Category: Issue
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Essay Recommends Research Into Effects of Microplastics in Soils, Freshwater
In an essay for Science, a researcher argues that current evidence suggests microplastic contamination is widespread on land and in freshwater and calls for additional research into the effects of microplastics on human health and agricultural practices. Science’s sister publication Science Advances also published a study examining organic fertilizer’s role in spreading microplastics in the environment. According to…
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SSB-Tax Advocacy Groups Seek to Amend Washington Initiative
The American Heart Association, Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition and Anti-Hunger and Nutrition Coalition have filed a lawsuit to appeal and amend the ballot title and summary of an initiative that would ban Washington’s local governments from levying new taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). In re Ballot Title & Summary for Initiative No. 1634, No. 18-2-01924-34 (Wash.…
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Kombucha Maker Alleges Rival Products Gain Unfair Market Advantage
The maker of Kombucha Dog beverages has filed lawsuits against Trader Joe’s Co. and other kombucha producers alleging the companies misrepresent the amount of alcohol and sugar in their products and violate federal and state laws regulating the sale of alcohol beverages. Tortilla Factory, LLC v. Trader Joe’s Co., No. 18-2977; Tortilla Factory, LLC v.…
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Panera Failed to Fix Data Breach, Lawsuit Alleges
Panera Bread Co. faces a putative class action alleging that a data breach exposed the personal data of thousands of customers to hackers, increasing their risk of fraud and identity theft. Boykin v. Panera Bread Co., No. 18-2461 (N.D. Ill., filed April 5, 2018). The complaint alleges that the company failed to protect the personally…
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Putative Class Alleges Deceptive Labeling of Fruit and Vegetable Snack Bars
A consumer has filed a putative class action alleging That’s It Nutrition deceptively labels and advertises its snack bars’ ingredients by using collective names for the fruits and vegetables they contain. Medina v. That’s It Nutrition, LLC, No. 18-2022 (E.D.N.Y., filed April 4, 2018). The complaint alleges that That’s It fruit bar labels list generic…
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OEHHA Seeking Comments on Two Chemicals for Prop. 65
The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) is accepting public submissions of information relevant to the assessment of carcinogenicity of two chemicals—gentian violet and N-nitrohexamethyleneimine—that the agency is considering for inclusion on the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act (Prop. 65) list. Hazard identification materials for each of the…
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Advocacy Group Targets DJ Khaled’s Alcohol-Related Social-Media Posts
After advocacy groups asserted that DJ Khaled promotes alcohol brands to minors on social media, the music producer has reportedly reduced the number of his posts that mention alcohol. The complaint also alleged that Khaled failed to disclose his endorsement relationship with the brands, which include Diageo’s Ciroc vodka and Sovereign Brands’ Belaire sparkling wine. The…
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USDA Codex Meeting Announced
The Office of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will host a public meeting on May 31, 2018, to provide information about the agenda items and U.S. positions for the meeting of the Executive Committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission to be held in Rome, Italy, on July 2-6, 2018.…