Following an investigation of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, the Center for American Progress released a report that outlines the challenges that the bureau faces in combating gun crime and regulating the gun industry. The report concludes that to improve federal enforcement of gun laws and industry regulation, ATF should be merged into the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The deregulatory desires of the alcohol industry: a hidden health threat in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)
By Robert S. Pezzolesi, Diane Riibe, Emma Woodford and Donald Zeigler
Despite being globally traded products consumed by millions of people, alcoholic drinks are psychoactive substances with health harming properties, not only if over-consumed but also at relatively low levels of consumption. Since alcohol is the world’s third largest cause of preventable cancers, the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer stated in the European Code Against Cancer that ‘Not drinking alcohol is better for cancer prevention.’[1] This messaging is often countered by advice that Continue reading The deregulatory desires of the alcohol industry: a hidden health threat in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)
Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids #StopMarlboro
The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids is asking those concerned about Philip Morris International’s BeMarlboro global marketing campaign to sign the petition below. Read more about the campaign here.
Dear (Government Officials) (cc PMI):
The Marlboro Man marketing campaign helped make Marlboro the most popular cigarette brand with youth across the world – fueling a global tobacco epidemic that kills six million people annually and is projected to kill one billion people this century. Over 80 percent of these deaths occur in Continue reading Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids #StopMarlboro
Pay Big Pharma to Develop New Antibiotics
A new report commissioned by UK Prime Minister David Cameron urges the government to fund big drug makers to develop new antibiotics to combat drug resistance.
Evaluating Industry Self-Regulation of Food Marketing to Children
A study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine compared television food advertising to U.S. children in 2007 and 2013. No significant improvement in the nutritional quality of foods marketed to children has been achieved since industry self-regulation was adopted. In 2013, 80.5% of all foods advertised to children were for products in the poorest nutritional category.
How New Jersey’s Smart Gun Law Backfired
Bloomberg News reports that a law intended to encourage safer, digitally enhanced firearms has actually impeded their development. Gun store owner Andy Raymond gained passing fame last year for posting an Internet video about his abortive attempt to sell so-called smart guns, a type of digitally equipped firearms designed to thwart unauthorized users. As punishment for offering smart guns, some of his detractors threatened to kill him and burn down his store in Rockville, Md.
California Supreme Court allows “pay-to-delay” suit to proceed
Consumer Law and Policy Blog reports that the California Supreme Court has revived antitrust suits against Bayer and Barr Laboratories. The cases stem from an agreement between brand-name manufacturer Bayer and generic manufacturer Barr, under which Bayer agreed to pay Barr $398.1 million in exchange for Barr postponing the sale of the generic version of Bayer’s antibiotic Cipro. Such agreements, called “pay-to-delay” agreements, have been frequently challenged under the antitrust laws.
Meat lobby peddles doubt to undermine dietary guidelines
Cross–posted from Al Jazeera
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, updated every five years, never fails to cause a stir. For the current revision, released in February, a federally appointed scientific committee — after a two-year review of the latest research and numerous public hearings — has recommended (PDF) lowering consumption of red meat and processed meat. Continue reading Meat lobby peddles doubt to undermine dietary guidelines
New Plant Foods Coalition Enters Dietary Guidelines Debate
Every sector of the food industry–most of them unhealthy–has something to say about how Americans should eat. But we rarely hear the voices of healthier food companies in shaping the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. I organized this new coalition of plant food companies to help fill that void. Continue reading New Plant Foods Coalition Enters Dietary Guidelines Debate
Are gun silencers a threat to safety?
A bill under consideration in Illinois would make gun silencers legal, reports ABC’s Eyewitness News. “The suppressor makes a firearm a safer gun,” said Josh Waldron, CEO of SilencerCo.
“It protects your hearing and makes the person firing the firearm, more comfortable and less likely to flinch when he pulls the trigger.” Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart disagrees. “Frequently the telephone calls that come in to law enforcement about problems that occur on streets come from neighbors who have heard gunshots out there. If there was none of that, it would decrease the ability for law enforcement to get to a location and quickly find out what happened.”
Corporations and Health Watch 