NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Tuesday 15 January 2002
CONTACT:
Simon Chaitowitz, Communications Director
tel: 202-686-2210, ext. 309; simonc@pcrm.org
Milk Is Ineffective for Building Strong
Bones, Doctors Say
PCRM to Hold "Counter" News Briefing Outside Dairy Promotion on 17 January
WHAT: The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) will hold a news
briefing right across the hall from "Calcium Summit II," a dairy industry
promotional event scheduled for Thursday 17 January. Topics to be covered:
- PCRM nutrition experts will show that milk does not reliably improve bone health, and
that other factors, especially exercise and diets rich in vegetables and fruits, are
essential for strong bones.
- PCRM will unveil its new children's bone health campaign.
- PCRM will share FOIA-obtained documents revealing that Calcium Summit II was
orchestrated by the National Dairy Council's advertising agency, BSMG Worldwide.
"Calcium Summit II is essentially an industry promotion disguised as a health
conference," says PCRM president Neal Barnard, M.D. "The truth is, milk has
serious adverse effects and we're better off without it."
BACKGROUND: The dairy industry—in hopes of increasing sales—is
conducting a massive misinformation campaign to persuade the public to drink more milk.
Many nutrition experts, PCRM's among them, believe that while calcium is an essential part
of the diet, there is no "calcium crisis" in the United States. The real threats
to bone health are lack of exercise, lack of sunlight, and too much salt and animal
protein in the diet.
WHEN: 10:15 a.m. (or immediately following Session 1 of Calcium Summit II),
Thursday 17 January 2002.
WHERE: International Trade Center/Ronald Reagan Building, Meridian C, 1300
Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C.
SPEAKERS: Neal Barnard, M.D., PCRM president, nutrition researcher, and author
of seven books on health, including Eat Right, Live Longer, and Amy J. Lanou,
Ph.D., PCRM nutrition director, author of Healthy Eating for Life for Children
(John Wiley & Sons, February 2002).
WHO: Credentialed media only.
VISUALS:
- Artwork from PCRM's new "Strong Bones" consumer education campaign.
- Broadcast-quality B-roll of dairy-free calcium alternatives.
INTERVIEWS: PCRM nutrition experts will be available for interviews throughout
the day.
CONTACT: Ms. Simon Chaitowitz,
202-686-2210, ext. 309; onsite cell (for 17 January only): 202-302-0462; Jeanne Stuart
McVey, 202-686-2210, ext. 316; onsite cell: 415-509-1833.
Founded in 1985, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is a nonprofit
health organization that promotes preventive medicine, especially good nutrition, and
higher standards in research.
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