Whole grain standards were the focus of an Associated Press article a few days ago.

Lauded as leaders for their "high standards" was General Mills -- makers of "whole grain" Cocoa Puffs and Trix cereals with their refined sugars and chemical cornucopia of ingredients.

My parents always taught me not to take candy from strangers. Could there be anything stranger than having a company with candied cereals featuring a lengthy list of artificial ingredients lifted up as a standard bearer?

Frozen dessert queen Sara Lee was described only as a "fresh bread business". Its president was cited as a voice of concern about the best way to "tell the public about whole grains". Is that like having Playboy's Hugh Hefner offer instruction on morality?

Finally in closing was the lengthiest comment of all about concern for getting the word out on whole grains from an Interstate Bakeries spokesman. Great concern was expressed from its spokesman that word about whole grain bread should not be slighted. That company is the maker of WONDER bread that was the pioneer purveyor of white bread in the marketplace. You can't get much more on the opposite end of the spectrum from "whole grains" than Interstate Bakeries.

AP looks to be assisting the lunatics with their long time control of the asylum.

Status quo

Nowhere to be found was mention of Alvarado Street Bakeries, Food For Life, Rudi's, or any long time standard bearers of whole grain breads.

The Associated Press story continues support for companies that have long contributed to the degradation of health among Americans while continuing to ignore long time champions of substantial change for better health.

Mainstream media is offering up big companies with small change rather than smaller companies with rich tasting products full of healthy rewards.

Associated Press looks like a clandestine public relations firm for the giants of industry. Perhaps a name change to Associated Propaganda is in order?