Beef Plays Key Role At Women’s Health Event In Atlanta

DENVER, Colo. (November 21, 2001) – The beef industry played a key role in addressing women’s health issues Nov. 10 at a Speaking of Women’s Health (SWH) event in Atlanta, Ga. Through the beef checkoff, the industry participated in providing important information concerning women’s health and nutrition to about 1,100 attendees.

 Four members of the beef checkoff-funded women’s health advisory group Council for Women’s Nutrition Solutions (CWNS) participated, including consultant-educator Dayle Hayes, M.S., R.D., who gave the keynote speech following a beef sirloin lunch sponsored by the beef industry and CWNS. Hayes said that as everyday heroes, women have “everyday solutions” available to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle, including eating beef as one of five “power foods.”

 “The beef industry considers it a real opportunity to be a partner and sponsor of this women’s health event,” said attendee Jay O’Brien, chairman of the beef industry’s Joint Nutrition & Health Committee and a beef producer from Amarillo, Texas. “These women are our target audience, and the women attending these functions are motivated to find what they can do to have a healthier lifestyle. CWNS members have the credibility to communicate the message that beef is important to their diet. We use this opportunity and the CWNS credibility to get the message to the press, dietitians and nurses, as well.”

 The national beef checkoff program is administered by the Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board (CBB). The Board contracts with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) to conduct nutrition and health information efforts funded through the program.

 NCBA Executive Director of Nutrition Mary K. Young, M.S., R.D., spoke to the Atlanta women about beef’s nutrition and the three-way partnership between SWH, CWNS, and NCBA. She said the goal of the partnership is to reach out directly to women, health professionals and the news media on women’s health issues. This is the fourth event where the representatives from the three organizations have joined forces.

 A pregnancy and nutrition-focused press release and other media materials were distributed to the Atlanta news media regarding an online survey comparing women’s general attitudes about diet and health. The Georgia Beef Council operated an information booth at the event to distribute additional information.

 While in Atlanta, CWNS members also hosted an interactive educational session on the importance of nutrition in fertility, pregnancy and lactation to about 50 health professionals at the WellStar Kennestone Hospital. In addition to Hayes, the CWNS group in Atlanta included Michelle Warren, M.D.; Martha Belury, Ph.D., R.D.; and Roseann Lyle, Ph.D., M.Ed.

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Producer-directed and consumer-focused, the National Cattlemen`s Beef Association is the  trade association of America’s cattle farmers and ranchers, and the  marketing organization for the largest segment of the nation’s food and fiber industry.