Wis. billboard warns of cheese dangers

DE PERE, Wis., Sept. 26 (UPI) -- The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board said it objects to a non-profit group's billboard warning about the dangers of eating cheese.

The group, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, said the billboard is aimed at educating the public about the harmful effects of cheese consumption, WBAY-TV, Green Bay, Wis., reported Monday.

The billboard was erected Monday near Lambeau Field along Highway 41 in De Pere, WGBA-TV, Green Bay, reported.

"Warning: Cheese Can Sack Your Health. Fat. Cholesterol. Sodium," reads the billboard, which features an image of the grim reaper wearing a Cheesehead hat.

"The dietary guidelines for Americans, which are produced by the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture), came out earlier this year, and one thing it says is, we need to consume less saturated fat, and the No. 1 source of saturated fat in American diet is cheese," PCRM representative Susan Levin was quoted as saying by WBAY-TV, Green Bay.

However, the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board said it does not agree with the committee.

"I think most consumers understand this for what it is: It's misinformation, typical of what PCRM does," Patrick Geoghegam of the milk marketing board said.

Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt said the group's billboard and its request for "a warning label on all high-fat cheesy foods served at Lambeau Field" is "kind of silly."

"I think it's attacking something more for PR. There's so many other things people can be working on," he said.