Ooops Atkins Recants the backtrack???

[K Walt]

It seems as if Atkins (the faceless corporation) is backtracking on the 'backtracking' recently reported in the media. See the thread on that very issue in this forum.

NOW, they're claiming that the press got it wrong and the didn't REALLY put that 'limit' on saturated fat.

Here's the link http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=115415

Yipe.

My advice is, ignore the media, ignore the PR, and just keep doing what works. There is WAY too much silliness going on.

[doreen T]

My advice is, ignore the media, ignore the PR, and just keep doing what works. There is WAY too much silliness going on.
No kidding :rolleyes:

Thanks for posting this. Nonetheless, there will still need to be a lot of damage control done to allay the fears caused by the misinformation published this past weekend. :(


Doreen

[katwoman]

Of course, to give the Atkins corp the benefit of the doubt--the media does have a nasty habit of issuing incorrect info. Getting the story out quickly seems much more important than getting facts straight.

[MyJourney]

yeah but 20% is a precise number.

I cant really see how they can just make that up.

[judyr]

yeah but 20% is a precise number.

I cant really see how they can just make that up.
I Can! If you have ever been "quoted" in the media you would know that they atribute to you things you never said, things others said, and things the reporter said but you disagreed with.

[Grendeldog]

Judyr is right, in the few times I have ever been quoted in the media, I can count on one finger the number of times I was quoted correctly. Two of the times were blatant errors giving the OPPOSITE info of what I said. I don't think the reporters were trying to be dishonest (the topics weren't anything to bother being dishonest about), they simply didn't pay close enough attention or didn't remember things correctly.

[gotbeer]

Atkins Fights Back Against Diet Critics

By Helen William, PA News, 1/19/2004

link to article (http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2427625)

Claims that the company behind the Atkins diet is backtracking on the benefits of its controversial low-carbohydrate high-protein plan were denied today.

Atkins Nutritionals Inc hit back at US and UK media reports, saying: “Atkins has not changed.”

The diet relies on cutting down the amount of refined carbohydrates like sugar and white flour while encouraging people to eat saturated fat and proteins including red meat.

It has become a multi-million pound a global phenomenon since 1972.

But it has also drawn criticism from health experts and nutritionists who link it to an increased risk of heart disease and kidney disorders.

In a defiant statement ANI said: “Saturated fat remains a valuable part of the Atkins nutritional approach.

“And, again, there is absolutely no science to support any claims that eating red meat and saturated fat as part of your Atkins programme is anything other then beneficial.”

The diet, founded by Dr Robert Atkins, is “safe, effective and beneficial,” ANI said.

The Atkins dieter is urged to eat fat and protein such as poultry, fish, shellfish, eggs and red meat, as well as pure natural fats such as butter, mayonnaise, olive oil, safflower, sunflower and other vegetable oils.

Rumours of a turnaround were triggered by reports of Colette Heimowitz, director of research and education for Atkins Nutritionals, telling health professionals that saturated fat should be limited to 20% of a dieter’s calorific intake.

It was said the company wanted health professionals and dieters to “feel comfortable” with the diet.

A Food Standards Agency spokeswoman said: “Our nutritional experts recommend that saturated fats should contribute on average no more than 11% of daily calorie intake.

“Any more than that on a regular basis could be a recipe for coronary heart disease.

“The key to a healthy balanced diet is to eat a variety of foods – more fruit and veg, more breads and cereals and less fats, sugar and salt.”

The FSA warned that low-carbohydrate diets tend to be high in fat and eating a diet high in fat, especially saturated fat, could increase the risk of coronary heart disease, obesity, diabetes and some cancers.

The FSA instead recommended eating at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

[cc48510]

yeah but 20% is a precise number.

I cant really see how they can just make that up.

20% is exactly double the 10% recomended by the Government, as was the 60% Total Fat [Gov't Recomendation being 30%.] My guess is they chose those numbers so they could use the phrase "twice the amount of (saturated) fat recomended..."

[VALEWIS]

Here's my guess. She said as part of a conversation about saturated fat something like: "We have found that most people on Atkins tend to eat around 20% saturated fat on average, the rest coming from good vegetable oils."

Val

[digwig]

Here's the text of an email I just received from the Atkins Center (next to a picture of Dr. Atkins). I'm sure lots of our members will get it too, but I'm posting it here for those that may not.

We want to assure you that when you follow the Atkins Nutritional Approach (ANA), the consumption of all forms of natural fat is perfectly safe. Let us also remind you that despite numerous studies that have supported the safety and efficacy of the ANA, the conventional nutrition community has no scientific research to back up its claims that consuming fat (including saturated fat) is bad for you in the context of a controlled carbohydrate lifestyle.

The fight goes on—and will no doubt continue. The latest attack comes in the form of an outrageous article in The New York Times, claiming that we at Atkins have changed our position on fat consumption. Loud and clear, with the notable exception of man-made trans fats (which Dr. Atkins long ago identified as dangerous), all fats are a healthy component of the Atkins lifestyle.
Atkins has not changed its basic tenets in more than 30 years. So what is new? Well, Atkins is changing the way people around the world eat and that should keep us in the headlines for years to come!

[VALEWIS]

Someone else on a separate thread pointed out that she had said that they had analyzed the recipes in DANDR and the sat fats average 20%....so that's where they got that figure it seems.. typical media stuff..

But hey, the sheer numbers of LC'ers is going to turn the tide...we can just sit back and watch it all unfold.

Val