Category: Issue 575
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Rudd Center Claims Food and Beverage Marketing Targets Black and Hispanic Youth
The University of Connecticut Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity has issued a report claiming that food companies “disproportionately target their TV advertising for fast food, candy, sugary drink and snack brands to black and Hispanic consumers.” Focusing on restaurant, food and beverage companies that spent at least $100 million on advertising in 2013…
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Tito’s “Handmade” Vodka Label Targeted Again in Proposed Class Action
A consumer has filed a lawsuit against Fifth Generation, Inc. alleging that its Tito’s Handmade Vodka® is not “handmade” as claimed on the label because it is produced through a mechanized process. Wilson v. Fifth Generation, Inc., No. 15-561 (M.D. Ala., filed August 5, 2015). The complaint joins a number of other lawsuits alleging similar facts…
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As You Sow Threatens Prop. 65 Litigation Against Soylent
Environmental group As You Sow has filed a 60-day notice of intent to sue the manufacturer of Soylent, a food substitute product, for alleged failure to warn that the powder contains lead and cadmium exceeding levels considered safe under California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Prop. 65). The product at issue is…
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Plaintiff in Bigelow Class Action Cannot Obtain Profit Information
A California federal court has denied a plaintiff’s attempt to obtain Bigelow’s financial records in a putative class action alleging that the company mislabeled its tea. Khasin v. R.C. Bigelow Inc., No. 12-2204 (N.D. Cal., order entered August 12, 2015). The plaintiff argued that the records would help him calculate what portion of the profits…
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Kind “Healthy” Labeling Lawsuits Consolidated
The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation has consolidated 11 putative class actions against Kind LLC alleging that its snack bars are misleadingly marketed as “healthy” despite a high saturated fat content and low levels of nutrients. Kind LLC “All Natural” Litigation, MDL No. 2645 (S.D.N.Y., transfer order entered August 7, 2015). The court found…
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U.S. Delegates Schedule Fish and Fishery Products Meeting
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of the Under Secretary for Food Safety, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have announced a September 24, 2015, public meeting in College Park, Maryland, to discuss draft U.S. positions for consideration at the 34th Session of the Codex Committee on Fish and…
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USDA Seeks Nominees to Fill NGRAC Vacancies
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting nominations for five open slots on the National Genetic Resources Advisory Council (NRGAC), a subcommittee of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board. NRGAC members are charged with recommending policies for collecting, maintaining and utilizing genetic resources as well as considering approaches for their…
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NTP Soliciting Information and Experts for Project Regarding Association Between PFOA and PFOS Exposures and Immunotoxicity in Humans
The National Toxicology Program’s (NTP’s) Office of Health Assessment and Translation is inviting information submissions about ongoing studies or upcoming publications targeting evidence of an association between exposures to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and immunotoxicity to assist in the preparation of a monograph on the topic. PFOA and PFOS are chemical compounds…