnsea]

6. Why we lose

This is a great issue for a Senator or Congressman, or even a sitting President. But not a Presidential campaign while we're in the middle of a war with unemployment what it is and an administration that is destroying our air, land and water. It's fine to make it a small part of a health care proposal, but it just seems petty to actually make it a main campaign issue. The candidate who is going after junk food while terrorists are on the loose. That sounds like a winner?