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Thirst For Profit - On The Front
Issue 129, March - April 2005
While coke and pepsi rake in the bucks with school vending machines, our children pay the price—with their health.
p>Related Articles:Article: Thirst For Profit
Sidebar: What Can You Do?
Operating through front groups is a common tactic of Big Business, and the food industry is no exception. By funneling large sums of money to third parties, individual companies gain greater lobbying power and get others to do their dirty work. Some organizations, such as trade associations, are easy to spot; others hide behind scientific-sounding names, or try to give
the impression that they are “grassroots.” Here are a few examples:
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American Beverage Association
Formerly known as the National Soft Drink Association, the ABA represents hundreds of beverage manufacturers and distributors who, along with regional trade associations, have been lobbying hard against state and local efforts to curtail soda sales in schools.
American Council for Fitness and Nutrition
Despite this organization’s official- and objective-sounding name, according to its website, the “ACFN was formed by a coalition of food and beverage companies, trade associations and nutrition advocates.” One of ACFN’s main functions is to act as a cheerleader for its members, which include Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. See ACFN’s website article touting Coca-Cola’s “Model Guidelines for School Beverage Partnerships” and PepsiCo’s “Health Is Power” initiative as “taking action to address consumer health and wellness needs” (www.acfn.org/taking-industry).
Center for Consumer Freedom
Despite its populist name, the CCF does not represent consumers at all. Rather, it’s a lobbying front for the restaurant, food, beverage, and alcohol industries. Employing attack-dog tactics, the CCF consistently portrays nutrition-policy advocates as the “food police,” as it did on the Fox News Channel, appearing opposite Maine state representative Sean Faircloth. See, for example, CCF’s article “The Maine Problem: Food Cops Run Amok” (www.consumerfreedom.com/news_detail.cfm?headline=2627).
Grocery Manufacturers of America
The GMA “is the world’s largest association of food, beverage, and consumer product companies.” Its 140 members consist of major food manufacturers, such as General Mills, ConAgra, Mars, and PepsiCo. The GMA is on record as opposing virtually every state bill that would restrict the sale of junk food or soda in schools, in addition to other nutrition policies (www.gmabrands.com).
—MICHELE SIMON
Michele Simon, JD, MPH, is a public health lawyer and founder and director of the Center for Informed Food Choices, a nonprofit organization based in Oakland, California, that educates about the politics of food. She is currently writing a book on food-industry lobbying and welcomes your stories.
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