SFA members address snack industry issues at Day in DC -- Spring Summit. (Serving the International Snack Food Industry)

Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery, June, 2003 by David W. Dexter

Sr. VP of Government and Public Affairs

When SFA wanted to learn the federal government's vision on fitness and nutrition issues, it went directly to the nation's top food regulator, Dr. Mark McClellan, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Commissioner of Food and Drugs. During a speech at SFA's Day in DC -- Spring Summit, May 14, 2003, McClellan outlined three principles that guide the Agency's thinking on obesity: (1) there are no unhealthy foods, only unhealthy diets; (2) there is an imbalance between healthy and unhealthy choices; and, (3) energy in must be matched by energy out.

"The actual level of caloric intake hasn't changed much over the last 20 years;' McClellan observed. "Obesity has more to do with changes in lifestyle choices," he told...