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Weatherman and TV personality Al Roker, co-host of NBC’s “Today,” is tapping into the live-streaming zeitgeist with the launch a new venture that will deliver live programming with a range of creative talent.
The newly formed Roker Media will distribute content across live-streaming platforms including Facebook Live — currently a major initiative for the social giant — Twitter’s Periscope, YouTube and YouNow. The company plans to develop and produce live streaming shows and online-purchasing opportunities with talent and brands in lifestyle, food, music, sports and entertainment.
“The tremendous acceleration in the live-stream space makes it the right time to expand our efforts with Roker Media,” Al Roker said in announcing the venture.
Current investors in New York-based Roker Media include Fred Seibert, CEO and founder of Frederator Networks and a former MTV and Nickelodeon executive; Lyor Cohen, CEO of 300 Entertainment and former CEO of Warner Music Group; and marketing exec and angel investor Jamie Robinson.
To launch the live-streaming network, Roker teamed up with JRSportBrief founders JR Jackson and Charlie Stettler. JRSportsBrief has produced over 1,700 episodes and generated more than 78 million views on YouTube, as well as a weekly podcast on CBS Sports and an active YouNow channel.
“There’s a real need for brands to tap into social stars and production teams to make live streams come to life with entertaining content globally,” said Jackson, one of the founding partners of Roker Media.
For the past year, Al Roker’s RokerLabs has worked with talent including entrepreneur and model Camila Alves for her show on Facebook Live, foodie Skyler Bouchard on Periscope and social media star EvieWhy (Evie Yannakidis) on YouNow. RokerLabs and JRSportbrief have incubated several shows on YouNow and are using the platform to build communities around their roster of in-house talent.
“The future of brand marketing and influencer programs is live. Live streaming is a distinct, new category that bridges television and social media,” said Ronald C. Pruett Jr., CEO of Roker Media. “It offers huge audiences, viewer interaction, and commerce opportunities only found through the magic of live streams.”
Al Roker serves as chairman of Roker Media and Fred Seibert will serve as a special adviser. Both will be active in both programming and talent development.


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DHL Express, a German-based worldwide courier, has placed the first order for 12 all-electric Alice eCargo planes that will be delivered over 2024 from Eviation, a Seattle-based electric aircraft manufacturer. It will be the world’s first all-electric air courier fleet in history.
On August 3, 2021, DHL and Eviation announced a significant milestone in the history of electric aircraft, particularly electric cargo aircraft. DHL will start testing 12 electric freight planes from Eviation’s single current model, nicknamed “Alice,” later this year. In 2024, deliveries will commence.
According to the website, Alice will travel at 220 knots (407 kilometers per hour) and have a 440-nm range, powered by an 820kWh lithium-ion battery pack weighing 3,720 kilograms (8,200lb). Alice would cruise at 240kt, have a 540 nm range, and a 920kWh battery system weighing 3,600kg, according to Eviation. The plane has undergone some changes from its previous design of 2019.
Also Read: China’s First Electric Aircraft
Alice will be piloted by a single person and will be capable of transporting up to 1,200 kg of freight. According to the company’s plans, charging will take only 30 minutes per flying hour, and it will have a maximum range of 815 kilometers. Electric motors are more reliable and require less maintenance since they have fewer moving parts.
The Alice eCargo aircraft are ideal for feeder routes because they require less station infrastructure expenditure. The Alice may be charged while loading and unloading procedures are taking place, ensuring speedy turnaround times and keeping DHL Express on track.
Although this aircraft will be used to transport e-commerce products, the design enables for both cargo and passengers to be transported. “With online shopping on the rise, Alice will help DHL to develop a clean, quiet, and low-cost network,” said Roei Ganzarski, CEO of Eviation.
DHL hopes to establish an unrivaled electric Express network as part of this collaboration and pave the way for a more sustainable flying future. The Alice aircraft will function in all environments. Still, they will offer better reliability and lower maintenance costs because of their superior electric motors.
DHL Express CEO John Pearson said, “We strongly believe in a future involving zero-emission logistics.” “As a result, our investments are constantly guided by the goal of reducing our carbon impact. Electrification of all modes of transportation is critical in our quest for clean logistical operations, and it will greatly contribute to our overall sustainability target of zero emissions. DHL Express has a long history in the aviation business since founded in 1969. With Eviation, we’ve discovered the ideal partner since they share our mission, and together, we’ll continue the legacy of sustainable aviation.”
Travis Cobb, DHL Express’s head of global network operations and aviation, also stated that “With Alice’s range and capacity, this is a great long-term solution for our worldwide network, and it will be focused for services on the east and west coasts of the United States,”
“We have our goal to reduce our carbon footprint, and these fleets and technological improvements will assist us in doing so. This is a critical milestone in our decarbonization journey for our customers and us, as well as a stride forward for the entire aviation industry.”
DHL’s sustainability objectives include a long-term aim of lowering all logistics-related emissions to zero by 2050. The order to deliver 12 fully electric Alice eCargo planes is the first step in that direction. DHL also unveiled a new Sustainability plan earlier this year, promising to invest €7 billion by 2030 to cut CO2 emissions, focusing on last-mile delivery electrification and sustainable aviation fuels.

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Yes, I think this tax will help States and the nation:
As a rule of thumb, it’s best to be skeptical of politicians and journalists who describe their pet policy preferences as “common sense.” Unless it involves renaming a post office, pretty much any piece of legislation that gets brewed up in Washington will, by necessity, involve tough trade-offs between values and interest groups.
But there are exceptions, and today, I’d like to cautiously suggest Congress has hit on one. The Senate is preparing to vote on a bill that would finally let states make online retailers collect sales taxes. Majority Leader Harry Reid has cued up a vote, and the measure is expected to have more than enough support to clear a filibuster.So far as big pieces of legislation that will impact billions of dollars in commerce go, this bill might be the closest you’ll get to a no-brainer. Thanks to a 1992 Supreme Court decision, Quill v. North Dakota, states today can’t force merchants to collect sales taxes unless they have a physical presence, such as a store or office, within their borders. Those tax dollars are still very much owed, but it’s up to the shopper to pay them as part of their state return. Of course, almost nobody ever does. The upshot is that a ruling made back when Lands End catalogues were still at the cutting edge of retail has given online stores a leg up on their brick and mortar competition, while costing states a bundle of tax revenue — anywhere from around $12 billion to $23 billion annually, depending on the estimate.


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TOKYO, Dec 6 (Reuters) – Japanese electronics and entertainment conglomerate Sony Group Corp (6758.T) said on Tuesday it has the technology to make humanoid robots quickly once it has identified how they could be effectively used.
“In terms of technology, several companies in the world including this one have enough technology accumulated to make them swiftly once it becomes clear which usage is promising,” Sony Chief Technology Officer Hiroaki Kitano told Reuters in an interview.
“We will make an investment (for manufacturing) only when such investment is deemed necessary. We see a potential in humanoid robots, but we also believe other forms of robots are quite important as well.”
Sony launched a robot dog called Aibo more than two decades ago. It sold about 150,000 units from 1999 until 2006 and then unveiled an advanced version in 2018, selling about 20,000 units in the first six months.
Humanoid robots have been in development for decades by Honda Motor Co (7267.T) and Hyundai Motor Co (005380.KS) and in September, Tesla (TSLA.O) Chief Executive Elon Musk showed off a prototype of its humanoid robot Optimus.
Musk’s company is floating plans to deploy thousands of the robots in its factories, expanding eventually to millions around the world.
Kitano said Sony, armed with expertise in audio-visual technology and rich entertainment content including music and video games, was well positioned to play a major role in the metaverse, or immersive virtual worlds.
The metaverse is a vague term encapsulating the idea that consumers will spend more time in online simulated environments. While the concept is evolving, it has become a buzzword in briefings and a driver of industry earmarking.
“As for the metaverse, it’s not like people would show up just because you’ve created a venue … Content is what makes or breaks the metaverse,” he said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Kitano told a media briefing Sony will strengthen its research and development activities and defined sensing, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital virtual spaces as key technical domains to drive Sony’s business expansion.
“Sensors, AI and virtual spaces interlocking together is the core of our technology and will be our great strength,” Kitano told reporters.
Sony’s image sensors are widely used in smartphones and becoming key auto components as carmakers strive to reduce traffic accidents and move towards autonomous driving.
Reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka, Editing by Louise Heavens, Robert Birsel and Crispian Balmer
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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Details: Disc golf enthusiasts of all playing levels will soon converge in Brainerd - and all in the name of Scouting. The Boy Scouts of America's Pine Tree District, which covers the Brainerd Lakes Area, will be hosting a public disc golf fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 3, at Brainerd's Lum Park.
The event on May 3, sponsored by disc golf manufacturer Discraft, will be divided into two distinct components: a disc golf tutorial from 10 to 11 a.m. and a tournament from noon to 4 p.m.
To help ease new players into this low-cost outdoor activity, those who register and pay online by the end of March will receive two Discraft discs popular with beginners.
The second half of the event, the tournament, will commence after an hour-long "free play" session around Lum Park's disc golf course. This hour was designed as both an opportunity for new players to test out everything they've learned and for tournament participants to warm up before they start competing for prizes.
Those who register for the tournament portion and pay online by the end of March will receive a special-edition Discraft disc that is only available at special events such as this.


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The Lost Remote newsletter brings you the the best in streaming news, from staffing changes to premiere dates to trailers—to the latest platform moves. Sign up today.
Viacom and CBS Corp. went their separate ways 14 years ago. Now, they’re officially back together.
The all-stock merger between the companies—announced in August after 3 years of on-again, off-again talks—has been completed, the result being ViacomCBS Inc., which, according to Adweek TV/media editor Jason Lynch, will now have more than $28 billion in revenue and 4.3 billion cumulative TV subscribers around the globe.
The new ViacomCBS portfolio is extensive: A broadcast network (CBS), a premium cable network (Showtime), a movie studio (Paramount), a number of basic cable networks (including, MTV, Nickelodeon, Pop TV, Paramount Network, BET, VH1, TV Land, and CMT), a number of streaming services (including CBSN, CBS All Access, Pluto TV, and BET+) and a book publisher (Simon & Schuster).
Speaking of CBSN–CBS News’ 24/7 streaming service–the platform was recently added to Viacom’s streaming service, Pluto. Aside from that, this merger won’t change anything on the CBS News front. At least not in the short term.
“This is a historic moment that brings together two iconic companies to form one of the world’s most important content producers and providers,” said Bob Bakish, formerly Viacom president and CEO, who will now lead ViacomCBS as president and CEO. “Through the combination of CBS’s and Viacom’s complementary assets, capabilities and talented teams, ViacomCBS will create and deliver premium content for its own platforms and for others, while providing innovative solutions for advertisers and distributors globally. I am excited about the opportunity we have to serve our audiences, creative and commercial partners, and employees, while generating significant long-term value for our shareholders.”
Acting CBS chief executive officer Joe Ianniello is now chairman and CEO of CBS and will report to Bakish. CBS’ CFO Christina Spade will maintain the role for ViacomCBS; Viacom CFO Wade Davis is exiting with the merger’s close. CBS’ ad sales chief Jo Ann Ross becomes president and chief advertising revenue officer of domestic advertising sales at ViacomCBS.
And Shari Redstone is chairman of the new company.
Lynch notes that the CBS-Viacom union—which values Viacom at around $11 billion—is on a far smaller scale than other recent industry mergers, such as Disney’s $71.3 billion purchase of 21CF in March 2019 and AT&T’s $85 billion acquisition of Time Warner in June 2018. It’s more along the lines of Discovery’s $14.6 billion purchase of Scripps in March 2018.
He adds: “Because of that, many observers expect that ViacomCBS will ultimately look to merge with another media company like Discovery Inc., or potentially a tech company looking to increase its TV footprint, if it truly wants to hold its own with the likes of behemoths like AT&T, Comcast and Disney.”


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On June 28, 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (“CCPA”). The CCPA had only been introduced in the California Legislature just a few days prior and is a response to a ballot initiative relating to consumer privacy that was approved to be voted on in California in November. The sponsors of the ballot initiative had agreed to withdraw the initiative if California passed a consumer privacy act prior to June 29th, and the sponsors did so after the enactment of the CCPA.
The California Consumer Privacy Act goes into effect on January 1, 2020. Given the hasty manner in which the CCPA was drafted and adopted to meet the deadline, the act is predictably in need of strengthening. It is expected that there will be tweaks and much jockeying by competing interests to modify certain aspects of the new law prior to the effective date.
Here are some of the highlights of the current version of the California Consumer Privacy Act:
- The CCPA does not apply to all businesses. It applies to for-profit businesses that do business in California, collect and control personal information of California residents, and (i) have annual gross revenues exceeding $25 million, or (ii) receive or disclose the personal information of 50,000 or more California residents, households or devices on an annual basis, or (iii) derive 50% or more of their annual revenues from selling California resident’s personal information.
- The CCPA requires greater transparency of companies relating to the personal information of California residents. Personal information is broadly defined, and in addition to personally identifiable information such as names, addresses and ID numbers, it includes purchasing or consuming tendencies and internet search history.
- Companies must make certain disclosures to consumers through their privacy policies or at the time personal information is collected, including disclosures of the consumer’s rights under the act, the types of personal information the companies collect, the purposes for which the personal information is collected and the types of personal information being sold.
- Consumers are entitled to copies of the “specific pieces” of personal information collected about them. Businesses must provide this information “in a readily usable format that allows the consumer to transmit information from one entity to another without hinderance.”
- The CCPA provides a consumer with the right to request that a business delete any of the consumer’s personal information it has collected (certain exceptions apply, however).
- Consumers will be entitled to opt out of the sale of personal information to third parties. Companies can’t deny goods or services to those who opt out. Also, companies can’t provide a different level or quality of goods or services, or charge different prices to those who opt out, except if the difference “is reasonably related to the value provided to the consumer by the consumer’s data.” How the exception is interpreted remains to be seen.
As stated above, it is expected that the CCPA will be modified before its effective date due to the lack of clarity caused by certain ambiguities and loopholes. Even if amended, the CCPA stands to be the strictest data privacy law in the US.
In order to comply with the law as drafted, companies will need to invest in infrastructure to handle consumer requests. For example, with respect to the consumer’s deletion right, affected businesses will need to invest time and resources determine whether an exception applies and creating business processes to comply with deletion requests. Also, affected businesses will need to update their websites. The CCPA requires a clear and conspicuous link on a Company’s homepage named “Do Not Sell My Personal Information.”
It is important to understand that compliance with the GDPR does not ensure compliance with the CCPA. Though the two laws have similar objectives in giving consumers greater transparency and access to their data, the acts treat these rights, as well as issues relating to consumer consent, differently. Those businesses which will be subject to the CCPA should take advantage of the run up to the effective date to begin planning for compliance with the new requirements, while keeping an eye on regulations implemented by the California Attorney General, as well as updates to the law that may be enacted.


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The Motor Ombudsman has seen nearly 13,000 consumer contacts in the 12 months since it launched the Stage Two Chartered Trading Standards Institute-approved Motor Industry Code of Practice for Vehicle Sales.
Over 700 e-mails and calls were received in the first four weeks by The Motor Ombudsman following the Code’s arrival according to the dispute resolution specialist, swiftly rising to in excess of 1,000 during November last year.
Since the beginning of 2017, The Motor Ombudsman has witnessed a monthly average of around 1,100 contacts, and about 10,000 contacts up to the end of August 2017.
A statement issued by the dispute resolution specialist said that, “encouragingly, only 540 of this year’s total contacts have resulted in cases, an escalation rate of just over 5%, with 10% of these cases being submitted to The Motor Ombudsman’s in-house ombudsman for a final decision”.
The statement said: “With the guidance of The Motor Ombudsman, this low contact to case ratio highlights the great lengths that businesses and consumers are going to in order to conclude any queries quickly to help maintain a positive ongoing relationship.”
Motor Industry Code of Practice for Vehicle Sales was introduced in response to the growing number of enquiries received from car buyers about a vehicle purchase since the Consumer Rights Act and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) legislation entered into force in 2015 and covers the sale of both and new used cars.
Subject to meeting The Motor Ombudsman’s strict set of criteria, an independent garage or franchised vehicle retailer can be accredited to the code.
In the first two quarters of the year, the most frequent breaches of the Code were in relation to the quality of the vehicle which was not of the correct standard at the point of delivery, the lack of sufficient information for a customer to make a decision on the most suitable finance product, and advertising content being inaccurate.
Bill Fennell, chief ombudsman and managing director of The Motor Ombudsman, said: “Contacts from consumers regarding the Vehicle Sales Code have continued to increase significantly since it was introduced in 2016, and they now form a significant part of the workload of our adjudicators.
“It’s important to point out however, that this upward trend in the volume of individuals getting in touch with us does not signal a rise in the number of customer complaints or that there has been a decline in industry standards.
“Instead, it’s the result of heightened awareness amongst motorists of the Code of Practice and the benefits of engaging in open dialogue and Alternative Dispute Resolution via The Motor Ombudsman, without the need to pursue costly legal action to solve an issue with a garage.”


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A TV pitchman who defrauded customers, banks and vendors out of $39 million by selling them faulty computers was sentenced to more than seven years in prison by a judge who called his conduct “unforgivable.”
George Capell, 51, continued to scheme until the end, tapping a secret bank account even after his bankruptcy and guilty plea to indulge a taste for strip clubs, fancy cars and a Florida condominium, authorities said.
“This to me is unforgivable,” U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody said Tuesday in handing down an 86-month sentence, near the top of the sentencing guidelines.
Capell’s lawyer, Scott DiClaudio, blamed the losses on “a failed business model.”
Many customers disabled, unemployed
After seeing Capell’s infomercials, some customers spent upward of $2,000 apiece on computer systems that arrived, if at all, with broken or missing parts. Many of the customers were disabled or unemployed, and needed the computers to find jobs, the judge said.
Others lived in rural areas far from an electronics store, and were forced to buy computers sight unseen, said bankruptcy court trustee Lawrence Lichtenstein.
The bilked customers, from more than a dozen states, have received restitution of 25 cents on the dollar, Lichtenstein said. He hopes to eke out another 10 cents on the dollar for them through the sale of Capell’s condominium and half the proceeds of Capell’s $1 million home.
Capell’s wife Lynn is entitled to the other half of the house proceeds. She was in court Tuesday with the couple’s three children, ages 20 through 23.
“I’m truly sorry for those people that were hurt in this case. I thought I could make it work, but I was wrong,” Capell told the judge.
Dozens of charges
Capell pleaded guilty to 41 fraud and money laundering counts in April. His company, which did business as the Video Computer Store, ran a call center and warehouse from 1999 to 2001.
After the plea, he failed to disclose a Florida bank account to authorities. Prosecutors say he used the account as a personal slush fund, spending $50,000 at strip clubs from April to June and paying $25,000 down and nearly $900 a month from the account on a Mercedes Benz lease.
“You cannot use a ’bad business model’ to camouflage fraud,” Brody told Capell.
Capell was ordered to pay nearly $32 million in restitution, but Lichtenstein doubts victims will see anything close to that amount, even after Capell leaves prison.
“Before, after or in this world, zilch — unless we find it in Honduras,” the trustee said. He has recovered just over $1 million so far.
Capell’s chief financial officer, Patrick Buttery, pleaded guilty to similar crimes and is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 30.


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IBM has announced the release of the first models in the watsonx Granite series, which utilize generative AI for language and code tasks.
These models come in various sizes to cater to different business needs and are based on a decoder-only architecture. They can be used to scale AI in various ways, such as generating customized responses from enterprise knowledge bases, summarizing lengthy content like contracts or call transcripts, and extracting insights and classifying data, including customer sentiment.
In addition to its own models, IBM provides flexibility to use third-party models like Meta’s Llama 2-chat 70 billion parameter model and models from the Hugging Face community.
“When it comes to today’s AI innovation boom, the businesses that are positioned for success are the ones outfitted with AI technologies that demonstrate success at scale and have built-in guardrails and practices that enable their responsible use,” said Dinesh Nirmal, senior vice president of products at IBM Software. “Today’s release of IBM’s Granite model series and commitment to stand behind IBM-developed watsonx models is a testament to IBM’s end-to-end model lifecycle management process in its watsonx AI and data platform that delivers businesses cutting-edge AI outfitted for their unique business needs.”
IBM has developed foundational AI models that have been trained using datasets from five different domains: internet, academic, code, legal, and finance. These models have been carefully curated for business applications by IBM. The training data underwent a rigorous filtering process to remove objectionable content and was benchmarked against both internal and external models.
According to IBM, this effort aims to ensure responsible deployment of AI and address issues like governance, risk assessment, privacy, and bias mitigation. IBM is utilizing its AI and data model lifecycle governance process to manage and mitigate client risk with the watsonx AI and data platform. Additionally, they plan to release watsonx.governance, an AI governance toolkit, later this year to facilitate trusted AI workflows.
IBM has also confirmed that its standard intellectual property protections will apply to these AI models.


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This update includes FDA updates, USDA updates, FDA warning letters, and other items of interest, including proposed rulemaking relating to agricultural water, the proposed rule to protect poultry growers from abuse, a Minnesota bill allowing CBD in food despite FDA prohibition, and more.
MUST READ: Proposed Rulemaking for Standards for the Growing, Harvesting, Packing, and Holding of Produce for Human Consumption Relating to Agricultural Water
On July 19th, the FDA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking to the requirements the agency recommended in a recent 2021 agricultural water proposed rule. If finalized, the pre-harvest agricultural requirements mandate covered farms to conduct system-based agricultural water assessments on an annual basis, to minimize potential risks associated with pre-harvest agricultural water. In its most recent update to the proposed rule, the FDA specifies the dates on which it intends to impose enforcement discretion for the harvest and post-harvest agricultural water requirements for covered produce other than sprouts. These dates range from 9 months to almost 3 years. Enforcement discretion would then allow for flexible application until January 26, 2025 for very small businesses, January 26, 2024 for small businesses, and January 26, 2023 for all other businesses.
FDA Announces Voluntary Phase Out of Certain PFAS in Food Packaging
In late February, FDA released new information regarding the Agency’s progress to voluntarily phase out certain short-chain PFAS used in food packaging. The phase out effects certain type of short-chain per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), that contain 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH), which may be found in certain food contact substances used as grease-proofing agents on paper and paperboard food packaging Additional information regarding the FDA phase-out of PFAS in Food packaging can be found here.
FDA Launches Agricultural Water Assessment Builder to Help Farms Understand Agricultural Water Proposed Rule Requirements
In late March, FDA launched a new online Agricultural Water Assessment Builder aimed at helping farms understand the proposed requirements for agricultural water assessments in the Agricultural Water Proposed Rule. The Agricultural Water Proposed Rule was released in early January and, if finalized, it would require farms to conduct systems-based agricultural water assessments. The Agricultural Water Assessment Builder can be found here.
FDA Takes Steps to Limit Lead in Fruit Juice
The draft guidance lowers action levels for lead in juice and is intended to lower consumer exposure to toxic elements in food, especially for children. The full draft guidance for lead in juice can be found here.
Indirect Food Additives Amended Regulations: FDA limits the use of certain phthalates in food packaging and issues request for information about current food contact use and safety data
The amended regulation revokes authorizations for the food contact use of 23 phthalates that the agency has deemed abandoned. The substances are used as plasticizers, adhesives, defoaming agents, surface lubricants, resins, and slimicides. This action now limits the use of phthalates in food contact applications to nine phthalates. Subsequently, the agency requested new use level, dietary exposure, and safety information regarding the phthalates currently authorized to reassess their safety and usage. The amended rule can be found here.
Final Guidance Issued for Reducing Microbial Food Safety Hazards in the Production of Seed Sprouts
On May 13, 2022, the FDA issued a final guidance addressing the agencies serious concerns with the continued outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with sprouts and providing recommendations for companies throughout the supply chain. The full guidance for seeds used for sprouting can be found here.
Groups Urge FDA for New Amendments for BPH
A coalition consisting of environmental groups, consumer groups, and a university recently submitted a petition to the FDA arguing that food additive regulations be amended to restrict or remove authorization for the use of bisphenol A (BPA) in food adhesives, resinous and polymeric coatings, and resins used in contact with food. More information regarding this proposed rule can be found here.
FDA Updates Public on 5-Year Veterinary Stewardship Plan
At the end of June, the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine released a status update on Phase I of its five-year action plan for Supporting Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Settings. The report touts an 88% success rate for implementing the plan from 2019-2021, with twenty-one action items completed. Phase II will begin soon and will continue efforts by the agency to protect public health while mitigating the development of antimicrobial resistance. Phase II actions include bringing more OTC drug under veterinary supervision, solidifying an approach for defining durations of use, building an approach for collecting data on antimicrobial use in food-producing animals, and continuing to advance AMR surveillance and monitoring programs through the activities outlines in the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) Strategic Plan.
The original rule proposed in December 2021 can be found here.
Draft Guidance Issued on Conducting Remote Regulatory Assessments
In late July, the FDA issued draft guidance to describe the Agency’s current views on the use of remote regulatory assessments (RRAs) to increase public understanding of the FDA’s use and processes for conducting RRAs. The draft guidance can be found here.
FDA Warning Letters
- Medina Baking and Power Products, Inc.: The Company was issued a warning letter when it misspelled ingredients, did not include required statements in Spanish on labeling, and omitted common names from product labeling.
- Langlinais’ Baking Company: The Company was issued a warning letter citing failures to include allergen information on packaging, potential contamination of allergens on production lines, and improper sanitation.
- Joy Gourmet Foods, LLC: The Company was issued a warning letter after it failed to conduct hazard analysis for food which enters their facilities, assess potential allergens, and identify and evaluate chemical hazards resulting from mis-formulation and incorrect labeling of substances. Contamination from drip and condensate from pipes and ducts were also noted.
- Companies Illegally Selling Unapproved CBD Products for Animals: Several Companies were issued warning letters for selling CBD products for animals. FDA’s position is that under current federal law, these CBD products are considered to be drugs because their intention is to affect the structure or function of animals’ bodies. Because CBD products have not been approved by the agency, they are considered by the agency to be illegal drugs.
- Unapproved Kratom Products: The FDA, in conjunction with the Federal Trade Commission, issued warning letters to four companies for selling unapproved kratom products for the treatment or cure of opioid use disorder and withdrawal symptoms. FDA has not approved any kratom products for this purpose and is currently evaluating concerning reports about the safety of kratom.
A database of warning letters issued by the FDA can be found here.
USDA Publishes Origin of Livestock Final Rule for Organic Dairy
The USDA recently published the Origin of Livestock (OOL) final rule for organic dairy. This rule intends to promote a fairer and more competitive market for organic dairy producers, making sure that all certified USDA organic dairy products are produced to the same standard. USDA’s National Organic Program will oversee the new rule. Additional information on the Origin of Livestock rule can be found here. The USDA’s full report can be found here.
USDA Announces New Proposed Rule to Protect Poultry Growers From Abuse
USDA announced a new proposed rule which it asserts will provide more transparency and accountability in the poultry growing system. The new guidance takes steps to provide clarity for growers in ways such as requiring processors to disclose details into the ranking systems such as compensation and ranking attributes. The proposed rule can be read here.
USDA Eyes New Salmonella Standards for Raw Pork Products
As outbreaks emerge throughout the country, the USDA Food Safety Inspection Services (FSIS) is considering imposing new salmonella performance standards focused on raw pork products. A journal article outlining the changes in pork-related salmonella can be read here.
Other Items of Interest
Minnesota Bill would Allow CBD in Food Despite FDA Prohibition
Three Democrats in the Minnesota House of Representatives introduced HF2996 in early February. Under the proposed law, industrial hemp extract would be considered an approved food additive legal for intrastate commerce. Additional information on House Bill 2996 can be found here.
Packaging Material Prices Continue to Rise
Global supply chain woes leading to continued price increases for food packaging are expected over the next twelve months, resulting from the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, in addition to rising energy, transportation, and labor costs. A report by Rabobank expects energy and paper packaging costs to rise 3.4% and anywhere from 2.3% to 3.6%, respectively. The report published by Rabobank can be found here.
Cultured meat could come further out of the lab in 2022
Forecasters predict that the global market for cultured meat will reach almost $500 million by 2030. JBS, the world’s biggest meat company recently unveiled plans to invest $100 million in cultured meat products. Capital investment grew 336% last year to $1.38 billion, led by Future Meat Technologies. The company recently reported plans to identify future production sites in the US while also reporting it had cut the cost of producing cultured chicken breasts from $18 per pound to $7.70 in six months.
While businesses are taking note of the developments in the meat industry, so too are regulatory bodies. In the US, the FDA and USDA began in 2019 to establish regulatory framework for cell cultured products. In 2021, the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service solicited public comments and the Department announced a $10 million investment over the next five years to develop a National Institute for Cellular Agriculture at Tufts University. More information about the National Institute for Cellular Agriculture can be found here.
Culver’s Restaurants Looking to Phase Out ‘Forever Chemicals’
Fast-food chain Culver’s is looking to phase out the usage of wrappers containing PFAS, sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals.” Consumer Reports tested 118 types of food packaging from 24 popular restaurants and 68% contained evidence of PFAS. However, currently, there is not enough reliable data available to estimate the risk from food packaging exposure. Generally, the chemicals enter the human body largely though drinking water. Data concerning ‘forever chemicals’ from Consumer Reports can be found here.
A Bill in Congress Aims to Open New Agency for Food Safety
In July, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced the Food Safety Administration Act into their respective chambers aiming to establish the Food Safety Administration as the single food safety agency withing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Onlookers have been critical of the functionality and effectiveness of the Food and Drug Administration, suggesting the agency has failed to recognize the dangers of prescription drugs and protect children from e-cigarette products. The proposed legislation would transfer all current authority on food to the new agency and be led by a food safety expert confirmed by the Senate. Currently, the FDA regulates approximately 80% of the U.S. food supply. The original text of the legislation can be found here.
Consumer Reports finds Potentially Harmful Bacteria in Ground Meat
Consumer Reports recently evaluated 351 packages of ground chicken, beef, turkey, and pork from supermarkets across America, finding the presence of salmonella in almost one-third of the seventy-five pounds of ground chicken packages tested. Earlier this year, Consumer Reports found a strain of e-coli in ground beef, which triggered a recall of more than 28,000 pounds of meat in seven Western states. In a statement to CBS News, the Food Safety and Inspection Service stated this finding underscores why FSIS is redeveloping its strategies to reduce salmonella in poultry products.
Infant Formula Recall Causes Supply Chain Disruptions
Though a shortage still exists, infant formula has begun to return to store shelves after a severe shortage of infant formula as a result of the 2021–2022 global supply chain crisis, compounded by a large-scale product recall after two babies allegedly died after consuming tainted infant formula. Efforts by numerous agencies were untaken to alleviate the shortage and make product available to key demographics, including special formulas for babies with allergies and diet restrictions as well as parents that rely on WIC funding for formula.
More information on the federal government’s response to the ongoing infant formula shortage can be found here.
This Regulatory Update covers information from February 15 – July 30, 2022. Please contact Paul Benson, Taylor Fritsch, or Leah Ziemba for additional information on regulatory issues that may affect your business. For access to articles and resources from our Premium Member law firm, Michael Best & Friedrich, visit michaelbest.com.


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Bonhams London held an auction that featured several cars previously owned by the British royal family, but Queen Elizabeth II’s Bentley failed to sell.
The Queen used the car between 2012 and 2014, mainly for special and state occasions in London, writes AOL. She also used the car to attend her only government Cabinet meeting ever in 2012.
For security reasons, the interior fittings and security devices were removed. However, the car’s navigation system will point you towards Windsor Castle when you hit ‘home.’
The car was estimated to sell between $217,000 and $244,345.
Despite this disappointment, Bonhams did make over $13 million in sales at the event.
This article was featured in the InsideHook newsletter. Sign up now.


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"The biggest changes for sales tech in the coming year will follow those that we’ve already seen in consumer tech and media. Not too long ago, people had only a few options for communicating: phone calls, emails and face-to-face conversations. However, the mobile revolution and an explosion of social media channels has created a new breed of short-form, staccato communications – texts, tweets, Snapchat messages, etc. – that have superseded many of the conversations that used to happen by phone or email.
"...New developments in artificial intelligence will lead to the automation of short-form communication (text, chat and social channels), in which machines can adequately respond to simple inquiries from customers. However, the human touch will remain incredibly valuable for sales, especially at an enterprise level..."


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Counterfeiters can cut into earnings, and therefore exchange traded fund (ETF) returns.
So, perhaps the seizure of an array of fake luxury purses and other items might help.
During a recent raid in Lyon, France, customs agents seized around 5,000 fake Louis Vuitton, Armani, Prada, and Dolce & Gabbana purses, belts and sunglasses, reports Heather Smith for Bloomberg. The total worth of the items seized is estimated at $1.9 million, according to the French customs agency. Packages sent from Italy to France were taken on July 22, en route to Spain.
Designers hate the fake bags and other knock-offs because it costs them money. The seizure of the knock-offs, could also help the Claymore/Robb Luxury (ROB). The ETF holds 4.65% toward LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, and 3% toward Nordstrom, which carry some of the higher end names such as Dolce & Gabbana, Armani and Prada. The fund is down 22.7% year-to-date.
Coach, meanwhile, reported a 33% profit for its fourth quarter, say Chris Burritt and Cotten Timberlake for Bloomberg. But the nation’s largest maker of luxury leather handbags full-year profit estimates trail what analysts had been expecting. Coach (COH) is 4.7% of ROB.
Let’s go shopping. But not for fakes!
The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Mr. Lydon serves as an independent trustee of certain mutual funds and ETFs that are managed by Guggenheim Investments; however, any opinions or forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Mr. Lydon and not those of Guggenheim Funds, Guggenheim Investments, Guggenheim Specialized Products, LLC or any of their affiliates. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.


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Posts filed under ‘"Green" Marketing’
By Kirk Littell
Consider this. Your website is more green if it is black. In January of this year, Mark Ontkush wrote a blog post that claimed if Google changed their page background to black, they would save 750 megawatt-hours a year. As Mark says:
As noted, an all white web page uses about 74 watts to display, while an all black page uses only 59 watts. I thought I would do a little math and see what could be saved by moving a high volume site to the black format. Take at look at Google, who gets about 200 million queries a day. Let’s assume each query is displayed for about 10 seconds; that means Google is running for about 550,000 hours every day on some desktop. Assuming that users run Google in full screen mode, the shift to a black background will save a total of 15 (74-59) watts. That turns into a global savings of 8.3 Megawatt-hours per day, or about 3000 Megawatt-hours a year. Now take into account that about 25 percent of the monitors in the world are CRTs, and at 10 cents a kilowatt-hour, that’s $75,000, a goodly amount of energy and dollars for changing a few color codes.
We recently published a newsletter on Greenwashing, the practice of talking the green talk in your marketing and advertising but not necessarily walking the green walk. Essentially, if you’re going to execute a campaign incorporating “Green”, then your actions better be as substantive as your ads or your brand will suffer.
BP is going to suffer for they are a Greenwasher. BP has positioned itself as a green brand with their “Beyond Petroleum” campaign and positioning. Well, as reported by Jean Halliday in the August 20, 2007 Advertising Age, BP recently applied for and received a permit from the state of Indiana to dump 54% more ammonia and 35% more suspended solids into Lake Michigan from its Whiting, Ind. refinery. This doesn’t seem green to Sudhu Johnston, chief environmental officer for the city of Chicago, and it doesn’t seem green to me either.
Iain Conn (pictured here) is the chief executive, refining and marketing at BP. In a profile interview conducted by journalist Judi Bevan and published by BP shortly after Iain replaced John Manzoni, Mr. Conn states that BP’s future success “is about moving towards a far lower carbon energy world by developing solar, wind, natural gas, hydrogen for power and biofuels.” However, in the July 24, 2007 article New BP chief’s anger as profits slip by Robert Lea of the Evening Standard that was published on thisismoney.co.uk, group chief executive Tony Hayward ordered Conn to get his US refineries back up to capacity. Obviously, this requires significantly increased dumping of toxic waste. Which is it Mr. Conn? Will you honor the brand promise you and BP have created or are you merely a greenwashing marketing executive creating and dispensing greenness while it suits the bottom line?


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Today, Corporate Accountability International is launching a campaign to ask McDonald’s to retire its child-exploiting mascot, Ronald, who for almost 50 years has been getting kids hooked on fast food. I am speaking at a press conference this morning at San Francisco City Hall, while another takes place in New York City, and events are being held at McDonald’s outlets around the nation to get the clown to step down. Read more about the campaign at RetireRonald.org, including poll results that show almost half of Americans agree that it’s time to retire Ronald. More to come.
Archive for March, 2010
So what’s all the fuss over Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign to end childhood obesity, and will it make a difference? Of course, it’s too soon to know for sure (it just launched last month), but early signs indicate more talk than action and deafening silence on corporate marketing practices.
The most obvious problem is framing the issue around obesity, which implies a couple of troubling assumptions. One, that skinny kids are just fine, no matter what garbage they are being fed, and two, that exercise, which has long been a convenient distraction, will continue to be so.
What is Let’s Move?
I highly recommend spending a few minutes perusing the Let’s Move website, which is simple, but informative in describing the campaign. (For a more detailed description, read the press release.) While the name Let’s Move implies a program all about exercise, in fact 3 of the 4 components have to do with food, which leads me to wonder why the White House wanted that to be less obvious. According to the home page:
Let’s Move will give parents the support they need, provide healthier food in schools, help our kids to be more physically active, and make healthy, affordable food available in every part of our country.
All laudable goals indeed, but notably absent is any criticism of the billions of dollars a year Big Food spends successfully convincing both parents and children to eat highly processed junk food and sugary beverages. Michelle Obama may be able to withstand the call of the Happy Meal, but most parents aren’t so lucky to have a White House chef at their disposal.
To her credit, the First Lady is saying many good things about parents needing more support. Also, for the first time I heard the phrase “food desert” uttered on national TV. So she really does seem to understand that it’s not all about education or personal responsibility.
But how exactly will Mrs. Obama and her husband attempt to end childhood obesity “within a generation.” First is the formation of yet another task force. As the President’s memo explains, members of the Task Force on Childhood Obesity are to include the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Education, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff to the First Lady. Heavy hitters yes, but might they have just a few other items already on their to-do list?
Also, in key language, the memo explains that “the functions of the Task Force are advisory only,” meaning that this body, at the end of the day (or many months), will only make recommendations for another body (Congress?) to then maybe, someday, consider.
Do We Really Need Another Task Force?
The Obama Administration may be surprised (since they are calling it the “first ever”) to learn that theirs is not the first federal task force on this issue. The previous administration had a few failed attempts. We already tried the Task Force on Media and Childhood Obesity, which the Federal Communications Commission spearheaded. Perhaps it never really went anywhere thanks to its members, who included the likes of Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, and Disney.
Then there was the Food and Drug Administration’s Obesity Working Group, which was broader than just childhood obesity, and whose pathetic achievement was the startling discovery (and accompanying silly web-based tool) that “calories count.”
But given that we really can’t count anything tried under the previous administration, I am willing to wait and see if this task force can come up with something better. It certainly can’t be any worse than the lame “Small Steps” program (still online).
And let’s not forget the still active Interagency Working Group on Food Marketed to Children, which is comprised of officials from four agencies: the Federal Trade Commission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In December of last year, this body released “tentative proposed nutrition standards” (for food products the government says are A-OK to market to kids) and is planning a final report with recommendations (for voluntary standards) to Congress this July. (Read author and fellow blogger Jill Richardson’s excellent description of its public panel and proposed standards)
This is the historical backdrop into which Michelle Obama now brings us Let’s Move. It’s not as if we haven’t been here before; she’s building on many failed attempts. But let’s take a closer look at one of the four Let’s Move components – school food.
How to Improve School Nutrition?
Under the “Healthier Schools” tab of the campaign’s website, I recognize a few programs that have been out there for some time. For example, the underfunded Healthier US School Challenge and the ineffective Team Nutrition program, both under the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that agency whose number one mission is to prop up Big Agriculture. (The USDA also happens to be in charge of school nutrition and other food assistance programs, which has never proven to be a good combination.)
A few things are new under Let’s Move, including doubling the number of schools that meet the Healthier US Schools Challenge and adding 1,000 schools per year for two years after that. And the President proposes to increase the federal budget by $1 billion annually to improve the quality of school meals. This sounds impressive, but as school lunch expert and Chef Ann Cooper pointed out in a recent Washington Post article, a mere 10 percent increase is a drop in the bucket. Currently, we feed 31 million students a day on $9.3 billion, which amounts to only $2.68 per meal. When was the last time you ate a decent lunch less than 3 bucks? (No, the dollar menu meal doesn’t count.)
And nowhere is any mention of the ongoing problem of competitive foods, which is government doublespeak for Coke and Pepsi vending machines in every school hallway, Doritos, Milky Way, and Good Humor sold in school stores, not to mention fast food like Pizza Hut that has taken over many school lunchrooms. Maybe that’s because the Obama Administration has decided that the success of Let’s Move depends in part on “the creation of public private partnerships.” That sounds familiar.
Working With Industry?
Since signing up for the Let’s Move email updates, I haven’t been too impressed. Here are two topics that landed in my in-box last week: Attention Techies! Apps for Healthy Kids Launched Yesterday and Paralympic Games Show All Athletes Can Be Champions. Now please don’t send hate mail; I have nothing against apps or the Paralympics, I just don’t understand how these concepts will solve childhood obesity “within a generation.”
In an especially bad sign, Michelle Obama is speaking at a gathering of the Grocery Manufacturers Association this Tuesday. As I chronicled in Appetite for Profit, GMA, the lobbying arm of packaged foods conglomerates such as Kraft and PepsiCo has a long history of undermining school nutrition standards, among other positive policies.
As another blogger suggests, Mrs. Obama’s own ties to Big Food may explain her deferential treatment of industry. She served on the board of directors of TreeHouse Foods (a spinoff of conglomerate Dean Foods) for two years until 2007, when her husband’s presidential campaign became all consuming. This same blogger predicts that at the GMA meeting:
Mrs. Obama will focus on “the pressing need to pursue comprehensive solutions to combat childhood obesity” and call upon food manufacturers to join these efforts by “providing healthier food options and better information about healthy food choices.”
But Kraft, PepsiCo, Kellogg’s and others have been all over that idea for several years now with their “smart choices” foods and claims of responsible marketing to children through its bogus Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative.
We won’t hear any scolding or warning aimed at industry. Instead, the First Lady will simply ask the major food corporations to jump on the Let’s Move bandwagon. And they will do so gladly. With no threats looming (for example, that Congress might pass legislation to restrict marketing to kids) Big Food has nothing to fear; quite the contrary, industry gains positive PR in the process. Indeed, not missing a beat, GMA sent the White House a letter of support for the campaign on the same day that Let’s Move launched.
Let’s Move the Corporations Out of Washington
The bottom line for me is that while there are many things to like about Let’s Move and it’s certainly encouraging for a First Lady to talk about access to fresh, healthy food as a national priority, much of it is still rhetoric we’ve heard before.
To turn the talk into real action will take a ton of leadership from President Obama and even more political will from Congress. Most importantly, unless and until the ubiquitous junk food marketing stops, both in schools and out, very little of substance will change and we will be back here once again with the next administration’s childhood obesity task force.
Let me know what you think.
It’s hard not to overuse the descriptor Orwellian, but the food industry often leaves me no choice. This story in Brandchannel explains how Kraft Foods is “supporting” community gardening through its Triscuit crackers. As the article describes:
Kraft is making an unusually large commitment to the concept of home farming by offering free basil and dill herb seed cards on four million Triscuit boxes. The brand is also sponsoring an educational website with a wealth of information on how to start a home garden and how to find local community farms.
Even more scary, the phrase “community farms” links to a Kraft web page that invites us to “join the movement” of “home farms” (a phrase new to me) and claims to be partnering with a nonprofit called Urban Farming. No wonder, since their supporters include other massive members of Corporate America such as Home Depot and Starbucks.
Where to even begin? A multinational food conglomerate promoting community gardening? That’s like the WTO promoting local currency. Seeds with your Triscuits? Is Kraft really the best source for seeds?
And let’s take a gander at the food ingredients in a Triscuit cracker, shall we? Here: WHOLE WHEAT, SOYBEAN AND/OR PALM OIL, MALTODEXTRIN, SALT, SPICES (INCLUDES ROSEMARY), MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE (FLAVOR ENHANCER), ONION POWDER, NATURAL FLAVOR, OLIVE OIL.
Funny how there are no instructions on Kraft’s “home farming” website about exactly how one can grow maltodextrin or monosodium glutamate or even onion powder or palm oil (and/or soybean oil) in one’s backyard. But hey, free seeds could get the company to move those four million cracker boxes faster, not to mention garner some positive PR.
This just in: My friend (upon seeing the story) wants to know: But how do I grow Triscuits?
This revealing March 9th Ad Age article describes how soft drink giants Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Dr Pepper Snapple Group have teamed up to run ads showing off about how they are removing sugary soft drinks from schools. The companies claim an 88% decrease in calories since 2004, but some experts are skeptical about the health impact.
And the timing of the ad campaign seems awfully suspicious, as Ad Age notes:
While the school initiative was in place well before the industry was put on the defensive against the proposed taxes, the promotion of the program is certainly well-timed. New York Gov. David Paterson has called for a one-cent-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, while Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter last week proposed a two-cent-per-ounce tax on sugary beverages.
The soft drink industry certainly knows how to deflect attention and confuse the issues. Calling their latest “initiative” (is anyone else sick and tired of hearing that word?), “Clear on Calories,” Big Soda seems to think that placing calorie numbers on the front of beverage containers and vending machines equals good nutrition and “has painted the voluntary commitment as an answer to First Lady Michelle Obama’s call to eradicate childhood obesity.” Funny, I don’t remember seeing anything about soda calorie labels in the First Lady’s program.
The ever-ready with a quote PR guy Kevin Keane, of the American Beverage Association (i.e., lobbying trade group) explains: “These are the fiercest rivals you’re going to get. But our companies felt [the campaign] was the strongest way to convey what they’d done and that they’d done it together.” How warm and fuzzy. Of course, these same companies have been lobbying together for years to undermine school nutrition policy, so this teamwork is really nothing new.
As this March 8th Reuters article explains, fast food giant Subway, which currently has only 150 outlets in China compared to McDonald’s 2,000, aims to catch up to the golden arches within 10 years. And why not, with a population of 1.3 billion, China’s a potential goldmine for sub sales.
“Our biggest challenge is getting customers to try the product,” Subway President Fred DeLuca said, adding that they were considering lowering prices to attract more customers.
Yeah, that can be annoying, when people in foreign lands don’t understand your bastardized version of food. But the submarine research brain trust is on the job. The company is testing sandwiches such as Beijing roast duck and local sauces like “hot spicy Szechuan sauce.” Guess that makes it local.
Also, and without a hint of irony, DeLuca figures that Subway’s emphasis on “fresh eating and lots of vegetables” will help the chain grow as Chinese diners look for healthier options (compared to McDonald’s?), with the country becoming aware of obesity. “People are starting to understand there is a bit of a problem. This may match up with our growth trajectory and put us in a position where we can grow quite fast,” he said.
So let me get this straight: China had no obesity problem before Western-style fast food and a meat-centered diet was introduced (see T. Colin Campbell’s excellent book, The China Study) and now, it’s American fast food to the rescue? Oh right, that’s the company’s solution here at home too.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, that venerable organization that never seems to tire of studying the same problems over and over again, has once again demonstrated that food and media companies are failing miserably when it comes to improving its marketing practices toward children. The report gives 3/4 of companies reviewed a failing grade for either having weak policies or having no policy whatsoever. The report’s poster child (so to speak) is shown here, Chuck E. Cheese’s “pizza maker,” which doesn’t actually make pizza, thankfully.
From the press release is this horrifying product description:
Candy company Topps also got an F. That company makes, among other things, Baby Bottle Pop, a powdered candy sold in a miniature baby bottle, eaten by dipping a candy nipple in a sugary powder and licking it off. Over the years Topps has retained the services of the Jonas Brothers and the Clique Girlz singing groups to convince children to purchase that infantilizing product, whose 140 calories all come from sugar.
Gross. Since this is hardly earth-shattering news, the real question is when we are going to see any political will to do something about it. While Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” program is admirable for its emphasis on school nutrition and food deserts, it’s painfully silent on junk food marketing. No amount of exercise can overcome the food habits being pushed on America’s kids by Corporate America’s billions of advertising dollars. Let’s move on that.
This is really embarrassing. I attended the Yale School of Public Health back when it was still a separate department within the Yale School of Medicine. I just received my alumni newsletter, only to find out that Yale Medicine has teamed up with soft drink and snack food giant PepsiCo to create a “research laboratory” in Science Park, which is adjacent to Yale’s campus.
What will sort of alleged science will this Orwellian place produce? Why, the “development of healthier food and beverage products,” what else? But that’s not all. It seems that Yale’s price tag was a tad higher. To complete the sell-out, PepsciCo is also sponsoring a fellowship in Yale’s M.D.-Ph.D. Program. According to the company’s press release, “the endowment will specifically fund work that focuses on nutritional research, such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes and obesity.” Just great. Here’s how Dr. Robert Alpern, Dean and Ensign Professor at Yale School of Medicine justifies the deal:
PepsiCo’s commitment to improving health through proper nutrition is of great importance to the well-being of people in this country and throughout the world. We are delighted that they are expanding their research in this area and that they have chosen Yale as a partner for this endeavor. Extending this partnership to the M.D.-Ph.D. Program represents a visionary investment in one of the finest researcher training programs in the world and thus to the future of science.
Sickening. And ironic since Yale is also the home of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, which is fast becoming the nation’s leader in the field. I can’t help wondering if this is a coincidence, of if PepsiCo figured this was a good way to neutralize the Rudd Center’s increasing influence over policies detrimental to the company’s bottom line. Let’s take, for starters, how Rudd is gaining national expertise on soda taxes, as evidenced by numerous articles penned by Rudd director Kelly Brownell such as this one published last year in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Also making me suspicious is another Yale / PepsiCo connection. When the Rudd Center was first formed, Derek Yach, formerly with the World Health Organization and tobacco control hero, was on staff there. Then in 2007, to the great shock and dismay of public health advocates around the world, he became PepsiCo’s Director of Global Health Policy, whatever that means.
And now here he is (second from left, standing), posing with numerous other smiling PepsiCo executives, side by side with Yale School of Medicine faculty members. It’s almost like he has returned to buy out his previous company.
Now I understand that everyone is hurting for money these days. The dean whines here about the university’s projected 25 percent drop in its endowment for 2009. But really, I don’t think that can possibly justify this arrangement. It’s not like the alternative was laying off faculty. The alternative was not affiliating with the purveyor of Cheetos and Mountain Dew.
Even though I always say I never learned a damn thing about nutrition at Yale Public Health, at least I could say I went to Yale. But now I am not sure I want to anymore. After writing my book, I admit to being pretty jaded and not easily shocked by industry influence, but this one really hurts. Who can I even complain to? Is nothing off limits to corporate control?
I always say you have to follow the business news to understand what’s really going on with corporations; it’s the one place they tell the truth. In this revealing interview with Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent, Bloomberg explains how the soft drink giant, “has relied on overseas markets to offset at least four years of declining soft-drink volume sales in the U.S.” Sound familiar? It should, as it’s the exact same strategy as the tobacco and alcohol industries: once sales in the U.S. are saturated, the only place to go is overseas, and the developing world is the last available opportunity for growth.
The article describes Coke’s CEO as saying that “emerging-market economies such as China and India are beginning to bounce back quickly, while more developed regions will take longer to recover.” Even more chillingly, Kent is directed quoted: “The emerging world is in a healthier situation as we are exiting the tunnel.” Of course, he means the tunnel of the recession, but never mind how the health of the “emerging world” is being increasingly threatened thanks to the invasion of U.S.-style fast food, soda, and other non-native foodstuffs, as this 2007 article on childhood obesity in China explains.
As for the lagging economy in the U.S. and other western nations, Coke’s chief says that “the consumer is still confused.” Yes, we are so confused that we’ve cut back on drinking sugar water full of chemicals, how very inconvenient for Corporate America. But there’s always other nations to exploit.
The Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University has launched an amazing new searchable database for pending and enacted legislation, both at the federal and state levels. You can search by either state or issue, such as school nutrition or soda taxes. I’ve been tracking legislation for years on both food and alcohol and I know how limited the tools out there are. This is truly a fantastic contribution to the field of food policy. Check it out here.


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Update, January 30: THQ Nordic has now gone on record saying that not only do they fully support the decision to switch over from Steam to Epic Games Store, but they've also implied that Metro Exodus will likely not be the only flagship title of theirs that'll be released with timed exclusivity.
THQ Nordic co-founder and group CEO Lars Wingefors has said that he firmly believes that Deep Silver and Koch Media have "carefully considered the advantages and disadvantages, opportunities and risks in their decision to go solely with Epic Games Store," adding that they have his full support.
Original Text: Metro Exodus won't be coming to Steam, with the publisher instead opting to go along with Epic's newfangled Games Store marketplace. That was the story, until an announcement was made that Metro Exodus will, in fact, come to Steam after all, except way later.
It's a bit of a gruelling subject, but we'll be hearing a lot of it in the coming days, as THQ Nordic, a sister company of Koch Media (who are the publishers of Exodus) may yet release more Epic Games Store timed exclusives in the future.
According to recent posts tweeted out by THQ Nordic's official Twitter, the decision to publish Metro Exodus on Epic Games Store as a timed exclusive was that of Koch Media, with no input made by THQ Nordic itself. Regardless, the company spokesperson has noted that they, too, might choose to opt into the same tactic sometime in the future.
They added that "speaking in the here and now, we definitely want to have the players choose the platform of their liking and make our portfolio available to as many outlets as possible."
In other words - THQ Nordic's decisionmaking on the given matter will likely depend on how Metro Exodus does once it's out. Who knows what might happen in the meantime. It is notable, however, that Valve themselves feel that offering games for pre-order on Steam only to snatch them away at the last moment is pretty unfair.


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CES 2023 is underway in Las Vegas, and Samsung has some exciting new launches coming. Samsung The Premiere 8K projector is just one of Samsung’s new products expected to arrive in 2023, and its launch has every movie buff waiting at the edge of their seats. While Samsung has still yet to release many details of Samsung The Premiere, we do know that it’ll be the first of its kind to display 8K images at a size of 150 diagonal inches. 8K ultra short throw (UST) projectors have been limited to 120 diagonal inches. That is, until now. Samsung The Premiere is an updated version of the 2020 4K The Premiere, a single box designed to sit just inches from your wall or screen.
While we’re still awaiting more specifics regarding Samsung The Premiere, we know that it will display 8K images up to 150 diagonal inches. Samsung has also announced that the 8K projector will offer the same Tizen OS features as its flagship TVs, including Gaming Hub, Art Store, Health Monitor and more. It will also feature a built-in, Dolby Atmos sound system. We’re anxiously waiting to hear about details such as brightness, number of ports and Dolby Vision, as Samsung has not released those details yet. We’re excited to stay up to date and see other new tech that comes from CES 2023.


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December 8, 2011 |
MUMBAI: Growing digitisation, media consumption and improving demographics will drive up the revenue of the domestic media and entertainment (M&E) industry to over $ 25 billion by 2015 from $ 16.3 billion in 2010, says an Ernst & Young India report. The E&Y report, 'Spotlight on India's entertainment economy' and released here today, says a surge in mass broadband adoption is expected (with the launch of 3G and 4G services) soon. By 2015, 90 percent of the projected 187 million broadband subscribers will access the Net through wireless devices, giving global M&E companies with exciting opportunities to develop anytime, anywhere content, says the report.
March 23, 2006 |
MUMBAI: The insatiable Indian appetite for entertainment has seen every delivery platform growing at a tremendous pace. Recognising this, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in its report for Ficci's annual entertainment conference, Frames: '06, has included print media, out-of-home (OOH) and internet advertising in the forecast which are contained in its entertainment & media (E&M) report. According to PwC, the E&M industry ? currently at Rs 35,300 crore ? is expected to grow at a compounded growth rate (CAGR)
November 6, 2013 |
In a chat with ET Now, Prateek Agarwal , CIO, ASK Investment Manager , shares his views on the media/entertainment space. Excerpts: ET Now: What is your current view on the media and entertainment space? Prateek Agarwal: As of now, we are looking only at one company in the entertainment space; there is no clarity of rules in that space. However, yes , media entertainment broadcast space is something we are positively inclined. While advertisements continue to be buoyant and while they may take a breather for sometime, the tariff fees may actually go down over a period of time and subscription revenues will look up. While one improves the cost structure quite a bit, the other gives long term stability and visibility to earnings.
December 28, 2013 |
MUMBAI: It's December 31, the clock strikes midnight, you are at home, and you usher in the New Year with Salman Khan. Salman Khan on your small screen, that is. New Year may be about parties, but it's also about watching New Year programmes on TV, and there's a vast section of India for whom televised entertainment programmes are the mainstay of December 31 festivities. India's general entertainment channels (GECs) know this and that's why, for example, Khan is leading the effort to get eyeballs for Star Plus's December 31 evening-night special programming.
January 2, 2013 |
What better way than a hot new survey to get you, dear reader, excited about 2013? Brand Equity's Most Admired People is a new annual research property from Brand Equity and Nielsen. It speaks directly to the youth to discover the brands relevant to young India and to capture those that stand out as the buzziest, trendiest and most exciting. Hop aboard, and rest assured it's going to be a wild ride. It is the self-made story of Shah Rukh Khan that endears him to the masses.
July 15, 2014 |
MUMBAI: Known as an action and comedy star, Bollywood's 'khiladi' Akshay Kumar, who delivered a hit with "Holiday: A Soldier Is Never Off Duty", says he enjoys doing a range of movies for his fans, but loves the "Heyy Babyy" genre of entertainment most. In an interview, Akshay has spoken out about his next release "Entertainment", the fact that he works with newcomers and the variety of work that he picks on as an actor. Excerpts from the interview: Q. Your next release "Entertainment" is an out-an-out comedy.
June 12, 2012 |
The verdict on India will soon begin to unravel at Cannes Lions 2012. Brand Equity spoke to the last batch of judges. Cyrus Oshidar , Creative Director of Bawa Broadcasting , talks about why he agreed to join the jury and where India stands in the Branded Content and Entertainment category. How excited are you about the category you'll be judging? You've known me long enough to know I'm not excited about anything. The only reason I said yes is because they had previously asked me to do digital which I find boring.
March 8, 2013 |
Bigtree Entertainment Private Limited , the holding company of India's largest entertainment ticketing portal BookMyShow.com, announced the acquisition of Ticketgreen.com (the flagship brand of Ticketgreen Solutions Pvt Ltd ),a leading entertainment ticketing portal of South India. The acquisition includes transfer of all key assets to BookMyShow.com along with all the existing cinema partnerships under the Ticketgreen brand. Ticketgreen.com is amongst the top online entertainment ticketing portals in South India.
July 9, 2014 |
Like cricket, cinema is a way of life in India. Ahead of the budget we talked to Ajay Bijli , Chairman and Managing Director, PVR Limited on what the FM could do for the Entertainment business. Excerpts: What should the FM's speech change for the Entertainment ad media business? Ajay Bijli: Entertainment tax rates in India, the highest across the world, are a major impediment to the growth of exhibition industry. Mumbai which is the movie capital of India has entertainment-tax rates as high 45 per cent.
December 23, 2011 |
hotels Assocham entertainment Christmas hotels Assocham


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excitement about the hardware, however, is that Sony has also partnered with a number of independent booksellers in the US. These include over 200 members of the American Booksellers Association, as well as BooksOnBoard, Net Galley, and Portland, OR-based Powell's Books, the world's largest independent bookseller. In addition, Sony also plans to make it easier for users to check out eBooks from their local libraries.Sony today announced that it will sell a wireless eReader device for $399 by Christmas. The Reader Daily Edition will be powered by AT&T's 3G network. That in itself is interesting news, especially given that Barnes & Noble announced a similar device in partnership with Irex yesterday. What's gotten somewhat lost in all the
All of these sites will offer eBooks in the standard EPUB format. It's not quite clear if all of the participating stores will wrap a digital rights management layer (DRM) around their products yet, though.
Sony Gets a Wireless Reader, Too
As for the hardware devices, Sony's new Reader Daily Edition is obviously aimed at Amazon's Kindle and Kindle DX. It will be able to display 16 levels of grayscale and will be housed in an aluminum body with an integrated cover. Users will be able to read books, newspapers, and magazines in portrait and landscape orientation.
The wireless connectivity, courtesy of AT&T's 3G network, is the most exciting news here, though. Both Sony and B&N are following Amazon's lead, of course, but Amazon's success with the Kindle has also clearly shown that a lot of consumers now expect this kind of functionality at the high-end of the eReader market.
What's even more exciting, though, is that by the time the holiday season comes around this year, users will be able to choose between far more eReaders and eBook vendors than ever before, without having to compromise on the number of available books.
With its five-inch $199 Reader Pocket Edition, Sony will be able to offer the cheapest device on the market, while the seven-inch Reader Daily Edition at $399 is priced to fall between the cost of a Kindle ($299) and Kindle DX ($489).


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Digital TV News: ESPN
Disney+ adds 2.1 million subscribers in quarter to October 2
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News categories: Walt Disney, Bob Chapek, Digital TV, Results, Streaming, Subscribers, USA, Worldwide
116 million paid subscribers for Disney+ on July 3
Aug 12, 2021 – The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) has reported results for its quarter ended July 3, 2021. Disney ended the quarter with a total of nearly 174 million subscriptions across its Disney+, ESPN+ and Hulu direct-to-consumer services.
News categories: Walt Disney Company, Bob Chapek, Digital TV, Results, Streaming, Subscribers, Worldwide
47% of US broadband households subscribe to Prime Video
Jun 2, 2021 – Parks Associates research shows that 47% of US broadband households currently subscribe to Amazon Prime Video. The content rights deal between Amazon and the NFL will help increase the service’s uptake.
News categories: Parks Associates, Steve Nason, Digital TV, Market Research, Streaming, USA
Disney+ ends 1Q 2021 with 103.6 million subscribers
May 13, 2021 – The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) has reported results for its quarter ended April 3, 2021. Average monthly revenue per paid subscriber for Disney+ decreased YoY from $5.63 to $3.99 due to the launch of Disney+ Hotstar.
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Comcast launches Disney+ and ESPN+ on Xfinity
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News categories: Comcast, The Walt Disney Company, Rebecca Heap, Michael Paull, Apps, Digital TV, Set Top Box, Streaming, USA
Disney+ ends 2020 with 94.9 million subscribers
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Disney surpasses 137 million subscriptions for its D2C services
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Apple Pay launched for the U.S. market but it's been clear the company wants to have a global presence. That global launch may already been in the works as Apple has an Apple Pay team in London to help it expand the mobile wallet's reach across Europe, Middle East, India and Africa.
iClarified posted an article about a recently found job posting that indicates Apple is seek members to join that team. According to the article, the post says:
"Apple Pay is a new and exciting area in Apple that is set to expand across Europe, Middle East, India and Africa. ...The new London-based Apple Pay team will work to drive the roll-out of this technology across EMEIA by working with a variety of internal and external partners, including teams in the U.S. where the product will first launch and the EMEIA organization, as well as Issuers, payment networks and merchants across Europe."
Apple is also looking to hire an Apple Pay site reliability in China, the article reported. This comes during the same week Apple announced the company now supports 90 percent of all credit cards used for purchases in the U.S.
"The Apple Pay Site Reliability Engineering Team is hiring for multiple roles focused on the front line customer experience and the back end integration of Apple systems with our Network and Banking partners," the post said.


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Author: John K
John is an avid enthusiast of GPS-based video games and a dedicated member of the gaming community. His passion for exploring the intersection of real-world locations and digital landscapes shines through in his commitment to outdoor gaming adventures
Location-based games merge the digital and physical realms, offering unique experiences that encourage exploration, social interaction, and physical activity.
“Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth” has quickly captured the attention of gamers, marking a notable debut, especially on the Steam platform.
Bandai Namco has once again captivated the fighting game community with the much-anticipated release of Tekken 8, setting the stage on January 26, 2024. This latest installment in the storied Tekken franchise propels the saga forward with a gripping narrative centered on the enduring conflict between the Mishima and Kazama clans. Titled “The Dark Awakens,” the storyline unfolds with Kazuya Mishima’s escalating power posing a dire threat to humanity, urging Jin Kazama to step in and confront his father using the formidable Devil Gene. A sneak peek into this enthralling narrative was provided through a consumer demo, allowing players to…
Palworld, the innovative survival game known for blending monster collecting with action-packed gameplay, has taken the gaming world by storm.
GPS-based video games like “Pokémon GO” and “Ingress” blend the digital and physical realms, urging players to explore their surroundings.
Welcome to the exciting world of GPS gaming, where the adventure isn’t just on your screen—it’s all around you! GPS (Global Positioning System) video games merge the digital universe with our physical world, creating an interactive gaming experience that encourages exploration, exercise, and social interaction.


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Ford Motor Company has a large market share. Automotive segments of Ford Motor Company include; Ford North and South America, Ford Asia and Africa region and Ford Europe. The market share of Ford Motor Company for the last 9 months has risen significantly to 15.8 percent. This is higher as compared to the market share of the year 2012 which was 15.2 percent in US. However, the market share of Ford Motor Company is estimated to increase by 7.4 percent. This means that the company will be able to make auto sales of 15.9 million up from 2012 sales of 14.8 million (Young, 2013). There is a very high competition in the international market yet Ford remains consistently competitive. In Europe, the analysis of Ford products shows that it is the second best seller in the past five years. This is attributed to the best performance the company has made recently in Russia and UK (Vlasic 2011).
Ford Motor Company is a global leader in manufacturing and sales of automotive products. The company distributes its manufactured vehicles in approximately 200 markets across the world. Ford also has other responsibilities such as servicing and offering of credit to interested parties. The company employs quite a number of people in all industries (Forever Ford 2014).
Ford motor company has its operations in many parts of the world; for example, it has subsidiaries in countries like UK, Australia, China, and Japan. Political stability in those countries is favourable. This means that business can be conducted without any interference from governments. This has given the opportunity to Ford Motor Company to excel in market share, in various countries.
Economic challenges in the world have seriously affected companies including Ford Motor Company. Many companies were forced to withdraw from the business but others adjusted their production and reduced the work force. The


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Saga shares open for investment: You've been on its cruises and bought its insurance - but should you buy?
Emma Soames, Saga magazine editor: Over-50s specialist Saga is to float on the stock market
Over-50s specialist Saga is to float on the stock market.
It revealed this week that it was pricing its offer at between £1.85 and £2.45 a share, as with the Royal Mail IPO last autumn, high demand could see the float at the top of that range.
Employees and customers of the group, which sells insurance, financial services, holidays and healthcare, will get priority in the float.
They will also get one free share for every 20 they buy, which they will receive after a year.
Customers must sign up for at least £1,000 worth of shares, while employees can ask for a more modest £500 each.
Saga said it plans to use the £550m it raises to pay down its debt to a more sustainable £700m.
Unlike recent plans to go public revealed by firms such as Poundland, which has refused to include the public in its offer, Saga will allocate stock to all types of investor. And customers are to be given first dibs on shares.
If you’ve been on one of its cruises, been covered abroad on its travel policy or spent on its credit cards, you’ll be first in line to invest.
Its prospectus is due to be published today and details such as expected price and start date should emerge over the next few days. Here we help you to decide if it’s worth it.
WHAT’S HAPPENING TO SAGA?
Company bosses want to sell 25 per cent of its business, worth an estimated £550million, to the public in an initial public offering.
This would value the group at about £2.2billion on the stock market. An IPO is the first time a firm sells shares.
It wants to use much of the cash raised by the flotation to pay down debt and fund plans to expand.
Saga is expected to reduce what it owes by two-fifths, down from £1.25billion to a more manageable £700million. Its growth plans include branching out into retirement homes.
The group is currently in talks with developers to discuss building retirement villages.
HOW CAN I APPLY TO BUY SHARES?
As the float is open to the public, anyone can. But there is an advantage if you’re a Saga customer or staff member.
If there is a stampede to buy shares as there was for Royal Mail last year and there isn’t enough stock to go round, you will be given priority.
To qualify as a customer you need to have bought a financial product, private healthcare or a Saga magazine subscription between January 5, 2013 and April 30, 2014.
Anyone who booked a Saga or Titan holiday or cruise, or who travelled with them, between January 5, 2011, and April 30, 2014, will also be entitled to shares.
What to find out more? You can download the Saga share prospectus here
Advert: A UK Saga Insurance Magazine Advert - but is it worth buying shares in saga
ANY OTHER REASON TO TAKE PART?
Yes. The company says it will offer free stock to all those prepared to back it. The plan is to give one free share for every 20 you purchase.
Saga has asked its 2.1million customers and 20,000 staff whether they would be interested in investing - and says one in three said yes. That means there could be a possible 700,000 shareholders for starters.
However, many customers might not yet have realised the share offer is going ahead. The company sent out details of its IPO plans by post, and many will have binned them or forgotten.
ANY STRINGS ATTACHED?
Yes. To take part in the IPO you must buy a minimum of £1,000 of shares. However, staff need only to buy at least £500 worth.
Experts warn that the offer could be heavily oversubscribed.
If the 700,000 who flagged up an interest and all 20,000 staff apply for the minimum £1,000 allocation, it would create demand for about £710million of shares.
However, Saga only plans to sell £550million worth. This could mean investors might not get the full allocation of shares they apply for.
WHAT ARE SAGA’S PROSPECTS?
It started life 60 years ago in Folkestone, Kent, as a guesthouse for pensioners.
Since then it has evolved into a global brand which covers all manner of insurance products as well as holidays and cruises.
Last year the group posted profits of around £222million.
Investment: Last year the group posted profits of around £222million
It is a fairly unique offering, as it has no direct rivals. Its strong brand has inspired a loyal customer base happy to spend thousands on its cruises.
Its insurance policies, while not cheap, are popular with members, who like the cover offered — for example, its travel insurance has no upper age limit for claims, and more medical conditions are included.
The whole group is owned by a trio of private equity firms - CVC, Charterhouse and Permira. They bought it in 2004 for £1.3billion.The total valuation of the business is predicted to rise to £3billion once shares start trading.
The last major UK insurance firm to become a public company was Direct Line, which floated on the stock market in 2012, valued at £2.6 billion.
Since then the share price has risen by almost a third, from 186p to 245p.
SHOULD I APPLY TO INVEST?
It all depends on what you want from the float. Stuart Welch, chief executive at TD Direct, says investors need to approach any IPO with caution.
‘If you are looking to make a quick buck by selling your Saga shares quickly, then that is just gambling, which is fine - but you have to understand that.’
When Royal Mail floated, it was criticised for being underpriced and for giving big City firms priority on shares over retail investors.
But because the offering was so over-subscribed, the share price leapt up and many investors, including members of the public, made a tidy profit on the first day of trading.
Saga’s plans to float have yet to whip up the same interest but could still be very popular.
If it is oversubscribed, there could well be a flurry to snap up shares when they begin trading, causing their price to rise.
For the long-term investor, though, the risk is different. Ben Yearsley, of stockbroker Charles Stanley Direct, says: ‘Ask yourself the same things about Saga that you would for any company share: do you believe the company, and the industry it operates in, will do well over the long term?
‘Remember, there is plenty of risk in putting all your cash in just one company, so ensure you have a mixed portfolio of funds and cash savings as well.
HOW DO I SUBMIT MY APPLICATION?
Saga is due to publish its prospectus today. This will have more information about the IPO, including the company’s financial details. It is expected to confirm the likely target price for its shares on Friday.
Saga has not yet announced which stockbrokers it will be working with on its IPO.
Once it does, it is usually a simple case of telephoning those companies for shares.
For now, the best thing to do is register your interest directly with Saga. You can do this by going to www.saga.co.uk/share or telephoning 0800 0155429.
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