Editor’s note: Each Spring, attorneys Bill Marler and Denis Stearns teach a Food Safety Litigation course in the LL.M. Program in Agricultural and Food Law at the University of Arkansas School of Law. This specialized program for attorneys brings together those who are interested in our food system, from
Continue Reading COVID-19 exacerbates obesity in the United States . . . and vice versa
The Navajo Nation is going to use sales tax policies to try changing food habits on the largest Indian reservation in the United States. The Navajo Nation Council on Jan. 30 approved an additional 2-percent sales tax on so-called “junk foods,” including all sugary beverages. The addition will increase the
Continue Reading Navajo Nation Hikes Sales Taxes on ‘Junk Foods,’ Makes Healthy Food Choices Tax-Free
This past week, Michelle Obama gathered 100 food industry representatives, academic experts and public-health advocates for a “summit” at the White House to discuss junk food marketing to children. The event included public remarks by the first lady, followed by a closed-door discussion among attendees, ostensibly to come up with
Continue Reading The Wrong Obama Gives Tough Talk on Junk Food Marketing to Kids
With the passage of the Healthy, Hungry-Free Kids Act of 2010, in addition to improving school meals, Congress required the U.S. Department of Agriculture to update nearly nonexistent nutrition standards on so-called competitive foods. These are foods sold outside the school meal program, including fast food items sold alongside the
Continue Reading Ridding Schools of Fast Food, Junk Food, and Soda Pushers
If you wanted to ensure a report gets buried, a good time to release it would be the Friday before a holiday week. That the Federal Trade Commission released its latest report on marketing to children on that day speaks volumes about how seriously the Obama administration is taking this
Continue Reading Feds to Parents: Big Food Still Exploiting Your Children; Good Luck With That
Last week, the nation’s top public health experts gathered at a much-trumpeted obesity conference hosted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called Weight of the Nation. (A quick glance at the agenda reveals nothing that would even begin to challenge the food industry.)
Released at this
Continue Reading More Empty Recommendations on Junk Food Marketing to Children
The national hysteria over obesity has reached a crescendo this week, as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hosts the conference, “Weight of the Nation” in Washington, DC. If you couldn’t make it, no worries, more fear-mongering is on the way in a four-part mini-series on HBO to
Continue Reading Why I Am Not Attending or Watching ‘Weight of the Nation’
Last month, when Congress declared pizza a vegetable, it was hard to believe things could get much worse. But never underestimate politicians’ ability to put corporate interests ahead of children’s health.
In the massive budget bill just passed, Congress stuck in language to require the Federal Trade Commission to
Each year when Americans pay their taxes, part of that money feeds into subsidies for junk food ingredients; and hardly any of it goes toward fresh produce, according to a new report. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) Wednesday released “Apples to Twinkies,” a review of
Continue Reading Ag Subsidies Fund Junk Food, Report Says
When McDonald’s sneezes, the media jumps. Such was the case Tuesday when the fast food giant announced it was giving the Happy Meal a makeover. Well not really, but that’s how it got reported, because the media loves simple stories. But when it comes to marketing and PR by
Continue Reading Who Put McDonald's in Charge of Kids' Health?
