Category: Issue 371
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Australian Researchers Advocate Mandatory Sodium Limits for Processed Foods
Mandatory sodium limits for processed foods could be 20 times more effective than voluntary reduction measures. Linda Cobiac, et al., “Cost-effectiveness of interventions to reduce dietary salt intake,” Heart, November 2010. Australian researchers evaluated the public health benefits and cost-effectiveness of four possible strategies for reducing dietary salt: (i) the current Australian program that provides…
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Skin “Efficiently Absorbs and Metabolizes” BPA, Claims New Research
A recent study has reportedly concluded that viable skin can absorb bisphenol A (BPA), raising concerns about exposure from handling BPA-laden products such as receipts. Daniel Zalko, et al., “Viable skin efficiently absorbs and metabolizes bisphenol A,” Chemosphere, October 2010. French researchers used both pig and human cultures to determine that “BPA is readily absorbed…
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German Agency Holds Forum on Safety of Recycled Food Packaging
Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) recently held its Ninth Forum on Consumer Protection in Berlin, where 300 participants discussed the alleged health risks of recycled materials used in food packaging. More specifically, the meeting focused on cardboard packaging made from recycled paper, which evidently contains mineral oils used in newspaper ink that can…
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KFC Advertising Disputed Before Delaware Chancery Court
KFC franchisees have reportedly made their closing arguments before a Delaware Chancery Court in a dispute over the company’s advertising policies. They contend that 1997 amendments to the company’s corporate documents gave them the authority to propose and approve different advertising recommendations. The lawsuit was apparently filed after KFC Corp. launched an advertising campaign for…
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Florida Diner Claims Restaurant’s Negligence Led to Artichoke-Induced Injury
A Florida man has sued a Houston’s restaurant and its manager for failing to train servers to explain to patrons how to eat grilled artichokes, contending that their negligence led to his hospitalization and exploratory bowel surgery. Carvajal v. Hillstone Restaurant Group, Inc., No. 10-57757 CA 03 (Fla. Cir. Ct., Miami Dade Cty., filed October…
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Nestlé Files Supply Chain Lawsuit in Lean Cuisine® Recall
Nestlé Prepared Foods Co. has filed a complaint against the suppliers of ingredients for its Lean Cuisine® frozen meals, which it was apparently forced to recall when it learned that some of the meals were contaminated with foreign, hard blue plastic pieces. Nestlé Prepared Foods Co. v. Nat’l Food Trading Corp., No. 10-1077 (D. Utah, filed…
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Menu Labeling Claims Under Prop. 65 Can Proceed in California
The California Supreme Court has denied a petition for review filed by fast food restaurants seeking to overturn an intermediate appellate court ruling allowing further proceedings on claims that they violated Proposition 65 by selling grilled chicken products to consumers without appropriate warnings about carcinogens created by the cooking process. Physicians Comm. for Responsible Med.…
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California Appellate Court Refuses to Certify Chipotle Employee Class Action
A California court of appeals has denied the request of a former Chipotle employee to certify a class of current and former non-managerial employees alleging that the company violated labor laws by denying them meal and rest breaks. Hernandez v. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc., No. B216004 (Cal. Ct. App., 2d Dist., modified opinion filed October…