Selected Highlights

NEW  Designed for Disease: The Link Between Local Food Environments and Obesity and Diabetes

A landmark study, released April 29, 2008 by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy, PolicyLink and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, examining the relationship between the food available near where one lives and the likelihood of being obese or having diabetes.  The report demonstrates that people who live near an abundance of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores compared to grocery stores and produce vendors have a significantly higher prevalence of obesity and diabetes regardless of individual or community income.

"Public policies drive the universe of food options from which we can choose.  Families who live in communities with choices limited to high-calorie foods and beverages face substantially greater health risks.  Policy makers at the state and local level can save lives by giving Californians healthier food options." 

Dr. Victor Rubin, PolicyLink

For additional information, read Prevention Institute's recent publication: The Links Between the Neighborhood Food Envrionment and Childhood Nutrition.

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Nestlé Children's Book Prize winner refuses Nestlé money

Sean Taylor, Gold Medal Winner of the Nestlé Children's Book Prize, under-5 category, for his book When a Monster is Born illustrated by Nick Sharratt (Orchard Books), indicated that he would not accept the prize money for the award which is sponsored by Nestlé.  In an open letter he commented:

"Being on the short list for the 2007 Nestlé Children’s book Prize is a significant honour for me, especially since so many children around the country have been involved in choosing the winning books. And I am delighted to accept the award offered to me."

"However, because of questions surrounding Nestlé’s marketing of breast-milk substitutes, I do not feel able to accept the prize money."

"This has not been a decision I have taken lightly. It has involved conversations with Baby Milk Action (a campaign group against Nestlé), Nestlé themselves, and an authoritative third party with experience in the field (who wishes to remain nameless)."

"...it is my view that their interpretation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes sets up the risk that profit is put before infant health... For these reasons I do not feel that Nestlé are the most appropriate sponsors for this major children’s book prize."

Read the full press release from Baby Milk Action or visit the Strategic Alliance for more information on improving children's nutrition environments.

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The 2007 Farm Bill

After weeks of stalling over partisan disputes, the Senate passed their version of the Farm Bill with a vote of 79–14. This Farm bill received an unprecedented amount of public input and media attention.  As a result, many legislators felt the pressures from their constituents to vote in a way that favored the bill.  Both California Senators Feinstein and Boxer voted in favor of the Farm Bill, including more controversial amendments to the bill that failed to pass, such as phasing out crop subsidies and creating a famers’ insurance program. The Senate Bill contains several wins for public health including improvements in the provisions that support food security, local agriculture, local livestock, food stamps and emergency food, and agricultural research endeavors. Advocates will continue to pursue eliminating/reducing subsidies and other failed amendments in the 2012 Farm Bill. For more information on the outcomes of the Farm Bill, please read the CFSC alert or visit the FRAC website.

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Why Market Foods to Kids At All?

Disney made headlines with its promise to implement nutritional standards for the food it brands.  While applauding this as a preliminary step towards healthier food environments for children, Prevention Institute asks, in Jamila Edwards' New York Times letter to the editor (published October 23, 2006), Why market foods to kids at all?  What should the response to the Disney standards be? Read more and tell us your thoughts.  Visit the Strategic Alliance for more information on how to promote the institutional and governmental policies and practices that support healthy eating and activity.

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