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Philadelphia Council Urged Not to Open Trans Fat Loophole2007-10-05
Even Butter is Far Better than Using Artificial Trans Fat in Baked Goods, Says CSPI
The Philadelphia City Council did exactly the right thing in February when it unanimously voted to phase out the use of artificial trans fat in restaurants, and health advocates say it should not open a new loophole for baked goods. On Tuesday the council will hold a hearing on a proposal advanced by operators of several bakeries, which would give them a special exemption to continue to use partially hydrogenated oil in cakes, pastries, and other foods. But according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, this is one squeaky wheel that shouldn't get the (ahem) grease.
Omega-3 Madness: Fish Oil or Snake Oil?2007-10-01
Stick with fish or fish oil for best heart-health benefits, says Nutrition Action
WASHINGTON—Omega-3 claims are popping up in everything from cereal to mayonnaise, but are those foods the panacea that marketers would have you believe? According to the cover story in the October issue of Nutrition Action Healthletter, certain omega-3s may reduce the risk of heart disease and might even help protect against cancer, Alzheimer's, and vision problems. But many foods making claims have little or none of those omega-3s, and labels don't have to reveal how much or which omega-3 fat the foods contain.
Coca-Cola's Fuze Beverage Makes False Claims of Reducing Risk of Cancer, Heart Disease, Flu, Kidney Infection, More2007-09-26
CSPI Says Fuze Quacks Like a Duck and Urges FDA to Take Aim
FDA Reform Bill Passes House & Senate2007-09-21
Statement of CSPI Integrity in Science Director Merrill Goozner
Food Safety Act Calls For Inspections on Produce Farms2007-09-20
Bill Comes One Year After Massive Spinach Recall
WASHINGTON—Legislation introduced today by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) would establish a national program to assure the safety of fresh produce. The introduction of the Fresh Produce Safety Act comes one year after the biggest recall of fresh produce in American history, when spinach contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 sickened 205 people. More than 100 of those were hospitalized, and at least three people died. And just this week, Dole is recalling romaine salad mix after Canadian tests came back positive for E. coli.
What's Making Us Sick?2007-09-17
New Online Resource From CSPI Offers Researchers, Journalists & Consumers the Best Data on Outbreaks of Foodborne Illness
WASHINGTON—Tainted spinach. Filthy beef. Chili with beans ... and botulism. Recent outbreaks of foodborne illness have shocked Americans and spurred calls for reform of the nation's fossilized food safety laws. Now a new online database will help policymakers, reporters, and home cooks alike answer the central question: What, exactly, is making us sick?
CSPI Urges FDA to Facilitate Adverse Reaction Reporting for Dietary Supplements2007-09-17
Industry Opposing Consumer Alert on Labels
WASHINGTON – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is under pressure from the dietary supplement industry to weakly implement a law intended to prevent a repeat of the difficulties the agency faced in its nine year effort to ban ephedra, during which time the supplement was linked to 155 deaths and thousands of serious injuries. For much of that time, the, FDA lacked sufficient data to justify a ban in court partly because adverse reactions to ephedra were not reported.
Study Shows Progress in Getting Soft Drinks out of Schools, Still Two-Thirds of School Beverage Sales are Sugary Drinks2007-09-17
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan
The good news is that soft drinks sales are declining in schools. The bad news is the majority of school beverages are still sugary drinks.
Burger King to Reform its Marketing to Children2007-09-12
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan
Physicians Urge Kennedy, Dodd to Support Curb on Financial Conflicts of Interest on FDA Advisory Committees2007-09-12
Feds Urged to Halt False Statements on Ads and Labels for Menopause Supplement "Promensil"2007-09-12
UPDATE 9/20/07: Natrol agrees to discontinue certain claims after ruling by the Council of Better Business Bureaus.
States, Cities May Require Nutrition Labeling at Restaurants, Judge Finds2007-09-11
Ruling Means New York City May Redraft Its Regulation to Avoid Preemption by Federal Law
California Legislature Passes Historic Menu Labeling Bill2007-09-11
Governor Schwarzenegger Urged to Make California First State to Require Nutrition Info
Last night the California Assembly passed a bill requiring calories on fast-food menu boards and additional nutrition information on chain-restaurants' printed menus. Later today, the state's Senate will consider separate legislation that would require restaurants to phase out their use of artificial trans fats. Both measures have the strong support of the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest, which is calling on Governor Schwarzenegger to sign both bills.
NFL Linebacker Case Highlights League's Ties to Alcohol Money, Says CSPI2007-09-04
League Penalizes Players for Alcohol Abuse While Profiting from Beer Sales
WASHINGTON—While the National Football League (NFL) talks a big game about not tolerating substance abuse among its players, it is simultaneously enabling alcohol abuse among its fans by aggressively advertising beer on TV and in stadiums, where it also sells alcoholic beverages, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).
Menu Labeling Bill Clears Key Hurdle in California2007-08-30
Health Advocates Urge Passage in Assembly
Nickelodeon Reduces Junk Food Marketing to Kids2007-08-16
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
Nickelodeon is taking a key step toward reducing junk-food marketing to children by agreeing not to license its characters for use on unhealthy foods. The company is following the lead of Disney, Sesame Workshop, Kraft, Kellogg, and several other companies that have adopted nutrition criteria for advertising to young children.
Consumers Pay Hefty Premium for Air, Packaging in 100-Calorie Packs2007-08-14
Portion-controlled snacks distract from healthier foods
WASHINGTON—Lately, the colorful, chaotic snack aisle at the grocery store has gotten even more cramped. With a deluge of 100-calorie packs of everything from Cheetos to beef jerky, food manufacturers have provided a seemingly healthier alternative to super-sized bags of snacks.
Menu Labeling Urged for Montgomery County, Md., and DC2007-08-02
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson at Joint Press Conference
Burger King and Wendy's Fries Flunk Trans Fat Test in New York City2007-08-02
Lab Tests Show McDonald's Fries are Virtually Trans-Fat-Free in the Big Apple!
WASHINGTON—Though New York City now requires restaurants to use trans-fat-free frying oils, Burger King and Wendy's are still serving New Yorkers French fries with more trans fat than is safe to consume in an entire day, according to new test results. McDonald's French fries in New York City are virtually trans-free and have the least saturated fat of the three chains as well.
More Teens Choosing Liquor over Beer?2007-07-27
Statement of CSPI Alcohol Policies Project Director George A. Hacker
Startling research, published today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shows that more teens are drinking hard liquor than beer. This is a huge victory for liquor marketers. But it is scary and ominous news for parents and public health professionals, who should rightly be concerned by the liquor industry's successful campaign to make booze more attractive to kids.
Important to Heed Warning Presented by Botulism Recall2007-07-24
Statement of CSPI Food Safety Director Caroline Smith DeWaal
In Seattle, Menu Labeling Is "In," Trans Fat is "Out"2007-07-20
King County, Washington Joins New York City by Passing Bold Public Health Measures
WASHINGTON—The movement to get rid of artificial trans fat and put nutrition information on chain restaurant menus has spread from the Big Apple to the Emerald City.
Last night, the King County, Washington Board of Health voted to require food service establishments to phase out their use of artificial trans fat and to list nutrition information on chain restaurant menus. The menu labeling rule only affects chain restaurants with 10 or more outlets and that have standardized menu items. Starting in August 2008, those restaurants will be required to list calories on menu boards, and calories, carbohydrates, saturated fat, and sodium on printed menus. Like a New York City regulation adopted last December, King County's artificial trans fat phase out occurs in two steps. Food service establishments have until April 1, 2008, to switch to trans-fat-free frying oils and shortenings and until February 1, 2009, to remove artificial trans fat from other products.
Food Companies' Marketing Commitments a Positive Development2007-07-18
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan
Chinese Import Scandal Demonstrates FDA Failings, Congress Told2007-07-17
CSPI Urges New Money for FDA, Ultimately Single Food Safety Agency
WASHINGTON—While all imported meat and poultry products are visually inspected at the border and subject to microbial and chemical testing, 99 percent of imported seafood, produce, animal feeds, and grains pass through U.S. borders uninspected. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, that's because meat and poultry products are regulated by the adequately funded U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and most other foods are regulated by the woefully underfunded Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
New York City's Fast-Food Calorie Labeling Rule Should Be Upheld, Groups Urge Federal Court2007-07-16
Congressman, Former FDA Commissioner, AMA, Public Health Organizations and Experts Join Public Citizen and CSPI in Support of Rule to Combat Obesity Epidemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A federal court in New York should reject the state restaurant association's attempt to strike down New York City's new requirement that certain fast-food and other chain restaurants disclose calorie information on their menus, according to a brief submitted today by the nonprofit organizations Public Citizen and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). The groups were joined in their brief by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), a former FDA commissioner and a host of prestigious public health organizations and esteemed nutrition experts.
Subway First to List Calories on Menu Boards in Country2007-07-09
CSPI Praises Subway for Breaking Away from Industry Laggards
WASHINGTON—Subway is the first large chain restaurant to list calories on menu boards in its restaurants in New York City, as is required by the city's groundbreaking menu labeling law. Though July 1 was the effective date of a regulation passed by the New York City Board of Health, McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, and other fast-food restaurants are refusing to comply while the industry sues the city in federal court. Besides Subway, several other chains—Johnny Rockets, Arby's, and the pretzel chain Auntie Anne's—submitted sample menu boards to the city and indicated that they too, will comply before the city starts enforcing the regulation in earnest in October.
Egg Producers Deceive Consumers, Violate Law with Bogus Omega-3 Claims2007-06-21
FDA should enforce its own rules, according to CSPI
WASHINGTON—Consumers who shell out more money for eggs boasting of omega-3 content and promoting heart health should know that those claims are not all they're cracked up to be, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).
Desperate Restaurant Chains Sue NYC Over Diners' Right to Know2007-06-15
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
McDonald's, Burger King, and the members of the New York State Restaurant Association, with their malevolent lawsuit against the New York City Board of Health, are basically telling New Yorkers that they don't have a right to know what they're eating. This lawsuit is served up with a supersized side order of shamelessness, since this is the very same industry that goes hat-in-hand to state legislatures and Congress asking for special protection from obesity-related lawsuits.
Kellogg Company Makes Historic Settlement Agreement, Adopting Nutrition Standards For Marketing Foods To Children2007-06-14
Advocacy Groups and Parents Applaud Efforts, Drop Plans to Sue
WASHINGTON—Kellogg Company will adopt nutrition standards for the foods it advertises to young children, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC), and two Massachusetts parents will not proceed with a lawsuit against the company.
Food Marketers Rely Less on TV in Favor of Other Marketing, Says CSPI About FTC Report2007-06-01
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan
The new data released today by the Federal Trade Commission show that food advertising on children's television hasn't increased. But that's hardly cause for much celebration. As parents know, television is just a one slice of an ever-expanding pie of food marketing aimed at kids.
Pumped-Up Poultry Not 'Natural,' Says CSPI2007-05-22
Statement of Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
People shouldn't be paying chicken prices for saltwater. But some unscrupulous poultry producers add as much as 15 percent saltwater—and then have the gall to label such pumped-up poultry products "natural." Some in the industry euphemistically call chicken soaked or injected with salt water "enhanced chicken." Of course this isn't really about enhancing chicken, it's about enhancing profits. Someone's clucking all the way to the bank
Federal Trade Commission Urged to Crack Down on Enviga2007-05-21
CSPI Says "Calorie Burning" and Weight Loss Claims Illegal
WASHINGTON—The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) should take enforcement action against Coca-Cola and Nestlé for their unlawful deceptive advertising for Enviga, their green-tea-flavored diet soda, according to a complaint filed with the agency today by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). At issue is the companies' claim that Enviga burns more calories than the five calories per can it delivers, which, CSPI says, strongly implies weight loss. CSPI is separately suing Coke and Nestlé in federal court on the same issue but says that shouldn't stop the FTC from cracking down immediately on the false advertising.
Burger King Hit With Trans Fat Lawsuit2007-05-16
CSPI Says Burger King is Biggest Chain Without Firm Plans to Convert to Safer Alternatives to Partially Hydrogenated Oils
WASHINGTON—By using partially hydrogenated oil, Burger King is knowingly increasing its customers risk of heart disease and early death, according to a lawsuit filed today by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest. CSPI is asking a District of Columbia Superior Court judge to order the restaurant chain to stop using the deadly trans-fat-laden ingredient, or at least to require prominent warning notices on Burger King's menu boards. According to CSPI, Burger King is the biggest restaurant chain that is not fully committed to getting rid of the artificial trans fat found in partially hydrogenated oil.
CSPI Calls on House to Fix FDA Reform Bill by Eliminating Conflict-of-Interest Waivers2007-05-09
Statement of CSPI Integrity in Science Director Merrill Goozner
USDA Wrong Place to Consolidate Food Safety, Says CSPI2007-05-09
Agency's Boosterism Role at Odds with Health & Safety, Committee Told
CSPI Tracks Beer Money in Congress2007-05-08
Industry Seeks Roll Back of Beer Taxes
CSPI is maintaining an updated list of members of the House of Representatives who are co-sponsoring the "beer tax rollback bill" in the 110th Congress, along with a tally of the contributions each has received in the 2005-2006 election cycle from the two biggest beer-industry donors, the National Beer Wholesalers Association and Anheuser-Busch.
Memory Supplements Forgettable, Says CSPI2007-05-04
Pills' Science Debunked in Nutrition Action Healthletter [watch video]
WASHINGTON—Don't count on dietary supplements to help protect or improve your memory, since there's no solid science indicating that any of the major ingredients in these pills actually work, according to a review in the May issue of Nutrition Action Healthletter, published by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest.
CSPI on the New Food Protection Czar2007-05-02
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
The appointment yesterday by FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach of David Acheson as the FDA's food protection czar is a good one. Dr. Acheson is a talented scientist and honest broker, and his presence in the commissioner's office will give food safety a much higher profile at the top level of the agency.
CSPI Salutes KFC for Trans-Fat-Free Chicken2007-04-30
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
Last year we wanted to court martial Colonel Sanders but today we salute him.
KFC has now completed its conversion from partially hydrogenated frying oil to heart-healthy soybean oil, and now KFC's fried chicken is trans-fat-free. This is a big, bold move by the company, and whether it's due in some small part to our litigation or not, we welcome it with open arms. Fried chicken is never going to be diet-food as such, but being trans-fat-free, it is much healthier for hearts and arteries. That said, the company needs to get the trans fat out of its pot pies and biscuits, and work toward reducing the high levels of sodium in its products across the board.
Institute of Medicine School Food Recommendations Should Be Law of the Land, Says CSPI2007-04-25
Harkin-Murkowski Bill Would Require USDA to Update Old Nutrition Standards
WASHINGTON—The nutrition standards proposed today by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) for foods and drinks sold in vending machines, cafeteria a la carte lines, and elsewhere on school grounds are far superior to the current standards promulgated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), according to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). While USDA's 30-year-old standards for foods sold alongside the official school meals were designed to make sure American school children got enough of certain vitamins and nutrients, the new IOM standards take into account things children today are consuming too much of, namely calories, saturated and trans fat, sodium, and caffeine.
CSPI Urges FDA to Ban Grain Imports from China2007-04-24
American Pets are Serving as "Puppies in the Coal Mine"
WASHINGTON—The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should ban imports of wheat gluten, rice protein, and other grain products from China until the agency can certify that the products are free of chemical or microbial contamination, urged the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). In a letter to FDA commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach, CSPI recommended that FDA should evaluate whether a ban is needed for other foods or ingredients coming from China—the source of the contaminated gluten linked to the largest-ever recall of pet food.
Quaker Agrees to Tone Down Exaggerated Health Claims on Oatmeal2007-04-17
CSPI Drops Plans to Sue
WASHINGTON—The Quaker Oats Company has agreed to drop certain claims on labels and in advertising that the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) says exaggerated the health benefits of eating oatmeal. Quaker will no longer describe its oatmeal as a "unique" whole grain food that "actively finds" cholesterol and "removes it from the body" and will no longer display a graph that greatly exaggerated the cholesterol-lowering potential of oatmeal. In turn, CSPI will not file a lawsuit that it warned Quaker company about in October.
New CDC Data Show Increases in E.coli, Salmonella and Vibrio2007-04-12
Statement of CSPI Food Safety Director Caroline Smith DeWaal
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest report shows that infections from E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Vibrio are all on the rise. E. coli cases reported to CDC's FoodNet rose 50 percent since 2004, and Vibrio, another potentially deadly pathogen in shellfish, rose a whopping 78 percent since FoodNet began (1996-1998).
World Health Organization Forum Endorses Salt Reduction to Prevent Heart Disease and Stroke2007-04-09
Montgomery County Trans Fat Proposal Praised2007-03-26
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
People who live in the area won't be surprised to learn that Montgomery County, Maryland is slightly ahead of most of the country in terms of advancing public health. After all, the county was one of the first jurisdictions to protect restaurant patrons from the hazards of secondhand cigarette smoke...
Wok Carefully: CSPI Takes a (Second) Look at Chinese Restaurant Food2007-03-21
Too Much Sodium in Otherwise Healthful Food, Says Nutrition Watchdog [video]
WASHINGTON—Popular Chinese restaurant meals can contain an entire day's worth of sodium and some contain two days' worth, according to a new analysis by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest. The good news is that Chinese food is often rich in vegetables and the fat comes mostly from heart-safe, trans-fat-free vegetable oils. More good news is that Chinese food hasn't gotten worse since CSPI first looked—which is something that certainly can not be said about typical American-style restaurant food.
Surgeon General's Call to Action on Underage Drinking Welcomed2007-03-07
Statement of CSPI Alcohol Policies Project's Manager of Federal Relations Kimberly Miller
T.G.I. Friday's "Right Portion, Right Price" is Right Direction, Says CSPI2007-03-07
WASHINGTON—T.G.I. Friday's deserves credit for its new "Right Portion, Right Price" menu, which gives consumers the option of several smaller entreés when they dine out, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Last week, the restaurant chain announced the move and became the first in its category to respond to consumer demand for smaller meals at discounted prices.
Senate Hearing to Debate Junk Food in Schools Tuesday2007-03-05
WASHINGTON—Tomorrow the Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing on school nutrition issues, a move that the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) says signals new hope for strong, national action to get junk food out of schools. Senators are expected to discuss the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act, sponsored by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), among others, as well as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s fruit and vegetable snack program, long championed by Harkin and which CSPI seeks to expand.
British Crackdown on Junk Food Ads Praised2007-02-23
CSPI Says Food Companies and Broadcasters Should Comply with Similar Guidelines Here
WASHINGTON— Television advertising in the United Kingdom for foods high in fat, salt, or sugar will be reduced by up to 50 percent on programs viewed by children under 16 under tough new regulations promulgated by Ofcom, that country's quasi-governmental telecommunications regulator. While U.K. consumer groups will press the British parliament to enact tighter standards, the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) urged multinational food companies to behave at least as well in the U.S. as they'll soon be required to behave in the U.K.
Consumer Group Praises Pepsi's Disclosure of Caffeine Content2007-02-20
CSPI Urges Coke and Others to Follow Suit
Cans and bottles of Pepsi will now bear an important disclosure—the exact amount of caffeine in each serving. That information on soda containers will help pregnant women, parents, and others concerned about adverse effects of the mildly addictive stimulant drug, which is also found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and other products. Since 1997, the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has been calling on the Food and Drug Administration to require disclosure on food labels of caffeine content. The American Medical Association has done the same. Today CSPI applauded PepsiCo's new practice and called on Coca-Cola and other marketers of caffeine-containing products to follow suit.
Congressional Leaders Call for Single Food Safety Agency2007-02-14
CSPI Supports Effort to Modernize Food Safety Laws
WASHINGTON—Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today introduced legislation to put all food safety responsibilities under a single new Food Safety Administrator. The Safe Food Act also would modernize the 100-year old food safety laws, and give the new chief a unified budget. The legislation is supported by the nonprofit food safety and nutrition watchdog group, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).
Sweet Deals: School Fundraising Can Be Healthy and Profitable, Says CSPI2007-02-14
New Report Rates Healthy and Unhealthy School Fundraisers
WASHINGTON—Schools often rely on fundraisers to bridge budget gaps and help pay for athletic equipment, field trips, and supplies. But even though rates of childhood obesity have tripled in recent years, those fundraisers all too often rely on the sale of calorie-dense, low-nutrient junk food, according to a new report from the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Fortunately, says the group, schools have a wide range of non-food and healthy-food fundraising options to choose from, and experience shows that these options can raise as much or even more money than junk-food sales.
Enviga Study Casts Doubt on Calorie Burning & Weight-Loss Claims2007-02-12
Companies' Own Study Shows Many People May Expend Less Energy--Not More--After Drinking New Beverage
WASHINGTON—Coca-Cola and Nestlé have claimed that an unpublished Swiss study shows that their new green-tea-flavored soda Enviga burns more calories than it provides, resulting in what sounds like a dieter's Holy Grail: "negative calories." Given the size of the study (just 31 young, lean subjects), its duration (only 72 hours), and the funding of the study (Nestlé itself!), the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) was skeptical enough to file suit in federal court against the companies earlier this month. But the full study, published today in the journal Obesity, shows that there's even less foundation for the weight-loss properties than Enviga's makers imply in their marketing materials.
Philadelphia Moving Toward Trans-Fat-Free Future2007-02-08
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
Restaurants in the city of brotherly love are about to become a lot more lovable, with the news that the Philadelphia city council has unanimously passed an ordinance that would get rid of artificially produced and heart-attack-inducing trans fat. Like New York City's similar move, this will further accelerate the pace of partially hydrogenated oil's departure from the food supply, and we hope Mayor John Street promptly signs it into law.
Watchdog Group Sues Coke, Nestlé For Bogus "Enviga" Claims2007-02-01
Green Tea-Flavored Diet Soda Won't Help You Lose Weight, Despite Claims of "Negative Calories"
WASHINGTON—The nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest filed suit today against Coca-Cola and Nestlé for making fraudulent claims in marketing and labeling for Enviga, a new artificially sweetened green tea soft drink. Labeled "the calorie burner" on cans, Enviga is marketed as a weight-loss aid, with claims that it has "negative calories" and that it can "keep those extra calories from building up." Enviga's web site also says the drink is "much smarter than following fads, quick fixes, and crash diets." But according to CSPI scientists who reviewed the studies cited by Coke and Nestlé, Enviga is just a highly caffeinated and over-priced diet soda, and is exactly the kind of faddy, phony diet aid it claims not to be.
CSPI Recommends Avoiding Fried Foods at Burger King & McDonald's Until Frying Oil No Longer Partially Hydrogenated2007-01-31
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
With separate announcements this week, Burger King and McDonald's clearly see the handwriting on the wall: partially hydrogenated oil, which has been causing tens of thousands of fatal heart attacks annually, is on its way out of the food supply. That process will be accelerated by city and state laws, like New York City's, which bar restaurants' use of artificially produced trans fat, and possibly by lawsuits, like the one CSPI filed against KFC. Eventually, the Food and Drug Administration may even revoke its approval for partially hydrogenated oil once and for all.
What Danger Lurks in the School Cafeteria?2007-01-30
New CSPI Report Finds School Districts Lagging in Food Safety
WASHINGTON—Conditions in America's school cafeterias could trigger potentially disastrous outbreaks of food poisoning at any time, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which ranks food service operations in a new report released today. Most of the 29 million meals served in the nation's school cafeterias each day are nutritious and safe, but some school districts and governments aren't inspecting school cafeterias frequently enough or are using out-of-date food safety standards, leaving students at risk of food poisoning. Younger children in particular face a higher risk of complications from infections caused by E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and other potentially deadly foodborne pathogens.
Glaxo-Affiliated Doctors to Dominate Upcoming NIH Neonatal Herpes Conference2007-01-18
Health Groups, Prominent Physicians Call on NIH to Seek Balance and Prohibit Financial Conflicts of Interest on Guideline-Writing Panels
WASHINGTON—Next month five physicians will lead sessions at a National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) conference that was called to write clinical practice guidelines for preventing neonatal herpes. Four of those doctors have direct financial relationships with pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline—a company which stands to gain if the conference recommends broader testing of pregnant women for herpes, since Glaxo makes the antiviral drug Valtrex. Today more than 30 physicians and scientists and more than a dozen health organizations called on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to seek balance when it convenes guideline-writing panels, and to ensure that all panelists are free from financial conflicts of interest like those of the four Glaxo-affiliated doctors.
7UP Drops "All Natural" Claim2007-01-12
CSPI Praises Move and Drops Planned Lawsuit
Cadbury-Schweppes will no longer market 7UP as "All Natural" according to a statement put out by the company. Rather, the company will highlight ingredients "for which there is no debate" over whether they are natural, which will obviously exclude the controversial factory-made sweetener known as high-fructose corn syrup...
Kraft is Sued for Falsely Calling Capri Sun Drink "All Natural"2007-01-08
Update: Kraft got rid of "All Natural" claims; CSPI dropped suit
WASHINGTON—Kraft Foods, the maker of Capri Sun—foil pouches filled with a solution of water, high-fructose corn syrup, and small amounts of juice—is being sued by a Florida woman for deceptively marketing the product as "All Natural." The suit contends that the company's deceptive marketing tricks consumers into thinking the product is healthier than it actually is, perhaps encouraging some people to confuse the almost juice-less drink with real fruit juice. Though high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is no more harmful than other sugars, it is a plainly man-made ingredient, according to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), which, alongside the Florida law firm of Varnell & Warwick, is representing the plaintiff in the class action suit.
USDA Urged to Limit Sodium in Meat and Poultry Foods2007-01-03
Americans' Salt Intake Far Exceeds Government Recommendations
WASHINGTON— Too much salt in the diet is a major contributor to high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes, and almost all Americans consume far much more sodium than is recommended. So today the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish maximum levels of sodium in various categories of meat and poultry products. According to leading sodium researchers, halving the salt content in processed and restaurant foods would save 150,000 lives a year in the U.S.
2007 to Bring Sharp Reductions in Artificial Trans Fat...2006-12-29
Restaurants Respond to Laws, Litigation, & Consumer Demand
Top restaurant chains, which had been lagging far behind food manufacturers in getting rid of artificial trans fat, are finally beginning to replace partially hydrogenated oils with healthier alternatives—both for deep-frying and other applications, according to an analysis conducted by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest...
FDA Releases Draft Risk Assessment and Management Plan for Cloned Animals2006-12-28
Statement of CSPI Biotechnology Director Gregory Jaffe
The FDA's draft risk assessment and management plan addressing the food safety issues surrounding cloned animals is better late than never...
Congress Requires Dietary Supplement Companies to Report Adverse Reactions to FDA2006-12-11
Labels to provide consumer information by 2008
WASHINGTON—Within one year, dietary supplement manufacturers will have to list an address or telephone number on product labels that consumers can use to report serious adverse reactions, and companies will have to promptly turn over such information to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The new requirement will also apply to over-the-counter drugs.
WHO Committee Calls for Broad Curbs on Children's Food Marketing2006-12-07
WASHINGTON—A World Health Organization (WHO) technical committee report calling for broad restrictions on food marketing to children should serve as a blueprint for action by the next Congress, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).
Congress Passes Sober Truth on Preventing (STOP) Underage Drinking Act2006-12-07
Statement of CSPI Alcohol Policies Project Director George A. Hacker
Schools Getting Raw Deal from Bottlers2006-12-06
Beverage Deals Not Very Lucrative According to Analysis of Beverage Contracts
WASHINGTON—Most school beverage deals aren't very lucrative, raising an average of only $18 per student per year, according to the first-ever multi-state analysis of school systems' contracts with beverage companies. The study, conducted by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) and the Public Health Advocacy Institute (PHAI), analyzed 120 contracts in 16 states and found that the majority (67 percent) of the revenue collected from drink sales goes to beverage companies, not schools. The study was supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Argosy Foundation.
NYC Trans Fat, Calorie Labeling Initiatives Approved2006-12-05
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
Congratulations to the New York City Board of Health, Health Commissioner Tom Frieden and Mayor Michael Bloomberg for adopting these bold new measures to promote the public's health. When New York City's major chain restaurants comply with these sensible new regulations, I hope they make the changes nationwide.
FDA Urged to Stop Claims for "Energy" Drinks2006-12-05
CSPI Opposes Industry Plan for Weak Regulation of "Functional" Foods
WASHINGTON—The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should enforce stricter standards for "energy" drinks and other so-called functional foods, according to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Today CSPI testified at a hearing on the controversial foods convened by the FDA. The hearing was spurred in part by a CSPI petition in 2002 urging the FDA to tighten regulations and take enforcement action.
"Calorie Burning" Enviga Tea Drink a Fraud, Group Says2006-12-04
CSPI to Sue Coke, Nestlé if Weight Loss Claims Persist
WASHINGTON—Enviga, a new carbonated green tea beverage, claims that it burns more calories than it provides, resulting in "negative calories." But the nonprofit food watchdog group, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), says that Enviga burns money, and over the long term is more likely to result in a negative bank balance than negative calories. Today CSPI served notice on Coca-Cola and Nestlé, the companies behind Enviga, that it will sue them if they continue to market the drink with fraudulent calorie-burning and weight loss claims.
FDA Urged to Create New "Healthy Food" Labeling System2006-11-30
Companies' Own Front-Label Symbols, Based on Different Criteria, Can Confuse or Mislead Consumers, Says CSPI
WASHINGTON—Kraft has a "Sensible Solution." PepsiCo has a "Smart Spot." The American Heart Association licenses its "heart-check" symbol. General Mills displays one or more of 26 different logos on what it calls a "Goodness Corner" on some of its packages. But the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) says consumers can easily be confused or misled since the various programs have different aims and use inconsistent nutrition criteria. So today CSPI formally petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to design a national set of symbols to help consumers quickly identify healthier foods.
British Plan to Shield Kids from Junk Food Ads Better than US Approach2006-11-17
UK Regulators to Get Junk-Food Ads off Kids' TV
While officials at the Federal Trade Commission in Washington are merely observing the debate over junk-food marketing aimed at kids, British regulators are actually doing something about it. The Office of Communications (Ofcom), the quasi-governmental agency that has statutory authority to regulate...
The Best Advice is Free – From Conflicts of Interest2006-11-15
Statement of CSPI Integrity in Science Director Merrill Goozner on S.3807
CSPI Petitions FDA to Regulate Manure, Water and Sanitation on Farms2006-11-15
Consumer Groups Excluded from Senate Hearing on Spinach Outbreak
New FDA Web Site, Brochure Won't Prevent Obesity Any More Than Old FDA Web Site, Brochure2006-11-14
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
Obesity and diet-related diseases claim hundreds of thousands of American lives each year. Yet every response from the Bush Administration is so feeble, so flaccid, and so consistently disproportionate to the magnitude of the epidemic. I fear that Secretary Leavitt and Acting Commissioner Von Eschenbach are just delusional if they think yet another web site and brochure will make a dent in the obesity epidemic.
Weak New Voluntary Guidelines on Advertising to Kids Designed to Protect Marketers, Not Parents and Families2006-11-14
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
Any junk food advertiser who feared that a rewrite of the Children's Advertising Review Unit's voluntary guidelines would force a significant change in the way companies do business can rest easy. While the Council of Better Business Bureaus labored like an elephant, it came forth with a mouse. Regrettably but not surprisingly, advertisers are more interested in preserving what it candidly calls their "freedom to direct their messages to young children" than helping busy parents keep their children healthy.
New Online Quiz from CSPI Compares Restaurant Foods2006-11-06
Highlights Need for Restaurant Menu Labeling
Cutting Salt in Kids' Diets Reduces Blood Pressure2006-10-31
New UK Study Makes Strong Case for Reducing Salt Content of Processed and Restaurant Foods, According to CSPI
WASHINGTON—A new study shows that reducing salt intake in children quickly lowers their blood pressure. If their blood pressure remains lower, those kids could experience lower rates of heart attacks and strokes as they age. But according to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), makers of popular packaged and restaurant foods make it virtually impossible for children not to consume unhealthy levels of salt if they eat them.
Specialty Fruit Juices Taste Like Money to Sellers2006-10-27
But Can We Trust Their Health Claims?
WASHINGTON— Pomegranate juice will help you "cheat death." Mangosteen juice can cure migraines. Noni juice will rid you of diabetes, depression and a host of other ailments. At least that's what some sellers of those expensive fruit juices would have you believe.
California Urged to Monitor Farms for Food Safety2006-10-25
States Can Move Faster Than the Federal Government to Implement Standards, Says CSPI
WASHINGTON—The state of California should move quickly to adopt regulations governing the production of fruit and vegetables in California since no federal agency has yet adopted standards, according to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). In a legal petition filed with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and California Department of Health Services Director Sandra Shewry, CSPI food safety director Caroline Smith DeWaal said that mandatory regulations governing manure, water and sanitation on farms could help reduce the number of produce-borne food outbreaks, such as the recent outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 traced to California-farmed spinach.
Stars Urged to Rethink "Bud.TV"2006-10-19
Child Protection and Health Advocates Call on Affleck, Damon, Others to Insist on Age-Verification Programs to Shield Underage Kids
Disney Praised for Helping Kids Eat Healthier Diets2006-10-16
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo Wootan
Few companies are as visible among families with children than Disney, so it is welcome news that the company is setting sound nutritional guidelines for the food products it helps market with its kid-friendly characters. Parents who take their kids to Disney's theme parks and resorts will benefit from the healthier choices that are being added---and for the trans fat that's being phased out. Those are important and laudable steps, and ones that should be replicated by other media companies, restaurants, and food processors.
Guidelines No Substitute for Legislation to Get Junk Food Out of Schools2006-10-06
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo Wootan
The voluntary guidelines for snacks sold in school vending machines are perfectly reasonable. We applaud former President Clinton and the American Heart Association for their continued work on school foods, and we're glad some segments of the junk-food industry recognize their products' contribution to childhood obesity. But as benevolent as this agreement is, it's schools and vending machine companies who decide what to stock in school vending machines – and they aren't parties to this agreement.
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Signs Food Safety Law2006-10-03
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger last weekend signed into law important legislation that would help protect that state's consumers from tainted food. The bill requires meat and poultry companies whose products are being recalled to tell state health officials which retailers and restaurants received the contaminated products.
Bold New York City Health Department Proposals Praised2006-09-26
NYC May Require Calories on Menus and Limit Artificial Trans Fat in Restaurants
All restaurants in New York City would have to remove most artificial trans fat from foods, and the typical fast food restaurant would have to list calories for each item on its menu boards if two new proposed regulations in New York City are adopted...
Coalition for a Stronger FDA Says Agency Needs More Resources2006-09-25
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson
Press Conference Announcing the Coalition for a Stronger FDA
September 25, 2006
WHO Considering Food Labeling Reforms, Global Phase-out of Partially Hydrogenated Oils2006-09-20
WASHINGTON—A World Health Organization (WHO) proposal to implement its strategy to combat diet-related disease includes a recommendation that governments around the world phase out partially hydrogenated oils if trans-fat labeling alone doesn't spur significant reductions in their use.
FDA Urges Consumers to Stop Eating Bagged Spinach During Outbreak2006-09-15
Statement of CSPI Food Safety Director Caroline Smith DeWaal
Consumers should heed the advice of the Food and Drug Administration and not eat bagged commercial spinach until the precise source of the outbreak is discovered and until public health authorities indicate it is safe to consume this product again...
Institute of Medicine Releases Progress Report on Childhood Obesity2006-09-13
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo Wootan
Despite isolated pockets of progress, we need bold national policies to stem the tide of childhood obesity. The Institute of Medicine progress report on childhood obesity should end the politicians' handwringing, and spur strong and swift action.
Good Cup, Bad Cup2006-09-05
CSPI's Nutrition Action Healthletter Offers Advice on How to Survive in Latte Land
WASHINGTON—Would you drink a Quarter Pounder with Cheese? If you order a venti (20-oz.) Starbucks Caffè Mocha, you might as well be sipping that 500 calorie burger through a straw. And a venti Starbucks Java Chip Frappuccino, with 650 calories and nearly a day's saturated fat, is a McDonald's coffee plus 11 creamers and 29 packets of sugar, according to the watchdogs at the Center for Science in the Public Interest. In the September issue of Nutrition Action Healthletter, CSPI's nutritionists tell you how to keep your coffee break from becoming a Big Mac break.
New Online Calculators Encourage Eating Green2006-08-16
Consumers Can Check Impact of Diet on Health, Environment, & Animal Welfare on EatingGreen.org
Two interactive online calculators on the new Eating Green web site from the Center for Science in the Public Interest allow consumers to gauge the health, environmental, and animal welfare impact of their diet...
"Food Industry Protection Act" Threatens Hundreds of State and Local Food Safety and Labeling Laws, Says CSPI2006-07-26
More than 220 state and local food safety and labeling laws including restaurant hygiene codes, milk pasteurization requirements, and even some states' warnings to pregnant women about drinking alcohol or consuming fish high in mercury would be killed if a controversial bill before the Senate becomes law...
FDA Misleads Congress on Agency Efforts to Halt Deceptive Food Labeling2006-07-18
Agency Routinely Checks for Presence, not Accuracy, of Nutrition Facts Labels
Federal Trade Commission Urged to Investigate Beer and Liquor Sponsorship of NASCAR2006-07-12
CSPI Says Logos on Cars, at Tracks—-Even on Toys—-Confuse Young Kids About Drinking and Driving
When it conducts its upcoming review of the alcohol industry's advertising and marketing practices and the industry's self-regulation systems, the Federal Trade Commission should examine the burgeoning alcohol sponsorship relationships with Nascar, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest...
Hidden Conflicts of JAMA Authors Exposed2006-07-11
Statement of CSPI Integrity in Science Director Merrill Goozner
New Data Show FDA/EPA's Mercury Advice on Tuna Doesn't Hold Water2006-07-11
Statement of CSPI Food Safety Director Caroline Smith DeWaal
Medical Experts Call on Secretary Leavitt to Tackle Hypertension by Promoting Salt Reduction2006-07-10
Two dozen leading hypertension experts, physicians, and health groups today urged Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt to swing his agency into action to reduce Americans' salt consumption...
Is It High or Is It Low?2006-07-06
CSPI Urges FDA to Provide Clear Information About Mercury in Fish
When it comes to understanding the government's advice on mercury in seafood, most Americans are hopelessly—and justifiably—lost at sea, according to new survey commissioned by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).
FDA Fails to Protect Americans from Dangerous Drugs and Unsafe Foods2006-06-27
Agency Captured by Industries It Should Be Regulating
While the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in the self-congratulatory throes of its 100th anniversary, leading independent experts on nutrition, food safety, and drug safety say the agency is failing to protect Americans.
Give Bud the Boot from World Cup, Groups Say2006-06-22
Global Resolution Urges FIFA to Eliminate Alcohol Promotion in World Cup Events
Influential medical organizations and grassroots groups from around the world today called on FIFA, the governing body for the World Cup, to get rid of alcohol promotion at World Cup events and on match broadcasts...
Dietary Supplement Bill Would Require Companies to Report Adverse Reactions to FDA2006-06-21
Statement of CSPI Legal Affairs Director Bruce Silverglade
Manufacturers of dietary supplements should absolutely be required to report serious adverse reactions to the Food and Drug Administration...
23 States Get Failing Grade on CSPI's School Foods Report Card2006-06-20
Kentucky Tops List with A-
WASHINGTON--In the past year California, Connecticut, and New Jersey all made headlines for bumping soda out of schools and for otherwise improving the foods available to kids during the school day. But according to a year-end School Foods Report Card issued today by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest...
KFC Sued for Fouling Chicken with Partially Hydrogenated Oil2006-06-12
Lawsuit Aimed at Eliminating, or Disclosing Use of Artery-Clogging Frying Oil
See you in court, Colonel Sanders.
That's the message delivered today to KFC, a unit of Louisville, KY-based Yum! Brands, by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)...
Kudos to Wendy's for Dumping Partially Hydrogenated Oil2006-06-08
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
Quite simply, Wendy's removal of artery-clogging partially hydrogenated oils from its deep-fryers will make its French fries and fried chicken healthier than similar foods at McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, and other competitors...
Statement by CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan on the New FDA Report on Restaurant Foods and Obesity2006-06-02
Restaurant foods play an increasingly important role in the American diet, and any serious discussion about obesity has to take that into consideration...
Frito-Lay Agrees to Label Fake Fat Olestra More Clearly on its "Light" Chips2006-06-01
Agreement with CSPI Avoids Litigation
Frito-Lay will avoid a lawsuit threatened by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) by indicating more prominently on labels the presence of the controversial fat substitute olestra, or Olean, on its "Light" line of potato chips and tortilla chips...
CSPI to Sue Cadbury Schweppes over "All Natural" 7UP2006-05-11
High Fructose Corn Syrup Not Remotely Natural, Says CSPI
The company that makes the "uncola" is accused of telling an untruth in a new marketing campaign that touts 7UP as "100% natural."
CSPI Applauds Agreement to Get High-Calorie Drinks Out of Schools; Drops Planned Litigation2006-05-03
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
Soft drink companies have been using schools to market empty-calorie beverages to children, a practice that many parents and nutritionists have deplored. Considering that recent scientific studies have shown that increased soft-drink consumption contributes to obesity, today's announcement that soft drink companies will be pulling their high-calorie drinks from schools represents a significant advance for children's health...
CSPI Reaction to CASA Study2006-05-02
Statement of Alcohol Policies Project Director George A. Hacker
The latest study by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) adds to a mountain of growing evidence that the alcoholic-beverage industry cannot be trusted to regulate itself nor be expected voluntarily to give up advertising and marketing aimed at attracting its principal profit centers: underage and adult excessive drinkers...
CSPI Reaction to FTC-HHS Report on Food Marketing to Children2006-05-02
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan
The joint report of the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Health and Human Services makes welcome recommendations on improving food marketing aimed at kids...
Bug-Based Food Dye Should Be ... Exterminated, Says CSPI2006-05-01
Labeling Improvements Aside, Carmine Still Causes Allergic Reactions
Carmine and cochineal extracts, the red food dyes made from the dried bodies of the cochineal insect, should be exterminated from the food supply once and for all, according to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)...
Secretary Leavitt Urged to Jump Start HHS's Moribund Anti-Obesity Efforts2006-04-27
Action Urged Before US-EU Summit Meeting in May
The top health official in the United States is doing woefully little to stem the obesity epidemic or help Americans avoid diet-related diseases, according to the nonprofit nutrition advocacy group, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)...
Look for "The Whole (Grain) Truth" in Nutrition Action Healthletter2006-04-26
"Good Source of Whole Grain" and Other Such Claims Can Often Mean "Made with Mostly Plain Old Refined White Flour"
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans released by the federal government in 2005 place welcome emphasis on the importance of including whole grains in the diet. Happily, many genuinely whole grain products line supermarket shelves. But according to the cover story in the May issue of Nutrition Action Healthletter, some food companies are trying to cash in on the whole grain trend by adding whole grain claims on labels—even if their products have more refined white flour or sugar that whole grain
Statement of CSPI Senior Staff Attorney Benjamin Cohen on Proposed Food-Safety Rollback2006-04-24
It takes a certain amount of chutzpah to propose a bill that would eliminate more than 200 state and local food safety laws on restaurant sanitation, milk pasteurization, and shellfish safety—and to then simultaneously claim that the bill does none of those things...
FDA Panel Investigating Labeling of Antihypertensive Drugs Stacked with Industry Consultants2006-04-24
Draft Guidance May Miss Opportunity to Educate Americans About Importance of Lifestyle, Diet on High Blood Pressure
The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) advisory committee on cardiovascular and renal drugs will be chaired by and dominated by industry-connected scientists when it meets on Wednesday to evaluate draft labeling guidance for antihypertensive drugs...
Study Finds Trans Fat Levels Vary in McDonald's, KFC Foods Worldwide2006-04-13
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
The startling test results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, of widely varying trans fat levels in deep-fried fast food, are further proof that McDonald's, KFC, and other chains could virtually eliminate trans fat in their products...
Despite Third Mad Cow, Administration Promises Still Unkept2006-04-06
Animal ID System, Cattle Feed Rules Long Overdue, but Stalled by Industry Influence, Says CSPI
Despite the discovery of three cows infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, long overdue measures to ensure the safety of the food supply and to keep foreign markets open to American beef have been stalled, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest...
Bipartisan Support on Capitol Hill for Healthier School Foods2006-04-05
Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act Introduced
The school foods reform movement, which has been sweeping through states and local school districts, has reached the nation's capital. Bipartisan legislation aimed at improving the nutritional quality of foods available in schools was introduced today in both houses of Congress...
"I Can't Believe It's Not Better"2006-04-05
Lab Tests Reveal Hidden Trans Fat in "0 Grams Trans" Spreads
Many popular vegetable oil spreads that boast of "0 grams trans fat" on their labels actually contain significant levels of trans, according to laboratory analyses commissioned by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest...
New Aspartame Study May Allay Cancer Concerns2006-04-04
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
The new National Cancer Institute study significantly allays concerns raised by a recent Italian study that found that modest amounts of aspartame caused cancer in rats...
April is Alcohol Awareness Month2006-03-30
Alcohol Facts You'll Never Hear from Big Booze
1,000 Complain About Reactions to "Quorn"2006-03-28
Meat Substitute Made From Vat-Grown Fungus Causes Vomiting, Allergic Reactions ... and a Lawsuit
The number of people who became sick after eating Quorn, the meat substitute made from a factory-fermented fungus, and filed adverse reaction reports with the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has now reached 1,000...
Groups Urge Removal of Logging Executive from Forestry Panel2006-03-21
Weyherhaeuser Has Obvious Financial Conflict of Interest, Groups Say
More than a dozen public interest and environmental organizations today protested the presence of a top forest products industry executive on a National Academies of Science (NAS) committee charged with evaluating the impact of forest management practices on the nation's water quality.
CSPI Says Orangutans Literally "Dying for Cookies"2006-03-21
Group Calls on Food Industry & Consumers to Avoid Palm Oil from Unsustainable Sources in Malaysia and Indonesia
Increased demand for palm oil is fueling destruction of the rainforest habitats of Sumatran and Bornean orangutans, pushing those and other already endangered species even closer to extinction, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)...
CSPI Calls for FDA Crackdown Against Deceptive Trans-Fat Claims2006-03-16
'0 Grams Trans' Labels Mislead Consumers about Foods High in Artery-Clogging Saturated Fat
The nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) today urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take enforcement action against companies making misleading trans-fat claims on food labels...
NCAA Schools Urged to End Beer Ads on Broadcasts2006-03-15
Of 64 Men's Basketball Tournament Schools, 10 Support an End to Beer Ads on College Sports Programming
The Campaign for Alcohol-Free Sports TV today urged 54 of the 64 colleges and universities sending teams to the NCAA men's basketball tournament to commit to ending beer advertising on college sports games...
USDA Proposes Making Recall Information Public2006-03-07
CSPI Says Move Would Help Consumers Avoid Tainted Food
A regulation proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety Inspection Service would help consumers avoid contaminated meat or poultry in the event of a recall, according to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)...
USDA Proposes Making Recall Information Public2006-03-07
CSPI Says Move Would Help Consumers Avoid Tainted Food
A regulation proposed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety Inspection Service would help consumers avoid contaminated meat or poultry in the event of a recall, according to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)...
New Study Should Spur Action to Oust Soda, Says CSPI2006-03-06
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
The new Pediatrics report provides dramatic evidence that the empty calories in soda and noncarbonated soft drinks promote weight gain in overweight teenagers. If the soft drink industry had any respect for children's health, it would extend its recent pull-out from elementary schools and remove soda, "sports" drinks, and other high-calorie beverages from middle and high schools.
Government Testing of Chicken Shows Dramatic Jump in Salmonella in 20052006-02-23
Statement of CSPI Food Safety Director Caroline Smith DeWaal
USDA test results announced today show that Salmonella rates in chicken increased almost 80 percent since 2000...
Campbell Praised For Lowering Sodium in Soup, Juice2006-02-22
Campbell Soup Company, long a bastion of high sodium products, is drawing praise from the Center for Science in the Public Interest for significantly reducing the sodium levels in some of its products and for introducing a number of lower-sodium versions.
Trans Traps2006-02-17
New Labeling Rules Spur Major Improvements but Pitfalls Remain, Says CSPI's Nutrition Action Healthletter
New trans-fat labeling regulations that went into effect on January 1 have spurred many food processors to dump partially hydrogenated oils in favor of less harmful alternatives. As welcome as those changes are, consumers shouldn't assume that all food manufacturers have gotten rid of trans, nor should they assume that all foods with "zero grams trans" are zero threat to the arteries...
Health Care Speech at Wendy's HQ?2006-02-15
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
Does anyone else think President Bush picked a strange venue for a health care speech? Was the lobby of Philip Morris unavailable?
CSPI to Anheuser-Busch: Cancel the Torino Teen Kegger2006-02-13
Statement of CSPI Alcohol Policy Project Director George Hacker on Alcohol Marketing at Olympics
If Anheuser-Busch truly wanted to use the Olympics "to remind parents about the importance of preventing underage drinking," they could start by canceling the keg party they're having tonight in Torino for underage athletes...
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Director Bonnie Liebman on the Women's Health Initiative Study2006-02-08
Media reports on a recent major study on low-fat diets may mislead the public because they suggest that current advice to reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer are wrong. In fact, the study tested diet advice that is 10 to 20 years out of date...
CSPI Responds to the Beer Institute's Creation of an Independent Third-Party Review Panel to Field Complaints About Beer Advertising2006-02-08
Statement of Alcohol Policies Project Director George Hacker
The Beer Institute's new Code Compliance Review Board (CCRB) represents a modest step forward in allowing consumers and others to challenge beer ads that fail to meet even minimal industry standards...
Top Hospitals Harming Hearts by Cooking with Trans Fat2006-02-06
CSPI Tests Show Hospitals Using Partially Hydrogenated Oil
Eighteen of the nation's top hospitals are unnecessarily harming their faculties and staffs, their visitors, and some patients by serving foods prepared with partially hydrogenated oil-the biggest source of artery-clogging trans fat in the American diet...
U.S. Ski Association Urged to Dump Beer Sponsor in Wake of Bode Miller Flap2006-02-02
Does Skiing Really Need an "Official Alcoholic Beverage?" asks CSPI
When champion skier Bode Miller confessed to taking to the slopes intoxicated, one of the first to tut-tut his disapproval was Bill Marolt, president and CEO of the U.S. Ski and Snowboarding Association. "Not only is the use of alcohol irresponsible on the part of an athlete, but it is also a dangerously inappropriate message to send to participants in our sport, especially young skiers and snowboarders," said Marolt. Now Marolt's group is accused of fostering irresponsibility and sending inappropriate messages to young people because of its partnership with Anheuser-Busch, maker of Budweiser and Bud Light—the "official malt beverage" of the ski association.
CSPI Applauds Connecticut School Foods Plan2006-02-01
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo Wootan
We applaud Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell and Connecticut Senate President Pro Tempore Donald Williams for championing children's health by taking bipartisan action to improve the foods available to kids during the school day...
Bush Administration to Allow Secret Bugging of Americans?2006-01-27
CSPI Says Proposed Rule on Insect-based Food Coloring Doesn't Go Far Enough
In response to a legal petition filed in 1998 by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing a new labeling regulation that would require food companies to disclose when the red or orange color in a food product comes from cochineal extract, or carmine. FDA will not, however, require companies to list the source of those food colorings: the tiny, dried bodies of the cochineal beetle...
Supplementing Their Income2006-01-24
A Nutrition Action Exposé on How Dr. Weil, Dr. Phil, and Larry King Turn Your Trust into Cash
A folksy, popular daytime television host. A legendary radio and television interviewer. And a best-selling author and health guru whose familiar bearded face recently appeared on the cover of Time magazine.
These three men have one thing in common, according to the cover story in the current issue of Nutrition Action Healthletter. They all use their fame to hawk vitamins, herbs, and other dietary supplements that often rely on inflated claims and dubious (or nonexistent) science...
CSPI Calls on Journals to Strengthen Disclosure of Conflicts2006-01-12
Frito-Lay Target of Olestra Lawsuit2006-01-04
CSPI Wants Court to Order Labels on Frito Lay "Light" Chips to Warn of Diarrhea, Stomach Cramps
Frito-Lay has been notified that it will be sued by a Massachusetts consumer for deceptively marketing its line of "Light" potato chips. Those chips are made with olestra—the controversial fat substitute that causes diarrhea, stomach cramps, and other unappetizing symptoms...
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson on Burger King's King Kong Promotion2005-12-15
With its Triple Whopper, Burger King is solidifying its reputation as the fast-food chain most likely to solidify your arteries...
House Republicans Mounting Attack on State Food Laws2005-12-14
Industry Lobbyists Want to Topple California's Prop. 65, but State Officials Fear Bioterror Implications
Congressional Republicans are mounting an assault on state food-safety and labeling laws, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is poised to take up legislation that would summarily pre-empt almost 100 state laws having to do with carcinogen labeling, seafood safety, and food allergens and additives...
Alcohol Tax Hikes Prove Popular in New Poll2005-12-07
Seventy-one percent of Americans support a five cent per drink increase in federal alcohol taxes, according to new survey research commissioned by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)...
Institute of Medicine Reports on Food Marketing Aimed at Kids2005-12-06
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo Wootan
The Institute of Medicine's report on food marketing to children is a milestone that marks the beginning of the end of junk-food marketing to kids...
Government Should Warn About Mercury in Fish, Says CSPI2005-12-06
Groups Say FDA Should Urge States to Require Point-of-Purchase Notices
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should urge states to require easy-to-understand advice about mercury in fish right at the seafood counter, according to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)...
CSPI Reaction to Soda Lobby Study on Schools2005-12-01
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
It's a telling sign that the soda industry knows it is losing its battle to stay in America's schools when its lobbyists are congratulating themselves for lower sales. They're trying to make it seem like it's their benevolence and self-restraint that were responsible for a decline and not the parents, and increasingly, some policymakers, who are sick of soda companies putting profits ahead of our kids' health...
Transatlantic Cooperation on Food Marketing, Labeling, & Nutrition Urged to Help Curb Obesity Epidemic2005-11-28
In response to sporadic pressure from regulators on either side of the Atlantic, food companies occasionally improve their labeling or marketing practices, or reformulate products to have a better nutritional profile. But the non-profit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is urging governments to pressure companies to make such improvements the standard practice in all countries in which they do business, rather than just doing the bare minimum to keep each country's regulators at bay...
Food Processors & Supermarkets Move Forward on Trans Fat2005-11-22
Chain Restaurants Lag Far Behind, According to CSPI Survey
While many of America's biggest food manufacturers and supermarket chains are busily replacing trans fats with more healthful substitutes, the biggest restaurant chains are still frying French fries, chicken nuggets, and other fast foods in trans-fat-laden, heart-attack-inducing partially hydrogenated oils, according to a survey conducted by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)...
Salmonella Outbreaks Linked to Produce on the Rise2005-11-21
Produce is Primary Cause of Large Salmonella Outbreaks
Most people properly associate Salmonella with raw poultry. But according to an analysis of food-poisoning outbreaks by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, fresh produce is catching up with chicken as a major culprit of Salmonella infections...
Group Asks FDA to Limit Salt in Processed Foods2005-11-08
Excess Salt in Diet Kills 150,000 Each Year, Says CSPI
After 25 years of false starts and foot-dragging the Food and Drug Administration should use its authority to set reasonable upper limits on the salt content of processed foods, according to a legal petition filed today by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)...
CSPI Praises Sesame Street Workshop's Partnership with Sunkist2005-11-07
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan
Parents of young children know how difficult a trip to the supermarket can be, when familiar cartoon characters like SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, and Shrek grace the packaging of candy, sugary cereals, and other junk foods...
Compromise Reached on Financial Conflicts of Interest on FDA Panels2005-10-27
Statement of CSPI Integrity in Science Project Director Merrill Goozner
The compromise provision to the FY2006 Agriculture/FDA appropriations bill that provides advance notice when scientists with conflicts of interest serve on FDA advisory committees is a step in the right direction. We congratulate the Senate and House conferees, especially Sen. Richard Durbin and Rep. Maurice Hinchey, who helped make this possible...
Crackdown on Fraudulent Food Labels Urged2005-10-27
CSPI Exposes Some of the Most Misleading Ingredient Claims
Health-conscious consumers are being misled by many food labels that exaggerate the presence of healthful ingredients, according to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). The nutrition and food-safety watchdog group says that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't have the resources or the will to stop deceptive labeling and typically does nothing even when flagrantly fraudulent labels are brought to its attention.
Nutrition Labeling Proposed for DC Chain Restaurants2005-10-27
Legislation Would Put Nutrition Info on Menus at Fast Food and Other Chain Restaurants in Nation's Capital
District residents waiting in line at McDonald's may soon be able to see that a Big Mac costs 590 calories, if legislation sponsored by District of Columbia Councilmember Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large) becomes law. The Menu Education and Labeling (MEAL) Act would require fast-food and other chain restaurants in DC to list calories, saturated plus trans fat, carbohydrates, and sodium on printed menus and calories on menu boards (where there is less space).
McDonald's to Add Nutrition Info to Packaging2005-10-25
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
McDonald's announcement that it will add nutrition information to most of its packages is a useful step in providing customers more, and more readable, nutrition information...
Ghoulishly Great Ideas for Halloween Parties and Trick-or-Treating2005-10-24
So-Called "Personal Responsibility Act" Passes in House2005-10-19
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
Once again, members of the House of Representatives have leapt to the defense of restaurant chains and food manufacturers. It seems to me that if Congress really wanted to encourage personal responsibility, it would enact laws that actually encouraged Americans to choose better diets...
Schwarzenegger Urged to Veto "Alcopop" Tax Break2005-10-06
So-called "Malternatives" Aim to be Kids' First Drink, According to CSPI
The controversial, sweet-tasting alcoholic drinks known as "alcopops," many of which bear the brand names of hard liquor companies such as Bacardi, Smirnoff, Skyy, and Stolichnaya, derive some of their alcohol content from distilled spirits and should be taxed and regulated accordingly, according to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)...
Herbal Roulette2005-10-04
Health Canada Approving Dubious Claims for Supplements, According to CSPI's Nutrition Action Healthletter
Health Canada's Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) has been busy in recent years approving hundreds of sometimes startling claims for various herbs and botanicals...
FDA Study Proves FDA Confuses Consumers by Allowing Dubious Health Claims on Foods2005-09-29
The Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) policy of allowing preliminary health claims on food labels misleads consumers and has "failed the key communications test," according to a previously undisclosed FDA study obtained by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)...
'MyPyramid for Kids' a Kid-Friendly Flop, Says CSPI2005-09-28
The kids' version of the food pyramid is as ineffective as the adult version, according to the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)...
Statement of Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson on the Resignation of FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford2005-09-23
Despite various policy disagreements, we'll miss Dr. Crawford for his openness, and because he's really one of the only FDA commissioners who has had substantive experience with food safety...
How Safe is the Food in America's Schools?2005-09-22
New Federal Law Gives Parents Access to Cafeteria Inspection Reports
Is your child's school cafeteria free of rodents, under-cooked or improperly stored food, and other hazards that can cause serious—and possibly fatal—food poisoning? A new federal law makes it easier for parents to answer that question by requiring more frequent inspections and easy access to school cafeteria inspection reports...
Senate Votes to Require Greater Transparency on Conflicts of Interest at FDA2005-09-21
Statement of CSPI Integrity in Science Director Merrill Goozner
The amendment passed by the Senate last night is a step in the right direction. We congratulate the Senate and particularly Senator Richard Durbin, who led the effort. Consumers concerned that drug, device and food manufacturers have corrupted the FDA's advisory committee process may soon have 15 days notice when the FDA wants to put scientists with conflicts of interest on one of its 30 advisory panels...
Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs California School Nutrition Bills2005-09-14
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan
The school nutrition bills to be signed by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger are the first and best of their kind in the nation...
FDA Lets Scientists With Drug Company Ties Evaluate New Insulin Product2005-09-09
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is under fire again today for allowing scientists with direct financial ties to a drug manufacturer to serve on an advisory committee charged with evaluating that company's product...
GAO Report Shows Junk Food in 9 out of 10 Schools2005-09-07
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan
A new report from the Government Accountability Office leaves little doubt about the proliferation of junk foods in America's schools. Despite pockets of progress around the country, the GAO report shows that nearly nine out of 10 schools offers junk foods to kids out of vending machines, school stores, and via "a la carte" lines right in the cafeteria...
New Studies Show How Food Industry Targets Children2005-08-23
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan
A pair of troubling new studies published today in the American Journal of Public Health shows just how the deck is stacked against parents when it comes to children's nutrition...
Deaths, Illnesses from Contaminated Oysters Continue, Despite Plan2005-08-18
CSPI Urges Processing for Raw, Gulf Coast Oysters
Despite a risk management plan adopted in 2001, deaths and illnesses caused by raw oysters contaminated with the dangerous Vibrio vulnificus bacteria have remained relatively constant...
Soda Companies Pull Out of Elementary Schools; CSPI Says Policy Should Cover All Schools, Urges Government to Act2005-08-17
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan
Today's announcement that the member companies of the American Beverage Association will voluntarily pull soda out of elementary schools is an encouraging step from an industry that, up to now, has thwarted angry parents who want to get soda out of their kids' schools...
Food Industry Accused of "Salt Assault" on America2005-08-17
CSPI Says Steep Sodium Reductions Achievable for Many Brands
Most foods sold in supermarkets and restaurants are too high in salt. But a new study by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) finds that some manufacturers are recklessly loading up their products with two, three, or even four times as much salt as their competitors within a food category...
Tropicana to Change Labeling of Fruit-Flavored Drinks2005-08-11
More Accurate Labeling Resolves Lawsuit
Tropicana Peach Papaya drink has no peach juice and no papaya juice. In fact, the very small amount of juice in this drink is pear juice from concentrate. But at least the company will make some changes to its labels which will help consumers understand the drink is a flavored drink and not 100 percent juice...
Aunt Jemima to Correct Labels for "Blueberry" Waffles2005-08-11
CSPI Was on the Verge of Suing Manufacturer, Pinnacle Foods
Sleepy regulators at the Food and Drug Administration have known for years that the "blueberries" in Aunt Jemima Blueberry Waffles are fake, despite the bounty of plump berries bursting forth on the product labels. But it took the threat of a lawsuit from the nonprofit food-safety and nutrition watchdog group, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), to actually get Aunt Jemima's attention...
Food Safety Officials Push Global Guidelines2005-07-28
CSPI Says Mad Cow, Avian Flu, Bioterrorism Concerns Require Global Coordination
Bioterrorism, mad cow disease, and other more common food safety hazards know no borders and require stronger food safety systems all over the world, according to a group of food safety officials and consumer advocates from 25 countries who met in Geneva last month. The first-of-its-kind conference was organized by the U.S.-based Center for Science in the Public Interest, and hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO)...
Aspartame: New Study Renews Cancer Concern, Says CSPI2005-07-27
Consumers & Manufacturers Should Switch to Sucralose Pending Thorough Government Safety Tests
The Food and Drug Administration should immediately review the safety of the artificial sweetener aspartame, and possibly ban it, in light of a new study published in the European Journal of Oncology. The study, conducted in Italy, found statistically significant increases in lymphomas and leukemias among female rats given aspartame...
NCAA Recruiting Young Audience for Beer Ads2005-07-27
CSPI Says Alcohol Advertising Incompatible with Outreach Efforts that Target Kids as Young as 6
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is actively building brand loyalty among young people in order to get them interested in sports and to boost the attractiveness of NCAA telecasts to advertisers. But those recruitment efforts may deliver more and more young viewers to Anheuser-Busch and other beer marketers which advertise heavily on college sports...
Kellogg's Told to Stop Trashing Apples2005-07-20
Apple Jacks Ads Portray Apples as 'Bad,' 'Sour'
An advertising campaign for Kellogg's Apple Jacks disparages real apples as sour and as otherwise inferior to sugary breakfast cereal. The ads are coming under fire from the Produce for Better Health Foundation, a nonprofit education and marketing organization aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, whose members include produce growers, shippers and supermarkets, and the nonprofit nutrition and food-safety watchdog group, the Center for Science in the Public Interest...
'Self-Regulation' of Food Marketing is More Like Self-Preservation, Says CSPI2005-07-14
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan
There's no doubt that the current self-regulatory scheme set up by the food industry fails to protect kids from billions of dollars worth of advertising and marketing of low-nutrition foods...
CSPI Calls on FDA to Require Health Warnings on Sodas2005-07-13
New "Liquid Candy" Data: Teens Guzzling More Soft Drinks than Ever Before
Teenage boys who drink carbonated or non-carbonated soft drinks consume an average of three 12-ounce cans per day, and girls more than two cans, according to a new analysis of 1999-2002 government data. Teens who drink soft drinks get nearly 15 percent of their total calories from those drinks. Although adults seem to be turning to diet soda, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) says that the data show teenagers are actually drinking more high-calorie soft drinks than ever-and less diet soda than in years past-despite growing concerns about obesity...
CSPI Reaction to New Mad Cow Confirmation and Administration's "Faith-Based Mad Cow Policy"2005-06-24
Statement of CSPI Food Safety Director Caroline Smith DeWaal
It appears the animal that recently was confirmed as positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy did not enter the human food supply. But since the United States does not have a mandatory animal tracking system, USDA's strategy is basically to cross its fingers and hope that beef from a BSE-infected animal doesn't end up on Americans' dinner plates. Call it a faith-based mad cow policy...
Conn. Governor Sides with Soda over Parents & Kids' Health2005-06-14
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan
We are extremely disappointed that Governor Jodi Rell vetoed the school nutrition bill. By siding with soda companies, Governor Rell has undermined parents' ability to feed their children healthful diets...
House Votes to Prohibit Financial Conflicts of Interest on FDA Panels2005-06-08
Statement of CSPI Integrity in Science Director Merrill Goozner
In the past year it has become increasingly clear that scientists who have financial ties to drug companies or medical-device manufacturers should not be sitting in judgement of those companies' products...
CSPI Releases Global Food Safety Report2005-06-08
Safe Food International Conference Under Way in Geneva
The Center for Science in the Public Interest has released a detailed survey of food-safety challenges around the world...
CSPI Applauds NJ Governor on School Foods Improvements2005-06-07
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael Jacobson
Acting Governor Richard Codey deserves applause from New Jersey parents for promoting and protecting children's health by ridding the state's schools of soft drinks and candy. New Jersey is the first state to take this historic step, and we hope that many others will quickly follow its lead...
"Cruel Oil" Report Exposes Palm Oil's Impact on Health & Environment2005-06-02
Plantations Clearing Rainforest, Threatening Already Endangered Species, Says CSPI
oil has long been known to promote heart disease, but a new report from the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) says that palm oil production also promotes destruction of the rainforest, particularly in Malaysia and Indonesia...
CSPI Announces Food-Safety Conference at the WHO2005-05-24
Officials & Advocates from Around the World Meeting in Geneva Next Month
Food-safety advocates and experts from around the world will convene next month at the World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland...
Connecticut House Passes Bill Ousting Junk Foods from Schools2005-05-19
Measure Must Return to Senate for Final Passage, Then to Gov.
Legislation prohibiting the sale of sugary sodas, candy bars, and other junk foods in schools passed the Connecticut House of Representatives last night and is headed back to the state Senate, where it has passed once before in slightly different form...
HeLP America Act an Important Step Toward Curbing Obesity, Reducing Disease2005-05-18
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan
Senator Harkin's HeLP America Act offers bold initiatives aimed at improving the health of all Americans by preventing disease and promoting wellness...
Noted Economists Support Higher Taxes on Alcoholic Beverages2005-05-16
Coalition Cites Budget Deficit, Social Costs of Alcohol
Some of America's most distinguished economists today called for what they say are long-overdue increases in federal excise taxes on alcoholic beverages to help offset the massive economic and social costs of alcohol...
USDA Announces More Delay on Mandatory Animal ID Systems2005-05-05
Statement of CSPI Food Safety Director Caroline Smith DeWaal
While USDA's announcement of a new proposal on animal identification and traceback systems represents an important food safety improvement, the timeline for implementation is another Bush-adminstration bow to the cattle producers...
Multinational Food Companies Could Face Tougher Ingredient Labeling2005-05-05
Multinational food companies like Nabisco, Kellogg, Unilever, and Nestlé might have to disclose on labels the percentage of key ingredients in their products if tough new labeling standards eventually are adopted by a group of more than 50 countries meeting to debate international trade rules for the food industry...
Legislation Would Bar Industry-Connected Scientists From Reviewing Drugs2005-05-04
CSPI Supports Hinchey Effort to Reform FDA
Scientists with financial ties to drug makers or other medical companies would be prohibited from serving on federal advisory committees charged with reviewing the safety of drugs, if reform legislation offered by Representative Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) becomes law...
Food Watchdog Group Announces Litigation Initiative2005-05-03
Whole Foods, Quorn Target of First Suit; Quaker Avoids Lawsuit by Making Label Changes
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), the nonprofit food watchdog group, said today that it intends increasingly to turn to the courts to stop deceptive labeling, fraudulent advertising, and the use of dangerous food additives...
Weight Loss in a Bottle?2005-04-28
More Like Money Loss in a Bottle, According to Nutrition Action Healthletter
That "CortiSlim lifestyle," however, bilks consumers for millions by making baseless claims for overpriced pills, according to an article in the May issue of Nutrition Action Healthletter, the 900,000-circulaton newsletter published by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)...
New "My Pyramid" is Missed Opportunity, Says CSPI2005-04-19
Statement of CSPI Nutrition Policy Director Margo G. Wootan
The Dietary Guidelines unveiled in January were the strongest ever, but the new pyramid doesn't clearly communicate that advice to the public...
Court Decision Reverses Ban on Dangerous Ephedra2005-04-15
Statement of CSPI Legal Affairs Director
This decision leaves no doubt that the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA) prevents the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from taking unsafe products off the market...
Bush Administration Fails to Support Update of Code of Ethics for International Trade in Foods2005-04-15
WHO Recommended Nutrition, Food-Safety Updates
This week in Paris revisions to the Code were being considered by a committee of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) sponsored by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization...
Happy Anniversary, McDonald's!2005-04-14
Here's Hoping Your Next 50 Years Will Be Better than Your First
McDonald's has had an enormous impact on our diets, on agriculture, and the economy. To be fair, McDonald's has done better than some of its competitors when it comes to food safety, animal welfare, and the environment...
Bud Light Accused of Trivializing Alcoholism in New Ad2005-04-07
Watchdog Groups Say Beer Ad Depicts Lying About Drinking
A new ad for Bud Light beer depicts men joking about lies they've told to cover up their daytime drinking, and two watchdog groups say the Federal Trade Commission should crack down and ask Anheuser-Busch to pull the ad...
Single Food Agency Needed, Says CSPI2005-04-06
Durbin and DeLauro Introduce Safe Food Act of 2005
Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) today introduced the Safe Food Act of 2005, a bill that would help protect consumers from food-borne illness by consolidating the current fragmented and overlapping food-safety system...
CSPI Reacts to FDA "Calories Count" Initiative2005-04-01
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
The labeling changes on which the FDA is soliciting comment would be small but welcome measures. If implemented, they would help those consumers who read labels see how many calories they're taking in ....
Coaches, CSPI Urge NCAA to End Beer Ads on College Sports2005-04-01
NCAA to Review Alcohol Policies on April 28, But CSPI Questions Propriety of Anheuser-Busch Ties
When it reviews its alcohol policies later this month the NCAA should vote to end beer ads on televised college sports programming, according to the Campaign for Alcohol-Free Sports TV—a coalition of health advocacy groups and coaches organized by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). The campaign is calling on the 18 college presidents that make up the NCAA's Division I board of directors not to let the close financial ties between the NCAA and mega-brewer Anheuser-Busch influence their decisions. CSPI says that an example of those ties is an internal briefing paper recently prepared by NCAA staff .....
Animal ID System Needed to Thwart Mad Cow, Says Report2005-03-21
CSPI Says Profits, Not Public Health, Drives Effort to Keep Canadian Border Closed
Despite the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, in four older Canadian cattle, including one discovered in Washington state, there is no public health basis for preventing young Canadian animals from entering the United States, according to a new report .....
CSPI Supports Harkin Initiative on Junk-Food Ads Aimed at Kids2005-03-16
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
Each day, American kids get exposed to scores of commercial messages, and probably half of those are for food. If advertisers were trying to get kids to try new vegetables, or to eat more fresh fruit, or to switch from white bread to whole-wheat bread, I'd be all for it. But the overwhelming majority of the food ads kids see are for junk foods: Soda. Candy. Cookies. Sugary cereals. Fatty snacks. Fast food. And fast-food companies aren't pushing salads on kids but burgers, fries, and chicken nuggets .....
Health Advocates Urge Reform of FDA Advisory Committees2005-03-10
Scientists Shouldn't be Passing Judgment on their Funders' Products, Groups Say
Health advocates today urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to stop placing scientists with direct financial conflicts of interest on its advisory committees, and to limit the number of individuals with any industry ties to no more than half of any committee. In a letter to Acting FDA Commissioner Lester Crawford, the groups said that the agency failed to comply with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) when it assigned scientists with ties to manufacturers of arthritis pain drugs known as Cox-2 inhibitors
CSPI to NCAA: Time to Revisit Beer Ads2005-03-09
Statement of CSPI Alcohol Policies Project Director George A. Hacker
For too long, efforts to combat underage drinking on campus have been undermined by million of dollars in beer advertising on college sports--advertising that reaches millions of kids below the legal drinking age. We stand in strong support of Representative Tom Osborne's effort to encourage the NCAA and its member schools to pledge to end all alcohol advertising during college sports .....
Conflicts of Interest on COX-2 Panel2005-02-25
Research from CSPI's Integrity in Science Project
The Food and Drug Administration on February 16-18, 2005 held an advisory committee meeting to discuss the cardiovascular risk posed by painkillers known as Cox-2 inhibitors, which include Celebrex, Bextra and Vioxx...
'Forgotten Killer' Salt Kills 150,000 a Year, Says CSPI Report2005-02-24
CSPI Sues FDA to Force End to 20-Year Delay in Regulating Salt
Too much salt in the diet is boosting Americans' blood pressure and is prematurely killing roughly 150,000 people each year, according to a new report issued today by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Despite the pleas of health experts to cut back, salt consumption has drifted upward over the past 30 years to the point where Americans are now consuming about 4,000 milligrams of sodium per day—about twice the recommended amount. CSPI is filing a lawsuit against the FDA in federal court
Researchers Failed to Gauge COX-2 Heart-Attack Risks, Despite Early Warnings, Says CSPI2005-02-16
Published studies of prescription painkillers Vioxx, Celebrex, and Bextra were largely geared to developing new uses for those drugs and were much less concerned with the question of whether they increased users' risk of heart attacks and strokes, according to a review of the medical literature by the Center for Science ...........
CSPI Reacts to Lester Crawford Nomination2005-02-14
Statement of CSPI Executive Director Michael F. Jacobson
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