In the News: Yogurt Woes, More Tuna Talk, Haggis Smuggling
- Dannon sued over exaggerating yogurt health claims: Dannon has been slapped with a class-action lawsuit, saying that the company falsely promotes the benefits of probiotics (the "good bacteria") in its yogurt products and tricks customers into paying more. (In related news, other food makers are jumping on the bandwagon to promote their probiotic-packed products—and not just yogurt.) [Reuters]
- Active bacteria in yogurt tied to 24 deaths: New research reveals that 24 people died between 2004 and 2007 while consuming yogurt health drinks by companies like Yakult, and researchers have tied it to the probiotics (the "good bacteria") in yogurt as the likely culprit—the very thing that gives yogurt its good reputation. The Dutch Patient and Consumer Federation have already demanded an investigation into dairy products containing live cultures. [Telegraph]
- Japan unaffected by tuna scare: Despite reports that there were high levels of mercury found in tuna, Japan, which eats 25 percent of the world's tuna, says that they have no intent to change the safety standards for tuna consumption. [Yahoo/AFP]
- FDA to assign inspectors overseas: The FDA will tighten its presence overseas by placing inspectors at various embassies and consulates to ensure quality of food and medicines headed toward the U.S. [NY Times]
- Haggis smugglers unite for Burns Night: Fans of Scotland's infamous offal product are working to smuggle it into the U.S. for Burns Night, even if it means facing a fine of $1,000 if caught. [Times Online, via Coldmud]
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5 Comments:
Hah! I was kinda waiting for that to happen with the yoghurt thing. When those commercials first started was I flabbergasted that they were even pulling that stunt, and I'm glad someone called them on their bluff with it.
EtherMaiden at 11:39PM on 01/25/08
I see that you’re writing about a lawsuit against Dannon - I work for Dannon and wanted to share our position.
All of Dannon’s claims for Activia and DanActive are completely supported by peer-reviewed science and are in accordance with all laws and regulations. Dannon’s advertising is and will continue to be absolutely truthful, and Dannon will vigorously challenge this lawsuit.
If you're interested to learn about the science behind our products, check out www.activia.com and www.danactive.com and check out a statement we released in response to this lawsuit on our website at http://www.dannon.com/about_press.aspx
Thanks,
--Michael Neuwirth
Sr. Director of Public Relations
The Dannon Company
MichaelNeuwirth at 4:11PM on 01/26/08
Michael Neuwirth - are you any relation to Bobby Neuwirth?
ColdMud at 8:30AM on 01/27/08
ColdMud: nope, no relation (that I know of).
MichaelNeuwirth at 12:57PM on 01/27/08
It seems to me that Dannon's claims make sense. I'm no scientist but isn't yoghurt full of all that "good bacteria" anyway? Cultures, etc? I will admit that "bifidus regularis" sounds like something that was invented at an ad agency. I recall a TV commercial many years ago that claimed an 80 year old man in Soviet Georgia ate Dannon yougurt every day and so did his mother!!! As I understand Dannon's commercials, Activa, etc. aids digestion. It isn't a magic cure-all for everything that ails you.
RichardCrystal at 9:41AM on 01/28/08