Grocers and milk producers are the latest targets of the Physicians
Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), a group that the media
describe as an organization that promotes vegetarian diets, a
non-profit, a public health group that advocates a vegetarian
lifestyle, or simply an organization that advocates a vegan diet.
News reports about their latest lawsuit didnt tell the rest of the
story about the left-wing activists only five percent of whom are
actually doctors.
The PCRM filed a lawsuit against dairy retailers
calling for milk carton labeling warning consumers that milk can
cause serious digestive illness, according to the
PCRM web Site. But the Associated Press, Washington Post,
Washington Times and United Press International didnt tell
audiences about PCRMs links with the radical animal rights
extremist group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA),
and that suing the dairy industry has been a focus of PCRM, as
earlier
reported by the Business & Media Institute.
Also not reported was that the American Medical
Association has called PCRM a fringe organization that uses
unethical tactics and is interested in perverting medical
science, according to
an article on Activistcash.com, a project of the Center for
Consumer Freedom. The article continued, PCRM claims that dairy
causes a host of medical problems like cancer, anemia, diabetes,
and heart disease. The group has compared Christopher Columbuss
introduction of cheese in the New World to the 15th-Century
contagions that ravaged Native American populations. It also makes
the ridiculous argument that policy makers should think of drinking
milk the same way we think of smoking cigars.
In its latest suit, PCRM accused the milk industry and
the U.S. Government of a cover-up of the negative consequences of
milk consumption. The industry's milk marketing campaign, combined
with government support of milk, gives the false impression that
cows' milk is a necessary part of a healthy diet, the lawsuit
stated, according to an October 6 UPI report.
Milton Mills, the lead plaintiff in the case, said that
The health of Americans of color has been sacrificed on the altar
of dairy industry profits in the October 7 Washington Post article
Lactose
Intolerant Say Grocers Hide Risks.
He continued, Millions of Americans are being misled and made to
suffer unnecessary illness by industry marketing campaigns that are
masquerading as health information.
The 10 plaintiffs, who are lactose intolerant, are
seeking pecuniary damages for pain and suffering from vendors and
producers of dairy products. News reports did not address the
question of personal responsibility, though the individuals who
consumed the products did so voluntarily and now demand that the
industry take responsibility.
The articles all pointed out that the defendant
companies declined comment, but didnt mention that it is not wise
to discuss a case to the media while being sued.
The newspapers did include the opposing view, instead
of focusing just on the plaintiffs arguments:
-
The Associated Press
interviewed Susan Ruland of the International Dairy Foods
Association, which is being sued, on October 6. It's just
another attempt on the part of an animal rights group to
attack dairy and milk products. They're trying a new strategy
of suing people right and left. It's unfortunate to see that
when it has to do with an issue of nutrition.
The Washington Post on October 7 interviewed Richard J. Grand, a professor at Harvard Medical School. This is not a health hazard, said Grand, who has studied lactose for about 30 years. It's made out to be a health problem, but it isn't.
UPIs October 6 report included a dairy-industry official who stated that PCRM is suing to further its anti-meat, anti-dairy agenda.
The Washington Times also cited the The International Dairy Foods Association on October 6. Spokeswoman Susan Ruland called the suit a baseless attack on the dairy and meat industries, adding that They have been doing actions like this against the dairy industry for the past 10 years and not one lawsuit has stuck.
