Category: Issue 556
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Study Examines Influence of Cartoon Media Characters on Children’s Diets
After conducting a systematic review of studies examining the impact of brand mascots and cartoon media characters on children’s diets, Virginia Tech and Duke University researchers have claimed that “familiar media character branding appears to be a more powerful influence on children’s preferences, choices and intake of less healthy foods compared with fruits or vegetables.”…
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Consumer Reports Study Assesses Alleged 4-MEI Cancer Risk
A joint study by Consumer Reports and the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future claims that 4-methylimidazole (4-MEI) exposures “associated with average rates of soft drink consumption pose excess cancer risks exceeding one case per 1,000,0000 exposed individuals, which is a common acceptable risk goal used by U.S. federal regulatory agencies.” Tyler Smith, et al.,…
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Lancet Publishes Six-Part Series on “Rethinking and Reframing” Obesity
A series of six articles published online February 18, 2015, by The Lancet reportedly “examines false dichotomies and proposes a reframing of obesity as a consequence of the ‘reciprocal nature of the interaction between the environment and the individual,’ where feedback loops perpetuate food choices and behaviors.” “Our understanding of obesity must be completely reframed…
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Johns Hopkins Researchers Review Legal Actions Against Food Products Marketed to Youth
Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have authored an overview of litigation and governmental actions related to health claims on food and beverages marketed to children. Lainie Rutkow, et al., “Legal Action Against Health Claims on Foods and Beverages Marketed to Youth,” American Journal of Public Health, March 2015. By identifying…
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Ex-Licensee Allegedly Infringing on Barefoot Contessa Mark
Ina Garten, the chef who hosts Food Network’s “Barefoot Contessa,” and her company have filed a lawsuit against a seafood producer for allegedly infringing the Barefoot Contessa mark with its line of “Contessa Chef Inspired” frozen dinners. Barefoot Contessa Pantry LLC v. Aqua Star (USA) Co., No. 15-1092 (S.D.N.Y., filed February 17, 2015). Barefoot Contessa,…
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Lawsuit Challenges Jim Beam’s “Handcrafted” Claim
A consumer has filed a putative class action against Jim Beam Brands Co. and its owner Beam Suntory Import Co. alleging that the label indicating that the bourbon whiskey is “handcrafted” is misleading because the bourbon is produced with machines. Welk v. Beam Suntory Import Co., No. 15-328 (U.S. Dist. Ct., filed February 17, 2015).…
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FTC Challenges Proposed Sysco-US Foods Merger
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed an administrative complaint arguing that a proposed merger of US Foods and Sysco would violate antitrust laws, resulting in higher prices and diminished service for the companies’ customers. In re Sysco Corp., No. 9364 (FTC, filed February 19, 2015). The complaint asserts that a merger of Sysco and…
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Settlement Reached in Papa John’s Delivery Tax Dispute
According to a joint motion filed in Florida federal court, Papa John’s International Inc. and a class of consumers have reached an agreement in a lawsuit alleging that the pizza company charged tax on delivery fees in violation of state law. Schojan v. Papa John’s Intl. Inc., No. 14-1218 (M.D. Fla., motion filed February 16,…