Release No. 0207.99

Laura Trivers (202) 720-4623
laura.trivers@usda.gov

Jim Borland (202) 690-0469
jim.borland@usda.gov

USDA, FOOD COMPANIES, PARENTING MAGAZINE JOIN
TO PROMOTE CHILDREN'S HEALTH

WASHINGTON, May 12, 1999 Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today announced a partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and eleven national food companies and a national parenting magazine to use the Department's newly-released Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children to promote good nutrition and health among America's youth.

"The new children's food guide pyramid is a terrific tool to teach kids how to choose good, nutritious foods for a healthy, active lifestyle," Glickman said. "These new partnerships with the food industry will help us place this positive advice where it can be most effective on America's breakfast, lunch, and dinner tables."

Glickman, on behalf of USDA, today signed agreements with Bestfoods, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Dannon Company, Inc., Tarrytown, N.Y., Dole Food Co., San Mateo, Calif., Earthgrains Co., St. Louis, Mo., General Mills, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., Kellogg USA, Battle Creek, Mich., Kraft Foods, Inc., New York, N.Y., Quaker Oats Co., Chicago, Ill., Seneca Foods Corp., Pittsford, N.Y., Sunkist Growers, Inc., Sherman Oaks, Calif., Tyson Foods, Springdale, Ark., and with Child Magazine, New York, N.Y.

Under the agreement, USDA will work with all companies using the Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children in education and marketing campaigns to help ensure that the information they present is accurate and complete.

"Our bottom line is healthy children," Glickman said. "And that's a goal we all share, whether in American government or corporate America."

The partnerships are part of USDA's continuing nutrition education outreach efforts, which include working with other government agencies to reach their customers with positive nutrition messages and forming innovative partnerships with the private and non-profit sectors to promote better nutrition. USDA also is incorporating the Pyramid and the Dietary Guidelines into USDA programs like WIC, food stamps, and school meals.

"We reach millions of children ages 2 to 6 every day in child care centers, elementary schools, WIC clinics, and Food Stamp offices," said Glickman. "With the children's food guide pyramid poster on the walls of these centers, clinics, and offices we'll do better than just reach them we'll teach them."

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