Category: Issue 568
-
Tufts Study Allegedly Links SSBs to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Analyzing data from more than 2,500 participants enrolled in a National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute study, Tufts University researchers have reportedly concluded that “a daily sugar-sweetened beverage [SSB] habit may increase the risk for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).” Jiantao Ma, et al., “Sugar-sweetened beverage, diet soda and fatty liver disease in the Framingham…
-
New Yorker Sounds Alarm on Avian Influenza
A June 9, 2015, New Yorker article warns that the latest strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) cut a swathe through the domestic poultry industry despite the best efforts of health officials and scientists working to contain it. Arguing that bird flu poses a greater threat than Ebola to human health, the article notes…
-
SSB Taxes and Food Marketing Among Topics at Upcoming Childhood Obesity Conference
Public health advocates from around the United States will convene in San Diego, California, on June 29-July 2, 2015, for the 8th Biennial Childhood Obesity Conference. The “Marketing to Kids” track of the two-day event will include a mini-plenary session titled “Taxing Sugar-Sweetened Beverages for Public Health: What Have We Learned from the Mexico, Berkeley and…
-
“Natural” Prego® Sauces Alleged to Contain Unnatural Canola Oil
In an amended complaint, a plaintiff has alleged that Campbell Soup Co.’s Prego® sauces contain canola oil with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) despite the products’ “100% Natural” label claims. Nelson v. Campbell Soup Co., No. 14-2647 (S.D. Cal., amended complaint filed June 8, 2015). The complaint asserts that 90 percent of canola crops in the…
-
Watkins Sues McCormick over Slack-Filled Packaging
Watkins Inc., a Minnesota-based company known for its black pepper, has filed a lawsuit against McCormick and Co., Inc., a global purveyor of spices, alleging that McCormick recently began underfilling its pepper containers but continued using the same size of packaging. Watkins Inc. v. McCormick and Co., No. 15-2688 (D. Minn., filed June 9, 2015).…
-
Inko’s® Tea Contains Unnatural Ascorbic Acid, Proposed Class Action Alleges
A group of plaintiffs has filed a putative class action against Inko’s Tea alleging that the company’s tea products contain ascorbic acid, “a non-natural, highly chemically processed ingredient regularly used as a preservative,” despite advertising the products as “100% Natural.” Collazo v. Inko’s Tea, LLC, No. 15-3070 (E.D.N.Y., filed June 8, 2015). Inko’s has consistently…
-
Putative Class Action Challenges Source of Bulleit® Bourbon
A consumer has filed a putative class action against Diageo Americas Supply alleging that its Bulleit® bourbon is not produced in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, as its label states. M’Baye v. Diageo Ams. Supply, Inc., No. 15-1216 (S.D. Cal., filed June 1, 2015). The complaint asserts that Diageo does not operate a distillery in Lawrenceburg and further…
-
ECJ Rules in Labeling Case Challenging German Tea Product
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has found that a correct and complete list of ingredients can be part of an overall misleading food label in a case challenging a German tea company’s “Felix Raspberry and Vanilla Adventure” (“Felix Himbeer-Vanille Abenteuer”) product for having no flavorings derived from raspberries or vanilla. Bundesverband der Verbraucherzentralen und Verbraucherverbände…