Questioning ACSH's objectivity

Questioning ACSH's objectivity

CALL FOR EDITOR The Society for Nutrition Education is seeking an Editor for the Journal of Nutrition Education (JNE) for a three-year term beginning...

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CALL FOR EDITOR

The Society for Nutrition Education is seeking an Editor for the Journal of Nutrition Education (JNE) for a three-year term beginning January 1989, to be preceded by a one-year transition period as Editor-Elect. The Editor must be employed in an academic setting and have the following qualifications: • Broad knowledge of nutrition education practice and research • Demonstrated competence in conducting and writing research and in editing manuscripts • Commitment to maintaining JNE as a professional publication of high quality For further information regarding qualifications, responsibilities, remuneration, and application procedure, write to: Dr. Ernestine Vanderveen 7711 Arrowood Court Bethesda, Maryland 20817

Readers' Forum QUESTIONING ACSH's OBJECTIVITY In reading the review of a pamphlet by the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH) ONE 18:143,1986), I was surprised to see that organization called a "consumer education association composed of scientists .... " Your reviewers may have been duped by ACSH's materials. In fact, ACSH is funded largely by food, agricultural, chemical, and energy industries. The group is basically a respectable-sounding mouthpiece for industry, and its positions rarely deviate from the company

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JOURNAL OF NUTRITION EDUCAnON

line. They do not, as your review states, "provide consumers with scientifically balanced reports . . . ." Most news reporters are aware of ACSH's conflict of interest and include that in any stories that quote ACSH. I have enclosed a report on ACSH that we published a couple of years ago.

EDITOR'S COMMENT

This letter was accompanied by an article, "What, Me Worry?" by Peter Harnik, published in the February 1982 issue of Nutrition Action, a publication of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Michael F. Jacobson, Ph.D., Executive Director, Center for Science in the Public Interest, 1501 Sixteenth St. NW, Washington, DC 20036.

VOLUME 18

NUMBER 5

1986