Category: Issue 408
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New Study Alleges Link Between Gout and Obesity
A recent study has suggested that the rising prevalence of gout, which now reportedly affects 4 percent of Americans, “may be associated” with greater frequency of obesity and hypertension. Yanyan Zhu, et al., “Prevalence of Gout and Hyperuricemia in the US General Population,” Arthritis & Rheumatism, July 28, 2011. Researchers compared data from 5,707 participants in…
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Japanese Research Institute Claims BPA Poses “Very Small” Risk to Human Health
A Japanese research institute recently issued an updated hazard assessment of bisphenol A (BPA) suggesting that the chemical poses minimal or no risk to human health. The Research Institute of Science and Sustainability (RISS), which is part of Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, examined BPA data “from 2005 onwards” to assess…
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CDC Journal, Lancet Focus on Obesity Issues
The September 2011 issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s research and policy journal, Preventing Chronic Disease, features a special section dedicated to “Ethical Issues in Interventions for Childhood Obesity,” where contributors with Public Health Law & Policy, Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, and other organizations discuss how best…
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Cities and Health Groups Launch Campaign to Reduce Soft Drink Consumption
The American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association and Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) have joined cities nationwide in a new initiative designed “to reduce diet-related disease” by targeting sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Dubbed “Life’s Sweeter with Fewer Sugary Drinks,” the campaign seeks to decrease “average consumption of sugary drinks to roughly 3 cans per…
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Anti-Tobacco Law Professor Predicts Opening of Food Litigation Floodgates
George Washington University Law School Professor John Banzhaf, who teaches “public interest” law, has issued a press release discussing recent class action claims against ConAgra over its “All Natural” cooking oil representations. According to Banzhaf, such litigation could be in the vanguard of many similar lawsuits against food companies that would be targeted by “both…
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Minnesota Legal Journal Publishes Food Advertising and Childhood Obesity Article
The most recent issue of the Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology includes an article titled “Food Advertising and Childhood Obesity: A Call to Action for Proactive Solutions.” Co-authored by online law instructor Roseann Termini and Widener University School of Law students Thomas Roberto and Shelby Hostetter, the article explores whether food advertising is…
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Del Monte Announces Intent to Sue Oregon Health Authority in Cantaloupe Flap
According to a news source, Del Monte Fresh Produce NA Inc. has indicated, as part of its campaign to counter allegations that its cantaloupes, imported from Guatemala, were tainted with Salmonella, that it intends to sue the Oregon Health Authority and a public health official for making “misleading allegations” about its products. Company Vice President Dennis…
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Putative Class Alleges Kashi “Natural” Products Have Mostly Unnatural Ingredients
A Texas resident has filed a putative class action against the Kashi Co. and its parent, the Kellogg Co., in a California federal court, alleging that the company falsely labels and markets its products as “all natural” when they actually contain processed and synthetic ingredients, some of which are not generally recognized as safe by…