Featured Stories

 USDA Issues Healthy New WIC Food Packages

The long-awaited Interim Final Rule, transforming the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) food packages, was released on December 6. The rule will significantly enhance the nutritional quality of foods available to WIC recipients and improve access to healthy foods in low-income communities.

Highlights include:

• Whole grains and soy options (soy beverages and tofu) will be added; juice, cheese, eggs, and milk will be reduced.
• Packages will include monthly fruit and vegetable cash-value vouchers of $8 for women, $6 for children, and $10 for exclusively breastfeeding women!
• Fruit and vegetable checks will be indexed for inflation and can be redeemed through WIC-approved retail grocers and Farmers' Markets!
• Important changes will further encourage breastfeeding among WIC mothers and support breastfed infants.
• State and Local WIC Programs will have 18 months to implement the changes.

Strategic Alliance members are encouraged to join California WIC Association and PolicyLink at Making Change Matter: A California WIC Food Summit in Los Angeles on April 7, 2008, which will bring together important stakeholders to explore ways that California can maximize and leverage the new WIC food packages for the benefit of the over 1.4 million women, infants and children served across the state.

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Legislative updates

Farm Bill Passes in the Senate

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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In the News

Gold Medal Winner Refuses Nestlé Children’s Book Prize 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.  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.

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Burger King Pinches Pennies at the Cost of Health

Migrant farmworkers in Immokalee, Florida recently reached a deal with McDonald’s Corp. and Yum Brands Inc. (owner of Taco Bell) to earn an extra penny per pound of tomatoes picked. Burger King, however, has refused to pay the extra penny, and according to the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, has been urging McDonald’s and Yum Brands to end the deal. Approximately 1,000 workers and their supporters protested at the Burger King headquarters on November 26th, many wearing t-shirts with slogans such as “Burger King Exploits Farmworkers.”

More than 90% of winter tomatoes come from Florida, which are picked by migrant laborers who are mostly non-legal immigrants and work long hours for little pay. The increase would cost Burger King approximately $250,000 dollars, which is minimal considering the company’s revenues for this fiscal year totaled $2.23 million. The refusal of Burger King to pay this nominal amount to their workers highlights yet another example of how fast food is not truly cheap when the societal costs, in this case low wages for migrant workers, are considered. Read the article

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Happy Meal Report Card Reward

This month, McDonald’s rolled out the “Report Card Incentive Program,” in which elementary school students in Seminole County, Florida will be given free Happy Meals for good grades or high attendance. Happy Meals can contain up to a staggering 710 calories, 28 grams of fat, and 35 grams of sugar. Susan Pagan, a parent in Seminole County, complained to the school board for entering into such an agreement when she noticed her daughter’s report card was enclosed in an envelope decorated with a Ronald McDonald cartoon, a golden arch, and pictures of McDonald’s menu items. She explains, “I thought this was appalling, because you get a reward for good grades by eating – and eating fast food.” School district spokeswoman Regina Klaers says the program will remain in place for now, but will be re-evaluated for the 2008-9 school year. The controversy has received national media attention, and the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood is leading a movement against the program. Please visit www.commercialfreechildhood.org to get involved. Read the New York Times article.

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Announcements

Leaders in Prevention Honored by the Field

We wish to congratulate our colleagues who were recently honored for their contributions to public health:

• Larry Cohen, Executive Director, Prevention Institute, on his receipt of the APHA Injury Control and Emergency Health Services Section Public Service Award for outstanding dedication and leadership in injury prevention practice.
• Marion Standish, Senior Program Officer, The California Endowment, received the Catherine Cowell Award, APHA Food and Nutrition Section, for excellence and achievement in administration, planning, mentoring, and team building in public health nutrition
• Arnell Hinkle, Executive Director, California Adolescent Nutrition & Fitness Program (CANFit), was awarded the Mary C. Egan Award, APHA Food and Nutrition Section, for professional contributions and outstanding services of public health nutritionists
• Brown Miller Communications, public relations agency, received the Merit Award for Media Relations, Northern California Public Relations Society of America, for work with Strategic Alliance on Where's the Fruit?

RWJF Funding Alert: Healthy Eating Research Calls for Proposals Released

Healthy Eating Research, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, has issued two calls for proposals.  

The Calls for Proposals (CFPs) below focus on the following four targeted topic areas:

1. Food pricing and economic approaches;

2. Food and beverage marketing and promotion;

3. Improving access to affordable healthy foods in low-income communities; and

4. Evaluations of other promising food-related policy and environmental strategies.

Healthy Eating Research Round 3

Application Deadline: February 6, 2008 (3 p.m. ET)

Approximately $3.5 million will be awarded for two types of research grants focused in the four areas listed above:

Small- and large-scale studies:  

• 12- to 18-month awards up to $150,000 each.
• 18- to 36-month awards up to $400,000 each.

Macro-level analyses:  

• 12- to 18-month awards up to $100,000 each.

Healthy Eating Research Special Solicitation Round 2

Application Deadline: February 6, 2008 (3 p.m. ET)

The Special Solicitation is a funding opportunity for New Connections grants through the Healthy Eating Research program. New Connections grants are for junior investigators from historically disadvantaged and underrepresented communities who have completed their doctorate or terminal degree within the last seven years (after September 1, 2001). These grants are for individuals who are in the early stages of an independent research career.

A total of up to three grants will be awarded. There are two categories of funding focused on the four areas listed above:

Small-scale studies:

• 12- to 24-month awards of up to $100,000. 

Macro-level analyses:

• 12- to 24-month awards of up to $75,000.

For more details or information on how to apply, visit www.healthyeatingresearch.org.

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Upcoming Events

Hungry Planet: What the World Eats

Through January 20, San Francisco, CA

Community Models for Addressing Physical Education & Physical Activity, Safe Routes to School, and Coordinated School Health

February 4, Sacramento, CA

Regional Equity ‘08: The Third National Summit on Equitable Development, Social Justice, and Smart Growth

March 5-7, New Orleans, LA

Making Change Matter: Maximizing the Health Impact of the New WIC Foods

April 7,  Los Angeles, CA (please note date change!)

BEAT Institute (Built Environment Assessment Training Institute)

June 15-20, 2008, Atlanta, GA

International Urban Parks Conference

September 21-23, Pittsburgh, PA

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Thanks for reading!  The Strategic Alliance is currently engaged in building a broad and diverse statewide membership.  If you were forwarded this e-mail and want to receive your own copy in the future, please click here or e-mail carol@preventioninstitute.org.  And if you’re already a member, please forward this message to your colleagues so we can continue to strengthen our coalition.  Thank you!

WHAT IS THE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE?

The Strategic Alliance is reframing the debate on nutrition and physical activity away from a focus solely on individual choice and lifestyle towards one of environmental influences and corporate and government responsibility. Current Steering Committee members are: California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness Program (CANFit), California Center for Public Health Advocacy (CCPHA), California Food Policy Advocates (CFPA), California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, California Park and Recreation Society (CPRS), California Project LEAN, California WIC Association (CWA), Child Care Food Program Roundtable, Latino Health Access, Partnership for the Public’s Health, Prevention Institute, Samuels & Associates, and YMCA of the East Bay.

The Strategic Alliance is supported by funding from The California Endowment.

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