Food Industry's PR Offensive Against Obesity.

July 18, 2003

FOOD INDUSTRY'S PR OFFENSE AGAINST OBESITY

" Kraft Foods' recently announced initiatives on obesity have marked

a new phase in how food companies will address Americans' concerns

about food and nutrition, " PR Week writes. Until now, the food

industry has tried to deflect the blame for America's growing

waistlines by promoting physical activity. Now Kraft and others are

talking about changing products and marketing. " Critics like

[Center for Science in the Public Interest's Margo] Wootan see

Kraft and other food companies acting primarily out of fear of

lawsuits that would rival or surpass those brought against the

tobacco industry, " PR Week writes. Public health advocates say

Kraft has a major credibility issue because of its ownership by

Altria Group, formerly Philip Morris. " For example, Kraft has

announced the formation of an expert advisory committee to assess

the company's response to the obesity problem. But, [industry

critic Marion] Nestle said, 'anybody who goes on that committee is

flacking for [Altria]. No one who's independent is going to go on

that,' " PR week writes.

SOURCE: PR Week, July 14, 2003

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