Atkins Dieters Cowed by Food Scares?
By Alan J. Wax and Amina Khan
STAFF WRITERS
January 11, 2004
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After reports of mad cow disease hit the news more than two weeks ago, Raj Soundarrajan stopped eating beef.
Now, the Valley Stream computer analyst, who dropped 15 pounds during the past two months following the Atkins diet, is considering cutting back on another food favorite: salmon.
Soundarrajan, 30, who dines on salmon two or three times a week, said he was alarmed by a new study, published on Thursday, that found high levels of carcinogens in farm-raised salmon, the most common kind available. "After this news, I think I will just reduce it," he said, opting instead for "more chicken and turkey than red meat."
He's not alone. Followers of the high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet regimen first promoted 30 years ago by the late diet guru Dr. Robert C. Atkins find themselves in a tizzy about how to feed their protein cravings.
"It's getting to a point where you don't know what you can eat anymore," said Wall Streeter Mark Spiegel, 42, of Manhattan, who also adheres to a high-protein diet, though one with scant red meat.
The Atkins diet - and other regimens such as South Beach and the Zone - have in recent years attracted a growing number of followers. According to Port Washington-based NPD Group, a market research firm, an estimated more than 25 million Americans are following a low-carb, high-protein diet.
But some experts say dieters shouldn't be worried.
"People associate Atkins with meat. It's a misconception," said Colette Heimowitz, a nutritionist with Atkins Nutritionals Inc., the Ronkonkoma-based food marketer founded by the diet guru. "It's about controlling carbohydrate consumption."
Heimowitz said Atkins adherents have plenty of protein sources besides beef, including lamb, pork, any kind of fish, eggs and cheese. Excluding beef and salmon "won't affect the success of their programs." Atkins Nutritionals does not sell any meat or fish products.
A spokesman for the American Council on Science and Health said the recent food scares are distracting the public from such issues as nutrition and obesity.
"The beef is safe, the fish is safe, despite the allegations," said Jeff Stier of the generally pro-business group of doctors and scientists, based in Manhattan, which issues position statements on science and the environment.
Some consumers already are seeking out alternatives, including organic and natural beef and wild fish, which can be found at specialty grocers such as Wild by Nature, Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's.
In fact, "between the mad cow situation and the low-carb diets, [natural] beef sales have been very strong" at Whole Food Markets, said John Nicholson, Northeast region director of meat for the Austin, Texas-based natural foods supermarket. The company has stores in Manhasset and Manhattan.
At Wild by Nature, the natural foods supermarkets operated by Bethpage-based King Kullen, store employees are fielding an increasing number of consumer questions about the Coleman beef it sells, said president Tom Reilly. Coleman beef is from cattle fed a vegetarian, but not organic, diet. And he said some customers actually "prefer farm raised [salmon] over the natural."
Some Atkins adherents said they won't be bullied by the headlines. "Until I see that there is more than one cow that has the disease, I am not going to panic," said lawyer Gary Aronowitz, 55, of Plainview, who dropped 35 pounds following Atkins and who recently restarted the diet. "I think the media has blown it out of proportion."