October 2008 Issue
The American Dietetic Association (ADA) is the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals with about 67,000 members. 67,000!
They are the main source of information for government, corporations and schools looking for nutritional advice and information.
They also happen to receive over $300 million annually from huge food corporations like PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods and ConAgra, just to name a few. These companies sell foods like Frito-Lay chips, Oreos, Velveeta, Chef Boyardee and Slim Jims. No wonder Americans are so confused about how to be healthy.
At last year’s annual ADA conference, one reporter asked a registered dietitian if it was ironic that McDonald’s was there. “We’re not trying to be a health restaurant, but we still want to offer healthy options,” she said, admitting that this was an image campaign.
After much consideration, I decided to rent a booth at the ADA national convention this month in Chicago and get a firsthand experience of what they are up to. Turns out our booth is right near ConAgra and McDonald’s. What great neighbors!
I can’t wait to hear about the healthy products they offer. But mostly, I look forward to speaking with the Milk Marketing Board about why Bovine Growth Hormone is beneficial. Oh, and can you imagine my face listening to the Sugar Association explain how there’s no relationship between sugar and children’s activity levels. A whole new learning experience.
Stay tuned for pictures and video from the conference.
Joshua Rosenthal, MScEd
Founder and Director
