Category: Global
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Malaysia to Require Food Sellers to Remove “Dog” from Hot Dogs
The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (MIDD) has reportedly ruled that hot dogs cannot be granted halal certification unless they are renamed to remove “dog” from the name. “In Islam, dogs are considered unclean and the name cannot be related to halal certification,” MIDD Director Sirajudden Suhaimee told the BBC. Pretzel franchise Auntie Anne’s was reportedly…
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WHO Report Advocates Soda Tax to Reduce Obesity
The World Health Organization (WHO) has published an October 2016 report claiming that “taxing sugary drinks can lower consumption and reduce obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay,” according to a concurrent press release. Titled Fiscal Policies for Diet and Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs), the report collates information gathered during a May 2015 technical…
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WTO Rules Against Russia in EU Pork Ban
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has ruled in favor of the European Union in a dispute over Russia’s 2014 ban on the import of live pigs, fresh pork and other pig products following cases of African Swine Fever in some EU regions. The ban violated WTO rules on restricting trade based on sanitary and phytosanitary…
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UK Exchequer Issues Details on Soft Drink Levy, Childhood Obesity Action Plan
Her Majesty’s Treasury (HM Treasury) has released the details of a proposed soft-drink levy announced during March 2016 budget talks as part of the U.K. government’s childhood obesity action plan. Slated to take effect in April 2018, the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL) would affect the manufacturers of added-sugar soft drinks “with total sugar content of 5…
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Russian MP Proposes “Graphic” Warning Labels on “Junk Food” and Fast-Food Packaging
Russian MP Oleg Mikheyev has reportedly asked the government to require “graphic warning labels” on fast-food packaging in an effort to stop the spread of obesity and improve the health of Russian citizens. Mikheyev, who previously proposed a tax on “junk food,” also argued that producers of food products such as potato chips or soft…
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U.S. and Japanese Consumer Groups Denounce GE Salmon
The Center for Food Safety and the Seikatsu Club Consumers Cooperative have joined to jointly decry the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) recent determination that genetically engineered (GE) salmon produced by AquaBounty Technologies, Inc. is as safe to eat as conventional salmon and will have little effect on the environment. At the time of…
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Russia Halts Domestic Production of GM Foods
Russia has imposed a moratorium on the use of genetically modified organisms in domestic food production. Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich reportedly made the announcement during a biotechnology conference in Kirov on September 18, 2015. Russia’s action follows similar moves by France, Germany and Scotland. See Reuters, September 18, 2015. Issue 580
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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…