World
Food Programme appeals for $16 million for victims of civil unrest
The
UN World Food Programme (WFP) has launched an appeal for $16 million
to fund a new emergency operation to assist more than 500,000 people
in various parts of Cote d’Ivoire, particularly in the west, for the
next eight months.
Hundreds
of thousands of people are already confronting food shortages caused
by the civil unrest over the last few months in the Ivorian city of
Abidjan. Their difficulties are going to be compounded by the onset
of the lean season.
WFP
said it was targeting Liberian refugees, internally displaced persons
and families hosting them. But also at risk were the unemployed, marginal
wage earners and their dependants. It was also targeting 300,000 pupils
out of the total number of 500,000 people through the school feeding
programmes.
McDonald's
pays $10 million in damages to 24 groups
The
controversy that rocked McDonald’s in 1990s has been resolved. A US
court has named 24 groups that will divide the $10–million settlement
by McDonald’s towards customers who unwittingly ate fries cooked in
beef-flavoured oil during the 1990s, when the fast food chain had said
it used only pure vegetable oil.
The
maximum compensation of $1.4 million, or 14 percent of the award, is
for Vegetarian Resource Group, followed by $1 million, or 10 percent,
for North American Vegetarian Society.
The
groups include Muslim Consumer Group for Food Products ($100,000), International
American Gita Society ($50,000), Hindu Heritage Endowment ($250,000),
Council of Hindu Temples of North America ($200,000), Guru Harkrishan
Institute of Sikh Studies ($50,000), Hindu Students Council ($500,000),
Jewish Community Centres Association ($200,000) and Tufts University
($850,000).
New
York Board cuts origin discount on Indian coffee
Coffee
exports are likely to get a boost following the New York Board of Trade’s
(Nybot) decision to reduce the origin discount for Indian coffee from
three cents a pound-weight to one cent. This follows a joint representation
made by the Coffee Board and the Coffee Exporters’ Association (CEA)
to Nybot, the world’s leading exchange for futures trading in Arabica
coffees. The Nybot decision would come into effect from March 2005.
The
CEA President, Mr Ramesh Rajah said, “We are delighted by this decision
since the day’s close on Nybot is the benchmark for Arabica transactions
the world over. A reduced discount will not only translate into better
prices for Indian Arabicas but will also enhance their profile in the
world market. Some 80 per cent of India’s coffee is being exported and
two-fifths of the country’s crop is Arabica.”
Iraqis
receive food rations ahead of UN envoy’s visit
The
Iraqis started receiving their first food rations since the war, as
the newly-appointed UN special envoy for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello,
was due to arrive.
But
the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) said just 1000 people in six districts
in the Iraqi capital received the food package, adding it would take
two weeks to deliver all the food.
The
WFP, which ran the ration programme under Saddam Hussein’s regime, is
charged with buying and shipping the food to the Iraqi Trade Ministry,
using money from Iraq’s pre-war revenues. The food programme, now supervised
by the US-led occupation administration, was launched after international
sanctions were slapped on Baghdad for its 1990 invasion of Kuwait, and
provides a monthly package of basic goods including flour, rice, tea
and sugar.
US
urges members to liberalise GMO food
The
US has urged Asia Pacific Economic Corporation Forum (Apec) members,
particularly Japan, to adopt more flexibility about GMO products. This
is the first time when GMO issues have been raised at the Asia Pacific
Economic Cooperation forum.
The
use of GMO products is controversial worldwide, with many consumer groups
arguing an outright ban against bioengineered food and seed products
due to safety concerns. But GMO producers say safety fears are overblown,
with little scientific evidence available about their dangers.
Supporters
say GMO products also offer huge potential for developing countries
to increase crop yields and reduce pesticide use. Both the EU and Japan
have imposed heavy restrictions on GMO products.
The
US has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organisation against the
EU for its import restrictions on GM goods as a violation of trade agreements.
Coca-Cola
to launch flavoured milk products in US
In
a bid to boost a share of the growing nutritional beverage market, Coca-Cola
is planning to introduce a new dairy drink in the US. The new drink,
which will be called Swerve, will come in chocolate, vanilla-banana
and blueberry flavours and contain more than 50 per cent dairy products,
allowing it to carry the “Real” seal of the American Dairy Association.
The
first 12-ounce cans will appear in stores in July or August, shortly
before US children return to school. Unlike many milk products, they
will not require refrigeration before opening.
EU
lawmakers vote for labelling of GM food
European
lawmakers have voted to toughen draft legislation on labelling genetically
modified food. This has increased the fears in the biotechnology industry
as it may further delay opening the European Union market to hi-tech
crops. The new rules would be in place by the end of 2003.
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