January 13, 2005

Contact: Dr. Susan Linn (617) 278-4282 slinn@jbcc.harvard.edu

             Dr. Allen Kanner (510) 558-7210 adkanner@earthlink.net       

For Immediate Release

Swann Takes Dive for Vending Association

The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) has joined the growing chorus of voices calling for the dismissal of Lynn Swann, chairman of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.  Earlier today, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics said Swann should be relieved of his post after the former football star accepted payment to appear at public relations event for the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA), a vending machine trade association.

Amid growing concerns about childhood obesity and the commercialization of schools, a number of school districts have restricted or banned vending machines from their campuses.  Not surprisingly, NAMA opposes such restrictions.

“At a time when parents, nutritionists, and politicians are working together to create a healthier environment for children, it is extremely disappointing that the chairperson of the President’s council would take money from an association desperately trying to maintain junk food marketers access to children in schools,” said CCFC’s Allen Kanner, co-editor of Psychology and Consumer Culture.  “President Bush should replace Mr. Swann with someone whose commitment to children’s well-being is strong enough to say “no” to the junk food industry’s money.”

What you can do

If you have concerns about Mr. Swann’s dual roles as chair of a prestigious government fitness organization and junk food lobby publicist, please send an email to Scott Whitaker, Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services  (scott.whitaker@hhs.gov; please copy eileen.conover@hhs.gov).