Why is an Arm of the FDA Working with Domino's?

Why is an Arm of the FDA Working with Domino's?

The US has the dubious distinction of being ranked number one in the entire world in terms of our size. (The leanest nations are consistently South Korea and Japan.) While some consider any ranking for the US as a victory, I’m not so sure I agree. That’s why it’s more than a little surprising to see company’s continually pushing unhealthy, fatty products that they somehow manage to label as food.  The NYT has a story today about a “great” (please note the irony quotes) new company called Dairy Management.

 

If you are like me, you may be curious as to why dairy needs management. The Dairy Management company keeps hard-working dairy cows in business by creating an increased need for dairy products such as cheese.  Currently, Dairy Management is partnered with Domino’s pizza and has “invented” new menu items and an entire “line of pizzas”—strange enough in and of itself—with an incredible 40% more cheese. 

 

As much as I like cheese (and the hard-working dairy cows), I think this is a bit much. Cheese is not quite as healthy as I used to think it was due to high amounts of saturated fat. Saturated fat causes heart attacks and contributes to the size of our nation’s waistlines—mine is no exception.

 

The really “sucky” thing about Dairy Management is that it is actually part of the Food and Drug Administration and “has worked with restaurants to expand their menus with cheese-laden products” under both the Bush and Obama administrations.

 

Which kind of makes me wonder what the FDA is really about.  I understand the (possible) initial reason for trying to increase the amount of dairy consumption in kids due to bone density issues, and I like the “Got Milk?” commercials as much as anyone else does, but I truthfully see little value in the federal government working with Domino’s and fast food restaurants to get even more fat on their menus? Aren’t Americans unhealthy enough?

 

As the NYT observes, and I wrote about HERE, Michelle Obama has made childhood obesity her little pet project; while she may not have known about Dairy Management and their close work with the restaurant industry, if she really wants to instigate change, she is going to have to open her eyes to the reality of what is going on in regards to the FDA. (There are other programs run by the Ag Department marketing an assortment of meats to Americans.)

 

I don’t know about you, but I think it’s time for the FDA and the Ag Department to get out of the business of marketing fatty foods to the American public.