More Strategies Emerge To Tackle Obesity
The seriousness of the obesity epidemic and the risk posed to children and adults alike must be getting through. More action is being seen an several fronts.
Five major US food manufacturers have joined an alliance designed to establish voluntary nutrition guidelines for snacks sold in American schools. Kraft Foods, Mars, PepsiCo, Dannon and the Campbell Soup Company said they will reformulate certain products, as well as introduce new lines of healthier snacks for kids. They certainly have a long way to go. These companies don't even know what healthy food looks like.
The initiative - the Alliance for a Healthier Generation - is a joint effort by former President Bill Clinton and the American Heart Association (AHA). Its science-based nutritional guidelines are designed to promote nutrient-rich foods, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, and place limits on calories, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sugar and sodium. The guidelines also promote the consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grain foods. In essence, although way short of genuinely healthy, these are certainly moves in the right direction.