GLICKMAN TO HOST THE GREAT NUTRITION DEBATE
                                           Release No. 0057.00 
Media Advisory

                            Mary Beth Schultheis (202) 720-4623
                                  mary_beth.schultheis@usda.gov

GLICKMAN TO HOST THE GREAT NUTRITION DEBATE

     WASHINGTON, February 22, 2000   Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman will
host The Great Nutrition Debate on Thursday, February 24 from 10:00 a.m. to
1:00 p.m.  Participating in the forum will be some of the nation's best-known
weight-loss authors and nutrition experts, discussing approaches to dieting,
nutrition and long-term health effects.

  WHAT:     The Great Nutrition Debate

  WHEN:     Thursday, February 24, 2000, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

             10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  
             Opening Remarks by Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman
             Presentations by:  
               Dr. Robert C. Atkins, Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution
               Dr. Morrison Bethea, Sugar Busters! Cut Sugar to Trim           
               Fat
               Dr. Dean Ornish, Eat More, Weigh Less
               Dr. Barry Sears, The Zone
               Dr. Keith-Thomas Ayoob, Albert Einstein College of  
               Medicine
               Dr. Denise Bruner, American Society of Bariatric             
               Physicians
               Dr. John McDougall, Dr. McDougall's Right Foods
               Moderator, Carolyn O'Neil, CNN
              
               12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.  
               Panel Discussion, Question and Answer Session
               Moderator, Carolyn O'Neil, CNN

               1:00 p.m.
               Media Availability

  WHERE:       Jefferson Auditorium
               USDA South Building
               14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW
               Washington, DC

               (Media should enter through Wing 4, off Independence Avenue) 


Registration forms and symposium information may be found on website:
www.usda.gov/cnpp

NOTE TO EDITORS: Audio excerpts from the Great Nutrition Debate will be
available on the USDA Radio Newsline after 5:00 p.m. on Thursday by phoning
(202) 488-8358 or 8359 or COMREX encoded (202) 720-2545.  Video excerpts will
be available on Thursday's USDA TV News Service from 4:15-4:30 p.m. ET Galaxy
6 (C-Band), Transponder 11-Horizontal, Downlink Frequency 3920 MHZ, Audio
6.2/6.8.  The Great Diet Debate will be webcast live on the Internet.  Check
the USDA Home Page at http://www.usda.gov for details.
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