Content about Medicine

LOS ANGELES — Consumers Union, the policy and advocacy arm of Consumer Reports, is taking aim at Trader Joe’s in a full page ad it took out in the Los Angeles Times.

The union is calling out Trader Joe's for selling meat and poultry from animals raised on antibiotics. The ad highlights how the overuse of antibiotics by the meat and poultry industries on healthy animals is promoting the spread of drug resistant superbugs that threaten public health. 

PHILADELPHIA — Five Below, a leading retailer of extreme-value merchandise for teens and pre-teens, is once again teaming up with Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation to raise money to help children with cancer. 
 

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) on Wednesday launched an interactive web-based tool for consumers that supports the Facts Up Front nutrition labeling initiative launched by GMA and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) in 2011.

With Facts Up Front, characterized by the trade group as the most significant reform of food and beverage labels in over 20 years, important information from the Nutrition Facts Panel on the back of food and beverage products are displayed in a simple and easy-to-use format on the front of products.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — The Safeway Foundation has launched its annual April fundraising campaign to benefit Easter Seals, Special Olympics and a range of organizations that help people with disabilities live fuller, more independent lives.

The company's Support for People with Disabilities campaign, along with other fundraising activities, have contributed more than $140 million to Easter Seals, Special Olympics and an array of organizations that assist people with special needs.  

PANAMA CITY — U.S.-based Vitamin Shoppe has opened its first international franchised Vitamin Shoppe store in Panama City, via franchisee, Reprico. The retailer operates more than 600 retail locations across the United States.

"Our grandparents were pioneers in Pharmacy in Panama," said Marta Ferrer, director retail Stores for Reprico. "We are excited to open a store that can help people feel better and live healthier with the best quality products."

CHICAGO — Morton Salt on Thursday introduced a new line of Natural Epsom salt products, marking its first foray into the health and beauty category.

"The Epsom salt category has seen sustained growth over the past few years, presenting an opportunity for Morton Salt to begin leveraging its ubiquitous brand equity with the health and beauty shopper," stated Carol Panozzo, VP consumer products sales and marketing at Morton Salt.

The head of the Grocery Manufacturers Association took exception this week to a new book which portrays consumers as hapless victims preyed upon by food industry giants that peddle addictive products.

In “Salt Sugar Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us,” author Michael Moss paints an unflattering picture of food companies who pursue a win at all costs strategy by artfully manipulates salt, sugar and fat to addict and fatten consumer with disastrous results.

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — LG Electronics USA has launched what it claims is the industry's first top-load washer with steam technology certified "asthma and allergy friendly" by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). 

In addition, the new high-efficiency top-load washer is designed to deliver superior high-efficiency performance, offering uniquely gentle but deep cleaning capabilities, with the added benefit of odor reduction, the company said. 

NEW YORK — A breast cancer survivor and her daughter have used the Internet to draw attention to an important issue and potentially create a new category of lingerie.

Debbie Barrett ad Allana Maiden hand-delivered more than 118,000 Change.org petition signatures to Victoria's Secret's New York office on Thursday, asking the lingerie giant to make a line of "survivor" mastectomy bras to help breast cancer survivors feel beautiful again.

ISELIN, N.J. — The American Diabetes Association has made Domino Foods, maker of Domino Light and C&H Light All Natural Sugar and Stevia blends, its national strategic partner.

NORTH BERGEN, N.J. — The Vitamin Shoppe will buy a Pacific Northwest-based supplement chain, the New Jersey-based company said.

The Vitamin Shoppe said it would buy Super Supplements for $50 million. Super Supplements operates 31 stores in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, and the Vitamin Shoppe said the acquisition would expand its presence in the Northwest, where it already operates 17 stores. The transaction is expected to close on Dec. 31.