Category: Issue 537
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Allergic Reaction to Pesticide on Blueberries Reported
A recent study in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology reportedly attributes an anaphylactic reaction in a 10-year-old girl to the antibiotic pesticide applied to the blueberries in the pie she was eating. François Graham et al., “Risk of allergic reaction and sensitization to antibiotics in foods,” Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, September 2014.…
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Proposed Berkeley Soda Tax Language Changed
A California state court has adjusted the language in the soft drink tax on the November 2014 ballot by replacing “high-calorie, sugary drink” with “sugar-sweetened beverages” to clarify the proposed tax and to conform with election codes. Johnson v. Numainville, No. RG14786763 (Cal. Super. Ct., Alameda Cty., order entered September 2, 2014). Agreeing with the…
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Peanut Corp. of America Salmonella Outbreak Trial Nears End
Defense counsel and a U.S. attorney made their closing arguments September 11-12, 2014, in the criminal trial of three former Peanut Corp. of America officials and employees who were charged with mail and wire fraud, obstruction, conspiracy, and other counts relating to a nationwide 2008-2009 Salmonella outbreak linked to the company’s Blakely, Georgia, facility. United States…
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Monsanto Reaches Agreement in Principle over GM Wheat Contamination
In light of representations that the parties are close to settlement, a multidistrict litigation (MDL) court has continued to stay proceedings in litigation alleging that the isolated appearance of genetically modified (GM) wheat in Oregon, which purportedly led Japan and South Korea to suspend imports of soft-white wheat from the United States, caused wheat farmers…
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NRDC Seeks Rehearing in FDA Livestock Antibiotic Litigation
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and other groups have requested that the Second Circuit Court of Appeals reconsider its decision that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is not required to begin proceedings to withdraw approval of certain antibiotics in livestock feed. NRDC Inc. v. FDA, No. 12-2106 (2d Cir., petition filed September 8, 2014).…
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Challenge to Idaho Law Criminalizing Agricultural Investigations Proceeds
A federal court in Idaho has denied, in part, the motion to dismiss filed by state officials in a challenge filed by animal-rights activists and other groups to a law that criminalizes the undercover investigations of agricultural operations. Animal Legal Defense Fund v. Otter, No. 14-0104 (D. Idaho, order entered September 4, 2014). The court agreed…
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Beck’s False Advertising Case to Proceed
A Florida federal court has denied Anheuser-Busch’s motion to dismiss a case accusing the beverage company of misleading consumers into believing that Beck’s beer was still brewed in Germany, finding that the plaintiffs adequately pleaded their claims. Marty v. Anheuser-Busch Cos., No. 13-23656 (S.D. Fla., order entered September 5, 2014). In 2012, Anheuser-Busch moved production…