Bob in CT said:"Eating foods that contain high levels of saturated fats raises your
cholesterol and your risk of heart disease and stroke, according to the
American Heart Association."
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18310903/
And what about the tons -- and I means tons -- of studies that do not
support this conclusion? Including the massive study of nurses that
showed a reduction in fat was not associated in any way with heart disease
or stroke?
--
Bob in CT
Don't mistake the AHA as an altruistic "non-profit". It is a "non-
profit" working directly for "for-profits". Propagandising for profits
is their raison-d'etre.
http://cspinet.org/integrity/nonprofits/american_heart_association.html
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
The AHA offers food manufacturers a food certification program,
labeling with the Association's "heart-check mark" foods that are low
in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. To cover the costs of
administering the program, the AHA charges companies on a per product
basis $7,500 for 1-9 products, $6,750 for 10-24 products and $5,940
for 25-99 products in their first year. To renew in subsequent years,
the prices are $4,500, $4,050, and $3,570 respectively. (Email from
Wilma Davis to CSPI, written 5/22/03; on file at CSPI) CSPI estimates
that in 2002, with over 630 products certified, the AHA received over
$2 million from its food certification program. (http://216.110.59.27/
productlist.aspx; accessed 5/22/03)
Merck is spending $400,000 to finance an AHA program teaching 40,000
doctors to treat cholesterol according to guidelines. (Wall Street
Journal, 6/14/98)
American Heart Association was paid $450,000 by the Florida grapefruit
growers for exclusive grapefruit use of the Association's heart-
healthy endorsement. (Phila. Inquirer, 5/7/97)
American Heart Association has received $1.1 million (and an annual
renewal potential of about $300,000) from food manufacturers as
license fees to use the "heart check mark." (Philadelphia Inquirer,
5/7/97)
AHA charges $2,500 (plus a yearly renewal charge of $650) for a
company to put the association's heart-check symbol on a package.
Florida Dept. of Citrus paid $450,000 for exclusive promotion and
advertising contract from 1994 until early 1997. The National
Cattlemen's Beef Association paid $25,000 for its arrangement with the
AHA to promote lean cuts of beef. For an agreement with ConAgra in
1992-93, the AHA received $3,500,000 for a TV program on nutrition.
For companies that want an exclusive agreement with the AHA like that
of the Florida citrus growers, the cost is $55,000 a quarter or
$200,000 a year. Without exclusivity the cost is $25,000 a quarter or
$90,000 a year. (New York Times, 10/22/97)
National Livestock and Meat Board gave $189,000 to the AHA to sponsor
the HeartRide cycling series. AHA says the program will help ensure
that people don't think that AHA recommends abstaining from meat. (IEG
Sponsorship Report, on file at CSPI)
American Heart Association has endorsed only Bayer aspirin. (New
England Journal of Medicine, 9/4/97, p. 700) According to Kramer
Laboratories, Inc. (Miami), "Bayer, as we understand it, contributes
over $500,000 a year to the American Heart Association." (Letter to
AHA, 9/23/96) Web site is sponsored by Pfizer, Campbell, ConAgra
(Healthy Choice), and Hoechst (Tufts Nutrition Navigator web site).
Corporate Contributors greater than $100,000 include:
AstraZeneca LP
Sanofi-Aventis
Bayer Corporation
Braman Motors
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Centocor Inc.
Clear Channel Outdoor
ConAgra Foods
GlaxoSmithKline
IBM Co.
KOS Pharmaceuticals
Merck & Co., Inc.
Microlife Co.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.
PacifiCare
Pfizer, Inc.
Procter & Gamble Company
Roche Diagnostics
Ross Stores
Schering-Plough Corporation
Subway
Toyota Motor Co.
Walgreen Co.
American Heart Association 2005 Annual Report (http://
www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/1137166221820AHA%2005.pdf;
accessed 4/26/06)