Israel – Deputy Health Minister Ya’acov Litzman made an embarrassing and surprising statement at a diabetes conference at Bar-Ilan University when he claimed that there is “no supervision” that informs diabetics what foods they can safely eat.
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“Not all foods in stores are healthful for diabetics,” said the Agudat Yisrael MK, who added that his ministry “will look into the possibility of putting a special label” on foods so diabetics will know what they may safely consume.
However, for the last 15 years, the Israel Diabetes Association (IDA) has been examining foods submitted by manufacturers who claim their products are suitable for diabetics.
The association has an easily recognizable star-like symbol on hundreds of different products made by numerous manufacturers that certify they can be consumed by diabetics as a replacement for regular versions of products – although not eaten in an unlimited amount.
Most of these products have no sugar at all or no sugar added to the natural product; rather, they have nutritional components that are a safer alternative to carbohydrates, fats, proteins and other components in ordinary food.
The manufacturer pays the association a fee for the service, and the label is widely recognized by diabetics and non-diabetics as well.
Asked to comment on Litzman’s statement, the IDA said that it awards the symbol to all products sent for analysis that meet its criteria.
It added that “in one of our meetings with the deputy health minister, he himself told us that he is careful to buy food products with the association’s label. He knows the association’s label, thus his statement is not clear to us.”
Purchasers of products with the IDA label, the association spokeswoman continued, “can be assured that these foods have a minimal amount of fat and sodium and no sugar or only a very small amount. If a diabetic eats them in the recommended amounts, one must omit something with the same [calorie] values according to recommendations of his dietitian.”
A veteran professional in the health system who knows Litzman and insisted on anonymity offered this explanation for why the deputy minister had made such a statement:
“He has been under attack for his questionable policies and actions and received much criticism since taking over the ministry – from refusing to regard lower-brain death as the moment of death; declaring that some psychiatric hospitals should be segregated completely according to gender; balking at mental health reform; and now using a phone poll for initial approval to deduct money – for the first time – from the expansion of the basket of health services to finance his unrealistic plans to provide free dental care for children.
“So he has been firing carelessly in all directions to get favorable reactions and headlines when in fact some of his statements are not substantive.”
Imagine if bush made pat robertson the head of the fda. That’s what most of israel thinks of litzman. It certainly does not promote achdus and shalom to put it mildly.
Nabach for him. He have one flop after the other…..
he should be removed he embarrasses himself almost every time he speaks. i really do not think he knows what he is doing
I think every diabetic knows what he Can eat and which food he has to avoid….
He probably wants to be paid a piece of the action for certifying food.
Such a unzetzer! He should go back in Kollel!
This is a good example how the military will look if the bend to the Hesder Yeshivot rabbi’s demands.
As a diabetic I don’t need anyone to tell me what is bad for me. I am smart enough to be carefull and read labels.anyone who cares knows what he has to do and doesnt need any sticker to tell him not to eat
Chareidim do not belong in a Government, Period.
And by Chareidim, I mean Frum Yiddin who weren’t in collage for a few years.
I think he meant there is no gov’t body that does this job. The IDA is a private group.
As being a diabetic for over 15 years and having great education and being a proud member of Rabbi Meisels diabetic group FWD,, you should know that even if you have sugar free cake your sugar level in your body will sky rocket if you eat with out A
limit and you don’t take correct medication, or actually giving your self a Bolus from your pump, so even if there is the logo from the IDA,, it is really proper education what will really help you, I never saw here in the states any food with the logo of the ADA,, and for people that don’t have the correct education, this logo (on a lot of israeli foods they have the IDA logo)will actually harm them because they eat like crazy,, Good luck
As being a diabetic for over 15 years and having great education and being a proud member of Rabbi Meisels diabetic group FWD,, you should know that even if you have sugar free cake your sugar level in your body will sky rocket if you eat with out A
limit and you don’t take correct medication, or actually giving your self a Bolus from your pump, so even if there is the logo from the IDA,, it is really proper education what will really help you, I never saw here in the states any food with the logo of the ADA,, and for people that don’t have the correct education, this logo (on a lot of israeli foods they have the IDA logo)will actually harm them because they eat like crazy,, Good luck
One of the (many) issues Israel has with its governing system is that most of the cabinet posts go to Knesset members as a result of negotiations post-election. This leads to Health Ministers or Defense Ministers that have no credible experience in the field they head. The US has many flaws but at least cabinet posts are not filled by active Senators or House members. Rather they are private civilians who ostensably have a certain level of expertise in the post they are assigned. If only Israel would do this the Health Minister wouldn’t feel the need to gain “political points” by giving statements but rather can focus on executing the role faithfully and not worry about his standing in the Knesset.
DM Litzman has no idea of what he is talking about. One would think that someone in the position of supervising the health care system would have some knowledge of that system, but apparently that is not important to him.
Israel has a national healthcare system. Diabetics are strongly encouraged by that system to have regular meetings with nutritionists and monitor their food intake in great detail, all in order to manage their blood sugar. The nutritionists and doctors know full well that such programs are one of the first lines of treatment for diabetics, and the first thing that they do after diagnosis is inform the diabetic patient of the necessary lifestyle changes.
You Americans don’t know how one becomes a minister. It has nothing to do with knowledge in the particular topic at hand. It is a give and take (mainly take) and there are portfolios that have more money which you know which parties vie for. A minister can have the housing portfolio one time, next he will be minister of transportation next if he is insistent enough and his party puts on enought heat he will be finance minister. And there is no prior knowledge required.
Reply to #9 : I’m curious, do you know the difference between college and a collage. Where did you study, genius? It’s nice to see you have the same anti-semitic viewpoint as the Bosnian government!
it must be, that only the BEDATZ and other HECHSHERS don’t have the “IDA” warning on it, otherwise, he would have for sure seen it.