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More than 300 oncologists nationwide have signed The Cancer Project petition calling on Congress to reform federal nutrition policy. Western dietary patterns—based on meats, dairy products, and other fatty foods–are linked to higher risk of several forms of cancer. Unfortunately, agricultural subsidies disproportionately support and encourage these unhealthy eating habits. From 1995 to 2005, the Farm Bill doled out more than $70 billion in food subsidy payments, of which more than three-quarters went to producers of sugar, oil, dairy, meat, and alcohol, while fruit and vegetable farmers received less than 1 percent of government subsidies. This skewed system of subsidies helps explain why a cheeseburger is often cheaper than a salad.
The federal government also buys up millions of dollars worth of bacon, burgers, and other fatty meat and dairy products and dumps them into the national school lunch Program and food assistance programs, such as the special supplemental nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Because diet is one of the greatest contributors to cancer risk, oncologists nationwide are banding together to effect change at the federal level. The petition, which attracted support from more than 300 cancer specialists across the country who believe in The Cancer Project’s mission to make healthy foods more accessible, was delivered to the Senate on October 25. A growing number of lawmakers understand the need for change. Sens. Richard Lugar and Frank Lautenberg introduced the FRESH Act, which could dramatically improve the Farm Bill. The Cancer Project stands behind the efforts of these reformers to reduce subsidies to wealthy agribusiness corporations that produce unhealthy foods and to increase the amount spent on healthy fruits and vegetables. If you are an oncologist interested in joining our Health Professionals Network, please write to info@cancerproject.org. |
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