Last Friday a caller into the Rush Limbaugh show makes the following statements:
"I am a student a Murray State University as a biology major, and I was in biochemistry this morning, and there was an emphasis on discussing the regulation by the government of sugar, and particularly fructose. So he had us read an article, and I'll read you a quote from the article. It said, "If international bodies are truly concerned about public health, they must consider limiting fructose ... to individuals and to society as a whole." They had five suggestions how to do this. They said we need to reduce the hours retailers are open, control the location of retail markets, tighten the licensing requirements on vending machines in schools and workplaces, designate an age limit on who can buy the fructose (they suggest age of 17), and then their last suggestion is the doubling of the price through taxation. And, you know, I just sat there in class thinking: "My goodness, you know, how brainwashed do people have to get to push this?"
This is a prime example of the phenomena that I have dubbed 'ose' gate.(http://ageconomist.blogspot.com/2010/09/osegate.html) This is essentially a conspiracy theory that modern family corn farmers are producing unhealthy, toxic food additives, and in the process, destroying the planet. But ultimately,the true target is modern technology and capitalism. I would agree with the student, it appears that they were on the receiving end of brainwashing and propaganda, probably in the name of infusing sustainability into the curriculum or being multidisciplinary. It could be, perhaps, that the professor thought what they were doing was an innocent and innovative attempt to get students interested in biochemistry by presenting an application of what's going on in the classroom. However, I would think that they could have provided additional references for students to weigh in comparison to such extreme policy proposals presented in the article.
"I am a student a Murray State University as a biology major, and I was in biochemistry this morning, and there was an emphasis on discussing the regulation by the government of sugar, and particularly fructose. So he had us read an article, and I'll read you a quote from the article. It said, "If international bodies are truly concerned about public health, they must consider limiting fructose ... to individuals and to society as a whole." They had five suggestions how to do this. They said we need to reduce the hours retailers are open, control the location of retail markets, tighten the licensing requirements on vending machines in schools and workplaces, designate an age limit on who can buy the fructose (they suggest age of 17), and then their last suggestion is the doubling of the price through taxation. And, you know, I just sat there in class thinking: "My goodness, you know, how brainwashed do people have to get to push this?"
This is a prime example of the phenomena that I have dubbed 'ose' gate.(http://ageconomist.blogspot.com/2010/09/osegate.html) This is essentially a conspiracy theory that modern family corn farmers are producing unhealthy, toxic food additives, and in the process, destroying the planet. But ultimately,the true target is modern technology and capitalism. I would agree with the student, it appears that they were on the receiving end of brainwashing and propaganda, probably in the name of infusing sustainability into the curriculum or being multidisciplinary. It could be, perhaps, that the professor thought what they were doing was an innocent and innovative attempt to get students interested in biochemistry by presenting an application of what's going on in the classroom. However, I would think that they could have provided additional references for students to weigh in comparison to such extreme policy proposals presented in the article.
What's even more shocking are these words from vice president Joe Biden:
I think its just a symptom of general ignorance about where food comes from and how it is produced. The locavore movement and writers like Michael Pollan both seem to be bringing food to the forefront of people's minds. But reading his books or buying from the local farmers market isn't getting the job done. In fact, these venues could at times also be dens of ignorance and misconception as much as a place to educate consumers. Its important that producers of all types and scale as well as all other industry affiliates do their part to clearly communicate what's going on in the industry from gate to plate.
References:
The Rush Limbaugh Show. Friday March 2, 2012.
The Rush Limbaugh Show. Friday March 2, 2012.
Sun SZ, Flickinger BD, Williamson-Hughes PS, Empie MW. 2010. Lack of association between dietary fructose and hyperuricemia risk in adults. Nutr Metab (Lond). 2010 Mar 1; 7:16. Free access to full article.
White JS. 2009. Misconceptions about High-Fructose Corn Syrup: Is It Uniquely Responsible for Obesity, Reactive Dicarbonyl Compounds, and Advanced Glycation Endproducts? J Nutr 139(6): 1219S-1227S. Free access to full article.
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Sun SZ, Empie MW. 2007. Lack of findings for the association between obesity risk and usual sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in adults - A primary analysis of databases of CSFII-1989-1991, CSFII-1994-1998, NHANES III, and combined
NHANES 1999-2002. Food Chem Toxicol 45(8):1523-1536. Free access to full article.
Monsivais P, Perrigue MM, Drewnowski A. 2007. Sugars and satiety: does the type of sweetener make a difference? Am J Clin Nutr 86(1):116-123. Free access to full article.
Lowndes J, et al. June 2007. The Effect of High-Fructose Corn Syrup on Uric Acid Levels in Normal Weight Women. Presented at the June 2007 meeting of The Endocrine Society. Program Abstract #P2-45. Abstract available.
Zukley L, et al. June 2007. The Effect of High Fructose Corn Syrup on Post-Prandial Lipemia in Normal Weight Females. Presented at the June 2007 meeting of The Endocrine Society. Program Abstract #P2-46. Abstract available.
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