New nutrition standards soon to be published by the Federal Government are dreaded by cranberry growers.
The Department of Agriculture is finalising new legislation which targets obesity in children by stating what can and can't be sold in vending machines and cranberries - as a sweetened product - could be be struck off the list.
Industry officials says this would be unfair as, despite being sweetened, cranberries actually bestow a wealth of health benefits and are packed with nutrients. The sweetening of cranberry products is essential as they are just to tart to eat without sugar.
Representatives of the industry have sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, saying, "Given the beneficial and scientifically proven health properties of cranberries, we believe there is a need to establish clear standards that recognize cranberries as a part of a healthy diet. We ask that you consider including a variety of cranberry juice and dried cranberry products in USDA’s food nutrition program so that children, seniors and adults served by these programs are not denied benefits unique to cranberries."
Exclusion from the vending machines could be costly - the industry is worth $2.3 billion.
Those in favor of a cranberry ban point to the rising trend of obesity in the country and say that this contributes a bigger threat to the nation than urinary tract infections - a reference to one of the fruits much vaunted health benefits.
However, there are other benefits associated with the cranberry, prompting those in the industry to suggest it should be exempted as the adding of sugar is the only way it can be consumed. As grower, Linda Prehn Says, "as a cranberry grower, I’m astounded by it,” Prehn said. “We know we grow a good, healthy food. I’d hate to think people couldn’t eat cranberries as part of a healthy diet. The question is whether people would eat them at all if they weren’t sweetened. My guess is they would not."
