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06 Feb 2010 09:58

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U.S.: The FDA wants to make serving sizes on food actually realistic

  • If you put on a meaningful portion size, it would scare a lot of people. They would see, ‘I’m going to get 300 calories from that, or 500 calories.’
  • University of North Carolina nutrition professor Barry Popkin • Regarding the possibility that the FDA could change serving sizes to match how people actually eat food. Some foods have serving sizes of just an ounce or a cup despite the fact that people eat far more than that. A serving of cereal is just three-quarters of a cup, despite the fact kids often eat two cups. The serving sizes were based on studies of how much people ate in the 70s or 80s, but often suggest unrealistically small servings. This is a good idea. source

24 Oct 2009 00:37

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Biz: The food industry says “Smart Choices” wasn’t a smart choice

  • Whaddya mean Peanut Butter Crunch isn’t healthy?! They probably meant well in creating it, but big food companies have Eggo on their face after admitting that their “Smart Choices” campaign was a bad idea and they were suspending it. Why’s that? Well, the levels the program set allowed for fairly unhealthy foods like sugary cereals to make the list. And the FDA, of course, didn’t like it. Good idea making your products seem less scary, guys. source

30 Jun 2009 00:56

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Biz, U.S.: Could NyQuil go off the shelves? The FDA’s debating it

Blame a bunch of idiots who OD on acetaminophen. The agent, a key ingredient in Tylenol, causes people to overdose if taken in too high of doses – but those doses aren't far from the labels' recommended doses. Using numbers from a study published in the 1990s, the FDA is trying to ban drugs that mix acetaminophen with other drugs. Like half the cold remedies out there. source

11 Jun 2009 20:48

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Biz, U.S.: Up in smoke: The tobacco industry is gonna get FDA-regulated

  • The vote In a historic Senate vote, with just 17 votes against it, Big Tobacco will see its cancer-causing product get treated just like a drug. The house already passed a bill We’re sure a bunch of cigarette industry lawyers are freaking out right now.
  • The details On top of the longtime TV and radio advertising ban, flavored cigarettes (besides menthol) will be banned entirely, along with print ads in youth-oriented publications and cigarette vending machines in non-adult-oriented places.
  • Public opinionIs this a good thing? Depends on who you ask. The tobacco companies of course hate it, and wellness groups love it. But some say the FDA isn’t up to the task, considering how nuts their last six months have been. source

13 May 2009 23:34

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Biz, U.S.: Cheerios’ health claims are a little too blatant for the FDA

Cheerios claimed in too big of type it was heart-healthy for the FDA’s liking. General Mills says the claims of healthiness are accurate. source

08 Feb 2009 10:40

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Offbeat, U.S.: The FDA’s got your goat; it makes your medicine

They just approved gene-altered goats for drug-making. That’s baahhhhdass. source

06 Feb 2009 20:10

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U.S.: Jesus. That company knew it was shipping tainted peanut butter.

  • *Forehead slap* According to the FDA, the Georgia peanut plant at the center of the goober salmonella outbreak knew as far back as 2007 that the peanuts it was shipping tested positive for the bacteria. Even so, it kept shipping them until a second test confirmed the first test’s suspicions, and even after THAT, allowed the tainted product to get sold.
  • And yeah. People got sick. Peanut Corp. of America made a lot of people sick due to its actions. On top of the 575 illnesses in 43 states, eight people have died from eating tainted peanut butter. On top of that dramarama, over 1,550 products were recalled. Oh, and they caused a national scare that made me afraid of eating my favorite food. *grumble* source
 

23 Jan 2009 20:47

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U.S.: “Hugely significant”: First human embryonic stem cell trials approved

  • It’s hugely significant in the sense that it’s the first approval of a human embryonic stem cell trial. In this week of hope and change, it feels even better.
  • Amy Rick • president of Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, on the first approved trials of embryonic stem cells. Some believe that Obama’s inauguaration is directly tied to the approval; others don’t want to give him sole credit • source