The+Government+Lobbyists+P4

vsadThe Government Lobbyists P4 who is lobbying the government ? how are they making us aware of the problem? what steps are they taking to solve the problem? how do they test to see if their methods of problem solving are working? how much money is being contributed towards the solution? are they focusing on anything specific inside of the topic? who is the head of the lobbyists? are there any existing rules or regulations? what is currently being done to counter obesity? are the government lobbyists over wieght? does the government really care about our health? why are they encouraging obesity?

Lobbyists are pushing for farmers to grow and sell genetically modified. This is because the GM produce is more drought resistant and produces higher yields. But what people don’t know is that although GM foods are larger than naturally grown products, and are also less nutritional. This lack of nutrition causes peoples body’s to crave more foods containing the nutrients they lack, leading them to over eat. The companies selling the genetically modified foods will make more money, but the health of the population is at risk. For instance diabetics are advised to not eat many fruits and vegetables like corn and carrots because the sugar content is too high. Some GM foods are used because they have their own pest resistant, but their resistant is just the same as spraying the crops with chemicals which can potentially cause other health problems. The food companies do not release information to the public about their foods, making it hard for people to know what they are eating and how it may affect their health. []
 * ﻿﻿﻿﻿Genetically Engineered Foods and Obesity - Lauren Ellison **

**Soft Drink Industry Fights Proposed Food Stamp Ban- Lauren Ellison** The mayor of New York City has proposed the idea of not allowing food stamps to be used for the purchase of unhealthy items at stores such as soda and candy. The food and drink lobbyists feel this plan has good intentions in helping to solve the problem of obesity in the city, but it also is unfair to be placing restriction on what the poor people who use the stamps can buy. Banning the use of food stamps to buy sugary snacks could also potentially lead to the banning of other items as well, forcing the government to make a decision on what is considered to be good and bad food. The argument lobbyists are making is people can change the food they buy to be more healthy, but as long as their eating habits are still unhealthy (such as over eating) the obesity problem will not be solved. They also suggest the mayor simply ban the use of food stamps to purchase carbonated and non-carbonated drinks with a sugar content of more than ten calories per eight ounce serving. Although many food companies do not support the mayor’s proposal, no decisions have been made. []

Childhood obesity rates are growing rapidly in the U.S and all over the world. Schools are trying to help fight this issue by removing junk food from their campuses and to do this, they either need to stop business with the major food companies or work with them to help produce healthier choices for kids. The food lobbyists of course prefer the working together option so they can continue to make money. Lobbyists have been invited/ attended various conferences dealing with the problems of obesity and helping people with their nutrition. Although all of this is happening, the food lobbyists are using their power and money to influence the national nutritional policy to be more in their favor, so they will not lose business or change what they are already doing. It's time for the major companies to step up and lead a wave of change in the health of children to try and help prevent childhood obesity, even if it does cost them a little bit of money. http://www.commercialalert.org/issues/health/childhood-obesity/fighting-obesity-and-the-food-lobby
 * Fighting Obesity And the Food Lobby- Lauren Ellison **




 * Junk Food Nation- ** Obie Udoh

There are big food companies that have been trying hard to convince Americans that they feel the pain of our ever growing stomachs, mostly when it comes to kids. Kraft food corporation has announced that it will no longer be marketing there Oreos to young children, McDonalds calls themselves a salad producer, and also Coca Cola said it wouldn’t advertise to children under the age of 12. Federal Trade Commissions have held hearings on childhood obesity and the food marketing that causes this problem. The conflict about junk food has intensified since late 2001. A surgeon general reported obesity as a rising “epidemic”. Arnold Schwarzenegger has argued for restricting junk food marketing for children. []

Oh, SNAP: Another victory for lobbyists and maybe obesity- Obie Udoh
New York City has been hoping to be different this year by banning food stamps being allowed to buy soda. Advocates said that the ban would spread the stereotype that food stamp users use their government benefits to buy junk food. In a 2010 study from the American Journal of Public Health said that food stamps consume less produce and healthy foods and buy 40 percent more sugar-sweetened beverages than any other group of consumers. City officials have estimate that between $75 million to $135 million in food stamp benefits are spent every year on soda in New York. Obesity needs to come to a resolution and if one can be stopped by making our government assisted citizens more healthy, then we need to jump at it at full force. C ity officials have estimate that between $75 million to $135 million in food stamp benefits are spent every year on soda in New York. Obesity needs to come to a resolution and if one can be stopped by making our government assisted citizens more healthy, then we need to jump at it at full force.


 * NY Vending Association Hires New Lobbyists To Tackle Proposed Obesity Tax, Bottle Bill- Obie Udoh**

New Yorkvending association has a new lobbying firm that wants to tax vending operators. They are aiming to close a $12.5 billion deficit. They are proposing an obesity tax. This would impose an 18% charge on non diet items such as sodas and juices. The Bigger Better Bottle Bill would cost operators approximately $37,551 for every $1 million in sales. The association's goal is to put before the governor a bill seeking to raise the vending tax exemption to $1.50. []

Over the years obesity has been increasing. The school lunch programs have been called upon to help with ending this epidemic. Their goal is to ensure that everyone regardless of economic status has a chance to receive a nutritious lunch and breakfast. Groups like the School Nutrition Association and the National School Boards Association try to lobby and get more federal money to keep increasing the nutritional products served at school. While companies that make soft drinks and snacks try and ensure that schools serve a la cart items. These two things are fighting within the school system. Although nutritious things are offered to the students, most of them usually go for the coke or the chips in the vending machine. []
 * The School Lunch Lobby- Regina Manneh **



Now that many people are starting to be more dependent on the food stamp system they are starting to want prepared food or fast food. However because of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) there are restrictions on who may receive prepared food like the elderly and disabled. Now many fast food lobbyist are trying to get a piece of the pie. They are wanting to get rid of the SNAP program and start allowing all people using food stamps to be able to use them at fast food restaurants. But the other side of the SNAP program are saying that giving this option will increase the amount of of obesity throughout the US. The problem is still being discussed but hopefully the side of SNAP can make the fast food chains see that nutrition comes first rather then the money that they will make. []
 * Food Stamps and Fast Food-Regina Manneh**



Food Network has two sides of the spectrum when dealing with obesity on one end you have Paula Deen making foods like deep fried chicken and butter biscuits and by that saying its okay to eat foods that are slowly killing us. But on the other end we have people like Rachel Ray trying to make a difference in how they are preparing their food, showing alternatives to fating thing like butter. For example using avocado instead of butter and having wheat pasta instead of white. The Food Network needs to get all their chefs ready to change the way they present their food. This little change can make many people try to cook at home instead of saying I can just go and buy this some other place. Food Network has a lot of power over their viewers. Now they just need to use that power and create foods that can help with the growing obesity problem throughout our country. []
 * Food Network and Obesity- Regina Manneh**



**__Resturaunts Want Piece of Food Stamp Pie-Oliver Delgado__** **F**ood companies are beginning to have more interest in food stamps being accepted at fast food restaurants. As food stamp benefits grew to almost 65 billion dollars, the possible gain is obvious. Lobbyist for this argue that those with food stamps should be able to buy prepared food for them, and restricting what they can buy would be taking away rights. However by allowing them to buy fast food, would encourage bad health. Even with the little income of food stamps it can still be seen that the population using them are gaining weight.

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**__Oh Snap: Another Victory for Lobbyist and Maybe Obesity- Oliver Delgado__** InNew York City, there was a proposed program that would ban the ability of food stamp users to buy sugary drinks. However federalist, rejected the plan based on that it was too complex to work. Also that it would embarrass those on food stamps at stores, labeling them as culturally separate from the rest of the nation. Their low income requires them to shop cheaply and this requires them to often buy sugary foods and drinks that are usually sold cheaply. As a result those on food stamps buy about 40% more junk food than any other consumer group in the nation. As a consequence of all these unhealthy purchases, those using food stamps actually have a higher BMI then when they are not on food stamps. And as they continue using the stamps their BMI actually continue to increase with continuation in the program. []

**__Lobbyist want French Fries and Pizza to stay in Schools- Oliver Delgado__** Student favorite lunch choices at school inWashingtonare under attack. As the Agriculture Department announced a new standard of nutrition for school lunches, lobbyist responded with arguments that changing a few foods are not going to counter obesity. Lobbyists argue that changing the student diet at schools will not have enough influence on children to change their life long eating habits. They argue that potatoes in the form of French fries still supplies enough nutrients, however the center of science for public interest says that French fries only distract kids from other vegetables. Also lobbyists argue that a change in the menu will up the total cost of lunch preparation by 12% which is 90% federally funded. Their closing argument is that if unhealthy foods are taken away from kids at school they will simply find these fatty foods off campus. []


 * Analysis **

Food lobbyists are trying to promote health and prevent obesity inAmericatoday, but they are still selling their unhealthy snacks. The problem is the companies do not want to lose money, by selling health food that people are not interested in buying. Lobbyists are taking many different approaches to help prevent obesity such as banning the use of food stamps to purchase unhealthy items in stores, but people argue it is not fair to tell the people who can not afford groceries what they can and cannot buy with their stamps. No matter how many solutions are made, they one major factor preventing change is money. If the food stamps can no longer be put towards the purchase of sugary snacks then all of the companies selling these products will lose a large amount of money. Major food corporations and their lobbyists need to stop being concerned about how much money they are making and start trying to help solve the obesity crisis in America. .

**Works Cited** Brownell, Kelly, and David Ludwig. “Fighting Obesity And the Food Lobby.” Washington Post 9 June 2002: n. pag. Commercial Alert. Web. 18 Sept. 2011. . “Genetic Engineered Foods and Obesity.” Editorial. ObesityEpidemic.org. N.p., 2008. Web. 15 Sept. 2011. . Pear, Robert. “Soft Drink Industry Fights Proposed Food Stamp Ban.” The New York Times 29 Apr. 2011: n. pag. nytimes.com. Web. 16 Sept. 2011. .