Those veterinarians who have an opinion, which ones have had more than a one-semester course on diet/nutrition in the past five years? And of those, to what extent have they studied the correlations between nutritional uptake and sub clinical disease, physiological problems, and petrochemical imbalances? Then, I might want to try this one out: Of those veterinarians still “in the running,” how many are aware of how the Sub-committee on Canine Nutrition sets its standards, or on what basis those standards are set. Finally, I might also want to know whether they are aware of what Dr. Ben Scheffey, noted Cornell researcher, has said about “crude” protein and other issues related to feeding dogs. I raise these questions solely in the interest of a more open inquiry into the body of knowledge available on the feeding of domesticated dogs.

Boy Steve those are hard questions. I can honestly answer no to all of them. As you probably know its difficult to pack all the information that a veterinarian needs to start practice into 4 years so there is little time to study canine nutrition in depth. It almost seemed from your answer that you might harbor a little latent hostility toward the veterinary profession. Incidently as I read your reply there are at least 3 and maybe 4 questions, they do have time to teach us to count. That being said and in spite of my limitation, 25 years as a practicing veterinarian and 48 years association with my father’s and my hunting dogs leads me to the strong belief that high quality dog food enhances a dog’s health.

I handle Science Diet at our clinics but also recommend Iams, Purina Pro Plan and O.N.E., and Nutro Max. IMHO Mike McDonald DVM I don’t know Steve, so I can’t respond as to whether he has buried anger but his questions might have been designed to get more people to really *think* about what they put into their dogs’ bodies, or their own for that matter. Commercial foods have only been around for a handful of generations, and call me cynical, but a lot of the corporate conglomerates that own the pet food companies have their eye on the bottom line, and the ever-changing ingredients profiles in many commercial dog foods proves that point. After doing a lot of research into dog foods and better nutrition, I feed a modified-raw diet (which would be all-raw if I were the only human involved), and yes, I am quite confident that I am providing a balanced diet to my GSPs. Both of my vets (one allopathic, one holistic) know how I feed, and have been very impressed with the energy levels, coat/skin/teeth, bloodwork, and overall good health of my dogs, particularly my elder statesman who, at 13, still runs 3 miles a day with me.

It is a very common misconception that medical school creates a doctor. It is irrelevant if med students get nutrition courses or not because most will never deal with a patients nutritional needs. Why would a med student going into radiation oncology, rahab med, psych, radiology, etc.. need nutrition courses? That is why there are various residencies and the training is very specific. I cannot speak for any specialty except general surgery in which nutrition is mandatory.

In both the written and oral general surgery boards (exams after completion of a 5-7 year general surgery residency) there are many questions on nutrition in the critical care questions. In the hospital setting nutritionists are consulted for patient assessment when needed. Lets face it, a nutritionist will always know the most about nutrition because that is what they do exclusively. Seeking students in grades 4-5 to join our nutrition project. Teachers can participate in our entire project, which is outlined below, or just have their students submit data (a complete list of what a student ate on March 7) to help us.

March is National Nutrition Month. Nutrition Project *Pre-Activity- On March 7, ask your students to record exactly what they ate for each meal and for snack. Ask them to be as specific as possible (Portion size, how many, etc.) (Do not explain why.) *Begin a unit on healthy eating and the food pyramid. Some of the resources that will be used by our teachers include: 1)Kids Food CyberClub TeacherÕs Guide-a complete teaching guide to their web site including lesson plans and activity masters- available free online. 2)Dole 5 a Day CD-a free CD from the Dole company. See #4 under Computer Activities. 3)

National Geographic Society, 1985, Nutrition: Eating Well (a video tape used as an introduction) 4)SVE Instructional Materials,1980, The Nutrition Connection A set of audio tapes and film strips with lesson plans and activity masters.) 5)Discover Science, Scott Foresman & Co. 1991 (our science text) Computer Activities 1-Have students type up their daily food list so it can be sent to others in the project. Email this list to me by March 14. Be sure to include your school name, teacherÕs name, school address, and email address. All participating classes will receive a compiled list to analyze.

“In this fascinating book we learn how powerful, intrusive, influential, and invasive big industry is and how alert we must constantly be to prevent it from influencing not only our own personal nutritional choices, but those of our government agencies. Marion Nestle has presented us with a courageous and masterful exposé.” — Julia Child “This remarkable book is essential reading for anyone who wishes to understand how it has come to be that the richest nation in the world is eating itself to death. . . . Straight reporting about the shaping of food policy, as this volume makes clear, is certain to offend some very powerful players.”

Joan Dye Gussow, author of This Organic Life “Food politics underlie all politics in the United States. There is no industry more important to Americans, more fundamentally linked to our well-being and the future well-being of our children. Nestle reveals how corporate control of the nation’s food system limits our choices and threatens our health. If you eat, you should read this book.” — Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation “‘Blockbuster’ is one of the best ways that I could describe this book.

A major contribution to understanding the interaction of politics and science, especially the science of nutrition, it is of extreme value to virtually all policy makers and to everyone concerned with the American diet.” — Sheldon Margen, editor of the Berkeley Wellness Letter “A devastating analysis of how the naked self-interest of America’s largest industry influences and compromises nutrition policy and government regulation of food safety. . . . A clear translation of often obscure studies and cases, the writing is accessible and lively.” — Warren Belasco, author of Appetite for Change.

A promised and long-awaited revision of FDA biotech-food policy is expected to make some improvements in oversight, but as outlined in the agency’s press release, it is expected to fall far short of what is needed to ensure the safety of biotech foods. In drafting its 1992 policy, FDA representatives relied primarily on an opinion by FDA attorneys that food and drug law did not give the agency responsibility for labeling transgenic foods, and the relevant food and drug law has not changed. Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio) and Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) have introduced legislation calling to alter this situation.

The Genetically Engineered Food Safety Act, co-authored by Kucinich, provides for mandatory safety testing of genetically modified foods before they are released into the food supply. Many food-safety activists target food manufacturers, food retailers and fast-food chains when demanding a recall of genetically modified foods. Given the pervasiveness of biofoods in the marketplace, and the challenges in detecting them, their time and energy would be better spent supporting legislation proposed to change regulatory policy that victimizes food manufacturers, retailers and consumers alike.

Write a letter to the Journal of Nutrition asking them to reveal the names of the peer reviewers that passed this study, and their history of funding from biotechnology departments at their institutions and the biotechnology industry, and any past or present financial ties with Monsanto, including stock holdings. State that you make this request because the study is crucial for the FDA’s regulatory policy, and the conclusions of the study appear to be at odds with some of the data.