PCRM wants Albany to cut cheese
Pass the pepper jack, please.
If you travel Route 378 near 787 you might have seen the billboards that went up this week. One shows the stomach of an obese man with a caption that reads "Your abs on cheese." There's also one at the intersection of Route 9 and 20 that features a woman's cottage cheese thighs and reads, "Your thighs on cheese." A group called The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine sponsored them. [WTEN] [TU]
Recently the group's president, Dr. Neal Barnard, wrote a letter to the president of the Albany city school board, urging the district to reduce the number dairy products on school menus . [TU]
It sometimes helps to know where the message is coming from, so here's a little bit about Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine...
The PCRM founder and current president is not a physician, but a non-practicing psychiatrist. The organization promotes a vegan diet and in 2005 the NY Times reported that it has ties to PETA. Nothing necessarily wrong with that -- but they're not forthcoming about those ties. Their agenda seems at least as much about animal rights as it does human health. Again, nothing wrong with that, but it's not what the name suggests.
They've also been known to be a little extreme. This is the group that leaked a medical report on Robert Atkins to the Wall Street Journal shortly after he died and has been known to equate feeding meat to children with child abuse.
Also you don't have to be a physician to be a member -- a $20 donation will get you membership. A 2004 Newsweek article reported that, then at least, only 5% of PCRM members were physicians.
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Comments
Speaking of things we'd like to crush: Billboards. No matter what their message.
... said Bob on Jan 18, 2012 at 4:51 PM | link
Thank you for this helpful research!
... said KM on Jan 18, 2012 at 6:24 PM | link
I think the billboards are effective -- we're talking about it.
I didn't get near the discussion of this on the TU site, but its certainly worth mentioning that what ends up in school cafeterias is a byproduct of government subsidies and the agenda of the folks of the USDA, all of whom also represent various corporate interests.
Although he's going to glare at me for saying it, I'd love to see Daniel B. do a tour de cafeteria. Put the three big city districts up, head-to-head, and see what gruel they serve...
... said abby on Jan 18, 2012 at 6:47 PM | link
@Bob I'll second that.
This campaign is too reductionist (pardon that). The obesity problem isn't cheese, it's lack of exercise and moderation. Truth is, most of the people with severe obesity problems probably don't even eat much cheese, but rather "cheese food product." Now there's a food that should go the way of the dodo. ;-)
But my main problem with this and many campaigns like it, as that anyone who understands the real roots of the issue is likely to understand that belittling the people with the problem is going to be counter productive. A truly helpful approach won't mock, but will maintain and build the person's sense of dignity. This campaign mocks.
... said James on Jan 18, 2012 at 7:07 PM | link
@Abby. I teach in one of the 3 districts you mention, and you're correct. The "cheese" our district receives comes from the government and it's incredibly unhealthy. I've spoken to the food service workers and my principal, and while they don't enjoy serving it, they have no choice. And for anyone who says the students should simply bring a lunch, 80% of my class receives free lunch. Their families can't afford dinner sometimes, let alone a healthy packed lunch.
... said Jiminy on Jan 18, 2012 at 8:13 PM | link
There's nothing wrong with cheese- the staple working class lunch was bread and cheese and people did very well on it. The thing is, you can't eat cheese cubes followed by beef and cheese with broccoli with cheese and macaroni and cheese- but people will do this!
... said Eric Stott on Jan 18, 2012 at 9:47 PM | link
In fairness, a board-certified psychiatrist (currently practicing or no) is technically a physician, and had to go through medical school, pass medical boards, etc. That doesn't mean that this is a responsible message, but it's nonetheless worth noting. Many people tend to conflate psychiatrists and psychologists - while they do have similar occupations on the surface, the former has to go through 4 years of medical school, etc, and is actually a medical doctor who can prescribe medication. The latter is a Dr. by virtue of holding a PhD, and while can get CMS and health insurance reimbursement, is not a medical doctor.
In regards to the ads, I think you should all go take a look at Daniel B.'s comment in the Tablehopping blog, as he really said it best. I got an email yesterday from a fitness mailing list I am on that talked about "good fats" vs. "bad fats." Dairy has more of the "bad fats," but that just means that you shouldn't eat it in massive quantities. Non-processed cheese is also a great source of calcium and protein, *and* many cheeses are lactose free (such as, for example, Cabot cheeses), making it a good option for those who otherwise have dairy sensitivities.
I have no problems with people who choose vegan diets, and if constructed properly they can be extremely healthy. I've had vegan dishes for dinner, and they've been absolutely delicious. However, the militant scare tactics are ridiculous and irresponsible.
Editors: You're right about the psychiatrist/physician sentence. It's been fixed.
... said irisira on Jan 19, 2012 at 7:36 AM | link
As a long time member worker in the Cheese Dept of the Honest Weight Food Co-op, I say "Eat less cheese, but better quality." Personally I don't eat it daily because of the calories (and I won't eat fat free or low fat "cheese," which really loses out in flavor). The price of a lot of our cheeses (local artisan made or imported) can be $20 a lb. or more so I don't picture people stuffing great slabs of it down their gullets. I imagine the cheese that people are likely to get fat on is the cheese on pizza and cheeseburgers and the fake cheese powder founded in packaged mac & cheese -- all stuff fed to kids in school. Nobody is getting obese on manchego or a goat chevre.
p.s. I eat vegan much of the time myself and eat dairy in moderation. I'm not entirely against the message of the billboard except it's silly to villify cheese when so many other things --high fructose corn syrup, supersized portions of everything, sedentary lifestyles --also lead to obesity.
... said chrisck on Jan 19, 2012 at 10:16 AM | link
I've never seen shame be a long term motivator. For anything.
... said Betty Jones on Jan 19, 2012 at 10:52 AM | link
I doubt cheese makes you fat as much as sitting on your butt does.
Maybe this group should focus more on getting kids outside and away from the computer screen, and stop worrying so much about dairy products.
... said Jon (was) in Michigan on Jan 19, 2012 at 1:13 PM | link