U.S. Sugar Industry Targets New Study

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U.S. Sugar Industry Targets New Study

Lawmakers' Aid Sought In Halting WHO Report

 

Two senators wrote HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson to urge he block the report.

A spokesman said Thompson has not responded. (Susan Walsh -- The Washingotn

Post)

 

 

 

 

 

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By Juliet Eilperin

Washington Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, April 23, 2003; Page A04

 

The sugar industry has launched a vigorous campaign to discredit a World Health

Organization report on healthful diets, questioning why the Geneva-based group

would urge people to derive no more than 10 percent of their daily caloric

intake from sugar additives.

 

Hoping to block the report, which is scheduled for release today, the Sugar

Association threatened to lobby Congress to cut off the $406 million the United

States gives annually to WHO. The funds account for nearly a quarter of the

organization's budget.

 

" We will exercise every avenue available to expose the dubious nature of the

'Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of Chronic Diseases' report, " Sugar

Association President Andrew Briscoe said in an April 14 letter to WHO's

director general, Gro Harlem Brundtland.

 

WHO's report suggests that people can reduce their susceptibility to obesity,

diabetes and some heart problems by curbing the amount of sugar they consume. It

warns that " unbalanced consumption of foods high in energy (sugar, starch,

and/or fat) and low in essential nutrients contributes to energy excess . . .

and obesity. "

 

Some political allies of the U.S. sugar lobby also have challenged WHO's report.

Two senators wrote a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G.

Thompson, urging him to squelch the report. HHS submitted comments last year on

the draft report, saying in part: " Evidence that soft drinks are associated with

obesity is not compelling. "

 

The sugar industry is a major player in U.S. lobbying and politics, doling out

more than $3 million in donations in last year's federal elections, according to

the Center for Responsive Politics. It also represents a major agricultural

constituency, with sugar cane and corn farmers in many states.

 

Congress has maintained a sugar-support program for years. It guarantees

domestic sugar producers a minimum price by restricting imports, and by buying

and storing excess sugar. According to the General Accounting Office, the

program costs Americans $2 billion annually in inflated sugar prices. Storing

excess sugar will cost another $2 billion over the next 10 years, the GAO report

said.

 

In an interview, Briscoe said his association is attacking WHO's report on

scientific grounds. He noted that the National Academy of Sciences issued a

report last fall saying added sugars could amount to as much as 25 percent of a

person's daily diet without harming one's health.

 

Briscoe said it is important that lawmakers " understand taxpayers' dollars are

being spent on misguided reports. . . . We're basically asking for

accountability. We will certainly approach any and all resources, including

Congress, to bring the issue to bear. "

 

Several other associations, including the National Corn Growers Association and

the Snack Food Association, also have asked Thompson to demand that WHO postpone

the report until it is submitted for an external peer review. WHO, an agency of

the United Nations, says 30 experts worked on the report after consulting with

another 30 scientists.

 

Americans' consumption of sweeteners has risen significantly in the past 40

years, according to the Agriculture Department, from 113 pounds per person in

1966 to 147 pounds in 2001. Added sugars -- which are distinguished from

naturally occurring sugars in fruit and other foods -- account for slightly more

than 15 percent of Americans' daily caloric intake.

 

Under WHO's standards, individuals could consume an average of 200 calories a

day in added sugars. That translates into slightly more than a package of M & Ms

or 16.9 ounces of soda. The NAS recommendations would allow for three packages

of M & Ms, by contrast.

 

The federal government issues dietary guidelines every five years. The most

recent " Food Pyramid " report simply says when it comes to " fats, oils and

sweets " Americans should " use [them] sparingly. "

 

Pekka Puska, who directs WHO's chronic disease unit, said the report's science

is sound. " This is the independent report of experts, " Puska said, adding that

it is similar to a report WHO issued a decade ago. " It's nothing new. "

 

Puska said U.S. sugar producers are attacking the new report " because of their

own commercial interests. "

 

The sugar lobby donates campaign funds to Democrats and Republicans alike, and

it enjoys bipartisan support in Congress. Last month, the co-chairs of the

Senate Sweetener Caucus -- Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho) and John Breaux (D-La.) --

wrote to Thompson and Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman, asking them to call

on WHO and the U.N.'s Food and Agricultural Organization to " cease further

promotion " of the diet report.

 

" There is sufficient reason to believe the findings and recommendations in this

report have not withstood the rigorous scientific review appropriate to the

normal standards of these distinguished international institutions, " the

senators wrote.

 

Craig was the fourth-largest recipient of campaign contributions from the sugar

industry last election, taking in more than $36,000, according to the Center for

Responsive Politics. Craig's spokesman, William Hart, said the senator " will be

paying close attention to this report and scrutinizing the final version, " but

said Craig was not planning to cut off federal funds to the group " at this

time. "

 

Veneman's spokesman, Wayne Baggett, said " a response will be sent to those

senators promptly, " but he declined to disclose what the secretary would say.

Thompson's spokesman, Bill Pierce, said Thompson was awaiting the final report

before responding to Craig and Breaux.

 

Pierce said Thompson consistently urges Americans to observe more healthful

eating habits. " The idea of disease prevention and health promotion is central

to the secretary's health agenda, " he said. " Central to that are problems

associated with obesity. "

 

 

 

 

© 2003 The Washington Post Company

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17583-2003Apr22.html

 

 

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