Fla. doc fired over 'doughnuts equal death' sign

Thu Aug 13, 2009 2:05 PM EDT
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PENSACOLA — Dr. Jason Newsom railed against burgers, french fries, fried chicken and sweet tea in his campaign to promote better eating in a part of the country known as the Redneck Riviera. He might still be leading the charge if he had only left the doughnuts alone.

A 38-year-old former Army doctor who served in Iraq, Newsom returned home to Panama City a few years ago to run the Bay County Health Department and launched a one-man war on obesity by posting sardonic warnings on an electronic sign outside:

"Sweet Tea (equals) Liquid Sugar."

"Hamburger (equals) Spare Tire."

"French Fries (equals) Thunder Thighs."

He also called out KFC by name to make people think twice about fried chicken.

Then he parodied "America Runs on Dunkin'," the doughnut chain's slogan, with: "America Dies on Dunkin'."

Some power players in the Gulf Coast tourist town decided they had had their fill.

A county commissioner who owns a doughnut shop and two lawyers who own a new Dunkin' Donuts on Panama City Beach turned against him, along with some of his own employees, Newsom says. After the lawyers threatened to sue, his bosses at the Florida Health Department made him remove the anti-fried dough rants and eventually forced him to resign, he says.

"I picked on doughnuts because those things are ubiquitous in this county. Everywhere I went, there were two dozen doughnuts on the back table. At church, there were always doughnuts on the back table at Sunday school. It is social expectation thing," says Newsom, a lean 6-foot, 167-pounder in a county where 39 percent of all adults were overweight in 2007 and one in four was considered obese.

Newsom was hired by the state Health Department to direct the county agency. His $140,000-a-year salary is paid jointly by the state and the county. His job primarily involves educating the public about health issues — swine flu, AIDS and the like — but he also decided to address the dangers of glazed, sprinkled and jelly-filled treats.

He angered staff members by barring doughnuts from department meetings and announcing he would throw the fat-laden sweets away if he saw them in the break room. He also banned candy bars in the vending machines, putting in peanuts instead.

In May, lawyers Bo Rivard and Michael Duncan, co-owners of a new Dunkin' Donuts, asked Newsom to take down the "America Dies on Dunkin'" message. Newsom already had run other anti-doughnut warnings, including "Doughnuts (equals) Diabetes," and "Dunkin' Donuts (equals) Death."

The businessmen had the backing of County Commissioner Mike Thomas, who owns a diner and a doughnut shop. Thomas called for Newsom's ouster, saying the doctor shouldn't have named businesses on the message board.

"I think he was somewhat of a zealot," Thomas says. "I don't have a problem with him pushing an agenda, it's the way he did it. People borrowed money to go into business and they are being attacked by the government."

A short time after Newsom's meeting with Rivard and Duncan, Newsom says, his bosses at the state Health Department told him that his leadership wasn't wanted and that he could be fired or resign. He chose to resign May 8 but has reapplied for the job.

"I have never been known for my subtlety. I don't have a knack for it. I speak the truth to people and just assume that that my data and purpose are so real and true that everyone will see the value of what I'm doing," says Newsom, who now works at a prison, doing exams of inmates.

Rivard and Duncan did not return numerous calls to their offices.

"Dunkin' Donuts is pleased that the signs have been removed," Andrew Mastrangelo, a spokesman for Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin' Donuts said in an e-mail.

The Florida Health Department has refused to talk about Newsom since he is considered a job applicant. "We will be happy to talk to you after the position has been filled," department spokeswoman Susan Smith said in an e-mail.

Newsom is hoping to get his job back so that he can resume his campaign against overeating.

"My method was a little provocative and controversial," he says, "but there wasn't a person in Bay County who wasn't talking about health and healthy eating."

___

On the Net:

Bay County Health Department: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/CHD/Bay/Index.html

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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{"commentId":8825092,"authorDomain":"drduct"}
DrDuct

The doctor is right even if he didn't go about it in the right way. We as Americans eat in a very unhealthy manner. Fried foods, sweets,steroid injected meats are just a few. I am not sure but I believe that Obama has mentioned a fat tax. He should also ask for a steroid tax. The way we eat has a major impact on health care cost. Do you want to pay higher insurance rates because you want to eat foods that are not good for you? Their are ways to eat healthy.

{"commentId":8825092,"threadId":"650412","contentId":"3149815","authorDomain":"drduct"}
    Reply#1 - Thu Aug 13, 2009 5:47 PM EDT
    {"commentId":8845815,"authorDomain":"Ihavenoaddress"}
    lambnlions

    Some power players in the Gulf Coast tourist town decided they had had their fill.

    A county commissioner who owns a doughnut shop and two lawyers who own a new Dunkin' Donutson Panama City Beach turned against him, along with some of his own employees, Newsom says. After the lawyers threatened to sue, his bosses at the Florida Health Department made him remove the anti-fried dough rants and eventually forced him to resign, he says.

    This statement in itself, if true as stated; has to be one of the biggest clear cut conflict of issue cases around, should the doctor decides to pursue this. And the doctors boss read like a of chicken plop for buckling under the pressure. They/He/She should be the ones being fired. Not for hiring the healthy doc. but for being so cowardice.

    lawyers Bo Rivard and Michael Duncan, co-owners of a new Dunkin' Donuts, asked Newsom to take down the "America Dies on Dunkin'" message. Newsom already had run other anti-doughnut warnings, including "Doughnuts (equals) Diabetes," and "Dunkin' Donuts (equals) Death

    Can it be clearly documented that what the doctor has state, is true? If so, then the problem of all the donut Zars would not be that its a lie, but that it might eat into their fat sales.

    Reads to me like the typical Pensacola society folks, using their positions to effect out comes and tamper with the lives of individuals, is what I gathered from this story.

    Hey! Doc. If you're in the right, I wouldn't back down. Take them to court with your abundance of proof..only make sure you request a change of venue.. wouldn't want their buddy's on the bench helping them out would you. If honesty is permitted (brotherhood and all that)?

    {"commentId":8845815,"threadId":"650412","contentId":"3149815","authorDomain":"Ihavenoaddress"}
      Reply#2 - Fri Aug 14, 2009 4:25 PM EDT
      {"commentId":8893442,"authorDomain":"darthmaulrob"}
      Robert-Eglin AFB, FL

      I am pretty sure we had free speech in this country at one time.. hence I believe he can put as many donuts with lines through them as he can post.. There should be NO problems with this..!! Just because it makes people in powerful positions madd doesnt give them the right to abuse their power and have him fired...!! they should be the ones up giving up their jobs at this point in time.. What a waste of time to even entertain these idiots!! I would so come at the free speech angle and also an abuse of power by the attorneys involved.. you may even want to make a florida bar inquiry on them just to get their attention... It would benefit all parties to walk away from this one because people lose their law licenses/medical licenses... if he owns his own business he can run it like he likes... if people dont want to work their dont work there! As long as you arent violating any Florida Law... but on the flip side of all this..we dont want to get to be one of those societies that says anything unhealthy is illegal.. people should be aloud to eat what they please.. lets not forget about those rights, just because a govt entity says something causes hearth problems doesnt mean it should be illegal... Everything causes some kind of problem.. should we stop eating or should we stop going out side because we may get sun cancer....?? This kind of things is greatly blown our of proportion by both sides... They would both do good to walk away!

      {"commentId":8893442,"threadId":"650412","contentId":"3149815","authorDomain":"darthmaulrob"}
      • 1 vote
      Reply#3 - Mon Aug 17, 2009 8:33 PM EDT
      {"commentId":8898230,"authorDomain":"Ihavenoaddress"}
      lambnlions
      Just because it makes people in powerful positions madd doesnt give them the right to abuse their power and have him fired.

      Powerful as anyone is; amongst a million or two outcry in the right direction at the right amplitude, even their power can't hide what they've done.

      It would benefit all parties to walk away from this one because people lose their law licenses/medical licenses... if he owns

      It didn[t profit the doctor that got fired for simply wanting the better health of people? Where is his profits?

      we dont want to get to be one of those societies that says anything unhealthy is illegal.. people should be aloud to eat what they please

      I don't think this would ever be a problem. What I didn't read, was that there was a doctor with a double gauge - oozie, a few hand grenades and a bazooka in his hands, demanding that people stop eating donuts because of health issues due to eating them. I saw a doctor doing about as much as the Surgeon General could and would do, putting up posters, and as read, not aimed at a particular company, but of the product as a whole.

      Just because it makes people in powerful positions madd doesnt give them the right to abuse their power and have him fired...!! they should be the ones up giving up their jobs at this point in time

      I'm sure we're not the only ones that would agree.

      {"commentId":8898230,"threadId":"650412","contentId":"3149815","authorDomain":"Ihavenoaddress"}
        Reply#4 - Tue Aug 18, 2009 8:05 AM EDT
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