It’s expected that the agriculture and food industry keeps a close eye on the federal government’s dietary guidelines every five years. But the 2015 guidelines, which are currently in preparation by the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services for release by the end of the year, have triggered an especially ferocious backlash, writes Michael Hiltzig in the Los Angeles Times.
Is Exxon the new tobacco?
From the late 1970s to the mid-80s, Exxon scientists worked at the cutting edge of climate change research, documents examined by Inside Climate News show. Exxon documents show that top corporate managers were aware of their scientists’ early conclusions about carbon dioxide’s impact on the climate. They reveal that scientists warned management that policy changes to address climate change might affect profitability.
Calls to toughen up Australia’s vehicle emissions legislation
Australia needs to improve lax fuel efficiency standards after the Volkswagen emissions scandal, reports The Guardian, or face the prospect of becoming a dumping ground for high-emissions vehicles, advocates have warned. Pressure is mounting on the federal government to tighten legislation governing vehicle emissions standards. Australia is the only advanced economy not to have limits on the amount of carbon dioxide vehicles can emit.
Company will cut price of drug after accused gouging
Associated Press reports that the company that sparked an angry backlash after it raised the price of a drug for treating a deadly parasitic infection by more than 5,000 percent says it will roll back some of the increase. Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli that the new price would make Daraprim more accessible, although he did not say what the new price for the drug would be.
Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn Resigns Over Emissions Scandal
The Wall Street Journal reports that Volkswagen AG Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn resigned under pressure after the company admitted it cheated on U.S. emissions tests sparked massive losses of its market value and left it facing prosecution and potentially billions in fines. Winterkorn said he accepted responsibility for the irregularities but wasn’t aware of any wrongdoing on his part.
Caloric Intake from Fast Food Among US Children and Adolescents Increases
From 1994 through 2006, caloric intake from fast food increased from 10% to 13% among children aged 2–18 years, according to a new report from the US Centers for Disease Control. In 2011–2012, 34.3% of all children and adolescents aged 2–19 consumed fast food on a given day.
Johnson & Johnson: America’s Most Admired Lawbreaker
Over the course of 20 years, Johnson & Johnson created a powerful drug, promoted it illegally to children and the elderly, covered up the side effects and made billions of dollars. Read the inside story by Steven Brill at Huffington Post.
The Vernacular of Risk — Rethinking Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Pharmaceuticals
Aside from New Zealand, the United States is the only country with a strong pharmaceutical regulatory infrastructure that allows direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs. That may soon change, however, as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) moves to enact new regulations regarding risk communication in DTCA. A commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine explores this issue.
Annual Per Capita Sales of Autos and Light Trucks Down
A new analysis by Doug Short at Advisor Perspectives shows that annual per capita rate of auto and light truck sales in the United States is down 28.1% from the high of August 1978. Does this spell long term trouble for the auto industry?
Alcohol sales get higher after weed legalization contrary to industry fears
As an increasing number of states look to join the four states and Washington DC in legalizing recreational marijuana, many in the alcohol industry have feared that legalized weed will cut into their existing profits, reports The Guardian. But a few years into Colorado legalization, alcohol sales are up in the state, and those in the alcohol business have embraced their fellow industry.
Corporations and Health Watch 