Category: Issue 697
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Vox Compares SSB Taxes to Corner Store Initiatives
Vox Media’s podcast The Impact has examined New York City’s and Chicago’s approaches to combating obesity, including Chicago’s imposition of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). A reporter first speaks to employees of an initiative in New York that encourages corner-store owners to stock more healthy foods, and she finds that the results have been…
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Associated Press Explores GE Livestock
The Associated Press has detailed the efforts of Recombinetics, a company that develops genetically engineered (GE) animals, to seek regulatory and public approval of its work. The company CEO reportedly told the news outlet that it aims to assuage fears about GE animals by focusing on how they can help ease animal pain, such as…
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Advocacy Group Sues USDA for Petition Inaction
The Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has filed a lawsuit alleging that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has failed to act on the organization’s 2014 petition seeking certification for labeling claims about animal welfare and environmental stewardship during the meat and poultry production process. Animal Welfare Inst. v. USDA, No. 18-2621 (D.D.C., filed November 14,…
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Plaintiff Alleges Naan is Misrepresented as Tandoor-Baked
A woman has filed a putative class action alleging that FGF Brands (USA) Inc. misleads consumers by falsely marketing Stonefire Naan as baked in a tandoor oven. Friend v. FGF Brands (USA) Inc., No. 18-7644 (N.D. Ill., E. Div., filed November 16, 2018). Naan requires a “labor-intensive cooking process,” the complaint asserts, and the plaintiff…
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Malic Acid Putative Class Actions Filed Against Utz, Talking Rain
Plaintiffs represented by the same plaintiff’s firm have filed lawsuits alleging that companies mislead consumers by labeling their foods as flavored naturally despite containing malic acid. Lepiane v. Utz Quality Foods LLC, No. 18-2659 (S.D. Cal., filed November 20, 2018); Augustine v. Talking Rain Beverage Co., No. 18-2576 (S.D. Cal., filed November 9, 2018). The…
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Citric Acid Invalidates Soda’s “Preservative-Free” Claim, Lawsuit Alleges
A consumer has filed a putative class action alleging that Reed’s Inc. misleads consumers by labeling its Virgil’s Sodas as made with “natural ingredients” and “no preservatives” despite containing citric acid. Mason v. Reed’s Inc., No. 18-10826 (S.D.N.Y., filed November 19, 2018). The complaint asserts that citric acid “is a synthetic compound” “usually produced from…
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“Wizard of Oz” Owner Challenges Brewery’s Trademark Application for “Surrender Dorothy”
Turner Entertainment Co. has filed an opposition to Sligo Mill Brewing Co.’s application to trademark “Surrender Dorothy,” arguing that consumers will be misled into believing that the brewery is associated with “The Wizard of Oz.” Turner Entm’t Co. v. Sligo Mill Brewing Co., Opp. No. 91244715 (U.S.P.T.O., filed November 13, 2018). Turner, which owns trademark…
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Poll Finds Americans “Closely Divided” on Health Risks from Food Additives
A Pew Research Center poll has reportedly found that Americans are “of two minds about food additives” because about half “say the average person faces a serious health risk from food additives over their lifetime (51%) while the other half believes the average person is exposed to potentially threatening additives in such small amounts that…