Category: Issue 700
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Brewery Sues Federal Government for Shutdown’s Approval Delays
Washington, D.C., brewery Atlas Brew Works has filed a First Amendment lawsuit and motion for preliminary injunction alleging that the federal government’s partial shutdown has violated its right to speak because the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau has stopped issuing label approvals, causing beer production to halt. Atlas Brew Works v. Whitaker, No.…
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“Metchup” Mark Owner Alleges Trademark Infringement by “Mayochup”
The owner of a trademark on “Metchup” has filed an infringement suit alleging that H.J. Heinz Co.’s “Mayochup” is “confusingly similar” to his protected trademark. Perry v. H.J. Heinz Co. Brands, No. 19-0280 (E.D. La., filed January 14, 2019). The plaintiff has purportedly used the “Metchup” mark to sell his ketchup-mayonnaise and mustard-mayonnaise combinations since…
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Lawsuit Challenges Nutritional Benefits of Sprouted Grains
A plaintiff has alleged that Food for Life Baking Co. Inc. misled consumers by advertising its cereal product, Ezekiel 4:9, as nutritionally superior to comparable cereal products because it is made with sprouted grains. Elliott v. Food for Life Baking Co. Inc., No. 19-0249 (E.D.N.Y., filed January 13, 2019). The complaint asserts that Ezekiel 4:9’s…
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GMO Opponents “Know the Least But Think They Know the Most,” Study Finds
A study in Nature Human Behavior has reportedly found that Americans who oppose the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) believe themselves to be highly informed on the subject but lack knowledge of it. Fernbach et al., “Extreme opponents of genetically modified foods know the least but think they know the most,” Nature Human Behavior,…
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Meta-analysis Finds No Effects Associated with Artificial Sweeteners
A review of 56 observational studies and controlled trials has reportedly found “no compelling evidence” that non-sugar sweeteners (NSSs) cause positive or negative health effects. Toews et al., “Association between intake of non-sugar sweeteners and health outcomes: systematic review and meta-analyses of randomised and non-randomised controlled trials and observational studies,” BMJ, January 2, 2019. Some…
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Tootsie Rolls Contained PHO After Federal Ban, Plaintiff Alleges
A consumer has filed a putative class action alleging that Tootsie Roll Industries Inc. sold Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Pops with partially hydrogenated oil (PHO) in 2016, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a rule declaring PHO unsafe for use in food. Beasley v. Tootsie Roll Indus. Inc., No. 18-7724 (N.D. Cal., filed…
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Canada Dry Settlement Receives Preliminary Approval
A California federal court has granted preliminary approval to the proposed settlement of a lawsuit alleging Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. and Canada Dry Mott’s Inc. misled consumers into believing that Canada Dry Ginger Ale was “Made from Real Ginger.” Fitzhenry-Russell v. Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., No. 17-0564 (N.D. Cal., entered January 10, 2019). Under the…
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USDA Releases GMO Labeling Standard
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Marketing Service has released the final National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard (NBFDS), which will require food manufacturers, importers and other entities to indicate on a product’s label whether it was made with genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The rule applies to food products in which the predominant ingredient is…