Government proposes controls on foods marketed to kids
FoodNavigator-USA.com
A federal working group has drawn up proposals for voluntary nutritional standards for foods and beverages marketed to children and young people under the age of 18. The Federal Trade Commission forum, 'Sizing up Food Marketing and Childhood Obesity,' took place in Washington, at a time when food manufacturers have been facing increasing pressure over the kinds of foods they advertise during children's television programming.More

NPA adds research scientist to staff
Natural Products Association
Cara Welch, Ph.D. has joined the staff of the Natural Products Association (NPA), the oldest and largest trade association representing retailers and manufacturers of dietary supplements and other natural products. Welch serves as the program coordinator for the Scientific and Regulatory Affairs (SRA) department at the NPA.  More

Rose Sheet: NPA seal on nearly 300 natural products; new CEO Gay is ready for 2010
Natural Products Association
The Natural Products Association has certified nearly 300 personal-care products since the introduction of its standard in May 2008, and the organization expects more manufacturers to pursue its seal as the economy picks up in 2010. The group's standard and certification program "has been received very well," NPA Vice President of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs Daniel Fabricant told "The Rose Sheet" Dec. 9.More

NPA member benefit—Save on holiday shipping with FedEx
Natural Products Association
FedEx and the Natural Products Association would like to help association members with their holiday shipping needs. As a member of Natural Products Association, you can receive discounts on select FedEx services. It's the FedEx Advantage — another great advantage for members of Natural Products Association. Visit the FedEx Web site for holiday shipping information and helpful shipping tips.More

Fast-food standards for meat top those for school lunches
USA Today
In the past three years, the government has provided the nation's schools with millions of pounds of beef and chicken that wouldn't meet the quality or safety standards of many fast-food restaurants, from Jack in the Box and other burger places to chicken chains such as KFC, a USA TODAY investigation found. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the meat it buys for the National School Lunch Program "meets or exceeds standards in commercial products."More

SBA chief urges tax breaks for small business hiring
Dow Jones via NASDAQ Stock Market
The Obama administration is working with Congress on a package of incentives aimed at increasing small business lending, investments and hiring, the head of the Small Business Administration said. In the text of a midday speech at the National Press Club, SBA Administrator Karen Mills said the administration wants to eliminate capital gains taxes for people who invest in small businesses in 2010 and give a short-term tax cut to small business owners who hire more employees.More

Bisphenol A becomes test of leadership for FDA
FoodNavigator-USA.com
Each day the US Food and Drug Administration dithers in delivering its verdict on the safety of bisphenol A, its authority is diminished and its credibility wanes. The hold-up is eroding its ability to lead by failing to give industry and consumers what they are crying out for – a timely, impartial and science-based guide to what is safe and what is not. More

50 ways to foster a culture of innovation
Idea Champions
As your organization gears up for 2010, here are 50 ways to ensure that it's culture is conducive to innovation. Commit to a few of these today and begin to work your magic. For instance, remember that innovation requires no fixed rules or templates — only guiding principles. Creating a more innovative culture is an organic and creative act.More

Women at work—Correct company message is first step to success
Post-Bulletin Company
Trying to figure out what makes your business unique isn't easy. What's one of your first steps? Check out your competition. Find out as much as you can in regard to what they are doing for advertising and marketing. Look at their Web site and pricing strategy if available.More

Study reveals no growth in organic beauty products market
CosmeticsDesign.com
Despite increased media coverage and new product launches, organic food and beauty products have still not gained mainstream acceptance amongst U.S. consumers, according to market research firm Tabs Group. The organic product study, conducted amongst 1,000 respondents aged 18-75, found that there has been virtually no growth in the consumer base since 2008.More

Licorice flavonoid oil may aid in weight loss
the American Botanical Council
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) flavonoid oil contains hydrophobic flavonoids. Animal studies by the authors of this paper have shown that LFO reduces abdominal fat accumulation and body weight gain in obese diabetic mice. A prior clinical trial by the same researchers found that LFO safely suppressed weight gain in overweight subjects. In this clinical trial, they examine the effect of LFO on total body fat and visceral fat in overweight subjects and assess the safety and optimal effective dose.More

New study links DHA type of omega-3 to better nervous-system function
American Psychological Association
The omega-3 essential fatty acids commonly found in fatty fish and algae help animals avoid sensory overload, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. The finding connects low omega-3s to the information-processing problems found in people with schizophrenia; bipolar, obsessive-compulsive, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders; Huntington's disease; and other afflictions of the nervous system.More

Despite Denmark's chill, commercial opportunities are hotting up
Greener Computing
It is a cold wait for new arrivals at COP15 as week two begins. It has begun much as week one ended, with the need for greater urgency in reaching a compromise so that the world, business included, can get on with building the underlying infrastructure and making the right investments. It will be business innovation which will deliver the solutions to climate change and which hold the key to a successful low carbon economy.More

Gifts outside the box
The Daily Green
The Daily Green offers a list of alternative gifts, for those that don't want to give "stuff." More

Are holiday and weekend eating patterns affecting obesity rates?
University of Pittsburgh
The holidays can be challenging for even the most diligent dieters. But are weekends just as detrimental? Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh and Quinnipiac University in Hamden, Conn., found that weekend eating patterns change significantly. More

Six risky chemicals you're carrying in your body
The Daily Green
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released its latest assessment of the chemicals we're all carrying around in our bodies. The biomonitoring study is the most comprehensive in the world, measuring 212 chemicals in the blood and urine of 8,000 Americans. That's more than 40 percent more chemicals than have ever been tested for before. The results: You can find 212 chemicals in the blood and urine of Americans if you look for them. More