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WASHINGTON, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Sugarbeet and sugarcane
farmers attacked the lack of scientific evidence supporting
proposed changes in the Dietary Guidelines during a public comment
period today organized under the direction of Dan Glickman,
Secretary, Department of Agriculture and Donna Shalala, Secretary,
Health & Human Services. The sugar farmers argued that
implementation of these proposed changes could reduce demand for
sugar, destroy thousands of family farms and a portion of the
420,000 sugar industry jobs they support. The growers went on to
say that by ignoring the best scientific and medical evidence
available at this time, the U.S. government may unintentionally
undercut its efforts to use science to persuade our international
trading partners that biotech foods are safe.
Dean Gravois, whose family has grown sugarcane for several
generations, spoke on behalf of the 700 family farmers and 18
sugar processors of the American Sugar Cane League. The sugar
industry has been an important part of Louisiana for nearly 200
years. Gravois said, ``I am very concerned about the direction of
the Committee's recommended changes because they do not rely on
sound science and medical evidence. At a time when family farms
from all across the country, and especially sugarcane and
sugarbeet farms, are falling by the wayside, I want you to
recognize how far-reaching the policies you design can be. The law
of unintended consequences has a long arm, particularly where
agriculture is concerned.''
Ray VanDriessche, a sugarbeet farmer from Michigan and
President of the American Sugarbeet Growers Association that
represents 12,000 independent family farmers in 12 states, said,
``I believe that this recommendation, if adopted, has the
potential to economically devastate our industry.''
Mr. VanDriessche continued: ``I am a farmer, not a scientist.
But I know that in 1997, 31 human nutrition scientists from around
the world examined all the health aspects of sugar consumption
reported in over 350 studies. They found no direct correlation
between the sugar consumption and any lifestyle diseases.''
``I also noted that on page 82 of the Advisory Committee's
official report they said, 'There is little evidence that diets
high in total sugars are associated with obesity. Hence, there is
no direct link between the trend toward higher intake of sugars
and increased rates of obesity.' If the best scientists are saying
that nothing has changed since the last Dietary Guidelines were
issued in 1995, why is the Advisory Committee recommending a
change?''
He continued, ``Recommendations that lack sound science are a
threat to the credibility and integrity of the U.S. Departments of
Agriculture and Health and Human Services. This Administration is
currently leading a great global debate demanding that our foreign
trading partners adhere to sound science on the acceptance of
biotech products. To preach sound science abroad and then ignore
it at home is not leadership, it's hypocrisy, and all of
agriculture will pay a heavy price. Frankly, it's a price the
American sugarbeet and sugarcane farmer cannot bear.''
The American Sugar Alliance is a national coalition of farmers,
processors, and refiners of sugarbeets, sugarcane and corn for
sweetener. The U.S. sugar and corn sweetener producing industry
accounts, directly and indirectly, for an estimated 420,000
American jobs in 42 states, and for more than $26 billion per year
in economic activity.
For more information about the American Sugar Alliance, visit www.sugaralliance.org. |