Milling & Baking News - June 29, 2010 - 24

Industry Activities 

the U.S. dollar, Mr. Hess said. More
recently, though, there has been a
break in the correlation. The U.S.
dollar has rallied but wheat has remained range-bound.
Among the more bullish factors for
the U.S. wheat market is the continuing difficult weather conditions in
Canada, where growers have been
unable to complete spring planting
because of excessive precipitation.
Sodium intake under assault
Lori Roman, president of the Salt
Institute, offered an impassioned
criticism of proposals to sharply
reduce intake of sodium. Ms. Roman said the proposals were being
driven by a handful of radical consumer groups and scientists without

Jim Hess

A.B.A. pleased with grains role
in Dietary Guidelines report
WASHINGTON - Robb MacKie, president and chief executive officer of the
American Bakers Association, said that
while the A.B.A. was "pleased" with
the language in the Dietary Guidelines
Advisory Committee report issued June
15 addressing both enriched and whole
grains as part of a healthy lifestyle, the
discussion surrounding so-called refined grains "will lead to further consumer confusion."
In an initial review of the report, Mr.
MacKie said the A.B.A. noted confusing
language regarding folic acid enrichment

of whole grains. The report states, "Because whole grain foods are not always
fortified with folic acid, individuals who
consume mainly whole grains in their dietary patterns should ensure that some of
these whole grains are fortified to achieve
dietary folate recommendations."
Under the current standards of identity, only enriched grains and cereals may
be enriched with folic acid.
"It is critical that the report be clarified to avoid confusion by consumers,"
Mr. MacKie said. "As the report correctly points out, enriched grains are the

Oldways seeks partners for Guidelines 'pledge'
BOSTON - Non-profit consumer advocacy group Oldways issued a call to nutrition groups, companies and individuals
to band together to make the new Dietary
Guidelines for Americans - and its underlying health benefits - a reality.
The call to action comes in response to
the June 15 release of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee's report,
which is expected to form the foundation
of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
2010 set for release next year.
"These new guidelines are not a yawn
- they are revolutionary but only if we
all join together to change the way people
eat," said Sara Baer-Sinnott, president of
Oldways. "We are inviting partners to
come to the table to help us encourage
Americans, once and for all, to shift their
approach to food from large portions and
mindless eating to one that celebrates delicious, healthy, simple foods."
24 / June 29, 2010 Milling & Baking News

As part of its effort, Oldways has
launched the "Three Point Pledge" at
www.oldwayspt.org/take-three-pointpledge. By signing the pledge, individuals and companies express their commitment to three key elements:
* Healthy eating can be delicious -
"For too long, eating healthy has been
equated with deprivation and scolding," Oldways said. "Now, with its call
to 'improve cooking skills' and 'value
preparing and enjoying healthy food,'
the D.G.A.C. report lays the groundwork
for a new attitude and approach that Oldways has for many years fondly called
'the Pleasures of the Table.'
* Working with industry is essential
- "Oldways has a long history, through
programs like its Whole Grains Council
and Mediterranean Foods Alliance, of
organizing creative initiatives that motivate industry to introduce healthier

adequate grounding in science and
without any practical likelihood of
being followed by the public.
She noted that with the vaunted
Mediterranean diet, Italians have
better cardiovascular health than
Americans even though their consumption of sodium far exceeds that
in the United States.
She said the German government
decided against mandating sodium
reduction because "the science isn't
strong enough and because bakers led
a fight against the change." Ms. Roman urged the U.S. baking industry to
partner with salt groups to staunchly
combat forced changes in the American diet she said is putting the country on a path in which its citizens are
moving from "food to feed." MBN
primary source of folic acid in Americans' diets and have been shown to significantly reduce the incidence of specific types of neural tube defects and may
have other health benefits."
Lee Sanders, senior vice-president of
government relations and public affairs
at the A.B.A., added that the complex
carbohydrates in bread and other grainbased foods provide essential fuel the
body needs.
"A.B.A. will continue to serve as a resource to the Departments of Agriculture
and Health and Human Services to develop meaningful Dietary Guidelines for
Americans that are based on sound science, are practical, and are understandable for the public," Ms. Sanders said. MBN
products, and plans to build on this
successful model in support of the new
Guidelines," Oldways noted.
* Total diet is important - "In the
early '90s, Oldways created the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid to popularize
a proven approach to healthy, delicious
eating - a total approach to diet, comprised of a wide variety of healthy foods
and drinks," Oldways said. "Now the
D.G.A.C. report has added a key chapter on total diet, and cited the Med Diet
specifically as one of the two most scientifically-established ways to live a long
and healthy life. Oldways' expertise in
healthy traditional foodways around the
world can make a key contribution to
the new Guidelines."
Oldways said that individuals who
sign up will be contacted in the coming
weeks and months with ideas for ways to
partner together to change the way people eat and support the best of the new
2010 Dietary Guidelines. MBN
bakingbusiness.com / world-grain.com

http://www.oldwayspt.org/take-three-point http://www.bakingbusiness.com http://www.world-grain.com

Milling & Baking News - June 29, 2010

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