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New study: Warning labels on junk food more effective than 'fat' tax

Warning labels on junk food would be more effective than a "fat" tax for deterring overweight people from making unhealthy purchases, a new University of Alberta study has found.

8 Apr 2011

OECD nations gave more foreign aid in 2010 than ever before, but failed to meet G8 commitments, report says

Developed countries "gave more aid to poorer countries than ever before in 2010, despite facing big budget gaps and rising debt levels," according to data released on Wednesday by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Dow Jones Newswires/Wall Street Journal reports.

7 Apr 2011

U.N. officials to testify on Capitol Hill as lawmakers propose cutting U.S. funding for U.N.

High-level U.N. officials are scheduled to testify this week on Capitol Hill, "where they will argue against initiatives to pare back U.S. funding and shake up the way the United Nations does business," CQ reports.

7 Apr 2011

Study finds high PCB levels in western coast of Africa

"We were not expecting to find such high levels of PCBs, highly toxic compounds that are considered as priority compounds by European legislation, in a region such as the western coast of Africa", Ailette Prieto, a researcher at the University of the Basque Country and co-author of a study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, tells SINC.

7 Apr 2011

Cigarette packaging in olive green to deter smokers

In a bid to reduce smoking rates in Australia, all cigarette packs will be packaged olive green. Under the new laws to be proposed in federal parliament, all logos will be removed from cigarette packs and brand names displayed in a specific font.

6 Apr 2011

Scouts soon to receive sex education

The Scout Association is planning to commence on the first ever national initiative of its kind to its 14 to 18-year-old members. Scouts will benefit from new sex education initiative.

5 Apr 2011

Fraud epidemic robs taxpayers of $600 million: Report

Figures reveal that welfare cheats, tax rorters and crooked public servants – in short people who thrive on fraud, are robbing more than $600 million a year as part of a fraud epidemic across Australia.

5 Apr 2011

Study reveals complex influences of different family relationships on child's happiness

Young people's satisfaction with their family situation is clearly related to the quality of relationships with parents and especially their mother's happiness. The research findings come from the first findings from Understanding Society, the world's largest household panel study managed by the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex.

4 Apr 2011

LA Fitness announces opening of its new Patchogue facility

LA Fitness® is pleased to announce the opening of its newest sports club, a 40,000 square foot facility in Patchogue located at 5 Gateway Blvd. The club is located in the Gateway Plaza at Sunrise Hwy and Waverly Ave. A grand opening party is scheduled for Saturday, April 9, 2011.

2 Apr 2011

FAO report highlights concern over 'slow-onset' climate change effects on food security

"Slow-onset" climate changes could have a bigger impact in developing countries in the future, including "potentially catastrophic" effects on food production, the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said on Thursday in a report for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, The Hindu reports (Parsai, 4/1).

2 Apr 2011

Sodexo hosts global program to combat hunger and malnutrition

Under Michel Landel's initiative, Chief Executive Officer of Sodexo, the 380,000 Sodexo employees across the globe are invited to join forces this month for the annual Sodexo "Servathon".

1 Apr 2011

USAID internal memo details personnel, organizational changes for feed the future

The Obama administration's Feed the Future program and "the bureau that runs it will be reorganized," according to an internal USAID memo from March 15, Agweek reports.

1 Apr 2011

Water balls may be dangerous warns Consumer Product Safety Commission

Walking on water using water balls poses risks of suffocation and drowning, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Thursday. Water walking balls are large clear plastic balls filled with air via a blower through a zipper opening. The zipper is then closed and the ball becomes air-tight, allowing the person in the ball to move across water, ice or grass.

31 Mar 2011

Northern Territory will soon see tough alcohol regulations

Residents of Australia’s Northern Territory have been plagued by alcohol related crimes and have urged the government to come to their aid. Drink-related social problems in the ‘Red Centre’ have even led federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott to call for a second federal intervention in towns such as Alice Springs, Tennant Creek and Katherine.

31 Mar 2011

U.N., aid groups highlight food aid need in North Korea

World Food Program delegates "on Wednesday stressed the need for major food aid for North Korea, while a cautious South Korea called for transparent distribution of any assistance," Agence France-Presse reports.

31 Mar 2011

New Image to build dairy plant in New Zealand

Health and wellness products manufacturer New Image Group is to help meet global demand for more nutritional milk products with the building of a multi-million dollar, spray drying plant in New Zealand.

31 Mar 2011

Study finds global adolescent death rates exceed rates for child, infant deaths

A study published on Tuesday in the Lancet found that in a reversal of historical trends, "death rates among adolescents are now higher than in children," Reuters reports.

30 Mar 2011

New study on hunger identifies 50 million food-insecure Americans

A new study on hunger entitled "Map the Meal Gap" is the first study to identify the county-level distribution of over 50 million food-insecure Americans.

29 Mar 2011

Economist articles examine agriculture, nutrition issues

In an article examining the relationship between health and agriculture, the Economist writes that while agricultural growth is "no magic solution" to helping people gain access to nutritious foods, "farming ought to be especially good for nutrition."

29 Mar 2011

Anti-hunger leaders fast to protest proposed spending cuts as FY11 budget debate resolution appears elusive

Leaders from "five anti-hunger organizations on Monday will lead open-ended fasts to protest proposed cuts to domestic and international food programs contained in the House-passed six-month spending bill," The Hill's "On The Money" blog reports.

29 Mar 2011