Category: Issue 419
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Study Links Canned Soup to BPA Spike in Humans
A recent Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) study has allegedly linked canned soup consumption to increased urinary bisphenol A (BPA) levels in humans. Jenny Carwile, et al., “Canned Soup Consumption and Urinary Bisphenol A: A Randomized Crossover Trial,” Journal of the American Medical Association, November 2011. According to a November 22, 2011, HSPH press…
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NPR Disputes Food Safety News Honey Coverage
“Maybe we’re too inclined to believe the worst about supermarket food,” writes NPR’s Dan Charles in a November 25, 2011, column about a recent Food Safety News report suggesting that most honey sold in the United States does not deserve the name. According to NPR, the article in question implied that producers use a process…
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WTO Rebuffs U.S. COOL Regulations
A World Trade Organization (WTO) panel has issued a ruling against the United States in a dispute with Mexico and Canada over country-of-origin labeling (COOL) regulations for beef and pork products. According to the November 18, 2011, panel report, Canada and Mexico filed complaints arguing that U.S. COOL regulations enacted in 2008 afford “imported livestock…
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“Lazy Cakes” Lawsuit Dismissed
A federal judge in California has reportedly dismissed a putative class action against the manufacturer of melatonin-laced brownies marketed as a relaxation and sleep aid. According to media sources, the plaintiff alleged that HBB LLC failed to disclose the potential effects of its Lazy Larry® or Lazy Cakes® baked goods, including “extreme fatigue, exhaustion and…
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Federal Court Dismisses “100% Natural” Cooking Oil Suit
A federal court in California has dismissed without prejudice a proposed class action alleging that ConAgra Foods misrepresented its Wesson cooking oils as “100% Natural” when they contain genetically modified (GM) ingredients. Briseño v. ConAgra Foods, Inc., No. 11 05379 (C.D. Cal., order entered June 28, 2011). Seeking to certify a nationwide class of consumers, the…
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Consumer Groups Support Petition Calling for Labels on Genetically Engineered Food
The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) has written a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) supporting a legal petition that demands required labeling of all genetically engineered (GE) food. Information about the October 4, 2011, petition filed by the Center for Food Safety appear in Issue 412 of this Update. Representing nearly 300…
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FDA Considers Stricter Guidelines for Arsenic in Apple Juice
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is evaluating current allowable levels of inorganic arsenic in apple juice in response to consumer groups’ demand for tighter restrictions. In a November 21, 2011, letter to Food & Water Watch and the Empire State Consumer Project, FDA said, “we are seriously considering setting guidance or other level for…