Milling & Baking News - July 6, 2004 - 20

I N D U S T R Y

A C T I V I T I E S

H.H.S. secretary says Americans
are 'just too darn fat'
WILLIAMSBURG, VA. - Saying the
country "is just too darn fat," Secretary
of Health and Human Services Tommy
G. Thompson called out Americans
for their poor eating habits and lack of
physical activity as part of a three-day
TIME/ABC News Obesity Summit in
Williamsburg, held June 2-4.
In a speech to participants at the obesity summit, Mr. Thompson said the nation is in the midst of a health crisis, with
obesity at epidemic proportions.
"If you've been feeling the ground
beneath your feet getting lower, perhaps
it's because there are a billion overweight people walking around on it,"
Mr. Thompson said. "A disproportionate number of them live here in America.
In fact, two out of every three of us are
overweight or obese."
Mr. Thompson noted that while the
obesity problem is vast, the solution is
achievable, and offered his vision for
turning the tide.

He said the department has requested
$125 million to help communities promote disease prevention and health as
part of its Steps to a Healthier US initiative, which comes on top of $44 million
that will be disbursed this year to support the grant program. The department also has released an additional $4
million, through the Administration on
Aging, in continuing evidenced-based
prevention grants.
"The message that permeates these
programs - and this is our most important message, that we cannot stress
enough - is that small steps can make
a difference," Mr. Thompson said. "We
want people to understand that they
don't need to make drastic changes to
their lifestyle to be more healthy."
Mr. Thompson also noted that the H.H.S.
will expand its public service campaign with
the Ad Council, including adding a new advertising campaign targeting children.
Of interest to grain-based foods, Mr.

BIO names Darragh to head new
post in food and agriculture section
WASHINGTON - Sean Darragh has been
hired to fill the newly created executive
director position in the food and agriculture
section at the Biotechnology Industry Organization, effective Aug. 9.
In his new position, Mr. Darragh will direct diplomatic, legislative, regulatory and
communications strategy and manage the
day-to-day operations, budget and staff of
the section.
He will report to BIO president Carl B.
Feldbaum and will be accountable to the
BIO food and agriculture section governing body.
Mr. Darragh most recently was the deputy vice-president of international affairs
at Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, where he led advocacy,
alliance development and public affairs
initiatives in the United States and abroad
on intellectual property, World Trade Organization matters, tariff and non-tariff barriers and customs issues.
Prior to working at PhRMA, Mr. Darragh
worked in several capacities within the U.S.
government, including principle deputy
assistant secretary of defense at the Pentagon, where he oversaw export policies into
Latin America; principle negotiator at the
office of U.S. Trade Representative, where
he managed the agricultural and life sciences division; senior adviser to the deputy
secretary of the Treasury; and director for
20 / Milling & Baking News, July 6, 2004

global issues and multilateral affairs on the
National Security Council staff.
Mr. Darragh commanded two artillery
batteries in the U.S. Army and graduated
from U.S. Army Ranger School, Air Assault
School and Airborne School.
He received a master of arts in law and
diplomacy from Tufts University and a
bachelor of science in engineering from the

Thompson said the department continues to work on revising the Dietary
Guidelines and has developed a new
research strategy on obesity at the National Institutes of Health.
"This year, we will spend more
than $400 million on obesity-related
research," he said. "Because there is no
single cause of all human obesity, we
must explore every aspect of prevention
and treatment, including behavioral,
cultural, socio-economic, environmental, physiologic and genetic factors."
Mr. Thompson stressed that the alarm
has been sounded on obesity, putting the
government, food industry and families
in a take-action position.
"I'm convinced that we are approaching the tipping point on obesity," he said.
"This is an incredibly hopeful moment
when we can truly change America's
outlook on obesity. By engaging every
sector of our society - the government,
corporations, local organizations, communities and families - we can apply
the well-placed lever needed to change
the way Americans look at healthy living
and change behaviors." MBN

U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
"Biotechnology in the food and agriculture sector will continue to be a vital
area of innovation contributing to health,
environmental, and economic benefits for
consumers everywhere, but with any new
technology, the industry faces regulatory
hurdles, trade barriers and communications challenges," Mr. Darragh said. "It's
a full agenda, and one that I look forward
to taking on. I am delighted to have the
opportunity to play this leadership role
at BIO." MBN

Alpha Baking receives supplier award
CORAL GABLES, FLA. - Restaurant Ser- area, provides Burger King outlets throughvices, Inc., the exclusive purchasing agent out North America with a comprehensive
and manager for Burger King Corp.'s sup- line of fresh and frozen buns and bread. MBN
ply chain, has named
Chicago-based
Alpha
Baking Co. as its Supplier of the Year.
Ed
Greene,
vicepresident of food and
packaging purchasing
for Restaurant Services,
said the company chose
Alpha Baking for the
award because of the
On hand to congratulate the award recipients were, from left,
"exceptional quality of
Ed Greene, vice-president of food and packaging purchasing,
its service and its strong
Restaurant Services, Inc.; Larry Marcucci, president, Alpha Bakrecord of innovation."
ing Co.; Roger Swift, chairman of RSI; Mike Marcucci, chairman
Alpha Baking, the largand chief executive officer, Alpha Baking; and George Hoffman,
est baking company in
president and c.e.o., RSI.
the metropolitan Chicago
bakingbusiness.com / world-grain.com

http://www.bakingbusiness.com http://www.world-grain.com

Milling & Baking News - July 6, 2004

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