A TOTAL CROCK (The worst "study" in scientific history?) Dear Friends, Another fraudulent study brought to you by the same dairy company that owns Betty Crocker. How appropriate. This one is a total crock. How did the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) let this one slip through the peer-review process and get published in the April 24, 2002 issue? Perhaps Elsie the Cow did the peer-reviewing? On page 2059 of the same April 24th issue, JAMA lists their key objectives. I love these two: "The Journal has a social responsibility to improve the total human condition and to promote the integrity of science." "To report American Medical Association policy, as appropriate, while maintaining editorial independence, objectivity, and responsibility." The severely flawed study was partially funded by General Mills, who conveniently owns the Haagen Dazs ice cream company, Yoplait Yogurt, and Wheaties and Cheerios. Conflicts of interest? You decide. I've discovered an ENORMOUS flaw in the study. You are not going to believe this one. Funny thing. Nobody from the media was responsible enough to discover the same thing I did. Oh, well. We know who buys the media's loyalties. GOT MILK ADS? Yesterday's headlines: "Dairy consumption prevents obesity" Today's lead story on your nightly news: "Dairy consumption prevents diabetes and obesity." Future magazine stories (3 month lead time): "Dairy consumption prevents obesity, diabetes, and heart disease in young adults." What are all of the above based upon? I spoke to the senior author of the JAMA study, Mark Pereira, Ph.D. (617-355-2375). We spoke for 25 minutes, and I found Pereira to be likeable. Of six authors, only one is a medical doctor. Pereira gave me permission to quote him. I had him repeat this statement a few times, in order to accurately quote him: "Our research is incomplete, and we are not suggesting changes in the dietary guidelines." Incomplete? I'll say! While the study's author is not suggesting changes in the way people eat, the media and dairy industry will do just that. A sample of 3,157 males were included in the study. Diets were compared to diabetes rates. In order to assess an association between disease and dairy consumption, the authors placed restrictive guidelines that compromised their conclusions. The study is so flawed, that it is laughable. When I read the author's words on page 2082, I wanted to cry: "We identified dairy products as any items reported during the diet history interview that were either 100% dairy (eg, milk) or included dairy as one of the main ingredients (eg, dips made with sour cream). We did not include mixed dishes." I was astounded. When I spoke with the senior author (Pereira), I asked: "You did not include pizza?" He responded: "No." "Macaroni and cheese?" "Nope." "Milk and cereal? "No. The grains would have compromised the glycemic index." I could not hide my anger and disappointment. "Don't you realize that half of the 170 billion pounds of milk produced in America go towards making pizza?" He was surprised. "I didn't know that." I told Pereira that in 1970, the average American ate ten pounds of cheese, and that last year, the average American ate 31 pounds. It takes ten pounds of milk to produce one pound of hard cheese. "Cheeseburgers?" "No." "Chicken Parmagiana?" "No." "Cakes, cream cheese on bagels, milkshakes, cream sauce, cheese sauce, milk chocolate?" "No, no, no, no, no, no!" The terrible thing is that the media reports just one thing. Dairy prevents obesity and diabetes. The terrible thing is that those dairy products that cause obesity and diabetes were not even considered by the researchers. Here's obesity information: http://www.notmilk.com/f.html Here's diabetes information: http://www.notmilk.com/d.html I received hundreds of letters yesterday from people asking: "What can we do?" Let me tell you what you can do. Your local newspaper contains a fax number or EMAIL address for letters to the editor. Your television news station has a telephone number. Please. Get active. Send this letter, or write your own. The dairy industry will do everything they can to promote this lie. They will spend millions of dollars in advertising, and three months from now, magazines will repeat these same distortions. You must make a difference. __________________________________________________ Robert Cohen author of: MILK A-Z Executive Director (notmilkman@notmilk.com) Dairy Education Board http://www.notmilk.com This file: http://www.notmilk.com/forum/888.txt Do you know of a friend or family member with one or more of these milk-related problems? Do them a huge favor and forward the URL or this entire file to them. Do you know of someone who should read these newsletters? If so, have them send a empty Email to: notmilk-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and they will receive it (automatically)!