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CNN Live Today

'Daily Dose'

Aired July 02, 2003 - 11:22   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Americans are getting fatter. The food industry is taking notice. Kraft, the nation's biggest food manufacture, says it's changing some of its products and practices to help fight obesity.
Our medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here with details in our "Daily Dose" of health news.

What are they doing to my Mallow-Mars, that's what I want to know?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I think you're Mallow-Mars are safe. I think we're OK. I'll call them and ask them that specifically, but I think you're OK. Kraft says they are doing the right thing to help fight the obesity epidemic in American, but they also said they couldn't help but notice those lawsuits, those lawsuits because they make Oreos, which are made with a fat that can be bad for your heart. Also another lawsuit against McDonald's, a man saying it made him fat. Both of those lawsuits have been dropped, but Kraft admits they couldn't help but notice.

Let's take a look at what Kraft is planning on doing. The emphasis is on the word "planning." They said that they plan on reducing portion sizes, also that they plan on or are going to develop stopping all in-school marketing. They sometimes put ads for food on scoreboards, they do taste testing in schools, they say they are going to stop that, and that they also plan on reducing the fat contents in their food.

In addition, McDonald's has announced that they will be making some changes. That includes offering apple slices. When you go to McDonald's, perhaps you will be able to get apple slices. They're testing that right now. Also they say they are developing healthy Happy Meals. They also say that they are committed to offering more juice boxes instead of soda.

Now nutrition experts say, man, we have been asking for this for decades. And so we said, said well, you must be very happy. They said, you know what, we'll reserve judgment because we have been burned before. They said last year, McDonald's promised to much fanfare that they would change the oil that they cook their fries in to make it a heart-healthier oil. They said that that would happen by March of this year. Well, it's July, and it hasn't happened. McDonald's says that they are still testing it out. So nutrition experts say they're reserving judgment, not quite sure how happy they are.

KAGAN: They are still using the old oil?

COHEN: They are still using the old oil.

KAGAN: So it was just my imagination when I tasted the french fries and thought, they taste different now.

COHEN: That was just your imagination. They say they have not actually changed it yet; they are still testing it.

KAGAN: All right. Well, a serious topic, and I appreciate that information. We have more now on, is the food industry to blame for the nation's expanding waistline? Nutrition advocates and consumer activists are weighing in on the debate over fat and fast food.

Joining us from New York with some insights is Dana Points. She is executive editor of "Shape" magazine.

Dana, good morning. Thanks for being with us.

DANA POINTS, EXEC. EDITOR, "SELF" MAGAZINE: Good morning.

I'm actually executive editor at "Self" magazine.

KAGAN: Oh, well, there you go. We'll get something right on that.

On this study, do you really think that fast food is to blame when it comes to the obesity for Americans?

POINTS: I think what the study that is being released today is saying that fast food is not the primary cause of obesity. I don't think anyone is arguing it's the primary cause, but certainly a contributing factor. I think if it weren't, the companies wouldn't take these initial steps to try and do something about the problem.

KAGAN: But some of the studies say there is little evidence that fast food is the cause of obesity, that fast food, they try to make this claim, actually helps bring down the cost of a protein source, which actually helps in promoting health in America.

POINTS: I have to say, I think this whole protein thing is a smoke screen. Americans, as a rule, except for those truly living in poverty are getting more than enough protein in diets. Protein is not really a concern. And if people do need more protein, there are certainly healthier places to get protein than at a fast food restaurant. Beans, for example, which are not served. I think Wendy's maybe has beans in its chili. But in general, fast food is all about red meat and fried food.

KAGAN: And some of these ideas that Kraft is coming up with, I think kind of interesting, the idea of making portions smaller. Well, you can still eat the whole bag of cookies.

POINTS: That's correct. Serving sizes on packages have been a problem for a long time, because they're often unrealistically small. If I understand correctly, what Kraft is doing, though, they are proposing their single-serving portion sizes get smaller, so then at least it becomes more difficult, because if you want to eat more, you've to pop open another container.

The other thing is that single-serving products are generally a little more expensive. So, you know, these things are a step probably in the right direction, let's wait and see, but I think, overwhelmingly, there are more steps to be taken. I mean, for one thing, fast food and packaged food marketing, for every dollar that the United States government spends on disseminating healthful eating information to consumers, the food industry is spending $8.

So there is still this overwhelming message coming out that people should be eating this packaged food, the fast food. It's just too easy to get unhealthy food by going through a drive-thru. You don't even have to get out of your car and walk for it.

Now I'm not saying the fast food industry is entirely to blame. Consumers have the responsibility. You know, you have to control your intake, but you know, I think it's a two-way street.

KAGAN: On that marketing point, I think it's interesting that one of the things that Kraft pointed out, perhaps curtailing or cutting back their marketing in schools, and that perhaps is an admirable step to take.

POINTS: Right, it's no accident that 15 percent of American children are obese, and that number has grown tremendously just in the past, say, 20 years. It's doubled or tripled, depending on which age group you're looking at. So, I think we really do have to get younger children.

It's sad to say, but from a public health standpoint, for a lot of Americans, the adults, it's not completely too late, but the damage is done. And more and more people, I think, are saying look at kids, stop pouring sodas in schools, stop putting fast foods on school menus, give them more healthful options, and you know, set them on a path of eating healthy for life.

KAGAN: But for us big kids, for the adults, really there is no short cut. You have got to have fewer calories and you got to exercise and that's just kind of is the bottom line.

POINTS: That's right.

KAGAN: Very good. OK, appreciate that. Dana Points from "Self" magazine, got it right the second time. Appreciate it, Dana.

POINTS: Thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired July 2, 2003 - 11:22   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Americans are getting fatter. The food industry is taking notice. Kraft, the nation's biggest food manufacture, says it's changing some of its products and practices to help fight obesity.
Our medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen is here with details in our "Daily Dose" of health news.

What are they doing to my Mallow-Mars, that's what I want to know?

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I think you're Mallow-Mars are safe. I think we're OK. I'll call them and ask them that specifically, but I think you're OK. Kraft says they are doing the right thing to help fight the obesity epidemic in American, but they also said they couldn't help but notice those lawsuits, those lawsuits because they make Oreos, which are made with a fat that can be bad for your heart. Also another lawsuit against McDonald's, a man saying it made him fat. Both of those lawsuits have been dropped, but Kraft admits they couldn't help but notice.

Let's take a look at what Kraft is planning on doing. The emphasis is on the word "planning." They said that they plan on reducing portion sizes, also that they plan on or are going to develop stopping all in-school marketing. They sometimes put ads for food on scoreboards, they do taste testing in schools, they say they are going to stop that, and that they also plan on reducing the fat contents in their food.

In addition, McDonald's has announced that they will be making some changes. That includes offering apple slices. When you go to McDonald's, perhaps you will be able to get apple slices. They're testing that right now. Also they say they are developing healthy Happy Meals. They also say that they are committed to offering more juice boxes instead of soda.

Now nutrition experts say, man, we have been asking for this for decades. And so we said, said well, you must be very happy. They said, you know what, we'll reserve judgment because we have been burned before. They said last year, McDonald's promised to much fanfare that they would change the oil that they cook their fries in to make it a heart-healthier oil. They said that that would happen by March of this year. Well, it's July, and it hasn't happened. McDonald's says that they are still testing it out. So nutrition experts say they're reserving judgment, not quite sure how happy they are.

KAGAN: They are still using the old oil?

COHEN: They are still using the old oil.

KAGAN: So it was just my imagination when I tasted the french fries and thought, they taste different now.

COHEN: That was just your imagination. They say they have not actually changed it yet; they are still testing it.

KAGAN: All right. Well, a serious topic, and I appreciate that information. We have more now on, is the food industry to blame for the nation's expanding waistline? Nutrition advocates and consumer activists are weighing in on the debate over fat and fast food.

Joining us from New York with some insights is Dana Points. She is executive editor of "Shape" magazine.

Dana, good morning. Thanks for being with us.

DANA POINTS, EXEC. EDITOR, "SELF" MAGAZINE: Good morning.

I'm actually executive editor at "Self" magazine.

KAGAN: Oh, well, there you go. We'll get something right on that.

On this study, do you really think that fast food is to blame when it comes to the obesity for Americans?

POINTS: I think what the study that is being released today is saying that fast food is not the primary cause of obesity. I don't think anyone is arguing it's the primary cause, but certainly a contributing factor. I think if it weren't, the companies wouldn't take these initial steps to try and do something about the problem.

KAGAN: But some of the studies say there is little evidence that fast food is the cause of obesity, that fast food, they try to make this claim, actually helps bring down the cost of a protein source, which actually helps in promoting health in America.

POINTS: I have to say, I think this whole protein thing is a smoke screen. Americans, as a rule, except for those truly living in poverty are getting more than enough protein in diets. Protein is not really a concern. And if people do need more protein, there are certainly healthier places to get protein than at a fast food restaurant. Beans, for example, which are not served. I think Wendy's maybe has beans in its chili. But in general, fast food is all about red meat and fried food.

KAGAN: And some of these ideas that Kraft is coming up with, I think kind of interesting, the idea of making portions smaller. Well, you can still eat the whole bag of cookies.

POINTS: That's correct. Serving sizes on packages have been a problem for a long time, because they're often unrealistically small. If I understand correctly, what Kraft is doing, though, they are proposing their single-serving portion sizes get smaller, so then at least it becomes more difficult, because if you want to eat more, you've to pop open another container.

The other thing is that single-serving products are generally a little more expensive. So, you know, these things are a step probably in the right direction, let's wait and see, but I think, overwhelmingly, there are more steps to be taken. I mean, for one thing, fast food and packaged food marketing, for every dollar that the United States government spends on disseminating healthful eating information to consumers, the food industry is spending $8.

So there is still this overwhelming message coming out that people should be eating this packaged food, the fast food. It's just too easy to get unhealthy food by going through a drive-thru. You don't even have to get out of your car and walk for it.

Now I'm not saying the fast food industry is entirely to blame. Consumers have the responsibility. You know, you have to control your intake, but you know, I think it's a two-way street.

KAGAN: On that marketing point, I think it's interesting that one of the things that Kraft pointed out, perhaps curtailing or cutting back their marketing in schools, and that perhaps is an admirable step to take.

POINTS: Right, it's no accident that 15 percent of American children are obese, and that number has grown tremendously just in the past, say, 20 years. It's doubled or tripled, depending on which age group you're looking at. So, I think we really do have to get younger children.

It's sad to say, but from a public health standpoint, for a lot of Americans, the adults, it's not completely too late, but the damage is done. And more and more people, I think, are saying look at kids, stop pouring sodas in schools, stop putting fast foods on school menus, give them more healthful options, and you know, set them on a path of eating healthy for life.

KAGAN: But for us big kids, for the adults, really there is no short cut. You have got to have fewer calories and you got to exercise and that's just kind of is the bottom line.

POINTS: That's right.

KAGAN: Very good. OK, appreciate that. Dana Points from "Self" magazine, got it right the second time. Appreciate it, Dana.

POINTS: Thanks.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com