National Consumers League statement on FDA determination to eliminate unapproved trans fat – National Consumers League

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November 21, 2013

Contact: NCL Communications, Ben Klein, (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, D.C. – Today, the National Consumers League submitted comments to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on its recent decision to no longer qualify partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) as safe additives in food.  FDA plans on continuing its efforts to reduce Americans artificial trans fat intake by requiring that all PHO additives be approved. In its comments, NCL, the nation’s pioneering consumer organization, commended FDA on its efforts and encouraged additional labeling be added for approved trans fats.  Current regulations state that trans fats under 0.5 grams per serving don’t need to be included on the nutrition label.

“Overall, we are pleased with FDAs determination to remove this harmful additive from the marketplace and look forward to seeing the determination in action,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL’s Executive Director. “But the FDA should take another step to require better labeling for products that will continue to contain trans fats. A half gram of trans fat is still a significant amount to a health-conscious consumer, and It’s imperative that consumers are aware of what’s in their food.”

To read the full letter, click here (PDF).

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Consumer/worker group praises NLRB action regarding claims about Walmart retaliation towards workers – National Consumers League

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November 20, 2013

Contact: NCL Communications, Ben Klein, (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC—The nation’s pioneering consumer and worker advocacy group today is applauding the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for authorizing the filing of complaints against Walmart for violating workers’ rights. The set of charges includes unlawfully threatening employees with retaliation for engaging in strikes and protests on last year’s Black Friday and unlawfully threatening, disciplining, and/or terminating employees for having engaged in legally-protected strikes and protests.

“It is high time that Walmart be held accountable for its unlawful actions and violations against associates,” said NCL Executive Director Sally Greenberg. “This set of complaints focuses on the threat of – and actual – retaliation used to keep workers in line and as a weapon against workers who are trying to stand up for their rights.”

Under the federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which the NLRB enforces, employees (whether or not they are unionized) are protected from retaliation for engaging in certain activities including protesting and organizing for better wages or working conditions. The NLRB Office of General Counsel found merit to alleged violations of the NLRA against Walmart for the following:

  • During two national television news broadcasts and in statements to employees at Walmart stores in California and Texas, Walmart unlawfully threatened employees with reprisal if they engaged in strikes and protests on November 22, 2012.
  • Walmart stores in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Washington unlawfully threatened, disciplined, and/or terminated employees for having engaged in legally protected strikes and protests.
  • Walmart stores in California, Florida, Missouri and Texas unlawfully threatened, surveilled, disciplined, and/or terminated employees in anticipation of or in response to employees’ other protected concerted activities.

“In order to silence its employees, Walmart has used the threat of discipline and termination. They even used their spokesman in two national television news broadcasts to threaten workers who were planning on striking and protesting,” said Michell K. McIntyre, NCL’s Outreach Director on Labor & Worker Rights. “Walmart doesn’t make empty threats – at least 43 workers were disciplined and as least 23 were fired.”

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

National Consumers League statement on introduction of Cruise Vessel Consumer Confidence Act – National Consumers League

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November 15, 2013

Contact: NCL Communications, Ben Klein (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League, America’s pioneering consumer and worker advocacy organization, today applauded Congressman John Garamendi for introducing H.R. 3475, the Cruise Vessel Consumer Confidence Act. The bill would empower the Federal Maritime Commission to protect travelers purchasing cruise vacations from deceptive practices and anticompetitive practices by cruise line operators.

The following statement is attributable to John Breyault, National Consumers League Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud:

“Consumers often save for months or years to pay for a cruise vacation.  Cruises can create lasting memories that help consumers take a break from the daily grind and enjoy a break on the high seas. Unfortunately, consumers are all too familiar with horror stories stemming from cruise ship breakdowns, including poor sanitation, lack of food and water and poor after-incident responses from the cruise lines. Consumers deserve to know the track record of a particular ship while they are shopping for tickets.   This bill is long overdue and will do much to restore consumer confidence in the cruise industry by putting a dedicated advocate – the Federal Maritime Commission – in their corner.”

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

National Consumers League statement on wireless device unlocking – National Consumers League

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November 15, 2013

Contact: NCL Communications, Ben Klein (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC–The National Consumers League today applauded FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler for calling on the wireless industry to swiftly enact pro-consumer policies regarding mobile device unlocking.

The following statement is attributable to John Breyault, National Consumers League Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications and Fraud:

“Consumers will benefit from policies that make it easier to unlock the mobile devices that they own. Chairman Wheeler’s letter makes it clear that the FCC is focused on ensuring that consumers have the freedom to easily take their own devices with them when they switch wireless carriers. This change is low-hanging fruit that will promote competition in the wireless industry and benefit millions of users.”

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Consumer groups call on Congress to defend country of origin labeling law in Farm Bill from efforts to weaken it – National Consumers League

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November 13, 2013

Contact: NCL Communications, Ben Klein, (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, D.C.- Today, the National Consumers League (NCL), along with the Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, Food & Water Watch and Public Citizen, are calling on the Representatives and Senators responsible for finalizing the Farm Bill to dissuade them from changing the current U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law.  The current COOL law, put in place by the 2008 Farm Bill, covers a variety of foods ranging from meat and poultry to fish, vegetables, and many nuts.  Advocates argue that country-of-origin labeling is popular among consumers who are interested in knowing from where their foods are coming.

“Country-of-origin Labeling empowers consumers through education and supports American cattlemen and businesses owners,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of NCL.  “Repealing or weakening this broadly supported law would be damaging to consumer’s purchasing rights. We, along with our fellow consumer groups, hope members of Congress keep in mind the broad support of this protective law when deliberating the Farm Bill.”

To read the full letter, click here (PDF).

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Statement on the passing of filmmaker, photographer, child labor advocate U. Roberto Romano – National Consumers League

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November 12, 2013

Contact: NCL Communications, Ben Klein, (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC–The National Consumers League (NCL) is deeply saddened to learn of the death of U. Roberto Romano—Robin—to his many friends. Robin passed away on November 1st, after a brief illness and a longer battle against Lyme disease. Robin was a distinguished filmmaker and photographer who captured images of child labor that were used by advocacy groups around the world, including the Child Labor Coalition (CLC), which is co-chaired by NCL.

Robin’s films child labor films include “Stolen Childhoods” (co-directed by fellow CLC member Len Morris), a film that highlighted the worst forms of child labor around the world, “The Darker Side of Chocolate” and “Shady Chocolate” (both co-directed by Miki Mistrati), which unmasked child slavery and child trafficking in West Africa’s cocoa farms, and “The Harvest/La Cosecha,” a deeply emotional film revealing the plight of child farmworkers in the United States. His impressive body of film work, coupled with the thousands of child labor photographs he took, provided the child labor advocacy community with great tools to raise awareness about child labor within the U.S. and abroad.

“Robin Romano cannot be replaced. His contributions to child labor advocacy have made a profound difference in the Child Labor Coalition’s work; he also worked collaboratively with several CLC members—groups like GoodWeave, the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs, and the International Labor Rights Forum—fighting to protect children from the worst forms of child labor around the world,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of NCL and CLC co-chair.

“I had the pleasure of helping Robin on a film shoot and have worked with him for over a decade,” said CLC Coordinator Reid Maki. “He was indefatigable—a whirlwind of activity, shooting video and stills with several cameras around his neck, determined to capture perfect images. Robin was also an active and passionate participant in our CLC strategy sessions aimed at reducing the worst forms of child labor. His wonderful sense of humor combined with focused outrage to made him a formidable warrior in the fight to protect children. It is hard to imagine how we will move forward without him.”

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit https://nclnet.org.

About the Child Labor Coalition

The Child Labor Coalition is comprised of 30 organizations, representing consumers, labor unions, educators, human rights and labor rights groups, child advocacy groups, and religious groups. It was established in 1989, and is co-chaired by the National Consumers League and the American Federation of Teachers. Its mission is to protect working youth and to promote legislation, programs, and initiatives to end child labor exploitation in the United States and abroad. For more information, please call CLC Coordinator Reid Maki at (202) 207-2820 [reidm@nclnet.org].

Consumer group praises FDA determination on trans fat – National Consumers League

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November 8, 2013

Contact: NCL Communications, Ben Klein, (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC- The nation’s pioneering consumer advocacy organization is praising this week’s announcement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of its intent to no longer qualify partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), the main source of artificial trans fat, as a safe additive for use in processed foods. FDA plans to require approval for PHO additives, making foods with unapproved PHO additives illegal.

“Consumers deserve to feel that the food they’re buying is safe and healthy,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL’s Executive Director. “We have known for years that trans fats are not healthy, and many food manufacturers and consumers have taken steps to reduce the amount we consume. However, it’s time to make it official, and we are pleased to see the FDA take such definitive action to remove this harmful product from the marketplace.”

Trans fat originating from PHOs is currently found in a variety of processed foods, including frozen pizza, coffee creamer, microwave popcorn, and margarine.

In 1990, a surgeon general’s report publicized the harmful effects of trans fat, which prompted food manufacturers to use less trans fat in food. According to an FDA report, American consumers reduced their trans fat consumption from 4.6 grams per day in 2003 to about a gram a day in 2012. The current intake, however, remains a concern. A report by the Centers for Disease Control states that further reduction in the amount of trans fat Americans consume could prevent an additional 20,000 heart attacks and 7,000 deaths from heart disease annually. The Institute of Medicine concluded that there is no safe level of artificial trans fat consumption.

Should the new determination by FDA be finalized, it would cover only partially hydrogenated oils, not naturally occurring trans fats in meat and dairy products. The FDA has opened a 60-day comment period after which it will review submitted comments and finalize its preliminary determination. Once finalized, this determination will take great steps toward the elimination of artificial trans fat.

“This action by FDA is a victory for consumers who seek a more healthful diet,” said Greenberg. “Eliminating unhealthy trans fats will ensure that even those consumers who aren’t aware of its dangers no longer have access to something that shouldn’t be a part of their diets.”

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

NCL: Election Day minimum wage victories a sign of things to come – National Consumers League

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November 8, 2013

Contact: NCL Communications, Ben Klein, (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC—The nation’s pioneering consumer / worker advocacy group today is heralding the election results of minimum wage-related ballot initiatives in states across the country as a positive sign for the living wage movement that is gaining momentum nationwide. The National Consumers League (NCL), the 114-year-old consumer and worker advocacy group founded during the Progressive Era, is today celebrating victories in New Jersey and the Seattle metro area—some confirmed by election results, others too close to call—that will increase the pay of minimum wage workers.

In New Jersey, a state constitutional amendment that passed yesterday, will now tie automatic minimum wage increases to inflation rates and raises the state minimum wage from the federally mandated $7.25 to $8.25, putting it on par with more progressive areas including the District of Columbia.

In the Seattle area, where votes will continue to be counted until mail-in ballots are received, a SeaTac ballot measure would raise the minimum wage of hospitality and transportation workers in and around the Seattle-Tacoma airport to $15 an hour. The current minimum wage in Washington is $9.19 – the state rate highest in the nation – with a raise scheduled for implementation on January 1, 2014 to $9.32. The results of SeaTac’s ballot measure are still too close to call, but passage would ensure benefits such as paid sick days and tip protection from wage theft. It would also require employers to offer additional hours to part-time workers before hiring new staff and to retain existing employees for at least a 3-month period following a change in ownership.

“These results show that there is strong popular support for raising the wages and living standards of the nation’s lowest paid workers,” said Sally Greenberg, NCL Executive Director. “All the scare tactics of big business—like threats that businesses will not survive the wage hike or that consumer prices will sharply escalate—didn’t win the day. We’re proud of the voters and their support for raising the standard of living for those at the bottom of the economic ladder.”

NCL has a long history of supporting the interests of workers and consumers since its founding in 1899, and NCL’s first General Secretary, Florence Kelley, wrote the first state minimum wage laws in the United States. This fall, it supported a movement in the District of Columbia, where it is headquartered, to implement the Large Retailer Accountability Act (LRAA) or Livable Wage Act, to require DC retailers whose parent companies do more than $1 billion in sales annually to pay their employees the DC living wage and benefits of $12.50 an hour. The LRAA was passed by City Council but ultimately vetoed by Mayor Vincent Gray.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

Patient, consumer advocates call on FDA to restore generic drug manufacturer accountability


 – National Consumers League

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November 5, 2013

Contact: NCL Communications, Ben Klein (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC – Generic drugs account for more than 80 percent of all prescriptions filled in the United States, but generic manufacturers are not required to warn consumers about safety issues of the drugs they produce. A group of 15 patient and consumer advocates have sent a letter to Margaret Hamburg, M.D.,
Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), applauding the
 FDA’s announcement to revise its regulations to allow generic drug manufacturers to independently update their drug safety labels and to restore Americans’ right to quality drug safety information.

Due to a 2011 United States Supreme Court decision, Pliva v. Mensing, generic drug makers cannot be held legally accountable when they fail to adequately warn patients about the risk of their drugs. Patients who take generic drugs have their rights limited and justice denied, while patients who take brand name drugs do not.

“We believe it is critically important that all prescription drugs carry current and adequate safety warnings,” the groups (see list below) state in their letter. “Allowing generic drug manufacturers to update safety labeling is vital to ensuring that the public remains appropriately informed of drugs’ risks and benefits.”

The groups’ letter encourages the FDA to address this safety issue as quickly as possible and implement the new regulations to help diminish the risk that inadequately labeled generic drugs currently pose to consumers. Prescription medication can only be safe and effective if all manufacturers remain attentive to potential health hazards and accountable for warning patients of new potential risks.

Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of the National Consumers League, said, “NCL joins with other like-minded organizations in urging the FDA to level the playing field by allowing generic manufacturers to initiate changes to the safety warnings that appear on the labels of their prescription medication. All manufacturers, generic and brand, must be treated the same for the sake of patient safety and consumers must be warned about all potential risks.“

Cynthia Pearson, Executive Director of the National Women’s Health Network. “Women need to be warned of safety problems with a drug regardless of whether they take the brand name or generic version. We applaud the FDA for taking action to protect consumers.”

Signers of the letter include: AARP, Alpha-1 Association, Alpha-1
Foundation, American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Breast Cancer Action, COPD Foundation, Lupus Foundation of America, National Consumers League, National Eczema Association, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, National Psoriasis Foundation, National Women’s Health Network, Prevent Blindness America, Public Justice, P.C. and the Sjogren’s Syndrome Foundation.

To read the full letter, click here.

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.

NCL statement on FCC confirmations – National Consumers League

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November 1, 2013

Contact: NCL Communications, Ben Klein, (202) 835-3323, benk@nclnet.org

Washington, DC – The National Consumers League today applauded the confirmation of Thomas Wheeler and Michael O’Rielly as Chairman and Commissioner, respectively, of the Federal Communications Commission. The following statement is attributable to Sally Greenberg, NCL Executive Director:

“The nation’s consumers are better protected by a full slate of Commissioners at the FCC. As Chairman Wheeler and Commissioner O’Rielly prepare to take up their charge, we urge them to keep consumers — first and foremost — in their minds as they take up the crucial issues currently before the Commission. America’s consumers, particularly those with low incomes and in rural areas, also owe a debt of gratitude to acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn who has led the Commission ably for the past seven months.”

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About the National Consumers League

The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.