Laura Speranza August 26, 2012 The Sunday Telegraph TAKE a closer look at your bottle of “pure” water: it’s probably sourced from the tap. Millions of unsuspecting customers are buying filtered tap water and boiled rainwater at massive mark-ups of more than 180,000 per cent. Several manufacturers admit they fill their bottles from the Sydney Water mains after applying filtration and purification procedures – but they insist customers know their water is not sourced from a mineral spring, and are happy to pay for the convenience of having it in a plastic bottle. The major brands that describe themselves as “spring” or “mineral” water are genuine natural spring water, including Mount Franklin, Fiji Water, Pump and the Coles and Woolworths homebrands. But supermarket and convenience stores stock brands that describe themselves as “purified” or “organic” and are in fact the same water available in every home for less than one…

CSD Staff Aug 24, 2012 FDA “failed to present any data” showing that the proposed graphic warnings “will accomplish the agency’s stated objective of reducing smoking rates,” says U.S. Circuit Judge. Tobacco companies won a challenge to U.S. rules requiring that cigarette packaging and advertisements display graphic images, Businessweek reported. Commonwealth Brands Inc., Liggett Group LLC and Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. sued the FDA last year, saying the mandate for graphic cigarette packages, cartons and advertising violated the First Amendment. In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington today ruled that Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations mandating visual-image warnings of smoking’s health risks violate the tobacco companies’ free speech rights. FDA “failed to present any data” showing that the proposed graphic warnings “will accomplish the agency’s stated objective of reducing smoking rates,” U.S. Circuit Judge Janice Rogers Brown wrote in her majority opinion.“The First Amendment…

Don Longo Aug 23, 2012 CSNews JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Nearly two-thirds of convenience store operators expect to see their foodservice sales increase this year compared to 2011, according to the results of Convenience Store News’ exclusive 2012 Foodservice Study. Conversely, only about 5 percent expect their foodservice sales to decline in 2012, and about 32 percent forecast that their foodservice sales will at least remain the same. In terms of profitability, a similar percentage (62 percent) expect to pocket increased profits from their foodservice operations this year, and another 30 percent expect to match their 2011 profits in the foodservice category. CSNews’ annual Foodservice Study was conducted in May and builds on the data collected for the 2012 CSNews Industry Report by collecting more in-depth foodservice category information and asking retailers to review how their current year’s sales are tracking, as well as their 2011 performance. As reported in…

Jane Harper Herald Sun August 24, 2012 RETAIL giant Woolworths says charges around the sale of the Dick Smith electronics business have dragged net profit for the year down 14.5 per cent. The company today reported profit of $1.816 billion for the year to June 24, including a $420 million restructure provision and impairment loss for the Dick Smith chain. Excluding the impact of the Dick Smith loss, net profit was $2.2 billion, up 3.6 per cent on last year. Woolworths said the sale process of the remaining 348 Dick Smith stores in Australia and New Zealand was continuing. The group’s Australian supermarkets business chalked up $2.94 billion in earnings before interest and tax, up 5.3 per cent from last year. Sales revenue rose to $55.1 billion, was up 4.8 per cent from $52.6 billion in the previous year. Sales were up across all the company’s divisions, made up of…

Health Reporter Jordanna Schriever August 23, 2012 The Advertiser PARENTS should immediately dispose of powerful magnetic balls which can cause injury or death if swallowed, Kidsafe SA has warned. The State Government yesterday imposed an interim ban on the products, which are marketed as “rare earth” magnets and sold in packs of more than 100 under various names including BuckyBalls, Neocubes and Neodymium. KidsafeSA chief executive Helen Noblet said despite not being marketed at children, the balls had been accidentally swallowed by toddlers and teenagers. “If parents have them, I would suggest, especially if they have young children, they get rid of them because they really are dangerous,” she said. Late last year, a Queensland toddler died after swallowing the magnets, which are about 5mm in diameter. Ms Noblet said she was aware of serious swallowing incidents in SA. Acting Business Services and Consumers Minister Patrick Conlon said he was…