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Restaurants Pay Professor to Oppose Calorie Rules
By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 19, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
John Del Signore
Published Feb 19, 2008
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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The incoming president of the Obesity Society has filed a 33-page affidavit questioning the city’s new rules requiring chain restaurants to prominently display calorie information on their menus. Dr. David B. Allison (pictured), a professor of biostatistics and nutrition at the University of Alabama, cites a study indicating that dieters who get distracted by calorie information are more likely to overeat. And even if the daunting calorie details prompt diners to go for lower calorie items, they'll just end up overeating later because their healthier choice won't really satiate them.
But Allison’s affidavit has drawn fire from colleagues because he was paid an undisclosed sum to write it on behalf of the New York State Restaurant Association, which is suing to block the new rules. Dr. Allison has previously consulted for Frito-Lay, Kraft Foods and Coca-Cola, a company he defended against a proposed ban in schools by citing research showing that birds put on weight when food is scarce. Contradicting their president-elect, the Obesity Society released a statement last week supporting calorie labeling on menus, which starts at the end of next month and includes beverages, too.
According to the Times, many of the group’s 1,800 members are livid that Dr. Allison “wants to hold back information from people that helps them make healthy choices.” In defending his affidavit, Dr. Allison said, “I’m happy to be involved in the pursuit for truth. Sometimes, when I’m involved in the pursuit for truth, I’m hired by the Federal Trade Commission. Sometimes I help them. Sometimes I help a group like the restaurant industry.” And sometimes the restaurant industry helps by sending out nice, fat checks!
Tagged
calorie
chain
david
fast food
kraft foods
law
new york
new york state
obesity
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restaurant association
restaurants
rules
society
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the city
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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