'Consumer' group's attack on physicians committee's nutrition recommendations is disingenuous
Other Voices // The Plain Dealer (Letters Unlimited)December 1, 2009
It's no surprise that David Martosko doesn't like the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine's work to promote healthful diets ["I'll take turkey," cleveland.com, Wednesday]. Martosko's employer, the so-called Center for Consumer Freedom, has been exposed in The Washington Post as a corporate front group that has taken millions of dollars from fast-food chains, tobacco giant Philip Morris, corporate meat producers and other companies selling unhealthy products. Martosko's group has attacked virtually every public health advocate in America, from Mothers Against Drunk Driving to our organization, which has more than 9,000 physician members.
Our physicians and dietitians support healthful diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans because evidence clearly shows that these foods help fight disease. PCRM is not alone in its efforts. The American Dietetic Association, the world's largest organization of nutrition professionals, recently released a position statement concluding that vegetarian diets are healthful and nutritious and can help prevent America's most common health problems, including heart disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes.
That's bad news for the meat companies that fund Martosko's organization, but he shouldn't blame nutritionists for educating consumers about healthy food choices that might save their lives.
Patrick Sullivan, Washington, D.C.
Sullivan is communications director for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.
Richard Berman has been a regular front man for business and industry in campaigns against consumer safety and environmental groups. Through his public affairs firm, Berman and Company, Berman has fought unions, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, PETA and other watchdog groups in their efforts to raise awareness about obesity, the minimum wage, the dangers of smoking, mad cow disease, drunk driving, and other causes. Berman runs at least 15 industry-funded front groups and projects, such as the Center for Union Facts and holds 16 "positions" in those organizations.
Each year, Berman, using his front groups to spread misinformation, spends millions of dollars distracting the public with misleading ads.
As a result of his largesse, in 2006, Richard Berman used $2,000,000 in cash to buy this $3.3 million house.
