Category: Issue 304
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CSPI Urges Congress to Pass Legislation Aimed At Reducing Sodium Levels in Food
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has launched a campaign to halve the amount of sodium in prepackaged foods and restaurant meals within 10 years. CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson this week presented the group’s case to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, claiming that “Because it raises blood pressure and increases the…
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Ashley Antler, “The Role of Litigation in Combating Obesity Among Poor Urban Minority Youth: A Critical Analysis of Pelman v. McDonald’s Corp.,” Cardozo Journal of Law & Gender, Winter 2009
This student-authored case note discusses the obesity-related class litigation filed in 2002 against McDonald’s Corp. involving named plaintiffs who are urban minority youths. The author contends that, while the proposed class definition includes a much broader population of New York residents, framing such litigation to connect obesity with socioeconomic status and race “could have been a…
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Canada Renews COOL Dispute Before World Trade Organization
Concerned that the United States does not plan to make any changes to its country-of-origin labeling (COOL) rules for meats, fresh produce and nuts, Canada has apparently decided to move forward with a complaint it originally filed in December 2008 with the World Trade Organization (WTO). According to Canada’s trade minister, “Recent instructions from the…
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Government Moves to Dismiss Identity Theft Charges at Kosher Slaughterhouse
As anticipated, federal prosecutors have reportedly filed a motion to dismiss a number of charges of aiding and abetting aggravated identity theft against a Postville, Iowa, slaughterhouse, its former executive and a former manager. The action was taken after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a conviction under the identity theft law requires a showing…
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Vermont Rejects Non-Economic Damages for Loss of Pets
The Vermont Supreme Court has refused to expand liability to allow the recovery of non-economic damages in litigation involving the death of pets. Goodby v. Vetpharm, Inc., No. 2009 VT 52 (Vt., decided May 8, 2009). While the issue arose in a case involving the alleged negligence of a veterinarian and pharmaceutical company, the question whether…
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Tenth Circuit Refuses to Enjoin Use of Poultry Waste as Fertilizer
The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed a lower court’s decision not to enjoin Tyson Foods, Inc. from using poultry litter as fertilizer. Oklahoma v. Tyson Foods, Inc., No. 08-5154 (10th Cir., decided May 13, 2009). Oklahoma’s attorney general sought a preliminary injunction to halt the practice, arguing that poultry litter contains E. coli,…
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Minnesota and Chicago Ban BPA in Baby Bottles
Minnesota and Chicago have reportedly become the first state and municipality to prohibit the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in plastic food and beverage containers intended for children ages 3 or younger. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty (R) recently signed legislation (H.F. 326) that would prohibit the sale of these products in the state as of…