New Food Guide Reinforces Importance of Personalization Physical Activity and Consumption of Underconsumed Foods Including Low-Fat and Nonfat Dairy Products

The new graphic also focuses on nutrient-dense foods and encourages
Americans to consume more low-fat and nonfat dairy products, fruits,
vegetables and whole grains. These improvements are extraordinary, particularly in a field
where many workers use very sharp knives or work with live or freshly
harvested animals.

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, The United States Department
of Agriculture's (USDA) newly revised Food Guidance System called MyPyramid
was released today to visually depict the amount of nutrient-dense foods
Americans should consume on a daily basis: 3 cups or equivalent of low-fat
and nonfat milk, cheese or yogurt; 3 ounces of whole grains; 4 1/2 cups of
fruits and vegetables; and 5. Consumers also agreed that the
amount of processing (52%) and/or whether a raw material is altered (60%)
should disqualify a product from making a natural claim. "Consumers
in our survey overwhelmingly agreed that FDA should adopt the 'natural'
standards set forth by USDA for meat and poultry, as the standard for all
foods wishing to make a 'natural' claim. The fact
that there are employees who work on the line and have been working in
the industry for decades speaks volumes about the environment in which
they work.
Workers who are injured on the job receive compensation, and their
rights as workers are guaranteed by federal law. Last year, based upon the success of this pilot
program, Congress directed that it be expanded nationwide for all types
of employers.

* The report claims that the "1980s saw the destruction of good jobs in
the meatpacking industry.

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The emphasis on physical
activity is now reflected directly in the MyPyramid graphic with a picture of
a person walking up a set of stairs on the side of the three-dimensional
pyramid.S." The fact is that jobs in the meatpacking
industry still pay more than twice the minimum wage.

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"
Personalization is a key focus of the new food guide graphic.com/content/presscenter/factsheets_Infokits/
FactSheetLineSpeeds .pdf

* The report claims that "many" workers in the industry are undocumented,
and thus easily exploitable. The "unlawful tactics" cited in one plant are taken from a
report first released 8 years ago -- hardly applicable today.

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The reason
some unions may be unsuccessful in organizing additional meat and
poultry facilities is because the workers see little or no value in
union membership, given the wages being offered industry wide.

* The report criticizes meatpacking plants for having internal security on
staff.

* The report contains a disclaimer footnote which explains that since it
was "not possible " to interview workers in all factories industry-wide,
the specific findings of this report "may not apply to all workplaces at
all times. In addition, the author implies first-
hand knowledge of safety issues in plants which he has never been
inside.

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In fact the
graphic is meant to be just that, simply a graphic. USDA's website
http://www.

Consumers Say FDA Should Take Action to Define What Is 'Natural'

We are
petitioning the Food and Drug Administration to provide an official definition
of 'natural' and qualify for manufacturers what can and can't be labeled as
natural," stated Andy Briscoe, President of the Sugar Association.

Human Rights Watch Report 'Way off the Mark ' Says AMI

com/content/presscenter/factsheets_Infokits/
FactSheetWorkerSafety . OSHA has not
had a significant complaint against a meatpacker for decades.

* The report claims that workers who try to "form unions and bargain
collectively" are "suspended , fired, [or] deported." Many workers have
decided to remain non-union because they see little value in union
membership.

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For more information on line speed:
http://www.

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Healthy Eating
Made Easier. Meatpacking Industry is Proud of Worker Safety, Diversity

WASHINGTON, The following statement should be
attributed to J. In fact, there are so many refutable claims
and irresponsible accusations contained in this 175 page report that it would
take another 175 pages to correct the errors.meatami. Since 1997, the meatpacking industry has
been at the forefront in working with the U.S. belong to labor unions.
Furthermore, added security makes plants safer for all employees as
well.

The ethnic diversity and longevity of employment of our workers is proof
positive that both newcomers and native-born Americans continue to see
meatpacking jobs as a viable step toward the American dream.

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The website features
12 different pyramids to meet the specific and unique needs of all Americans.
MyPyramid reinforces the importance for Americans to take small steps to
reach a healthy lifestyle.
Making healthy food choices from all food groups and including physical
activity are the foundation for life long health and wellness .

* Background: The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, a committee of
experts in their fields established every five years by the USDA and HHS to
review the latest science and advise the government on revisions to the
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, was tasked with using an evidence -based
approach to develop recommendations to the HHS that include foods known to
reduce the nation 's major diet-related health problems

Sources:
-- Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee on the Dietary
Guidelines for Americans, 2005.

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SACRAMENTO, Calif.
The website also offers tips and tools on how to make the new pyramid work for
you. These foods, especially low-fat and nonfat dairy
products, provide a powerhouse of nutrients including potassium, magnesium ,
calcium and vitamin A.gov

Instead of exploiting workers, many plants offer English
as a Second Language classes and citizenship workshops for employees.

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Patrick Boyle, President and CEO, American Meat Institute." The meat and poultry industry has seen a significant
and consistent decline in injury rates and illnesses for more than a
decade. Immigration and
Naturalization Service (now Citizenship and Immigration Service) to
develop, test and implement a program designed to ensure that only those
workers who are in the country legally have access to jobs in the meat
and poultry industry.

-- The report accuses the meatpacking industry of taking advantage of
the limited ability of some of its employees to speak English.

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Our programs
are scientifically sound and tested to ensure behavior change.
An official definition by FDA for making a "natural" claim on foods and
beverages is long overdue. The
opposite is true. Today, only eight (8) percent of non-government employees
in the U.

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WASHINGTON, In a recent poll, 83% of consumers
said there should be regulations for "natural" claims made by food
manufacturers." The report claims that line speeds should be
reduced to address "foreseeable and preventable risk of injury," yet
the injury rate industry wide is lower than ever.meatami. Although employees are
encouraged to learn English on the job, and some companies offer
programs to assist that effort, signs in dominant foreign languages,
as well as bilingual supervisors are commonplace in packing plants. Failure to provide adequate
security on premises would invite attacks on this nation's food supply .

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In addition to
the new graphic, the Food Guidance System, "Steps to a Healthier You," also
provides interactive tools that allow consumers to personalize the Dietary
Guidelines to their individual tastes and nutritional needs.

Among the falsehoods and misleading allegations in the report:
* The report alleges that, "meatpacking work has extraordinarily high
rates of injury .

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"The new pyramid truly reflects the importance of a broad range of
naturally nutrient-rich foods, like low-fat and nonfat milk and dairy
products, vegetables, fruits and whole grains, forming the foundation of the
diet," said registered dietitian Andrea Garen with the Dairy Council of
California . Worker safety and retention has to be a high
priority if meatpacking companies want to stay in business. Major lapses in record keeping
would result in citations and fines leveled by OSHA. Since 9/11, the government has repeatedly warned those in the
food industry that bio-terrorism, or attacks against this nation's food
supply, is a real and possible threat . Lastly, most meatpacking plants are located in
rural areas with generally lower costs of living and generally lower
wages than in larger urban areas.S.

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"
Eighty-five percent said that any food containing anything artificial or
synthetic should not be considered natural.

"
Natural and organic are the fastest growing categories of food purchases. For more information on worker safety statistics:
http://www.pdf

-- The report charges meatpackers with "widespread underreporting of
injuries.

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mypyramid.gov, allows people to personalize the graphic to their
individual caloric and physical activity requirements.
"Consumers are increasingly confused by food labeling claims. The meatpacking industry has always been a gateway
industry for newly arrived immigrants. By contrast, meatpacking plants are
four times above the national average in union membership. But when examining
total compensation packages , including benefits such as health care and
retirement plans, the industry is well above the national average in
comparable salaries.

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-- http://www. Our commitment
to the health , prosperity and happiness of our half million employees can be
demonstrated by the tens of thousands of workers who choose to spend their
careers in our plants.

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Line speeds,
which are monitored by USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service,
have not changed appreciably in 15 years, and are engineered to
ensure that the amount of work reaching an employee is appropriate
and safe.

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5 ounces of lean meat or beans. A survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, on behalf of the
Sugar Association questioned 1000 consumers about the importance of accurate
labeling of food products claiming to be "natural.

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"It also allows people to individualize the pyramid to meet their
specific nutritional and physical activity needs. To make the new food guide and 2005 Dietary
Guidelines actionable in your kitchen, and to learn more about simple steps
you and your family can take to achieve better nutrition and physical
activity, logon to http://www.mypyramid.

-- The report claims that workers are forced to work at "unprecedented
volume and pace .

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Dairy Council of California develops nutrition education programs that are
easy to use and meet the unique needs of students at different grade levels.

The report alleging harsh working conditions and abusive employment
practices in America's meat and poultry processing plants is replete with
falsehoods and baseless claims. This fact should be considered when
comparing meatpacking plant wages to national averages. This underscores the unreliable nature of the
contents of the entire report.

Cooking, kitchen, food preparation and storage safety issues containing information about common problems with foods, and ways to minimize them.

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From taking the stairs at work instead of the
elevator to choosing string cheese as a snack instead of chips , it is the
small things that Americans can change in their eating patterns and physical
activity that can make a difference over time.mealsmatter.org for quick and easy meal and snack
ideas." The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
closely and regularly monitors the record keeping of employers to
ensure that injuries are reported." With a title like "Blood , Sweat and Fear, Workers Rights in
the U. Meat and Poultry Plants," the author obviously and
intentionally mislead readers into assuming that these allegations were
applicable industry-wide.