---
title: "IINsider’s Digest: USDA retracts endorsement of Meatless Mondays, Alaskan Health Coaches Improve Corporate Wellness, and more..."
description: This week, the USDA published a seemingly harmless endorsement for Meatless Mondays on its website. But when a social media firestorm revealed the outrage
---

[Health Coaching Blog and News | Institute for Integrative Nutrition ](https://www.integrativenutrition.com/blog)

# [IINsider’s Digest: USDA retracts endorsement of Meatless Mondays, Alaskan Health Coaches Improve Corporate Wellness, and more...](https://www.integrativenutrition.com/blog/2012/27/07/iinsiders-digest)

 Written by [Integrative Nutrition](https://www.integrativenutrition.com/blog/author/integrative-nutrition) | Jun 8, 2024 11:34:44 AM

This week, the USDA published a seemingly harmless endorsement for [Meatless Mondays](http://blog.integrativenutrition.com/2009/09/meatless-monday) on its website. But when a social media firestorm revealed the outrage of livestock producers - and even a member of congress - the USDA quickly [retracted the statement](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/26/us/usda-newsletter-retracts-a-meatless-mondays-plug.html?_r=1&smid=tw-share). (*New York Times*)

"[Are We Sugar Crazy](http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2012/07/25/are-we-sugar-crazy)?" asks Integrative Nutrition lecturer David Katz, in search of a balance between the position that "sugar is poison" and the fact that Americans eat far more sugar than recommended by health organizations (*US News*). Katz also weighs in on [bariatric (weight-loss) surgery](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-katz-md/preventive-medicine_b_1688837.html), stating, "our problem is letting too many [people] need it in the first place". (*Huff Post*)

Inspired by the kick-off of the London Olympics, the British Medical Journal takes a hard look at the benefits of [sports drinks](http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/blog/nutrition/2012/07/should_you_be_consuming_sports.html). The verdict? Most of us don't need 'em. (*Boston.com*)

An Alaskan company models [innovation in corporate wellness](http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/07/23/157097760/an-alaska-company-losing-the-obesity-game-calls-in-health-coaches?ft=1&f=1128&sc=tw), tackles the rising tide of obesity with the help of local [Health Coaches](https://www.integrativenutrition.com/curriculum). (*NPR*)

Former McDonald's execs are taking on the challenge of [holistic, healthy fast food](http://www.wired.com/business/2012/07/ff_lyfekitchens/) with their venture, Lyfe (Love Your Food Everyday) Kitchen. (*Wired*)

We all know that diet is directly related to disease – especially in the case of obesity. Physicians are tapping into their holistic side by [prescribing fruit and veggies](http://www.abc15.com/dpp/news/national/doctors-writing-prescriptions-for-fresh-fruits-and-vegetables-for-obese-patients) for overweight patients, through a program funded by the non-profit [Wholesome Wave](http://wholesomewave.org/) (CNN).

Snack attack? Or simply the emotional munchies? *US News* examines the [psychology of cravings](http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2012/07/19/hungry-or-just-bored), and why we're really rummaging around the refrigerator.

Can and should the government [measure the happiness](http://www.economist.com/blogs/blighty/2012/07/national-well-being?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/bl/importanceofbeinghappy) of its citizens? The British Office for National Statistics believes so, having recently surveyed the “subjective well-being of individuals, which is measured by finding out how people think and feel about their own lives.“ (*The Economist*)

Two California Mothers are [taking General Mills to court](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/27/business/general-mills-sued-over-natural-labeling.html?_r=1&ref=business&utm_source=buffer&buffer_share=d000b), claiming the "natural" products they advertise contain a range of highly processed ingredients. Surveys report that the unregulated term "natural" is even more appealing to consumers than "organic" - an interesting conflict the mothers hope to bring to light. (*New York Times*)

Mark Bittman delves back into the [world of milk](http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/24/more-on-milk/?smid=tw-bittman&seid=auto), after 1,300 comments and emails proved his [love/hate relationship with dairy](http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/07/got-milk-you-dont-need-it/?gwh=C602E5BF6883D0EE9E89336B150C5A67) is far from uncommon. (*New York Times*)

[View full post](https://www.integrativenutrition.com/blog/2012/27/07/iinsiders-digest)

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