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USDA label requirements “unworkable”
More evidence that fish oil is good for you
Billions wasted on ad slogans
Trade
USDA label requirements
“unworkable”
The US National Food Processors
Association (NFPA) has told a Congressional subcommittee that the
Department of Agriculture’s present country of origin label requirements
are “unworkable” and “unnecessarily burdensome and operationally
impractical for both food processors and retailers".
The NFPA said products of
‘foreign origin’, as determined under US tariff laws, are already
subject to country of origin labelling under Customs regulations. Moreover
it would be “extremely complicated and technologically difficult” to
the new requirements. Because percentages of components vary among
bags, order of predominance by weight rules for country of origin marking
will cause frequent and costly label changes or extraordinary spending on
sophisticated marking equipment but provide little benefit to consumers.
Nutrition
More evidence that fish oil is
good for you
Recent peer-reviewed research shows
that consumption of fish or long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
(LC-PUFAs) may reduce the risk of death in heart disease patients and
improve immune function in healthy men. New reports also indicate that
fish consumption may decrease the chance of developing Alzheimer's disease
or depression in older adults.
Added to its known cardioprotective
effects, regular fish consumption may improve quality of life and health,
particularly in middle and late age, conclude the reports. But they also
benefit the unborn. Research suggests visual acuity and motor activity was
significantly better in omega-3 LC-PUFA-supplemented infants after one
year.
Marketing
Billions wasted on ad slogans
Despite billions of dollar spent
devising and promoting catchy advertising slogans, only six were
recognised by more than 10% of respondents in a recent survey of tag lines
for 22 of the USA’s biggest marketers, by US brand consultancy
Emergence.
The unpublished figures, quoted in
a USA Today story, suggest that much of the $250bn a year that
companies spend on advertising may be lost in the clutter or simply
forgettable.
Emergence boss Kelly O'Keefe says
most slogans don't work because consumers are too smart or cynical to
believe them.
Wal-Mart’s “Always low
prices” was the only tag line to jog the memory of more than half of the
respondents. Those who did poorly blamed the newness of their slogans.
This suggests that, like puppies and kittens, slogans should be for life.
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