In December, the Senate approved the $60 million "Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity Act," (IMPACT) a bill supported by the International Dairy Foods Assn.

In December, the Senate approved the $60 million "Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity Act," (IMPACT) a bill supported by the International Dairy Foods Assn. The bill would fund community-based efforts to combat obesity through increased physical activity and nutrition education. The same legislation now awaits action in the House of Representatives. The American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN), a group that includes IDFA, applauded the bills committee approval in November, saying it's a positive step toward fighting obesity.

"As obesity rates continue to increase, it is critical that we implement and support effective, comprehensive solutions," said Susan Finn, Ph.D., R.D., chair of ACFN. "IMPACT will help us do that by emphasizing the need to balance regular physical activity with a nutritionally-balanced diet, and funding the necessary research and programs to meet that goal."

Sidebar

Starting this month, Dairy Foods honors the industry's favorite animal-the cow-with a little humor. This is through the inclusion of the globally syndicated comic A Herd of Laughter(r), which can be found on page 89. These cow characters can also be found on greeting cards, t-shirts, racecars and a Herd of Laughter ice cream. Information on the latter, a complete turnkey ice cream program, can be found at www.herdicecream.com.