Sugar, Vending Groups Take Action Against Obesity Claims
By Caroline E. Mayer and Dina ElBoghdady
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, January 13, 2005; Page E01

Two more food industry groups are taking the offensive against claims that their products play a role in the nation's growing obesity problem.

Concerned about efforts to curb the sale of junk food in schools, the vending machine trade association is teaming up with pro football Hall of Famer Lynn Swann to announce today its own $1 million campaign against childhood obesity. One feature will be rating the nutritional value of the food in the machines. A red sticker on a candy bar, for example, would mean it should be chosen rarely, while a green sticker on a granola bar would mean it's more nutritious and can be selected more frequently.[P6: OH, yeah. That'll be real effective. Bet the sticker will be on the bottom, so you'd have to buy the candy to see it...]

Meanwhile, the Sugar Association, worried about the declining sales, is going to spend at least $3 million a year for the next three years to give consumers "permission to use sugar," according to Melanie Miller, a spokeswoman for the association. "In moderation, it's not evil," she said, noting a teaspoon is only 15 calories.

The industry-sponsored drives come as the food industry is being blamed for the growing number of obese Americans, particularly children. The number of obese children has more than doubled in the past 30 years.