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Ads criticized that promote orange juice as cancer-fighter
May 24, 1997
Web posted at: 8:15 a.m. EDT (1215 GMT)ATLANTA (CNN) -- An ad touting the cancer-fighting benefits of orange juice has some observers concerned that the public may be misled.
"In health news, the American Cancer Society reports that along with a healthy diet, drinking more Florida orange juice may actually reduce your risk of some cancers," says the narrator, in the role of a radio reporter.
The Florida Department of Citrus donated $1 million to the American Cancer Society in exchange for the right to do the ads. Some observers say they might make it appear that orange juice has unique anti-cancer properties.
Orange juice does have vitamins that can help prevent some cancers, but so do all sorts of fruits and vegetables, a nutritionist said.
"That means all fruits and vegetables. It means broccoli, it means cauliflower, it means carrots, it means tomatoes, everything -- not just oranges and not particularly oranges from Florida," said Marion Nestle, head of New York University's nutrition department and a member of the cancer society's nutrition committee.
"It seems to me the ads are not in the best interest of the public. They can be easily misinterpreted to appear as if orange juice cures cancer or prevents cancer, which it doesn't," Nestle said. "It's one of a large number of factors in the diet that can help to prevent cancer."
The American Cancer Society agrees oranges are no better than many other fruits and vegetables, and say that's why they put a phrase in the ad telling people to eat a healthy diet. The narrator says it, and it is featured at the bottom of the TV screen.
A spokesman for the cancer society said the ads are intended to be about more than just orange juice.
"It's very clear in those ads that whenever we talk about adding juices or fruit juices to the diet, we're talking about it in the context of a healthy diet," Steven Dickinson said.
He said other food companies are free to make the same deal. "There might be a partnership with another food group that is well represented by our nutritional guidelines."
Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen contributed to this report.
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