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Monday, March 17, 2003 Page: 7A
There’s a very good reason why a group calling itself the Physicians
Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) “promotes a vegan diet” and has
stuck its nose into this year’s battle over American school lunches (“School
lunch program pits dairy farmers against soybean growers,” March 2).
It turns out that PCRM is not a legitimate health organization at all, but
rather a front group for the animal rights movement. PETA (yes, that PETA) has
already funded PCRM the tune of over $850,000. The two groups share offices,
staff, and financial accounting as well. The animal rights watchdog newspaper
Animal People News wrote in December that PCRM and PETA should be considered
“a single fundraising unit,” and accused the groups of attempting to “evade
public recognition of their relationship.”
For the record, 95 percent of PCRM’s members never graduated from medical
school and its president is a psychiatrist, not a nutritionist. The American
Medical Association has called PCRM’s recommendations “irresponsible and
potentially dangerous to the health and welfare of Americans.” PCRM has also
been formally censured by the AMA (American Medical Association).
Most Americans are too smart to take dietary advice from animal-rights
zealots. But when activists put on the sheep’s clothing of the medical
profession, it becomes more and more difficult to tell who’s credible.
David Martosko
Director of Research
Center for Consumer Freedom
Washington, D.C.