Children

Bush's Concern for the Poor Shines Through on Cigarette Tax

by Anne Landman — July 24, 2007 - 1:48pm

The Senate Committee on Finance by a vote of 17-4 last Friday approved a hike in the federal cigarette tax to expand health insurance coverage for children from low-income families, but President Bush has vowed to veto the measure.

Main Source: 
Houston Chronicle/AP, July 17, 2007

McDonald's Wants in the "Mom-to-Mom Dialogue"

by Diane Farsetta — June 14, 2007 - 2:36pm

PR Week has more on McDonald's "moms' quality correspondence" PR campaign. The fast food giant met with the six mothers in early June, "at the company's global headquarters in Oak Brook, IL. Future interactions will include a visit to a beef supplier in August and a 'farm field' and produce supplier in September. ...

Main Source: 
PR Week, June 13, 2007

PR Firm Sought To Spin Nuclear Waste Concerns

by Diane Farsetta — June 11, 2007 - 4:51pm

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DoE's) "division in charge of disposal and storage of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste, notably the controversial Yucca Mountain project, is on the hunt for a PR firm to develop its communications and public outreach," reports O'Dwyer's.

Main Source: 
O'Dwyer's PR Daily (sub req'd), June 7, 2007

McDonald's Clowns Around With Moms and Words

by Diane Farsetta — June 11, 2007 - 3:56pm

In an attempt to deflect criticism that its fast food makes children fat, McDonald's is recruiting mothers as "quality correspondents" to observe and report on its operations.

Main Source: 
Advertising Age, June 8, 2007

Nigeria Strikes Back at British American Tobacco

by Anne Landman — May 30, 2007 - 10:54am
  • Topics: Internet, Children, Corporations, Ethics, Health, International, Marketing, Race / Ethnic Issues, Tobacco

    • If you think the U.S. tobacco industry is bad, you'll find the behavior of many of the same companies overseas to be truly shocking.

    Happily, the industry is beginning to be held accountable for its operations in the Global South. Nigeria's two largest states are following the lead of U.S. states, in suing British American Tobacco (BAT) of Nigeria, its U.K. parent company and Philip Morris International for the health care costs of treating sick smokers, The Times of London reported this week.

    The new lawsuits demonstrate the importance of the online public databases of previously secret tobacco industry documents. The 1998 U.S. Master Settlement Agreement required major tobacco companies to reveal millions of pages documenting unethical -- and even illegal -- marketing, public relations and lobbying campaigns. A lesser-known treasure trove is the British American Tobacco Documents Archive, which has made some seven million pages of BAT documents freely available. These documents are of particular importance to countries like Nigeria.

    NIH Cancels Contract with Conflicted Consultants

    by Diane Farsetta — April 16, 2007 - 10:51am

    Sciences International -- the firm that evaluated the safety of certain chemicals for the U.S. Center for the Evaluation of Risks to Human Reproduction, "helping the government determine whether they pose dangers to reproduction and newborn babies" -- has been fired by the federal government.

    Main Source: 
    Washington Post, April 14, 2007

    Don't Worry Your Pretty Heads, Says Cosmetics Industry

    by Diane Farsetta — March 29, 2007 - 10:47am

    In response to growing concerns about the safety of some cosmetics, the industry group Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association (CTFA) "has embarked on what it calls an 'education process' designed to reassure consumers." As the Center for Media and Democracy reported

    Main Source: 
    Women's eNews, March 23, 2007
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