(US) PCRM lawsuit victory vs USDA is final

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(US) PCRM lawsuit victory vs USDA is final

12/10/00 12:15:27 PM Eastern Standard Time

SimonChai

Reply-to: SimonChai

 

Copyright 2000 The National Journal Group, Inc.

American Health Line

December 7, 2000

 

SECTION: POLITICS & POLICY

LENGTH: 236 words

 

HEADLINE: USDA: AGENCY WILL NOT APPEAL DIETARY GUIDELINES RULING

 

BODY:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will not appeal a court

ruling that found that the agency violated federal law for hiding

conflicts of interest on the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory

Committee. That committee is responsible for revising the

dietary guidelines that provide the foundation for the nation's

nutritional advice and policy. The Physicians Committee for

Responsible Medicine last year sued the USDA under the Federal

Advisory Committee Act and the Freedom of Information Act,

alleging that the agency had intentionally withheld information

about advisory committee members who had " inappropriate financial

ties " to the meat, dairy or egg industries. On Sept. 30, U.S.

District Court Judge James Robertson handed down his ruling,

giving the USDA 60 days to appeal, but the agency has missed the

Nov. 29 appeal deadline. In accordance with the ruling, the USDA

has revealed that the dietary committee chair, Cuberto Garza, has

received more than $10,000 for services rendered to Nestle-

Switzerland, a company that manufactures dairy products including

infant formula, condensed milk, and ice cream. PCRM's battle was

sparked by concerns that the food pyramid overemphasizes dairy

and meat products " given the prevalence of lactose intolerance

and diet-related diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and

cancer among minority populations " (PCRM release, 12/6).

 

LOAD-DATE: December 7, 2000

 

 

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