jasstnhawk
Jedi
The following is the exchange I have had with Atkins Inc. over the last week. I thought I would share it here as a heads-up for anyone who may be using Atkins products and for insight into the psychopathic undercurrent of the corporate mind-set.
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09/10/12
To the People Behind the Atkins Trademark,
I have been meaning to pen this email for quite some time. Now that Sharon Osbourne is backing your product well, suffice it to say, this was the final straw and the catalyst behind this email.
I adhered to the Atkins diet from 2004-2010 and consumed your product line with much success. However, after a diagnosis of kidney stones (which, based on research into the formation of kidney stones, was probably caused from my mass consumption of un-fermented and most likely GMO soy within your product line), and upon further research into all the health harming ingredients of the Atkins product line, I have since quit purchasing your line of products. In other words, weight loss via the Atkins product line is not worth my long term health. With that said, I have urged friends and family to also quit purchasing your products. (Note: No need to worry about any lawsuit as I know proving my health was harmed via the use of your product line would be difficult and furthermore, the legal system is set up to protect large corporations such as yourselves.)
Based on my research into the aforementioned health harming ingredients Atkins incorporates into their products, it appears to me that Atkins cares more about profits than people. Furthermore, Atkins preys on people's need to lose weight or "get healthy" to line its own pockets. Also, to get Sharon Osbourne or any other celebrity on board to back your product does not motivate me into purchasing your product. As a critical thinker, I am not easily razzle-dazzled by celebrities or by anything they say or do, because IMO they are just puppets for profit. If a celebrity backs your product, for me it says a lot about them; they are either uneducated about the health harming ingredients in your product line or lying about their consumption of your products - as in, they are only endorsing (for their own personal profit) but not consuming that which they endorse.
Though the following idea/statement may not have Atkins' considerable "bottom line" in mind and production costs may rise thereby transferring the costs to the consumer, it is my hope that it does beseech the conscience of those people behind the Atkins trademark: If Atkins ever decides to put people before profits, as I am sure was the original intent of Dr. Atkins, and create a product line that does not use soy (or any other GMO ingredients), health harming artificial sweeteners, and/or any other health harming ingredients, I will reconsider purchasing and promoting Atkins products once again.
Sincerely,
Robin
===================================>
09/13/12
Robin,
The health and well-being of our customers is always our major concern. Scientists at Atkins are continuously monitoring the peer reviewed scientific literature on the safety and efficacy of all the ingredients used in Atkins products. We are aware of the very few negative articles on artificial sweeteners. These articles are far from conclusive.
A main goal of The Atkins Nutritional Approach is to stabilize blood sugar (glucose) and insulin levels through the restriction of carbohydrates. Natural sweetening or Sugar is a carbohydrate, so it is strictly limited. The prudent, moderate use of artificial sweeteners is acceptable. Some people experience negative reactions to certain sweeteners, and the risk increases with the amount used. With all artificial sweeteners, the less used, usually the better. That is why we recommend a 3 packet daily limitation which is simply a precaution for those that are likely to react negatively.
The safety of artificial sweeteners is well documented in scientific studies conducted over a 20-year period. In addition, sucralose and, specifically, the safety data on sucralose, has been reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other national regulatory agencies, as well as by international health authorities such as the World Health Organization, and found to be safe for use by all consumers, including children, pregnant women and people with diabetes.
Sharon Osbourne is an established business woman and well-known TV personality, who has conquered many of life’s challenges both behind the scenes and in front of the cameras.
After getting to know her, we felt that her story was one that a lot of women could relate to as she strives to improve her health. With her candid personality and energy, Sharon is genuinely excited about her success on Atkins and looks forward to sharing her story with her viewers and her fans.
While not everyone may agree, we look forward to working with Sharon to inspire all dieters to achieve a fulfilling, healthy lifestyle with Atkins.
Regards,
Cindy Burk
Call Center Manager
Atkins Nutritionals Inc.
1-888-5-ATKINS(285467)
contactus@atkins.com
www.atkins.com
===================================>
09/13/12
Cindy,
Though this reply, like my last email, will probably fall on deaf ears, write it I must.
What a load of delusional, misleading PR rhetoric. Peer reviewed scientific literature, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization, as trusted sources, really??? Who do you think you are fooling here, you or me?
Throughout your reply you never once address the ONE ingredient that makes up the BULK of most your products which is GMO SOY. Instead you chose to focus on artificial sweeteners and supporting its use with the questionable backing of the aforementioned and false statements such as natural sweetening is a carbohydrate. While I will agree that a natural sweetening such as sugar is a carbohydrate, it is misleading to say, "natural sweetening is a carbohydrate" which implies ALL natural sweetenings are carbohydrates. What about Stevia and the like???
To address the topic of Sharon Osbourne and your statement, "After getting to know her...", do really think that I think a 'call center manager' at Atkins had the opportunity to sit down and get to know Ms. Osbourne? Another delusional and misleading statement meant to impress the reader and perhaps convince the writer of a "up close and personal feel". To restate what I stated in my previous email; I am not impressed by celebrities and feel that they are, for the most part, puppets for profit. Furthermore, either Ms. Osbourne is unaware of the health harming ingredients in your products, mainly GMO SOY, or she is endorsing your products (for her own personal profit) without consuming your products.
Let us get one thing straight here, I wrote the previous email to state my concerns and re-actions in relation to those concerns, i.e. I no longer purchase nor promote Atkins products because of health harming ingredients found in your products, and your 'delusional, misleading PR rhetoric' reply basically 'laughs in the face' of those concerns. Furthermore, your reply really speaks to the lack of conscience within Atkins Inc. and also to Atkins overall view of its consumers.
I am sure that I am not the only one with these concerns or the only one who has brought forth these concerns. Your 'delusional, misleading PR rhetoric' reply states to me that these consumer concerns are of no concern/consequence and do not weigh on the conscience of those behind the Atkins trademark. In short:
Profits BEFORE people, for which there is NO appeal to conscience because there is no conscience to appeal to.
Enjoy your GMO soy, your paycheck, and cheers to you sleeping well at night.
Sincerely,
Robin
===================================>
09/10/12
To the People Behind the Atkins Trademark,
I have been meaning to pen this email for quite some time. Now that Sharon Osbourne is backing your product well, suffice it to say, this was the final straw and the catalyst behind this email.
I adhered to the Atkins diet from 2004-2010 and consumed your product line with much success. However, after a diagnosis of kidney stones (which, based on research into the formation of kidney stones, was probably caused from my mass consumption of un-fermented and most likely GMO soy within your product line), and upon further research into all the health harming ingredients of the Atkins product line, I have since quit purchasing your line of products. In other words, weight loss via the Atkins product line is not worth my long term health. With that said, I have urged friends and family to also quit purchasing your products. (Note: No need to worry about any lawsuit as I know proving my health was harmed via the use of your product line would be difficult and furthermore, the legal system is set up to protect large corporations such as yourselves.)
Based on my research into the aforementioned health harming ingredients Atkins incorporates into their products, it appears to me that Atkins cares more about profits than people. Furthermore, Atkins preys on people's need to lose weight or "get healthy" to line its own pockets. Also, to get Sharon Osbourne or any other celebrity on board to back your product does not motivate me into purchasing your product. As a critical thinker, I am not easily razzle-dazzled by celebrities or by anything they say or do, because IMO they are just puppets for profit. If a celebrity backs your product, for me it says a lot about them; they are either uneducated about the health harming ingredients in your product line or lying about their consumption of your products - as in, they are only endorsing (for their own personal profit) but not consuming that which they endorse.
Though the following idea/statement may not have Atkins' considerable "bottom line" in mind and production costs may rise thereby transferring the costs to the consumer, it is my hope that it does beseech the conscience of those people behind the Atkins trademark: If Atkins ever decides to put people before profits, as I am sure was the original intent of Dr. Atkins, and create a product line that does not use soy (or any other GMO ingredients), health harming artificial sweeteners, and/or any other health harming ingredients, I will reconsider purchasing and promoting Atkins products once again.
Sincerely,
Robin
===================================>
09/13/12
Robin,
The health and well-being of our customers is always our major concern. Scientists at Atkins are continuously monitoring the peer reviewed scientific literature on the safety and efficacy of all the ingredients used in Atkins products. We are aware of the very few negative articles on artificial sweeteners. These articles are far from conclusive.
A main goal of The Atkins Nutritional Approach is to stabilize blood sugar (glucose) and insulin levels through the restriction of carbohydrates. Natural sweetening or Sugar is a carbohydrate, so it is strictly limited. The prudent, moderate use of artificial sweeteners is acceptable. Some people experience negative reactions to certain sweeteners, and the risk increases with the amount used. With all artificial sweeteners, the less used, usually the better. That is why we recommend a 3 packet daily limitation which is simply a precaution for those that are likely to react negatively.
The safety of artificial sweeteners is well documented in scientific studies conducted over a 20-year period. In addition, sucralose and, specifically, the safety data on sucralose, has been reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other national regulatory agencies, as well as by international health authorities such as the World Health Organization, and found to be safe for use by all consumers, including children, pregnant women and people with diabetes.
Sharon Osbourne is an established business woman and well-known TV personality, who has conquered many of life’s challenges both behind the scenes and in front of the cameras.
After getting to know her, we felt that her story was one that a lot of women could relate to as she strives to improve her health. With her candid personality and energy, Sharon is genuinely excited about her success on Atkins and looks forward to sharing her story with her viewers and her fans.
While not everyone may agree, we look forward to working with Sharon to inspire all dieters to achieve a fulfilling, healthy lifestyle with Atkins.
Regards,
Cindy Burk
Call Center Manager
Atkins Nutritionals Inc.
1-888-5-ATKINS(285467)
contactus@atkins.com
www.atkins.com
===================================>
09/13/12
Cindy,
Though this reply, like my last email, will probably fall on deaf ears, write it I must.
What a load of delusional, misleading PR rhetoric. Peer reviewed scientific literature, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization, as trusted sources, really??? Who do you think you are fooling here, you or me?
Throughout your reply you never once address the ONE ingredient that makes up the BULK of most your products which is GMO SOY. Instead you chose to focus on artificial sweeteners and supporting its use with the questionable backing of the aforementioned and false statements such as natural sweetening is a carbohydrate. While I will agree that a natural sweetening such as sugar is a carbohydrate, it is misleading to say, "natural sweetening is a carbohydrate" which implies ALL natural sweetenings are carbohydrates. What about Stevia and the like???
To address the topic of Sharon Osbourne and your statement, "After getting to know her...", do really think that I think a 'call center manager' at Atkins had the opportunity to sit down and get to know Ms. Osbourne? Another delusional and misleading statement meant to impress the reader and perhaps convince the writer of a "up close and personal feel". To restate what I stated in my previous email; I am not impressed by celebrities and feel that they are, for the most part, puppets for profit. Furthermore, either Ms. Osbourne is unaware of the health harming ingredients in your products, mainly GMO SOY, or she is endorsing your products (for her own personal profit) without consuming your products.
Let us get one thing straight here, I wrote the previous email to state my concerns and re-actions in relation to those concerns, i.e. I no longer purchase nor promote Atkins products because of health harming ingredients found in your products, and your 'delusional, misleading PR rhetoric' reply basically 'laughs in the face' of those concerns. Furthermore, your reply really speaks to the lack of conscience within Atkins Inc. and also to Atkins overall view of its consumers.
I am sure that I am not the only one with these concerns or the only one who has brought forth these concerns. Your 'delusional, misleading PR rhetoric' reply states to me that these consumer concerns are of no concern/consequence and do not weigh on the conscience of those behind the Atkins trademark. In short:
Profits BEFORE people, for which there is NO appeal to conscience because there is no conscience to appeal to.
Enjoy your GMO soy, your paycheck, and cheers to you sleeping well at night.
Sincerely,
Robin
