Cheap food policy contributing to childhood obesity

A decades-old “cheap food” policy has helped create a broken U.S. food system where unhealthy foods are both cheaper and more available to children than are healthy foods, writes the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy’s David Wallinga, M.D. in a new article in the influential journal, Health Affairs.

• New article in Health Affairs journal outlines needed reforms  Press release | Mar 2
• The Role Of Agriculture Policy In Reducing Childhood Obesity  Health Affairs Policy Brief  | PDF
• Audio and video of press conference 

Food Systems and Public Health

There is a disconnect between agriculture policy and public health. The latest issue of the Journal of Hunger and Environmental Nutrition offers a great collection of ideas on how to make our food system healthier, including contributions from IATP's Dr. David Wallinga and Mark Muller.

• The full issue 
• Today's Food System: How Healthy Is It?  by Dr. David Wallinga
• Alligning Food Systems Policies to Advance Public Health  By Mark Muller, Angie Tagtow, Susan Roberts and Erin MacDougall

Calls for Chemcal Policy Reform

The current law regulating toxic chemicals is no longer sufficient to protect public health, according to a new commentary by IATP’s Kaltheen Schuler. Congress will consider reforming the law in the coming months.

• Toxic chemicals are costing us—and we're paying with our health   Commentary | Feb 22
• The Health Case for Reforming the Toxic Substances Control Act  Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families report
• Chasing the chemical of the month  Blog | Feb 23

APHA calls for end to hormone use

IATP lauds the American Public Health Association for a new policy asking for an end to needless hormone use in beef and dairy production.

• Groups Applaud American Public Health Association for Opposition to Hormone Use in Beef and Dairy Production  Press release | Dec 22  | PDF
• APHA Policy: Opposition to the Use of Hormone Growth Promoters in Beef and Dairy Cattle Production 
• IATP's Smart Guide to Hormones in the Food System 

Strategies to Improve Produce Safety

Private industry food safety protocols for produce farmers are not always based on independent science and are biased against smaller-scale, diversified farms, finds a new report by IATP and Food & Water Watch.

• Bridging the GAPs  Report | Sep 10  | PDF
• Private produce safety rules burden smaller-scale, diversified farms  Press release | Sep 10  | PDF

Agriculture Groups Support Limits in Antibiotic Use

A group of family farm and sustainable agriculture organizations have written the White House calling for restrictions on the unecessary use of antibiotics in raising food animals.

• Letter to the White House  PDF
• Family farm/sustainable agriculture groups urge passage of animal antibiotics bill  Press release | Sep 9  | PDF

Report: HFCS Contaminated With Mercury

Two new papers look at the presence of mercury in high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). An article in Environmental Health finds mercury in commercial HFCS. An IATP study finds mercury in common foods and beverages.

• Not So Sweet: Missing Mercury and High Fructose Corn Syrup  Report | Jan 26  | PDF
• Much High Fructose Corn Syrup Contaminated With Mercury, New Study Finds  Press release | Jan 26  | PDF
• Environmental Health article 
• Table A: Total mercury detected in 55 brand-name foods and beverages high in HFCS.  PDF
• Frequently Asked Questions  Fact sheet | Feb 3  | PDF
• Interview with Dr. David Wallinga, M.D., author of Not So Sweet: Missing Mercury and High Fructose Corn Syrup 

Leading Twin Cities Hospital Makes Healthy Food Pledge

Hennepin County Medical Center is the first public teaching hospital in the country to sign the Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge. The pledge is a voluntary program for food purchasing of Health Care Without Harm (IATP is a founding member).

• Leading Twin Cities Hospital Joins Others in Supporting Healthy, Sustainable Food  Press release | Mar 17  | PDF
• HCMC Signs Healthy Food Pledge, Commits to Sourcing More Produce from Local Farms  Press release | Mar 17
• Healthy Food in Health Care Pledge 

Minnesota First State in U.S. to Restrict Use of BPA

Minnesota became the first state in the nation to ban the toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) from baby bottles and "sippy" cups after Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) signed the legislation into law.

• Read the press release  Press release | May 8  | PDF
• Watch Almanac interview with IATP's Kathleen Schuler 

Bill to Remove Mercury From HFCS

Congress is considering a bill that would phase out the use of mercury in caustic soda production. Call your representative today to sponsor and/or support this legislation. IATP's David Wallinga, M.D., co-authored two papers earlier this year that examined the link between mercury, caustic soda and high fructose corn syrup.

• Hearing on mercury bill 
• Not so Sweet: Missing Mercury and High Fructose Corn Syrup  Report | Jan 26  | PDF
• View a list of co-sponsors, and bill text  Govtrack.us
• Find your representative  House.gov
• Environmental Health