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USDA Spending Money Promoting Risky Lifestyles

Updated: Friday, November 30 2012, 08:20 PM EST
The federal government spends hundreds of millions of dollars simultaneously promoting healthy and risky lifestyles. The USDA spent millions of dollars on PSA’s peddling the food pyramid to kids in the United States; at the same time spending millions more to market alcohol and sugary treats to consumers overseas.

These are mixed messages fueled by our tax dollars. The Washington Guardian says the USDA allocated some 200 million dollars, through its market access program, this year to food groups to pitch products overseas. The National Confectioners Association received 1.3 million dollars to promote candy to foreign customers.

A quarter of a million dollars went to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States to sell alcohol overseas and the Wine Institute received a whopping 6.9 million dollars to markets American wines in foreign lands. The Obama Administration has made reducing obesity here at home, a key priority.

First Lady Michelle Obama often talks about healthy eating and fitness.  The USDA Spokesman Matt Herrick told the Washington Guardian he does not see any evidence that the government helps promote junk food overseas. USDA Spending Money Promoting Risky Lifestyles