CBC News: Marketplace | Murmurs | a daily blog of consumer-related news

Whole wheat is in, chocolate bars and pop are out. At least that's the message from food makers and marketers amid concerns over childhood obesity and raising diabetes rates... MORE»

Walt Disney Co. is breaking up with fast food powerhouse McDonald's; the studio is cutting its cross-promotional ties with the chain in an effort to distance itself from fast food and its links to childhood obesity... MORE»

In an effort to combat child obesity, about 35 million students in the United States will no longer be able to buy regular soft drinks at school... MORE»

According to a new study, the benefits outweigh the risks when it comes to eating fish... MORE»

Researchers at a drinking water conference in Saint John, N.B., say too many people are afraid to drink what's coming out of their taps, and water utilities need to do a better job of marketing their product... MORE»

murmur categories: health, food/drink

tags: consumers consumer news consumerism water bottled water

posted by Tessa | 4:46 PM (ET) | Permalink

There's some bad news for moderate drinkers: they may not be improving their health after all ... MORE»

According to Fast Food News, "self serve restaurants" will be all the rage sooner than you can say 'would you like fries with that?' The fast food industry is seriously experimenting with self-serve kiosks where consumers point-and-click their slop from LCD touch screens... MORE»

Americans now buy more bottled water than coffee, beer or milk. And that refreshing convenience doesn't come cheap: on average, a bottle of water costs 1,000 times the price of a glass of tap water. Is it worth it?... MORE»

Researchers in Brazil say combining alcohol and 'energy drinks' such as Red Bull can put the drinker at a greater risk for accidents, simply because they don't feel drunk... MORE»

Speculation abounds over mega-retailer Wal-Mart's move into organic products... MORE»

Proposed revisions to Canada's Food Guide are being criticized for recommending portions that are too large and could encourage people to overeat and become overweight... MORE»

It seems Marketplace's recent documentary, Chasing the Cancer Answer, has some politicians in Ottawa talking about the rising rates of the disease and the role regulations and product labelling might have on curbing Canada's cancer epidemic... MORE»

For the first time in two decades, the sale of carbonated soft drinks is down, according to Ad Age... MORE»

This weekend's story on Marketplace, Chasing the Cancer Answer, raised the issue of how many consumer products in Canada aren't required to have ingredients labelled on them – even if those ingredients include known or suspected carcinogens... MORE»

The Environmental Working Group is calling on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to take a closer look at several popular soft drinks, saying they contain two ingredients that can mix together to form the cancer-causing chemical benzene... MORE»

More and more Americans are guzzling bottled water every year – some 7.5 billion gallons were sucked back in 2005, according to preliminary figures from the Beverage Marketing Corp. – and that has some dentists worrying about tooth decay... MORE»

Women who switched to a low-fat diet later in life did not see a reduced risk of breast cancer, colorectal cancer or heart disease, according to recent studies... MORE»

A debate is brewing south of the border over the colour of fresh meat. Grocery stores across the country are trying something new in the meat section - injecting meat with carbon monoxide to extend the length of time meat appears red and fresh on the shelf... MORE»

EggFusion, a company that prints expiration on eggs, is branching out to do what it calls 'on-egg messaging.' That’s right - advertising on eggs... MORE»

A group of Italian artists and activists called Molleindustria has come up with an online 'game' that challenges players to consider their consumption habits and what consequences they may have on the complex chain of command that is fast-food economics... MORE»

Testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found that some cans of light tuna contain high levels of mercury, a toxic metal that can cause learning disabilities in children and neurological problems in adults... MORE»

European divisions of global beverage companies like Coca-Cola and Cadbury Schweppes say they're going to wean their advertising to children and introduce low-calorie and sugar-free versions of their products... MORE»

Will wonders never cease? Wonder Bread, the makers of that ooey-gooey, squishy concoction that some call white bread (others are more skeptical), is getting on the health bandwagon. The staple of American school kids’ lunches is going whole grain... MORE»

Eating veggie burgers and tofu to lower "bad" cholesterol may not help, a new review of soy's health benefits suggests... MORE»

A Grade 9 student in Ontario has drafted a private member's bill calling for tougher nutritional standards in high school cafeterias. As part of CBC News: Making the Grade series, students across the province submitted ideas for a private member's bill. The series aims to get young people interested in politics by getting them involved in the process... MORE»

Climate change prompts Inuit to reduce hunt, limit healthy foods
December 19, 2005

Worth repeating from CBC Health & Science News: Researchers fear the North's changing environment will affect the health of Inuit by decreasing access to traditional foods from the land... MORE »

Worth repeating from CBC Health & Science News: Almost three-quarters of people consume alcohol in excess of Canada's low-risk drinking guidelines, a new study [PDF] suggests... MORE »

Worth repeating from CBC Health & Science News:Eating a diet high in fibre does not reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, but it is a good idea for your heart and for preventing diabetes, the authors of a new review say... MORE »

Worth repeating from CBC Health & Science News: Drinking a couple of cups of tea a day may help reduce the risk of developing ovarian cancer, say Swedish researchers who caution more research is needed to confirm the findings. MORE »

Tests show mercury levels in seafood are ‘high’ and ‘pervasive’
December 12, 2005

Popular seafood sold in Chicago supermarkets –including walleye originating from Canada– is so contaminated with toxins that U.S. regulators could confiscate the fish for violating food safety rules, the Chicago Tribune reports... MORE »

Food and beverage ads aimed at children 12 and under promote unhealthy choices, according to a new report that recommends the food industry market more nutritious options... MORE »

Alcohol consumption may come with its associated risks, but a new study has found that subjects drank one or two drinks a day had a significant lower risk of obesity compared to non-drinkers, Food Consumer reports... MORE »

As consumption of healthy fruits and vegetables rises in Canada, the number of cases of food-borne illness involving produce has also increased, partly because microbes can't always be washed away... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:39 AM (ET) | Permalink

The American Beverage Association says the amount of non-diet soft drinks sold in the nation's schools dropped more than 24 percent between 2002 and 2004, the Associated Press reports... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:13 AM (ET) | Permalink

Ont. health officials renew sprout warning, salmonella outbreak grows
December 1, 2005

Shoppers in Ontario are advised not to eat bean sprouts until the source of an outbreak of hundreds of cases of salmonella poisoning is known... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:12 AM (ET) | Permalink

People in Ontario should avoid eating mung bean sprouts until the source of an outbreak of salmonella is confirmed, health officials said Friday... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 11:52 AM (ET) | UPDATED: 3:11 PM (ET) | Permalink

Fruits and veggies cause more illness than chicken and eggs: study
November 24, 2005

Many of us associate salmonella and other food-borne illnesses with chicken, but a new report says more and more people are getting sick from tainted fruits and vegetables... MORE »

KFC, the mammoth fast food chicken chain, is producing TV commercials that it hopes it never has to use... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:28 AM (ET) | Permalink

Women who don't have high blood pressure may not need to worry that drinking coffee will increase their risk of developing hypertension, but the picture is less clear for drinking cola CBC Health & Science News reports... MORE »

We all know junk food isn’t good for children, but getting them to lay off the burgers and chicken nuggets is no easy task.

The British Heart Foundation thinks its new campaign, Food for Thought, will do just that by showing picky kids the nauseating truth: that burgers, hot dogs and chicken nuggets are really a stomach-turning mix of mystery meat, fatty entrails and gristle... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 12:53 PM (ET) | Permalink

Flax, a grain that has been used for thousands of years in food and linen, is finding new popularity for its health benefits from fighting heart disease to preventing constipation, CBC Health & Science News reports... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:23 AM (ET) | Permalink

The Goods and Services Tax should be applied to food, with the revenue given to farmers to help save the struggling industry, a farm group says... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:14 AM (ET) | Permalink

McDonald's customers will soon have a lot more to chew on when the company starts printing nutritional facts on the packaging of its products, CBC News reports... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:24 AM (ET) | Permalink

PR tactics ‘silence debate’ over genetically modified crops: researchers
October 26, 2005

A group of academics have analyzed the public relations campaign employed by a major producer of genetically modified crops. Their conclusion isn’t pretty... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 1:15 PM (ET) | Permalink

A non-alcoholic beverage targeted at kids is catching on with young drinkers in Japan... MORE »

posted 1:53 PM (ET) | Permalink

New Swedish research suggests there is some evidence linking ovarian cancer to milk consumption, but says more study is needed... MORE »

posted 12:51 PM (ET) | Permalink

Children with weight problems in Montreal are being paired with mentors who help them to get out and be active, CBC Health and Science News reports... MORE »

Low or reduced-sugar products are replacing low-carb foods as the latest healthy eating trend, but it may be a case of marketing winning out over science... MORE »

posted 9:15 AM (ET) | Permalink

Looking for a few minutes of escape? Head to an intergalactic parody set "not long ago in a supermarket not so far away." ... MORE »

Some kids in Scotland are participating in a tempting scheme to get them to ditch junk food. Glasgow City Council is offering 30,000 children in 29 secondary schools rewards like iPods and Xbox consoles for eating healthy, BBC News reports... MORE »

The bodies of black and white teenage girls handle salt and calcium differently, which may help to explain why the races have different rates of hypertension and fragile bones, according to research at Purdue University in Indiana... MORE »

Canada's food guide is being overhauled to reflect new scientific knowledge and the country's changing multicultural makeup, CBC Health and Science News reports... MORE »

Weight Watchers, Zone, Atkins… Which diet is best for you? ... MORE »

posted 10:29 AM (ET) | Permalink

Is bottled water safer than the good old tap variety? Does it taste better? The American news magazine 20/20 put the leading brands and regular tap water to scientific and taste tests... MORE »

Kids in the U.K. suffer from behavioural and learning disorders because of their diets, a new study says. The research found that British children’s diets are deficient in vital nutrients needed for their brains to function normally... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:22 AM (ET) | Permalink

'Say no to pop,' Nunavut residents told
April 25, 2005

Health officials in Nunavut are calling on residents to "Drop the Pop" this week in an effort to raise awareness about tooth decay, obesity and diabetes in the northern territory... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:40 AM (ET) | Permalink

Wine’s health benefits exaggerated: study
April 21, 2005

You might want to think twice before you toast to your good health over dinner tonight. New research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the healthier hearts of moderate wine drinkers are probably related to factors other than their wine consumption... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 1:10 PM (ET) | Permalink

EU stalks genetically modified corn
April 21, 2005

Here's an interesting (if not downright spooky) article from Spiegel Online about the EU’s efforts to ban genetically modified corn feed... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:53 AM (ET) | Permalink

Bread is dangerous
April 19, 2005

Just for fun... check this out: Bread is dangerous... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 12:23 PM (ET) | Permalink

Food fight over U.S. Food Guide Pyramid changes
April 12, 2005

The U.S. government has hired a food marketing and public relations company to redesign that country’s food guide pyramid... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:09 AM (ET) | Permalink

Peanut allergy sufferers beware of lupin flour: doctors
April 11, 2005

Doctors say kids and adults who are allergic to peanuts should stay clear of products that contain lupin flour, CBC Health and Science News reports... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:54 AM (ET) | Permalink

Diet scams: How to avoid them
March 24, 2005

Some of us may overindulge in chocolate this weekend (which, as reported earlier, is fine so long as it’s dark). The stuff has addictive properties, after all, so I’m inclined not to feel too guilty about scarfing back those scrumptious Easter eggs (my sister’s brought some back from England for me – yum!)... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:14 AM (ET) | Permalink

Enjoy Easter chocolate, as long as it's dark: experts
March 24, 2005

Chocolate is one of the guilty pleasures many Christians give up for Lent each year, but a gathering of experts at McGill University concluded Wednesday that it can actually be good for you... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:40 AM (ET) | Permalink

Keep the lid on yellow margarine: Supreme Court
March 18, 2005

Quebecers will continue to eat white margarine after the Supreme Court rejected Unilever's argument it should be allowed to sell yellow margarine in the province, CBC News Online reports... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 2:46 PM (ET) | Permalink

Coming soon to a beer near you: caffeine
March 14, 2005

Canada's two biggest brewers, Molson and Labatt, think they've found a way to bring a much-needed jolt to their market shares and bottom lines. Both have announced plans to market beers infused with caffeine, CBC Business News reports... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 3:31 PM (ET) | Permalink

If you need another reason not to eat fast food…
March 14, 2005

... Here are a few (improper food temperatures, hygienic practice, improper hand washing, not disinfecting, food equipment or utensils…) from Dateline’s investigation into the fast food industry and what restaurants are doing the best and the worst job of keeping things safe and clean... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 11:39 AM (ET) | Permalink

Candy bars unwrapped: Thesis unpacks history of candy bar design
March 14, 2005

Here’s an interesting thesis from Syracuse University on the history of candy bar wrappers... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:55 AM (ET) | Permalink

Chew test dummy determines how the cookie crumbles
March 9, 2005

Researchers in Britain have created a biscuit-eating dummy to test the amount of crumbs crackers and cookies produce, the BBC reports... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:40 AM (ET) | Permalink

Dairy debate gets heated
March 8, 2005

Milk doesn’t always do the body good. That’s the bottom line from a report published in the journal Pediatrics, which says boosting consumption of milk or other dairy products is not necessarily the best way to provide enough calcium to the body... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 12:45 PM (ET) | Permalink

Teacher loses weight on 'Super Size Me' diet
March 2, 2005

After a month of eating only McDonald's food, a teacher in Edmonton has lost weight, lowered his blood pressure and won a bet with his biology students, but nutritionists say he's risking his health... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:04 AM (ET) | Permalink

Sustainable seafood on the menu
March 1, 2005

CBC Health and Science News reports that a new program at the Vancouver Aquarium is helping B.C. restaurants make ethical and environmentally sustainable decisions about what to serve their customers... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 4:27 PM (ET) | Permalink

MDs sue U.S. over salt levels in food
February 25, 2005

CBC Health and Science News reports that a prominent group of doctors and scientists is suing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for not regulating salt, saying 150,000 people in North America die prematurely every year from eating too much sodium... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:25 AM (ET) | Permalink

School nutrition programs lead to trimmer students: study
February 23, 2005

Elementary school nutrition programs can help to prevent child obesity and more schools should participate in them, according to the authors of a new study in Nova Scotia... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:44 AM (ET) | Permalink

Aboriginals resume traditional diet to curb diabetes epidemic
February 14, 2005

Rates of obesity and diabetes in some aboriginal communities are up to 50 per cent higher than the Canadian average, but reverting to a more traditional diet may help address the problem CBC Health and Science News reports... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:40 AM (ET) | Permalink

Researcher develops measure of food's effects for nutritional labels
February 8, 2005

CBC Health and Science News reports that a researcher in New Zealand has come up with a new measure for food labels that will explain what a food does and how well it does it, as well as what it is... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 12:07 PM (ET) | Permalink

Juice doubles risk of weight trouble in kids: study
February 8, 2005

The Associated Press reports on a new study that says sweet drinks – from sugar-spiked beverages like Kool-Aid to naturally sweetened juices – increases the chance of childhood obesity... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:36 AM (ET) | Permalink

Arkansas lawmaker wants to gut state’s ‘fat grade’ program
February 4, 2005

Earlier this season, Marketplace aired a story about a controversial program in Arkansas that ordered every school in the state to measure and record the height and weight of students to determine their body mass index (BMI)... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 9:54 AM (ET) | Permalink

'Queer Beer' targets gay drinkers
February 1, 2005

Three Swiss businessmen have launched a new drink for gay people called Queer Beer, Ananova reports... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:49 AM (ET) | Permalink

American vending machine group launches anti-obesity effort
January 14, 2005

The vending machine industry in the United States, taking heavy criticism as kids and other Americans get fatter, is launching an anti-obesity marketing campaign to improve its image and fend off efforts to remove machines from schools... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:42 AM (ET) | Permalink

Killer carbs? Cancer fighter in the tea leaves?
January 13, 2005

The debate over acrylamide continues. While no one knows if the levels found in snacks like French fries are safe, the white, odourless chemical has been said to cause cancer and reproductive problems in laboratory rats fed high doses... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:24 AM (ET) | Permalink

Kraft to cut back on junk food ads aimed at kids
January 12, 2005

Kraft Foods says it will remove some of its snack foods from advertising in media seen by children aged 6-11 as part of the fight against rising obesity levels... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:51 AM (ET) | Permalink

Junk food ad ban proposed
January 7, 2005

An American consumer group is calling for a ban on junk food ads on kids’ television shows. The Center for Science in the Public Interest is known for criticizing food advertising, especially as it pertains to children. This week the group sent its food marketing guidelines [PDF] to TV networks, movie studios and food marketers, urging them to adopt the guidelines immediately... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 12:14 PM (ET) | Permalink

Fast food supersizes
January 4, 2005

Happy New Year! Back at my desk with plenty of things to catch up on... MORE »

posted by Tessa | 10:14 AM (ET) | Permalink

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