Category: Issue 432
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Meta-Analysis Alleges Link Between White Rice Consumption and Type 2 Diabetes
A recent meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies has claimed that “higher white rice consumption was associated with a significantly elevated risk of type 2 diabetes.” Emily Hu, et al., “White rice consumption and risk of type 2 diabetes: systemic review,” BMJ, March 2012. Harvard School of Public Health researchers apparently examined four articles with “seven…
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Mark Bittman, “Is a Calorie a Calorie?,” The New York Times, March 20, 2012
“The ‘calorie is a calorie’ argument is widely used by the processed food industry to explain that weight loss isn’t really about what you eat but about how many calories you eat,” writes New York Times columnist Mark Bittman in a March 20, 2012, “Opinionator” post about Marion Nestle and Malden Nesheim’s new book, Why…
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CHEM Trust Investigates Chemical Causes of Obesity
The U.K.-based Chemicals, Health and Environment Monitoring (CHEM) Trust has issued a March 2012 report claiming that recent studies have linked “hormone disrupting chemicals in food and consumer products” to obesity and Type 2 diabetes in humans. The report apparently analyzes 240 research papers offering epidemiological or laboratory evidence to suggest that certain chemicals—such as…
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Scientists Question Food-Addiction Model for Obesity
A recent opinion piece published in Nature Reviews Neuroscience has questioned efforts to conceptualize obesity and overeating “as a food addiction accompanied by corresponding brain changes,” in the process raising concerns about the rush to adopt this model as a foundation for clinical and policy recommendations. Hisham Ziauddeen, et al., “Obesity and the brain: how…
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Cantaloupe Importer Withdraws Tort Claims Against Epidemiologist and Oregon Public Health
Del Monte Fresh Produce has reportedly informed Oregon Public Health and state Senior Epidemiologist William Keene that it will not act on its notice to sue over their identification of the company’s imported cantaloupes as the source of a 2011 Salmonella outbreak. Additional details about the litigation threat appear in Issue 408 of this Update.…
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California Olive Garden Workers Bring Wage-Related Claims
Two California men who allegedly worked as cooks at a Riverside County Olive Garden have filed a putative class action as private attorneys general under the California Labor Code, claiming that they performed off-the-clock work, were not provided meal or rest breaks as required by law or paid overtime, and had the cost of shoes…
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Insurer Agrees to Pay $11 Million to Settle Coverage Dispute in Salmonella Outbreak
A company that insured Basic Food Flavors Inc. has asked a court to approve its settlement in a coverage dispute concerning a 2010 Salmonella outbreak involving hydrolyzed vegetable protein, a flavorings ingredient used in processed foods. Employers Fire Ins. Co. v. Basic Food Flavors Inc., 10-1109 (D. Nev., motion to approve settlement filed March 21, 2012).…
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Federal Court Consolidates Frito-Lay “All Natural” Lawsuits
A federal court in New York has reportedly consolidated three putative class actions against Frito-Lay North America Inc. involving claims that the company falsely advertised its chips as “all natural” despite using genetically modified corn and oil in the products. In re: Frito-Lay N. Am. Inc. “All-Natural” Litig., No. 12-00408 (E.D.N.Y., order entered March 20, 2012).…