Orange Growers Irked by Low-Carb Diets

Associated Press via Yahoo! News ^ | January 21, 2004 | MIKE SCHNEIDER

[PJ-Comix]

LAKELAND, Fla. - Tired of losing orange juice drinkers to low-carb diets, Florida's citrus growers are fighting back.

The state Department of Citrus on Wednesday changed its marketing strategy to convince consumers that orange juice can be compatible with the Atkins diet as well as the popular weight-loss plan pushed by television talk show host Dr. Phil McGraw.

The department's lawyer also is reviewing legal options against some books, such as "The South Beach Diet," that discourage orange juice for dieting purposes because of its high sugar levels.

About $1.8 million will be spent on a marketing campaign to combat the bad image caused by low-carb diets. The department is abandoning a marketing campaign that targeted moms and young professional women.

"There are powerful, negative messages against us," said Bob Crawford, executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus. "We're not going to stand and take it."

Florida's $9 billion citrus industry has reason to be concerned. Orange juice consumption has fallen from 888 million gallons during the 2000-2001 growing season to an expected 844 million gallons in the current season.

Citrus officials said a noticeable drop occurred last March when low-carb diets began to reach a critical mass.

"People are dropping out of the market," said Dan Gunter, a consultant for the Department of Citrus.

Crawford said the Atkins diet and Dr. Phil's diet leave room for orange juice consumption. But he said lawyers were reviewing claims against orange juice made in "The South Beach Diet" and other publications.

"I think if people write things that aren't true about our product, we'll first talk about it with them and hopefully avoid litigation," Crawford said.

In "The South Beach Diet," Dr. Arthur Agatston urges readers to eat fruits rather than drink fruit juice.

"Again, fruit juices are a big source of trouble, in part because we've come to associate them with healthy habits," Agatston writes in the best-selling book. "But they also bring with them high levels of fructose, which can be the undoing of any effort to lose weight."

The publisher, Rodale Inc., said it stands by the book's "sound nutritional advice."

Most of Florida's oranges are processed into juice. Florida is the nation's largest producer of oranges and second in the world to Brazil.

[Axenolith]

My wife is pretty much total Atkins maintenance and I'm a bit so-so, mostly eliminating the processed sugars and flours. We eat the crap out of oranges and it doesn't degrade it much, if at all...

[Hugin]

One of the problems with staying on Atkins has always been so hard to keep to if don't eat a lot of meals at home. One good effect of the current "fad" is that it will be a lot easier to stay on with so many new alternatives.

[adam_az]

well I have degree from Cornell topop, and my doctor says cut the aturated fats if you want a healthy heart..Atkins died fat

Your doctor is only partially correct, btw. Cut the saturated fats... if you eat typical amounts of carbohydrate. Of course, there's lots of things you can eat on the Atkins diet that aren't high in saturated fat. Pork, chicken, lean red meat, fish. Even Atkins advised against eating nothing but eggs, cheese, and t-bones.

Go chew on your low-fat strawman.

BTW - Yeah, what a fattie! the photo below is from Time magazine in 2002.

[Hugin]

Atkins died fat

You shouldn't believe that a**hole idiot Mayor Bloomberg.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I cant believe the American public is so stupid as to follow these fad diets...

So we should just continue to be fat-asses? With all the talk about America becoming an obese nation they should thank the Atkins diet for reversing the trend.

[grimalkin]

A lot of people ignore the maintenance portion of Atkins and simply assume it's all Induction. Induction to them is also meat and fat and nothing else (rolls eyes). It's ignorance.

Maintenance is extremely flexible... whole grains, legumes, occasional potato for some folks, etc.. The only thing Atkins ever discouraged the use of long-term was refined sugars.

[Delphinium]

I bought that book too, but haven't read it.

I think its important to stick to anything.

My problem is I am addicted to carbs like an alcoholic is to booze. I get started and can't stop even when it makes me sick, and achy.

Those “Atkins”, and “Carborite” candy bars help a lot.

[finnman69]

Go chew on your low-fat strawman.

I will. I will go enjoy my ice cream, bagels, pasta and all the other things Atkins dieters deprive themselves of.

[Triple Word Score]

I thought this Food Review was hilarious:

Navel Orange

Submitted by Kate Hahn

Don't buy if you want a good car-food!!! I could not get this to fit in my cup holder. And when I (finally) opened the so-called "wrapper" (which was a nice orange color, I'll give them that... BUT "Hello nail salon? I'm coming in for an emergency repair!") it turned out it was not all one piece, but "segments." I did not expect this! If there are going to be a lot of pieces, they should make that clear on the package! They should make it more like fries, which come in a container (which doesn't collapse when you open it—geez!) so you can eat one at a time, no problem. This food almost caused me to have an accident! Pro: tastes like Tropicana (the pulpy one).

From this site:

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/newfood/

[Megben]

Well, I can speak for the South Beach one. I've never eaten so many veggies in my life. Fruit gets added back in after 14 days. Unfortunately most of the stuff that's out now for low carb diets don't work for the South Beach Diet. It's hard to wrap my brain around the difference between low carb and good carb. And turkey bacon, 2 slices, is about all they mention on the SB plan. I know I'll do my part with Florida oranges. I'll just be eating them whole.

[toothseaquer]

Not everyone can handle the same load of carbohydrates, particularly the concentrated sugars in fruit juices. I am one of those people. It has been a very long time since I drank orange juice and ate an orange. My son bought a house with many orange trees on it, and to my dismay I won't be able to eat them. :(

[Megben]

Which is why the South Beach diet is low saturated fat.

[adam_az]

"I will. I will go enjoy my ice cream, bagels, pasta and all the other things Atkins dieters deprive themselves of."

I should have expected another piece of misinformation, after having debunked your last lie. What are you, a shill or lobbyist for the OJ industry or something?

There are low carb versions of every single one of those products now. Some of them even taste good. ;)

Many people would rather be a normal weight than eat bagels. How sad that you look down your nose at them, as if eating bagels makes you superior. Big deal. You eat bagels. They surely aren't doing much for your IQ.

[cyborg]

but you can be a compassionate conservative and give them away to your friends

[TankerKC]

The department's lawyer also is reviewing legal options against some books, such as "The South Beach Diet," that discourage orange juice for dieting purposes because of its high sugar levels.

I just have to laugh.

[cyborg]

Did the word 'lawyer' do it for you too?

[Triple Word Score]

I recently became aware that I've never had a real bagel anyway. Apparently if you don't live IN NYC you can only get things that look like bagels but aren't, if NYers are to be believed.

[adam_az]

It's true.

I live in AZ but I carpetbagged from NY.

I think it's NYC water. Same with the pizza.

[TankerKC]

Right. Because the OJ industry has a right to sell OJ to us. How dare we infringe on that.

[Triple Word Score]

I know that the pizza I had from Arnies (sp?) in Lafayette, Indiana, was the best pizza I've ever had in my life. It's almost enough to make me willing to move there, as long as I could leave in winter and whenever Purdue is winning anything. Is it Chicago-style or what? At any rate, my gosh, the rest of the country is seriously deprived in the pizza department. I don't know how it compares to NYC pizza.

Sorry, shouldn't highjack a low-carb thread with pizza longing.