Carbonated & Sports

Lobbyists fight soda tax as health care reform funding source

During the first nine months of 2009, soda makers, supermarket companies, agriculture, fast-food business spent more than $24 million lobbying Congress on issue of tax on sweetened beverages plus other legislative and regulatory issues, reports show. Coalition fears what could be movement to raise money for health care reform by taxing sweetened beverages. Farm-dominated Senate Finance Committee sympathetic to food industry; Max Baucus hails from Montana, large producer of sugar beets; Iowa, home state of Chuck Grassley, is nation's largest producer of corn.

By Christine Spolar and Joseph Eaton

The Huffington Post 2009-11-06

Senate mulls soda 'sin tax' to fund health care reform

Senate leaders consider watchdog group's proposed tax on soda, some fruit drinks, energy drinks, sports drinks and ready-to-drink teas to help pay for health care reform. Proponents cite research linking consumption to diet-related disease, say tax would cut consumption, health problems, medical costs. Soda lobbyists say tax would hit lower-income Americans and wouldn't deter consumption. And: Amount of decline in smoking directly tied to size of state tax increase on cigarettes, analysis shows (click 'See also').

By Janet Adamy

The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2009-05-12

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Sweet peak: Energy drink rinse linked to athletic performance

In trial, cyclists pedaled faster after rinsing their mouths with high-carb drinks, but saw no difference with artificially sweetened versions in study. Brain scans showed that glucose, maltodextrin in the mouth triggered pleasure circuits in brain not activated by artificial sweetener. Circuits are thought to reduce athletes' perceptions of how much effort they are expending, allowing them to work harder, longer. And: In rat study, artificial sweeteners result in more sluggish metabolism that stores, rather than burns, incoming excess calories (click 'See also').

By Ian Sample

The Guardian (UK) 2009-04-15

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Coffee & Tea

Greening caffeine

Starbucks, learning early on that carbon emissions would affect rainfall and temperatures, thus affecting price, quantity and quality of coffee beans (and its bottom line), calculated its carbon footprint and is working to lower the number; other companies are coy.

Sonia Narang

Forbes magazine

Calling coffee lovers:

Single writer had determined that she is seeking an equally jittery, totally caffeinated coffee baron who will serenade her in the coffee groves and add to her heart palpitations, with or without the brew -- iced or hot.

By Chrystal Doucette

Columbia Basin Herald (WA) 0000-00-00

"Someone should not be able to walk into a restaurant and order a plate of an endangered species."

Dairy

Biotech milk hormone effort vetoed in Kansas

Kansas governor vetoes milk disclaimer labeling bill, citing overwhelming opposition by consumer groups, small producers, retailers who want to know which milk is from cows untreated with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBST). Kathleen Sibelius, Obama pick for HHS, also cites patchwork labeling requirements, state to state, that would cost too much.

By Beth Martino

Office of the Governor, Kansas 2009-04-23

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Opinion: Obama's pick for HHS should veto milk disclaimer bill

As Obama's pick for Health, Human Services which oversees FDA, Governor Kathleen Sibelius should veto biotech milk disclaimer bill as 29 groups have requested. Kansas bill would require that milk labeled hormone-free include disclaimer saying that FDA sees no 'significant difference' between milk products with or without it. Bill will become law unless she vetoes it by Thursday.

By Barry Estabrook

Gourmet.com/Politics of the Plate 2009-04-21

Good bones

Strong bones throughout life require a consistent foundation of calcium-rich foods, vigorous exercise and plenty of sunshine, for vitamin D. Children's needs grow as they do. Dietary sources of calcium include dark leafy greens, broccoli, milk, cheese and yogurt.

The Associated Press; San Francisco Chronicle 2007-11-26

Juices

Orange juice demand ramps up as swine flu continues

Orange juice demand ramps up as swine flu continues

USDA

Swine flu, now present in 46 states, plus approaching winter season increases demand for orange juice, but Florida orange crop expected to be 16 percent smaller than last year after cold snaps last winter were followed by drought conditions, citrus disease. And: Immune boosters during cold/flu season include yogurt with probiotics, lemon juice, garlic, and brightly colored fruits and vegetables, especially orange ones like sweet potatoes and carrots (click 'See also').

By Tom Sellen

The Wall Street Journal. (may require subscription) 2009-11-02

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Florida OJ industry faces triple tribulations

Florida orange juice industry faces drought, hurricane season, anti-dumping petition against a Brazilian juice processor (click 'See also'). Though juice futures have risen, orange stockpiles, recent low prices, could keep supermarket prices stable.

By Ted Jackovics

The Tampa Tribune 2009-05-05

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From poppies to pomegranates in Afghanistan

From poppies to pomegranates in Afghanistan

Big Stock Photo

Pomegranates can replace opium poppies for higher profit, beverage entrepreneur, UK grocery chain and Afghanistan tribes agree. 40,000 trees planted, with half a million more trees planned by end of 2010. Ability to reduce drug dependency is vast, since Afghan-sourced heroin is sold globally. And: In Afghanistan, Texas soldiers see path to victory through creation of wheat-seed farm superior to the 2,500 acres and subsistence plots controlled by Taliban (click 'See also').

By Shane Starling

nutraingredients.com/ Decision News Media 2009-03-31

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