CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer highlighted the latest study from the Center for Science in the Public Interest during a news brief on Tuesday’s Situation, but omitted the left-wing bent of the organization, referring to it as merely an “activist watchdog group.”
The CSPI released their “Ten Riskiest Foods Regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug and Administration” earlier in the day, and the CNN anchor noted that these edible items are “some of the healthiest foods all of us could eat, but according to an activist watchdog group, they could still make us all of us sick.” He continued with a summary of the organization’s findings, including a paraphrase of the study’s title: “Researchers say leafy greens, eggs, tuna, oysters and potatoes are among the top ten riskiest foods regulated by the FDA.”
Blitzer did mention CSPI during the brief and how it’s “urging the Senate to follow the House and pass some legislation,” but didn’t mention the group’s left-of-center ideology. The anchor wasn’t alone in making this omission. Carolyn Plocher of MRC’s Business and Media Center noticed that ABC’s Sharyn Alfonsi also “conveniently forgot to mention” this detail during her report on Tuesday’s Good Morning America.
The transcript of Blitzer’s news brief, which aired 23 minutes into the 5 pm Eastern hour of Tuesday’s Situation Room:
BLITZER: They are some of the healthiest foods all of us could eat, but according to an activist watchdog group, they could still make us all of us sick. Researchers say leafy greens, eggs, tuna, oysters and potatoes are among the top ten riskiest foods regulated by the FDA. They’re said to have caused 1,500 food-borne outbreaks since 1990, and 50,000 reported illnesses. The severity of the bacterial and viral illnesses range from stomach aches to death. The Center for Science and the Public Interest says there’s no reason to give up on any of these foods, but it is urging the Senate to follow the House and pass some legislation. The reforms, they say, that would- quote, ‘improve on some of the food safety laws.’ Food producers are criticizing the report, saying safety practices have been stepped up in recent years. Keep on eating- just be careful about everything.
