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New market research indicates that consumers are put off by calling foods "low-fat," "low-calorie," or "diet." Nowadays, the trendy calorie reducer prefers words like "smart" and "plus" on their packaging. This is because today's eater of packaged foods wants to know what their food can do for them rather than what their food doesn't contain. More »
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In recent years, Black Friday "doorbuster" sales have gotten nuttier and nuttier. Doors open at 5 am— no! 4 am! Flat screen TV's only 10 cents if you punch at least 3 store employees in the face! Now, some retailers are attempting to attract shoppers by starting their sales on Thanksgiving Day, a move that's being met with hostility by the super shoppers who are usually first in line on Friday morning. And they're not outraged for the reasons you'd think. More »
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Waiting sucks. New research shows that how long you had to do it in childhood makes you less patient now. But just knowing how long you have to wait may make it more bearable. More »
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The chief inspection official of China's quality watchdog says that the milk crisis which sickened 53,000 Chinese children has, hopefully, come to a close. Even so, some women are responding to the milk powder scandal by offering their services as wet nurses to families wary of using formula. Breast-feeding might also see a resurgence in China, where many women stopped breastfeeding because they felt formula was better for their babies. [Reuters & WSJ] More »
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Oh boy: New reports from a Chinese watchdog agency have extended the melamine-tainted crisis to liquid milk. The agency claims that 10% of samples from Mengniu Dairy Group Co. and Yili Industrial Group Co. (China's two largest dairy companies) contained melamine. As of this morning, 18 people have been arrested in connection with the melamine-tainted baby formula that has caused the death of four infants and sickened 6,200 children. Melamine is believed to have been added to raw milk by suppliers and dairy dealers and then sold to the larger dairy companies. Many parents in China are confused about what formula is safe for their children after three of the major brands—Sanlu, Yili Industrial Group and Mengniu Dairy Co.—have all been recalled. [MSNBC] More »
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Reports are surfacing today that China is being rocked by a tainted baby formula scare that has resulted in the death of one child in the northwestern province of Gansu and the development of kidney stones in 50 other babies across the country. The reports have, once again, sparked local and international doubts in the safety of Chinese products after investigations items ranging from plastic toys to dog food. The tainted formula — which is sold under the name of Sanlu Bei Bei Infant Powder — and the urge to reassure domestic and overseas consumers that Chinese products are safe has sparked a serious investigation by the Chinese government into all baby formula made in the country, the second-largest market for baby formula. But what exactly makes this baby formula so harmful? The answer might be familiar to you! More »
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Those gay marriage/commitment ceremony cards from Hallmark that the made the American Family Association take to the internets in protest are stirring up some more trouble in Idaho. Jordan's Hallmark stores, an independently-owned chain of card and gift shops in the Treasure Valley area has announced that they will not be carrying any of the gay-friendly cards in their stores. Drawing customers in with hate, not quality products, is a sad thing. [CBS News] More »
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Hello Kitty's success could be explained because consumers viewed her as a "blank canvas" of possibility and could mean different things to different people. One thing: she is always adorbs!• In less than a decade, STDs among Americans 45-years-old and older has doubled. Maybe 'tis time to practice what you preach about safe sex, parents? • There are no "dangerous dogs," only irresponsible and dangerous dog-owners. • China prepares 600 cheerleaders, who mix "elements from traditional Peking opera into more typical hip-hop routines" for the Olympics. So kinda like Carmen: A Hip-Hopera in Beijing? • Debrett's Etiquette Guide For Girls will be republished in a new edition this fall, with updated rules such as no grunting or screaming at the gym. More »
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