GreenEarthAl
01-29-2005, 05:19 PM
Organic Bytes #49
Food and Consumer News Tidbits with an Edge!
1/28/2005
NEW OPTION: Change your subscription settings to receive Organic Bytes as plain text (instead of html) here:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/campaign.cfm
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ALERT: NEW EPA DEAL LETS FACTORY FARMS POLLUTE AIR WITHOUT RESTRICTION
The day after the inauguration, January 21, the Bush Administration signed an agreement that allows factory farms to freely violate any and all clean air standards for the next two years, and forgives these same companies from paying fines for past air pollution violations. In exchange for the freedom to pollute without any restrictions, the deal "requests" that factory farms agree to monitor their air pollution and provide that data to the government. Bush's "Dirty Air" agreement is outrageous, given that the Clean Air Act already requires factory farms to provide air pollution data, while also requiring facilities to adhere to clean air standards. One of the companies that will benefit the most from this arrangement with the Bush Administration is Tyson Foods, who also happened to be one of the largest donors to the Bush inaugural festivities. Fortunately there is a 30 day public comment period. Please make your voice heard. Take action here. http://www.organicconsumers.org/epa3.htm
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A QUICK LOOK AT HOW SOME COUNTRIES ADVERTISE FOOD TO KIDS
Ireland: All television commercials for fast food and candy are banned.
Sweden/Norway/Austria/Luxembourg: All television advertising to children is banned.
Belgium/France/Portugal/Vietnam: All marketing is banned in schools.
United States: Spending more per child than any other nation in the world, the U.S. plugs $15 billion per year into marketing food to kids, which is more than what it would cost to provide health insurance for all uninsured children.
Sources: New York Times 1/12/2005, Children's Defense Fund 5/14/2003 press release, USgovinfo SCHIP Program
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INDUSTRY LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE "HEALTHIER" JUNK FOOD IN SCHOOLS
In response to efforts to rid schools of junk food, the Vending Association has launched a new marketing campaign using color-coded stickers to indicate to children the relative "healthiness" of the vending machine snack. A red sticker indicates the snack should only be chosen rarely, yellow is "choose occasionally," and green means the snack is healthy and should be chosen frequently. An example of a snack that will receive a green sticker is Teddy Grahams, a product that comes in varieties such as sugared cinnamon, chocolate, and creme-filled. The Vending Association announced this new campaign with a press conference, urging parents and children to exercise more frequently by doing sit-ups and push-ups during TV commercials. Learn more...
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THICKBURGERS, WAL-MART, & COKE: THE 10 WORST CORPORATIONS OF 2004
The Multinational Monitor has released its annual list of the "10 Worst Corporations of 2004." Among the "winners" of this prestigious award are Coca-Cola, Wal-Mart and Hardees. Coca-Cola made the list when documentation surfaced revealing the company was involved in 179 human rights violations at its bottling plants in Columbia, including allegations of involvement in nine murders of union leaders. Wal-Mart was caught manipulating the tax system in order maximize profits at the expense of taxpayers. In fact, it turns out that each of Wal-Mart's 1000+ stores are costing taxpayers nearly half a million dollars per year. Hardees made its debut on the "Worst Corporations" list for its overtly aggressive advertising of its new product, the "Monster Thickburger." The 2/3 pound sandwich is 1,420 calories and equivalent to eating five standard sized hamburgers. Learn more...
Food and Consumer News Tidbits with an Edge!
1/28/2005
NEW OPTION: Change your subscription settings to receive Organic Bytes as plain text (instead of html) here:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/campaign.cfm
__________________________________
ALERT: NEW EPA DEAL LETS FACTORY FARMS POLLUTE AIR WITHOUT RESTRICTION
The day after the inauguration, January 21, the Bush Administration signed an agreement that allows factory farms to freely violate any and all clean air standards for the next two years, and forgives these same companies from paying fines for past air pollution violations. In exchange for the freedom to pollute without any restrictions, the deal "requests" that factory farms agree to monitor their air pollution and provide that data to the government. Bush's "Dirty Air" agreement is outrageous, given that the Clean Air Act already requires factory farms to provide air pollution data, while also requiring facilities to adhere to clean air standards. One of the companies that will benefit the most from this arrangement with the Bush Administration is Tyson Foods, who also happened to be one of the largest donors to the Bush inaugural festivities. Fortunately there is a 30 day public comment period. Please make your voice heard. Take action here. http://www.organicconsumers.org/epa3.htm
__________________________________
A QUICK LOOK AT HOW SOME COUNTRIES ADVERTISE FOOD TO KIDS
Ireland: All television commercials for fast food and candy are banned.
Sweden/Norway/Austria/Luxembourg: All television advertising to children is banned.
Belgium/France/Portugal/Vietnam: All marketing is banned in schools.
United States: Spending more per child than any other nation in the world, the U.S. plugs $15 billion per year into marketing food to kids, which is more than what it would cost to provide health insurance for all uninsured children.
Sources: New York Times 1/12/2005, Children's Defense Fund 5/14/2003 press release, USgovinfo SCHIP Program
__________________________________
INDUSTRY LAUNCHES NEW CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE "HEALTHIER" JUNK FOOD IN SCHOOLS
In response to efforts to rid schools of junk food, the Vending Association has launched a new marketing campaign using color-coded stickers to indicate to children the relative "healthiness" of the vending machine snack. A red sticker indicates the snack should only be chosen rarely, yellow is "choose occasionally," and green means the snack is healthy and should be chosen frequently. An example of a snack that will receive a green sticker is Teddy Grahams, a product that comes in varieties such as sugared cinnamon, chocolate, and creme-filled. The Vending Association announced this new campaign with a press conference, urging parents and children to exercise more frequently by doing sit-ups and push-ups during TV commercials. Learn more...
__________________________________
THICKBURGERS, WAL-MART, & COKE: THE 10 WORST CORPORATIONS OF 2004
The Multinational Monitor has released its annual list of the "10 Worst Corporations of 2004." Among the "winners" of this prestigious award are Coca-Cola, Wal-Mart and Hardees. Coca-Cola made the list when documentation surfaced revealing the company was involved in 179 human rights violations at its bottling plants in Columbia, including allegations of involvement in nine murders of union leaders. Wal-Mart was caught manipulating the tax system in order maximize profits at the expense of taxpayers. In fact, it turns out that each of Wal-Mart's 1000+ stores are costing taxpayers nearly half a million dollars per year. Hardees made its debut on the "Worst Corporations" list for its overtly aggressive advertising of its new product, the "Monster Thickburger." The 2/3 pound sandwich is 1,420 calories and equivalent to eating five standard sized hamburgers. Learn more...