More underage drinkers prefer a specific brand of distilled spirits, and some of the blame lies with TV advertising, according to a recent study by a group at Dartmouth College published in the July issue of Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. The alcohol industry spent $1.7 billion in 2009 on TV advertising, according to the study. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) disputes the findings, citing other statistics that have shown a consistent decline in underage drinking.
Public Supports New Fuel Efficiency Standards as Auto Industry Launches Ad Campaign Opposing Them
A recent poll by the Pew Clean Energy Program found strong public support for the Obama Administration’s new fuel efficiency standards. The survey found that 82 percent of respondents support an increased fuel efficiency standard of 56 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2025, with 68 percent reporting that they “favor strongly” the new standard. Overwhelming majorities in every demographic subgroup support increased fuel efficiency to 56 mpg, including 70 percent of Republicans, 87 percent of Democrats and 88 percent of independents. Although the auto industry agree to these new rules, they also launched a radio ad campaign, accusing the Obama administration of threatening the industry’s recovery by seeking a 56-mpg fuel economy target by 2025.
FDA, Senate Democrats Propose New Oversight on Dietary Supplements
Last month, the Food and Drug Administration proposed new guidelines on dietary supplements, seeking stronger public oversight of these products. In addition, Democratic Senators Richard Durbin and Richard Blumenthal submitted the Dietary Supplement Labeling Act of 2011, a bill that proposed reclassification of food additives and dietary supplements to be managed by the Food and Drug Administration. Republican Senator Orrin Hatch blasted the proposed bill. “I don’t know why we should add more regulation when what we have on the books is working.”
R.J. Reynolds Loses Bid for Appeal of $28.3 Million Tobacco Verdict
Florida’s Supreme Court declined to hear R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.’s appeal of a $28.3 million verdict in a case that the cigarette maker argued may affect thousands of so-called Engle tobacco claims in the state, reports Bloomberg News. The court turned aside the company’s bid for an appeal of the 2009 verdict in favor of Mathilde Martin, who claimed her husband, Benny Ray Martin, died from a smoking-related disease. The decision leaves in place a lower state appeals court ruling that affirmed the verdict.
New Montana Nonprofit to Advocate for Gun Industry
The Montana Firearms Institute was launched last week, according to the Flathead Beacon, a weekly newspaper in the Flathead Valley of Montana. The Institute seeks to foster communication between firearms businesses, help those small businesses compete for lucrative government contracts, and lobby at the legislative level for policies favorable to the industry. “It’s great that MFI wants to put Montana on the map as a friendly place for the gun industry to locate,” said Wayne La Pierre, the National Rifle Association’s Executive Vice President and CEO, who attended the launch.
Hired Guns to Hired Hands
According to a new report by the Center for Responsive Politics, the number of former lobbyists working as key congressional staffers has more than doubled since the Republican Party took control of the House. The report, Hired Guns to Hired Hands, found that 128 former lobbyists work in key staff positions in this Congress, compared to 60 in the last one. Of the new lobbyists-turned-public servants, 79 work for Republicans, 48 for Democrats and one for an independent. Since the last Congress, the number of reverse revolver lobbyists who previously worked in the agribusiness sector increased by 243%, in the transportation sector by 223% and in the health sector by 200%.
Former Obama Communications Director to Lead Food Industry Campaign Against Voluntary Nutrition Guidelines
According to the Washington Post, big food and media have hired former Obama Communications Director Anita Dunn to lead their battle against the government’s plan to create voluntary nutritional guidelines for food marketing to children. Participating companies include General Mills, Kellogg, PepsiCo, Nickelodeon and Time Warner as well as the US Chamber of Commerce. In a blog post, David Vladeck, director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the FTC, said he was surprised by the intensity of the industry reaction to the guidelines and worried about “misinformation.” His post dissects 12 “myths” regarding the proposed guidelines.
FTC Guidelines: Nanny state or protection of children’s health?
Are the new proposed guidelines for voluntary regulation of food advertising to children proposed by the Federal Trade Commission sensible health protection or a new intrusion by the nanny state? According to Republican Representative Jack King, voluntary guidelines soon become mandates. "What's voluntary today becomes a regulation tomorrow." He warns that a "nanny state" seeks to "regulate Honey Nut Cheerios." Margo Wootan of Center for Science in the Public Interest disagrees. "How do voluntary standards constitute government over-reach?" she asks.
Conflicts of Interest between Health Philanthropies and Corporations
In a recent article in PLOS Medicine, David Stuckler and colleagues examined conflicts of interest between five major global health foundations and for-profit corporations. They found numerous relationships between health philanthropies and corporations and suggest that existing guidelines may not prevent conflicts of interest.
Pepsi Pauses to Refresh Product Lines and Advertising
PepsiCo Inc, after falling into third place in US soda sales, is putting new emphasis on its main product, Pepsi, planning to expand soda advertising by 30% this year. According to the Wall Street Journal, PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi is “facing doubts from investors and industry insiders concerned that her push into healthier brands has distracted the company from some core products.” Nooyi denies any change in overall strategy. “Good for you” products constitute only 20% of Pepsi’s revenues; the remainder comes from the high sugar, high salt “fun for you” products associated with obesity, diabetes and heart disease.
Corporations and Health Watch 