Low-carb diets put squeeze on citrus growers
Some popular diets discourage orange juice


LAKELAND, Florida (AP) --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.

Woof! Interesting, Sflake! Thanks for sharing.
Guess those corporate pigs will have to start thinking of something else to market. It's unfortunate that it'll affect the "little" workers, though.
Maybe they should just market to naturally thin people...

OOO, thanks SFlake.

I know, I know, I'm sick, but this stuff FASCINATES me!
Food marketing, nutrition, and widespread health problems are all wrapped up into one big scary package. It would be truly unfortunate if the OJ thugs could scare Agatston. And even if the courts find nothing actionable in the SBD book, it will surely have a chilling effect on others. For instance, anyone who wants to start a discussion about the negative health consequences of certain types of bread will have to fear being hauled into court by the wheat growers association or something like that. Of course, we want those writing diet and nutrition books to be accountable for what they write, and in cases of gross negligence, I think a law suit might be necessary. But there is no case here. The OJ industry has millions of dollars to counteract whatever misleading info they think is out there.

Golly, I just talk about anything rather than study!!!

Did we learn nothing from Texas suing Oprah about beef???

They need to quit b!### I still give my kids OJ even if I DON'T drink it and I know a lot of moms who still give their kids juice, in moderation. Really now, how many juice drinkers did they really lose? They need to get over it, the facts are the facts and eventually they will re-gain what they think they have potentially lost.

I've never been a big orange juice drinker, even before SBD. It spikes my blood sugar big time so I save it for when I get low. It only takes a small amount to bump my sugar level back up.

Pebbles you read my mind. Where's the beef. tee-hee

I can't believe these people! What is he saying that is slanderous about juice? It is simply fact, the juice has loads more sugar than the oranges. The oranges have less sugar, more fiber. The diet is to help overweight people live longer by losing weight. I guess we are supposed to do that while we chug down 32 grams of sugar in a minute. The fact that orange juice is higher sugar than an orange does not take a brain surgeon to figure out. Apparently it does take a lawyer to make a big deal out of it!

Oranges are better than orange juice for me, a fat chick. Orange juice is better than Pepsi for my son. Pepsi is better for anybody than heroin...so actually it should be the Opium farmers that sue!!

In reference to this post, everyone. Yesterday when I was cleaning out a closet, I had on CNN, and happened to catch an interview with Dr. Agaston. They were asking him to respond to the allegations that his book was against the "Orange Growers." He responded that it's fine for people to consume an orange when in Phase 2 of his food plan. He sId you can even squeeze the juice out of it and drink it before consuming it. However, he did not back down on the juice itself being a "bad carb" for our bodies! Too spiking for our BS. And many times too many additives in the processing of it. It made me feel a little more secure when Dr. A said that even he put on several pounds over the holidays! Glory be....I'm not alone! There is hope going back to Phase 1 or 1 and 1/2!!!
sharon