Category: Issue 555
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Energy Drinks Allegedly Increase Hyperactivity Risk in Children
Researchers with the Yale School of Public Health have published a study claiming that “middle-school children who consume heavily sweetened energy drinks are 66% more likely to be at risk for hyperactivity and inattention symptoms.” Deborah Schwartz, et al., “Energy Drinks and Youth Self-Reported Hyperactivity/Inattention Symptoms,” Academic Pediatrics, February 2015. The study relied on data…
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Atlantic Profile Questions Value of “Food Babe” Tactics
The Atlantic’s February 11, 2015, profile of blogger Vani Hari—also known as “The Food Babe”—highlights the growing rift between the scientific community and consumer activists who position themselves as dietary crusaders, despite having “no training in human metabolism, toxicology, or environmental science.” Titled The Food Babe: Enemy of Chemicals, the article by Atlantic Senior Editor…
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IOM Workshop to Explore Role of Chemical Exposures in Development of Obesity
The Institute of Medicine’s (IOM’s) Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine is hosting a March 2-3, 2015, workshop in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, to discuss the “interplay between environmental exposures and obesity.” Topics of discussion will include the alleged links “between exposure to environmental chemicals and increased incidence of weight gain, glucose…
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RWJF Doubles Financial Commitment to Expand Programs Aimed at Reducing Childhood Obesity, Issues Priorities for Next Decade
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) will reportedly commit $500 million over the next 10 years to intensified efforts ensuring that “all children in the United States—no matter who they are or where they live—can grow up at a healthy weight.” According to a February 5, 2015, news release, the health philanthropy’s new initiatives will…
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New Nonprofit Watchdog Aims to “Expose What the Food Industry Doesn’t Want Us to Know”
U.S. Right to Know (USRTK), an Oakland, California-based nonprofit, launched in late January 2015 under the leadership of Gary Ruskin, former executive director of Commercial Alert. The group claims to be “working to expose what the food industry doesn’t want us to know. We do research and communications on the failures of the corporate food…
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UC Davis Settles Dispute with Strawberry Commission
The University of California, Davis, and the California Strawberry Commission (CSC) have issued a joint press release announcing the settlement of CSC’s lawsuit and the university’s countersuit. CSC initially alleged that the university allowed two of its strawberry developers to leave its employment to privatize the cultivation process using money provided by CSC growers, and…
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Red Bull Criticized for Opposition to “Old Ox” Trademark Registration
Red Bull GmbH has filed a notice of opposition to Old Ox Brewery’s federal trademark application, arguing that the brewery’s marks are likely to confuse consumers because both animals “fall within the same class of ‘bovine’ animals and are virtually indistinguishable to most consumers.” In re Application No. 86/269,626 and 86/269,577 (U.S. Pat. & Trademark Office,…
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Putative Class Action Alleges Damage to Guatemalan Environment by Chiquita Supplier
A consumer has filed a proposed class action in California federal court alleging that Chiquita Brands, Inc. is responsible for the destructive practices of its “de facto subsidiary,” Cobigua, including the effects of its use of pesticides on the water supply of neighboring communities. Jablonowski v. Chiquita Brands, Inc., No. 15-262 (S.D. Cal., filed February…