Kraft to Revamp Products Amid Rising U.S. Obesity - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Double D · 07-01-2003, 03:39 PM

Tue July 1, 2003 04:40 PM ET

By Deborah Cohen
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Kraft Foods Inc., the No. 1 U.S. maker of processed foods, on Tuesday said it would reformulate many of its products, cease marketing in schools and take other steps to counter a rise in obesity that could trigger a rash of lawsuits against the food industry.

The maker of Oreo cookies and Velveeta cheese spread said it will develop a range of standards this year to improve the overall nutritional content of its foods and the way it sells them. It will begin making the changes, which could take three years, in 2004.

The cost of the sweeping measures could not be estimated, according to a spokesman for the company, based in the Chicago suburb of Northfield, Illinois.

Critics said Kraft may be on the defensive at a time of heightened criticism over the role big food companies play in growing health problems. No. 1 fast-food chain McDonald's Corp. has already been the target of a highly publicized lawsuit, now dismissed, linking its supersized meals to childhood obesity.

"This is sort of a preemptive move to stave off the lawyers and the critics," said Henry Anhalt, an endocrinologist and director of the "Kids Weight Down" program at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn.

"What I think is going on is that the soothsayers are saying that coming down the pike are going to be large lawsuits, class action suits looking at cardiovascular disease, premature death, diabetes, and they're going to turn to the food industry and lay it on their feet," he said.

Kraft acknowledged that the moves, which include capping the portion size on single-serve foods like its Lunchables children's meals, could help indemnify the company against potential lawsuits.

"We're making these commitments first and foremost because we think it is the right thing to do for the people who use our products and for our business, but if it also discourages a plaintiff's attorney or unfair legislation, that's fine with us," said the company spokesman, Michael Mudd.

APPLAUDED BY NUTRITIONISTS

Kraft's campaign was applauded by health professionals, who said the company could set standards for the food industry.

"Reducing portion size will help people lower their overall calorie intake since studies have shown that people tend to eat what is in front of them," said Samantha Heller, a nutritionist with New York University.

Obesity among adults in the United States has doubled since 1980, and tripled among adolescents, according to the U.S. surgeon general. The number of Americans with diabetes, a disease often linked to being overweight, has risen nearly 50 percent from 1990 to 2000, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics.

Kraft said its efforts would be global, focusing on product nutrition, marketing, labeling, consumer information and public advocacy. It is forming an advisory council to help develop the standards for its approach to health issues.

Marketing fatty and sugar-laden foods to children has been a hot news topic. Last week, New York City's school system decided to remove candy, soda and sweets from school vending machines. Last month, the head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that agency plans to push for expanded nutritional labeling on foods.

Kraft, the maker of Oscar Mayer hot dogs and Post cereals, will improve its marketing messages to children to encourage appropriate eating behaviors and active lifestyles. Kraft is majority-owned by tobacco giant Altria Group Inc.

Kraft, which used to promote its products on the Channel One news TV station played in secondary schools, will now cease all in-school marketing. It will also develop criteria for food sold in school vending machines.

The Grocery Manufacturers of America, which represents Kraft, General Mills Inc., Kellogg Co. and other U.S. food makers, said Kraft's actions come in response to changing consumer demand. The so-called "better-for-you" segment of the industry is rising 12 percent yearly, it said.

Fast-food restaurants are taking similar measures. McDonald's in March announced worldwide initiatives to help promote healthy lifestyles and provide consumers with expanded product information.

"This is an ongoing battle," said Keith Patriquin, a buy-side analyst with Loomis Sayles, which holds shares of Kraft and other big food names. "Trial lawyers ... are looking for the next big thing." (With reporting by Brad Dorfman in Chicago)
-----------------------------
I just hope they don't fiddle with their Macaroni & Cheese (in the blue box). I can't really eat it anymore, but it's nice to know it's there- it brings back fond memories of my starving student days.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.j...log/GetContent

The_Dude · 07-01-2003, 05:06 PM

phillip morris will do anything to avoid a lawsuit these days.

oh wait, altria now right?

fearofmear · 07-01-2003, 05:16 PM

I understand this is motivated by fear of lawsuit, but c'mon. People are adults and are going to eat what they want. I guess parents have never heard of personal responsibility in raising their kids.

The_Dude · 07-01-2003, 05:36 PM

if you get sued as much as phillip morris did, you'll be motivated by the fear of lawsuits

fade2 · 07-01-2003, 08:37 PM

great job kraft.

komodo · 07-02-2003, 12:23 PM

Unless they seal the smaller packages with time delay locks and security systems, I don't think it's going to stop Hungry Hungry Harry from tearing open another bag of Oreos.

rockzilla · 07-02-2003, 12:47 PM

It's a step in the right direction, the onus is on the public now not to buy two bags of oreos 'cause they're smaller.

Does anyone else think that these 'new, healthy snacks' will cost more than they did when they were just as bad for you, but you got 25% (just a guess on how much smaller the new packaging will be) more?

Kllr Wolf · 07-02-2003, 12:57 PM

I agree that the parents of the kids should be held responsable for what and how much their kids eat. To me it has gotten sad when people would sue somebody for their own decisions.

gov135 · 07-02-2003, 01:41 PM

I don't care what they do to the stuff. They make processed food, they don't grow fruit. All kind of stuff goes into Velveeta. If you can't look at a package that has the word "processed" on it, and get that its probably not gonna be good for you, you're an idiot.

I am surprised at the move. The article states it was made as "preemptive move to stave off the lawyers and the critics." But doesn't the move give the lawyers a chance to say, "Why did you change it? Is it because you know its been unhealthy for my client for years?"?

Double D · 07-02-2003, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gov135
I don't care what they do to the stuff. They make processed food, they don't grow fruit. All kind of stuff goes into Velveeta. If you can't look at a package that has the word "processed" on it, and get that its probably not gonna be good for you, you're an idiot.

Perfectly worded!

I ate Kraft Mac N Cheese twenty years ago. I now know the stuff, albeit yummy, is poison.

bender · 07-03-2003, 08:58 AM

This smacks of treating the symptom and not the disease.

Cumhachd · 07-05-2003, 06:05 AM

Ugh... I can't stand Oreos. It's good thinking for them to make their products more nutritional, but it's sad that they're only doing it to avoid future lawsuits.

ratbastid · 07-05-2003, 07:06 AM

Personally, I love the thought that I can eat those things and NOT be killing myself. I'll become a big Kraft customer, if they can offer me that.

seretogis · 07-05-2003, 07:17 AM

Volunteered corporate responsibility is a good thing. Kraft is doing a great service, though it undoubtedly will not be effective with those who are determined to be lard-asses.

Cynthetiq · 07-05-2003, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by fearofmear
I understand this is motivated by fear of lawsuit, but c'mon. People are adults and are going to eat what they want. I guess parents have never heard of personal responsibility in raising their kids.

no they haven't... not for themselves, nor for their kids.

seretogis · 07-05-2003, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cynthetiq
no they haven't... not for themselves, nor for their kids.

However, public schools also tend to sell incredibly horrible food to kids during lunch. When I was in high school half a dozen years ago, there were all sorts of sugary snacks and pop and whatnot that could be purchased easily. Some schools even had mini-taco-bells and other fast-food restaurants in their lunch room in exchange for subsidies.

Still, it's up to parents to teach their kids about nutrition and what to eat or not, but the public school system (in MN at least) is not helping.

Gorilla King · 07-05-2003, 08:36 AM

Jesus can't people think for themselves these days, If you dont wanna be a fatass don;t eat too much. Why is that so complicated for some

Double D · 07-05-2003, 08:51 AM

Jesus, why do people continually oversimply something that hundreds of scientific studies can't even come to a definitive conclusion on?

Tardman · 07-06-2003, 10:59 AM

Well thats society these days. Parents no longer take any responsibility for their children's well-being, and instead blame others for the way their kids turn out. Video games, fast food.... the list goes on.

07-01-2003, 03:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
Double D Junkie Location: Chicagoland	Kraft to Revamp Products Amid Rising U.S. Obesity Tue July 1, 2003 04:40 PM ET By Deborah Cohen CHICAGO (Reuters) - Kraft Foods Inc., the No. 1 U.S. maker of processed foods, on Tuesday said it would reformulate many of its products, cease marketing in schools and take other steps to counter a rise in obesity that could trigger a rash of lawsuits against the food industry. The maker of Oreo cookies and Velveeta cheese spread said it will develop a range of standards this year to improve the overall nutritional content of its foods and the way it sells them. It will begin making the changes, which could take three years, in 2004. The cost of the sweeping measures could not be estimated, according to a spokesman for the company, based in the Chicago suburb of Northfield, Illinois. Critics said Kraft may be on the defensive at a time of heightened criticism over the role big food companies play in growing health problems. No. 1 fast-food chain McDonald's Corp. has already been the target of a highly publicized lawsuit, now dismissed, linking its supersized meals to childhood obesity. "This is sort of a preemptive move to stave off the lawyers and the critics," said Henry Anhalt, an endocrinologist and director of the "Kids Weight Down" program at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn. "What I think is going on is that the soothsayers are saying that coming down the pike are going to be large lawsuits, class action suits looking at cardiovascular disease, premature death, diabetes, and they're going to turn to the food industry and lay it on their feet," he said. Kraft acknowledged that the moves, which include capping the portion size on single-serve foods like its Lunchables children's meals, could help indemnify the company against potential lawsuits. "We're making these commitments first and foremost because we think it is the right thing to do for the people who use our products and for our business, but if it also discourages a plaintiff's attorney or unfair legislation, that's fine with us," said the company spokesman, Michael Mudd. APPLAUDED BY NUTRITIONISTS Kraft's campaign was applauded by health professionals, who said the company could set standards for the food industry. "Reducing portion size will help people lower their overall calorie intake since studies have shown that people tend to eat what is in front of them," said Samantha Heller, a nutritionist with New York University. Obesity among adults in the United States has doubled since 1980, and tripled among adolescents, according to the U.S. surgeon general. The number of Americans with diabetes, a disease often linked to being overweight, has risen nearly 50 percent from 1990 to 2000, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. Kraft said its efforts would be global, focusing on product nutrition, marketing, labeling, consumer information and public advocacy. It is forming an advisory council to help develop the standards for its approach to health issues. Marketing fatty and sugar-laden foods to children has been a hot news topic. Last week, New York City's school system decided to remove candy, soda and sweets from school vending machines. Last month, the head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that agency plans to push for expanded nutritional labeling on foods. Kraft, the maker of Oscar Mayer hot dogs and Post cereals, will improve its marketing messages to children to encourage appropriate eating behaviors and active lifestyles. Kraft is majority-owned by tobacco giant Altria Group Inc. Kraft, which used to promote its products on the Channel One news TV station played in secondary schools, will now cease all in-school marketing. It will also develop criteria for food sold in school vending machines. The Grocery Manufacturers of America, which represents Kraft, General Mills Inc., Kellogg Co. and other U.S. food makers, said Kraft's actions come in response to changing consumer demand. The so-called "better-for-you" segment of the industry is rising 12 percent yearly, it said. Fast-food restaurants are taking similar measures. McDonald's in March announced worldwide initiatives to help promote healthy lifestyles and provide consumers with expanded product information. "This is an ongoing battle," said Keith Patriquin, a buy-side analyst with Loomis Sayles, which holds shares of Kraft and other big food names. "Trial lawyers ... are looking for the next big thing." (With reporting by Brad Dorfman in Chicago) ----------------------------- I just hope they don't fiddle with their Macaroni & Cheese (in the blue box). I can't really eat it anymore, but it's nice to know it's there- it brings back fond memories of my starving student days. http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.j...log/GetContent

07-01-2003, 05:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
The_Dude The GrandDaddy of them all! Location: Austin, TX	phillip morris will do anything to avoid a lawsuit these days. oh wait, altria now right? __________________ "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

07-01-2003, 05:36 PM	#4 (permalink)
The_Dude The GrandDaddy of them all! Location: Austin, TX	if you get sued as much as phillip morris did, you'll be motivated by the fear of lawsuits __________________ "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

07-02-2003, 12:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
Kllr Wolf Psycho Location: Lubbock, TX	I agree that the parents of the kids should be held responsable for what and how much their kids eat. To me it has gotten sad when people would sue somebody for their own decisions. __________________ Caffeine - the molecule of life.

07-03-2003, 08:58 AM	#11 (permalink)
bender Addict Location: around the corner	This smacks of treating the symptom and not the disease. Last edited by bender; 10-20-2003 at 09:55 AM..

07-01-2003, 05:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
fearofmear Insane Location: Florida	I understand this is motivated by fear of lawsuit, but c'mon. People are adults and are going to eat what they want. I guess parents have never heard of personal responsibility in raising their kids.

07-01-2003, 08:37 PM	#5 (permalink)
fade2 Banned	great job kraft.

07-02-2003, 12:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
komodo Tilted	Unless they seal the smaller packages with time delay locks and security systems, I don't think it's going to stop Hungry Hungry Harry from tearing open another bag of Oreos.

07-02-2003, 12:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
rockzilla Junkie Location: The Kitchen	It's a step in the right direction, the onus is on the public now not to buy two bags of oreos 'cause they're smaller. Does anyone else think that these 'new, healthy snacks' will cost more than they did when they were just as bad for you, but you got 25% (just a guess on how much smaller the new packaging will be) more?

07-02-2003, 01:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
gov135 Junkie Location: Midwest	I don't care what they do to the stuff. They make processed food, they don't grow fruit. All kind of stuff goes into Velveeta. If you can't look at a package that has the word "processed" on it, and get that its probably not gonna be good for you, you're an idiot. I am surprised at the move. The article states it was made as "preemptive move to stave off the lawyers and the critics." But doesn't the move give the lawyers a chance to say, "Why did you change it? Is it because you know its been unhealthy for my client for years?"?

07-05-2003, 06:05 AM	#12 (permalink)
Cumhachd Upright	Ugh... I can't stand Oreos. It's good thinking for them to make their products more nutritional, but it's sad that they're only doing it to avoid future lawsuits. __________________ Sorry, I can only exorcise clam spirits. EbichuMAAN! From the dark end of the dark has been chosen for disipline, from the moon to the stars, no one knows what a justice and earnest shopkeeper then today, the justice maker in tonight by the way, they call it: Ebichuman.

07-05-2003, 07:06 AM	#13 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	Personally, I love the thought that I can eat those things and NOT be killing myself. I'll become a big Kraft customer, if they can offer me that.

07-05-2003, 07:17 AM	#14 (permalink)
seretogis Huggles, sir? Location: Seattle	Volunteered corporate responsibility is a good thing. Kraft is doing a great service, though it undoubtedly will not be effective with those who are determined to be lard-asses. __________________ seretogis - sieg heil perfect little dream the kind that hurts the most, forgot how it feels well almost no one to blame always the same, open my eyes wake up in flames

07-05-2003, 08:36 AM	#17 (permalink)
Gorilla King Upright	Jesus can't people think for themselves these days, If you dont wanna be a fatass don;t eat too much. Why is that so complicated for some

07-05-2003, 08:51 AM	#18 (permalink)
Double D Junkie Location: Chicagoland	Jesus, why do people continually oversimply something that hundreds of scientific studies can't even come to a definitive conclusion on? Last edited by Double D; 07-05-2003 at 08:53 AM..

07-06-2003, 10:59 AM	#19 (permalink)
Tardman Upright	Well thats society these days. Parents no longer take any responsibility for their children's well-being, and instead blame others for the way their kids turn out. Video games, fast food.... the list goes on.