U.S. Group Urges Replacing Some Experts on Diet Panel

Thursday, August 28th 2003

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The Bush administration should remove seven of the 13 experts named to revise America's Dietary Guidelines because of their close ties to the food industry, a consumer group said on Tuesday.

Published every five years since 1980, the guidelines summarize scientific consensus on a healthful diet. The current version encourages Americans to be physically active, to eat a variety of grains, fruits and vegetables and to limit fat, sugar and salt.

Last week, the administration took the first step toward the 2005 edition by appointing members to its Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee.

The guidelines, which form the basis of the well-known food pyramid on many package labels, have long been a battleground between the U.S. food industry and health experts.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest said it was concerned about seven members who have received research and consulting money from the food and drug industries.

"At a time of great concern over obesity, diabetes, and other diet-related diseases, the extent of those biases should have disqualified them from membership on such an important committee," said Michael Jacobson, executive director of the consumer group.

"Few people, after all, want to bite the hands that feed them."

Consumer advocates also urged the administration to fully disclose all members' corporate affiliations.

The Grocery Manufacturers of America, the largest U.S. food and beverage trade group, said the Bush administration chose well-qualified, unbiased experts.

"Overall, GMA believes the experts selected...are highly regarded scientists in their field of health and nutrition both here and abroad," said Stephanie Childs, the group's spokeswoman.

Officials at the USDA, which issues the guidelines jointly with the Department of Health and Human Services, were not immediately available for comment.

The CSPI expressed concerns about the following committee members:

* Fergus M. Clydesdale, professor at the University of Massachusetts, has held stock in and consulted for several food-related companies.

* Vay Liang, professor at the University of California at Los Angeles, has received funding from numerous drug companies.

* Penny Kris-Etherton, professor at Pennsylvania State University, has consulted for Campbell Soup and Procter & Gamble.

* Theresa Nicklas, professor at Baylor College, has conducted research funded by the Sugar Association and the Kellogg Company.

* Russell Pate, professor at the University of South Carolina, has received at least $200,000 from industry-funded International Life Sciences Institute.

* Xavier Pi-Sunyer, professor at Columbia University, has been a paid consultant or advisor to numerous drug companies and received research support from Campbell Soup and Warner-Lambert.

* Connie M. Weaver, professor at Purdue University, has conducted research for the National Dairy Council, National Dairy Board, and Procter & Gamble

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