"The Chew": Show Me The Credentials
R.I.P soap operas, ABC's going in a new direction with daytime TV. In September viewers will be seeing "The Chew" instead of cult following "All My Children" in an attempt to make ABC daytime more "informative and authentic".
"The Chew" is a food focused talk show which promises to explore food from all angles: news, trends, travel,and nutrition. Their rotating cast consists of experts like Chef Mario Batali, Chef Michael Simon, and Top Chef's Carla Hall all who have been in the food business a long time with great acclaim. The producer is Gordon Elliot who also does Paula Deen's Home Cooking, and Down Home With The Neelys: both delicious and BBQ drenched. On that same riff, we can see this show isn't exactly going to be the picture of health.
You'll notice there's also a nutrition and health segment to this show. The "expert" is Daphne Oz, a 2008 graduate of Princeton who has a BA in Near Eastern Studies. She also struggled with her weight in college and decided to write a book on keeping the freshman 15 at bay. So, hold on...how did a student with a completely unrelated degree score a book deal on dieting and a tv segment as a nutrition expert?
Meet the daughter of Dr. Oz. As Shakespeare would say "Ah, there's the rub".
Apparently being the daughter of an expert makes you an expert by heredity (Although let's also remember he's a medical expert, not a nutrition expert. He did say the HCG diet was okay). If we are following that logic then, if your parents were astronauts, you could be the captain of a space shuttle starting...now. If your parents were surgeons, you could go open a body without a medical degree. See where I'm going?
Where is the real nutrition expert on this show? Where in the world is the Registered Dietitian who has, at minimum, completed an accredited undergraduate study, received a match to an internship where 50% of students are placed, worked over 1000 hours of supervised practice, sat for an exam, and does continuing education hours each year? There is major cause for concern over the spread of misinformation and advice. The daytime tv watchers will probably not be checking credentials and will trust the information given. No trained expert, no sound advice.
I hope ABC puts up the same disclaimer contained in Daphne Oz's book when she speaks "... not intended as substitutes for medical advice from a qualified physician...or other competent professional before adopting any of the suggestions. The author...specifically disclaim all responsibility ".
Just something to chew on...where do you stand?