Ben and Jerry's: A Deadly Silence About Obesity

Maybe you also saw this item on BoingBoing:

Obesity, inactivity overtaking tobacco as top USA death cause
This online data chart released today by the Center for Disease Control shows that lack of physical activity and poor nutrition are catching up to smoking as a top cause of death in the United States. There's an analysis in this week's Journal of the American Medical Association (link), and a summary here from AP.

So I thought to myself: I wonder what a Socially Responsible Company like Ben & Jerry's is doing about obesity. So I went to their support page and typed in obesity. Results: Nothing, Nada. Being the Socially Responsible Company that they are, though, Ben & Jerry's devotes a whole page to the cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal. And on their company info page, I learned they were Fighting Global Warming, helping Rock The Vote, and sharing with us 50 Ways to Promote Peace. But again, nothing about Obesity, A Top Cause of Death In The USA.

So, My Fellow Activists: Now that McDonald's has caved in and begun phasing out supersizes, we need to make our next target Ben & Jerry's. It's The Socially Responsible Thing To Do.

Comments

[man bellefontaine]

brilliant

[Alex Stapleton]

Seriously now. It's hardly B&Js fault that people get fat, I really can't see how anyone could actually come to the conclusion that its the producers and resllers of food stuffs that are to blame for the obesity problem. You get fat, it's your fault. Ok so perhaps obesity awareness would be something to campaign for, but that would be admitting just how stupid some Americans are wouldn't it?

[McNair]

I went to the support page and typed in "beer" and got nothing. Then, I typed in "rat droppings" and got a hit discussing discontinued flavors. It does seem that they are socially concerned about not having the flavor named "rat droppings."

[Brian]

A "whole page" devoted to Mumia?

That page is actually devoted to countering misinformation about a (nonexistent) connection between B&J and the Mumia case.

Misinformation like, um...yours.

Ironic.

(For the record, I do think Mumia killed that cop.)

[Tom McMahon]

Here's what they say:

Any misunderstanding regarding Ben and Jerry's connection with this case may have stemmed from the fact that Ben Cohen, one of our co-founders, acting as a private citizen, joined hundreds of other people in signing a petition in 1995 calling for a re-trial. Mr. Cohen made his decision to sign as a private citizen, stating "I am in no position to judge his guilt or innocence. For all I know, a new and impartial trial could find him guilty again. But the American system of justice must be fair and must be perceived as fair."

It is understandable that people have difficulty separating in their minds that when Ben Cohen makes a private choice to do something, he does not represent Ben and Jerry's Homemade, Inc. As a company, we respect each individual's inalienable right to make those choices.

I'll let each reader decide for him/herself whether or not this is "misinformation".

[cass]

The thing with dairy, is when eaten in moderation, as many things, it is actually beneficial to weight loss and health. The key is learning moderation, and portion control.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NAH/is_1_34/ai_111896951

"Most everyone can lose weight by cutting back on calories and getting some exercise. Maintaining that weight loss, however, is the challenge. Recent research suggests that calcium-rich dairy foods help slow down or stop lost pounds from creeping back, according to Michael Zemel, Ph.D., head of the department of nutrition at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville."

oh and since it was brought up... Mumia needs to be brought to justice, and this whole shenanigan of repeals etc needs to stop. People need to read the facts and accept his fate.

[cass]

The thing with dairy, is when eaten in moderation, as many things, it is actually beneficial to weight loss and health. The key is learning moderation, and portion control.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NAH/is_1_34/ai_111896951

"Most everyone can lose weight by cutting back on calories and getting some exercise. Maintaining that weight loss, however, is the challenge. Recent research suggests that calcium-rich dairy foods help slow down or stop lost pounds from creeping back, according to Michael Zemel, Ph.D., head of the department of nutrition at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville."

oh and since it was brought up... Mumia needs to be brought to justice, and this whole shenanigan of repeals etc needs to stop. People need to read the facts and accept his fate.