Category: Issue 578
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New Study Questions BPA Link to Preterm Births
A study examining increased preterm birth rates in the United States has found “little evidence of a relationship between BPA [bisphenol A] and prematurity.” David Cantonwine, et al., “Urinary Bisphenol A Levels during Pregnancy and Risk of Preterm Birth,” Environmental Health Perspectives, September 2015. After analyzing urinary BPA levels throughout pregnancy in 130 cases of…
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Amazon Enters Farmers Market, Alcohol Sectors
With the launch of services targeting the grocery and alcoholic beverage segments, Amazon.com, Inc., has garnered media attention for its latest forays into a new and competitive marketplace. In a September 1, 2015, article, The Los Angeles Times compares Amazon’s Farmers Market Direct program to other food delivery startups aiming to bring fresh local products…
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AAJ Report Decries Food Industry, Promotes Civil Justice System as “Mechanism for Deterring Negligent Behavior”
“American consumers expect and deserve safe food. Yet, time and again, food producers have cut corners on food safety knowing full well that tainted products cause serious illness or even death,” asserted American Association for Justice (AAJ) President Larry Tawwater in issuing a report condemning industry for allegedly prioritizing profits over people. The report contends that…
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Chipotle Fare Is Not GMO-Free, Purported Class Action Alleges
A California woman has filed a putative class action against Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. alleging that, despite advertised claims to the contrary, the company’s restaurants do not serve food free of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Gallagher v. Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc., No. 15-3952 (N.D. Cal., filed August 26, 2015). The complaint asserts that although the…
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Center for Food Safety Sues USDA for Ignoring FOIA Requests About GE Crops
The Center for Food Safety (CFS) has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) alleging that the agency has routinely failed to respond to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests for records related to genetically engineered (GE) crops. Ctr. for Food Safety v. Animal &…
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Safeway to Pay $30 Million for Online Grocery Markup
A California federal court has determined that Safeway is liable for $30 million in damages for claims alleging that the company charged different prices for products sold online despite a contractual agreement that in-store and online prices would be the same. Rodman v. Safeway Inc., No. 11-3003 (N.D. Cal., order entered August 31, 2015). The…
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Heinz Ketchup to Be Labeled “Tomato Seasoning” in Israel
Israel’s Ministry of Health has reportedly ruled that Heinz ketchup can no longer be called “ketchup” because of its low tomato content. Israeli food company Osem first targeted the product in January 2015 by sending a letter to supermarkets blasting the product and filing an $18 million class action on behalf of consumers. Osem argued that…
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Ireland Objects to “Artisan” McDonald’s Burger
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has reportedly objected to McDonald’s Corp.’s use of “artisan” in describing its new product, the McMór hamburger. The Ireland-exclusive burger is marketed as an “artisan” product that incorporates several ingredients from Irish cuisine, including bacon, cabbage, baby kale, Ballymaloe relish, Charleville cheese and a “potato-flaked” bun. FSAI established…