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Obama's surgeon general nominee criticized for BK connection
August 13, 2009
President Obama's nomination of Dr. Regina Benjamin for surgeon general has drawn criticism after records disclosed she has been a Burger King scientific adviser for the about a year, according to a story in The Washington Times. Burger King officials said Benjamin served on the company's nutritional advisory panel, formed last summer, as part of its ongoing nutrition efforts.
Burger King's BK Positive Steps program has developed a number of iniatives, includingeliminating all trans fat cooking oils and ingredients in the United States, Europe, Latin America, Puerto Rico and Canada, as well as instituting a sodium commitment of 600 milligrams or less for BK Kids Meals advertised to children under 12 years old.
The Department of Health and Human Services asserted Benjamin's qualifications.
From The Washington Times:
Vicki Rivas-Vazquez, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services, said Dr. Benjamin would resign her position from Burger King upon confirmation by the Senate. She also said Benjamin would recuse herself from any specific party matters involving Burger King for the next two years as part of the Obama administration's ethics pledge."As the nation's leading spokesperson on public health, she will continue to promote healthy eating and exercise," she said."As third-party counselor bringing her expertise on public health on an advisory panel, she was advocating for food options that were lower in sodium and recommending that nutritional information appear on food packaging," Ms. Rivas-Vazquez said of the nominee's work on the Burger King panel.
Critics first questioned Obama's nomination because Benjamin is overweight, according to ABC News. After learning that she advised a fast food company, critics are now concerned about a conflict of interest, said The Washington Times. Others have praised her for her work running a small rural clinic and rebuilding it after fire and hurricanes.
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