Category: Issue 444
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AMA Endorses Soda Tax to Help Fight Obesity
The American Medical Association (AMA) has reportedly championed taxes on sugar-sweetened sodas as a way to fight obesity. Although it failed to pass a policy that outright supports such a measure, the AMA recognized during its recent annual meeting that “while a number of factors contribute to the obesity epidemic, taxes on beverages with added…
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AMA Amends Policy on GE Foods
The American Medical Association’s (AMA) House of Delegates has reportedly updated its policy on genetically engineered (GE) foods, voting at its 2012 Annual Meeting to adopt a statement that supports pre-market product testing but opposes special labeling. According to media sources, AMA’s statement concludes that “there is no scientific justification for special labeling of bioengineered…
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Becker-Posner Blog Tackles Bloomberg’s Proposal to Ban Super-Sized Sugary Drinks
University of Chicago Economics Professor Gary Becker and Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals Justice Richard Posner have posted comments on their blog about New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposed ban on sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces. Becker concludes that “even when consumer decisions are not in their self-interest, it is questionable whether that provides sufficient…
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Kentucky Residents Sue Diageo over “Whiskey Fungus” Growth on Property
Several Louisville, Kentucky, residents and a business owner have filed a putative class action against Diageo Americas Supply, Inc., alleging that one of its distilling operations has caused an accumulation of “the fungus Baudoinia compniacensis, colloquially referred to as ‘whiskey fungus,’” on their real and personal property. Merrick v. Diageo Americas Supply, Inc., No. 12-334 (W.D.…
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JPML Consolidates Deceptive OJ Marketing Claims in New Jersey
The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) has consolidated before a multidistrict litigation (MDL) court in New Jersey six lawsuits alleging that Tropicana deceptively markets its not-from-concentrate orange juice as “100% Pure & Natural,” despite extensive processing. In re: Tropicana Orange Juice Mktg. & Sales Practices Litig., MDL No. 2353 (J.P.M.L., order entered June 11,…
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Objections Filed to Settlement of Nutella® Misleading Ad Claims
In advance of a July 9, 2012, hearing before a federal court in New Jersey to approve the settlement of claims that Ferrero USA, Inc. misled consumers about nutritive value in its ads for Nutella®, a hazelnut spread purportedly containing high fat and sugar levels, a number of class members have filed objections that challenge…
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FTC Ordered to Address Marketers’ Failure to Admit Liability in Açai-Berry Consent Decree
A federal court in New Jersey has, for a second time, requested supplemental briefing before approving a stipulated final order for permanent injunction and other equitable relief in the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) action against a company that allegedly marketed açai-berry weight-loss products with “fake” news reports and deceptive claims. FTC v. Circa Direct LLC,…