| Comment Number: | 516960-00008 |
| Received: | 6/6/2005 5:39:37 PM |
| Organization: | South Whidbey School District |
| Commenter: | Bill Frederick |
| State: | WA |
| Agency: | Federal Trade Commission |
| Rule: | Food Marketing to Kids Workshop |
| Docket ID: | To Be Added |
| No Attachments |
Comments:
Our school district is formuating a nutrition policy. The following is one of our communiques that fit for commenting on childhood nutrition and obesity. Have you encountered the latest research on oils used in cooking, salad dressings, baby formulas and hospitals for feeding patients with digestive and malabsorption problems, as well as infants and children who cannot digest fats? Key question, What kind of oils do we use in our school food preparation and salads? Since, I have not seen the draft report you reference to review this Wed. evening, I don't know if this factor is even addressed. It addresses the longer-term, cumulative effect on the body's functioning which may not show for years. We, including health professionals have been sold a fake bill of goods on oils. Having taken chemistry courses for pre-med in college, I know who challenging the understanding of biochemistry can be for most people's understanding. That is what purveyors of misleading positions take advantage of. I am reading a book on the research results on this topic which indicts the animal and vegetable oils and the hydrogenation processing. It indicates that the only natural oil that supports a healthy lifestyle of the South Pacific, Asian, and Polynesian communities that eat their historical diets consisting commonly of coconut and the oils thereof. Polynesians consume up to 60% of their total calorie intake in fats. (6) Natives who inhabit the island of the South Pacific enjoy remarkably good health relatively free of the aches and pains of degenerative disease that plague the rest of the world. Heart disease, cancer, diabetes and arthritis are almost unheard of - at least among those who continue to live on the traditional native diets. (5) The research goes into the chemistry of saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, toxic trans fatty acids, free radicals, long-chain fatty acids, medium-chain fatty acids, and short-chain fatty acids, long-chain triglycerides, medium-chain triglycerides and short-chain triglycerides. (22) Unfortunately, greed for money has clouded the facts with scare tactics and misleading information from the American Soy Bean Association in the mid 80s, and roped-in Center for Science for the Public Interest. (9-11) Research indicates that trans fatty acids are linked with diabetes, and a variety of adverse health effects, including cancer, heart disease, ms, diverticulitis, as well as complications of diabetes and other degenerative conditions. (31) Free radicals has been concluded to be a key player in the cause and development of degenerate disease and aging. Today some 60 or so degenerative diseases are recognized as having free-radical involvement in their cause or manifestation. Additional diseases are regularly being added to this list. Research that linked the major killer diseases such as heart disease and cancer to free radicals has expanded to include atherosclerosis, stroke, varicose veins, hemorrhoids, hypertension, wrinkled skin, dermatitis, arthritis, digestive problems, reproductive problems, cataracts, loss of energy, diabetes, allergies, and failing memory. (26) Tests by the FDA and others found that french fries cooked in beef tallow absorb less fat than those cooked in vegetable oil, which led to estimates that the switch to vegetable oil would more than double the fat content of fries and increase fat consumption. (14) The key reference book I am reading is by Dr. Bruce Fife who states that every one of his statements (several summarized above) are backed up by the "cold, hard facts" found in oft-ignored research journals. He lists 12 pages of published scientific studies, historical records, etc. at the back of his book. (2-3) The Coconut Oil Miracle is supplemented by www.coconutresearchcenter.org see the "Research" section) for detailed backup references. www.lauric.org explains two beneficial components of coconuts - lauric & capric acids. www.price-pottenger.org/ is a