Politics

Sugar revolutionaries

In an editorial published [Wednesday] in the journal Nature, University of California at San Francisco doctors Robert Lustig, Laura Schmidt, and Claire Brindis argue that the ballooning rates — and costs — of obesity, diabetes, and other diseases, mean it’s time for regulators to lump sugar into the same category as booze and cigarettes and put similar restrictions on its sale and availability. — ABC News

Ask an RD: What do they know?

Based on my early experience with them, and on what I've heard from others of their experiences, I have long held opprobrium for registered dietitians. But it has recently bubbled over again.

"It’s not sustainable until it’s put into law."

Welcome to another edition of 10 Words or Less, in which I ask brief questions and request brief answers from interesting people. Today’s participant is cofounder and executive director of NYSHEPA, which “advocates for policies and practices that improve the nutritional and physical activity environment in New York State.” Please, no counting! “10 words” is a goal, not a rule, and besides, let’s see you do it.

Pilot program may test using SNAP at CSAs

Recipients of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program aid could use the money to join CSAs under a pilot project suggested by US Rep. James McGovern Saturday during the winter meeting of the state chapter of Northeast Organic Farming Association.

No Farm Bill this year?

US Rep. Jim McGovern, a member of the House Agriculture Committee who represents Central Mass., isn’t enthusiastic about the prospects for a Farm Bill, which is ordinarily debated and passed in five-year increments and is due for action this year.

But that’s good news, he told partisans gathered over lunch Saturday during the winter meeting of the state chapter of Northeast Organic Farming Association.

Congress makes us sick, again

One of the strongest parts of Lawrence Lessig's campaign to change Congress is that Congress keeps on proving that it needs to be changed.

Little-known facts about Larry Lessig

I wrote a few days ago about lawyer/author/thought leader Lawrence Lessig's conversation with David Gergen at Harvard Law School last week, and thought I'd just clean out my notebook a bit, 'cause this stuff is interesting and also 'cause I love the traffic that #lessig brings.

Smug and contemptible

My predominant attitude toward paid corporate mouthpieces: Shut the hell up. Of course they have the right to speak, but if they're just spouting a line, I don't want to hear it. But sometimes, I do appreciate the chuckles I get when they do start talking.

Here's a bunch of crap from Elaine Kolish, vice president of the Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative, an industry-run front erected to forestall binding curbs on advertising of junk food to kids:

Larry Lessig and the sugar lobbies

While I was waiting for the colloquy between Lawrence Lessig and David Gergen to begin at Harvard Law School Tuesday, I heard a woman a row behind me practically squeal with delight about the hospitality-provided cookies, asking her husband to go get her another one because “they’re just so good!”

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