By Hank Cardello

The Atlantic

Dec. 13, 2011

I was recently invited to participate in the inaugural Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) Summit, titled "Building a Healthier Future." I admit to being skeptical that this convocation would be any different from previous non-profit events on obesity, which have typically chastised the food industry as the cause of and continuing nemesis to solving the nation's childhood obesity crisis.

I was wrong.

This wasn't another food industry bash session. Instead, the focus was on embracing industry as part of the solution. Absent were the barbs that have typified many of these events. There was no name-calling; no attacks on sugary beverages; no vilifying of marketing practices. Music to my ears.

Honorary vice chairmen former Senate Majority leader Bill Frist and Newark Mayor Cory Booker advanced a "carrot, not the stick" approach to goad food corporations to sell more healthy foods. Referring to the recent Hudson Institute study, "Better-for-you Foods: It's Just Good Business" (I serve as a senior fellow with Hudson), they highlighted a Politico opinion piece saying that fighting obesity can be good for both corporate bottom lines and consumers.

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Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative