Trade Groups Send Strong Obesity Message to Media

Trade Groups Send Strong Obesity Message to Media

The American Meat Institute (AMI) issued a press release this week addressing Americans and obesity.

To counter suggestions that meat and food processors ought to share in the responsibility for creating what the U.S. Surgeon General last year termed ?an epidemic? of obese and overweight Americans, several trade groups sponsored an hour-long workshop for food and agriculture media members.

The workshop addressed nutritional and dietary research, meat industry research and development from live animal production to new product formulations, USDA?s research and policymaking and the looming issue of targeted lawsuits seeking damages from processors on behalf of obese ?victims.?

The importance of physical fitness and regular exercise was a theme echoed by each of the panelist at the workshop, in sharp contrast to the criticism appearing in recent media coverage of obesity that targets food products and food manufacturers as the sole culprits.

Trade groups sponsoring this event were: the American Sheep Industry Association, AMI, National Pork Producers Council, National Chicken Council, National Turkey Federation, National Cattlemen?s Beef Association, National Food Processors Association, the Federation of Animal Science Societies, the Animal Agriculture Alliance, the National Meat Association, the American Veal Association and the North American Meat Processors Association.

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