| Appeals court stays Whole Foods takeover
A federal appeals court today halted Whole Foods' $671 million purchase of Boulder-based Wild Oats for two days, saying it needs more time to consider the lower court's ruling. The three-judge U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit said the decision "should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits" of the case. The Federal Trade Commission on Friday asked the appeals court to say a decision Thursday by U.S. District Court Judge Paul L. Friedman that allowed the transaction to proceed. The agency claims the merger of the nation's two biggest natural and organic grocers would result in higher prices for consumers. The appeals court panel ordered the FTC to explain by Wednesday why it appeals, and Whole Foods will have until Thursday to respond.
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Harmful pollutants are more than just a problem outdoors
When we talk about air pollution, we usually think about things like vehicle and power plant emissions. But we need think about indoor air quality, too. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Web site warns that "the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air."
The Web site discusses indoor pollutants that many people are aware of, such as radon, smoke, pesticides and mold. But the site also discusses a pollutant many people may not be familiar with: volatile organic compounds.While some VOCs are not known to cause adverse health effects, others are considered highly toxic, says the EPA. For some people, VOCs cause immediate symptoms such as headache, dizziness or respiratory irritation. Some organic compounds are known or suspected to cause cancer.VOCs are emitted as gases by a wide variety of products used in our homes.
Portland baby has a thousand-dollar grin
You might see Matthew Curtis Zipper's face the next time you are reaching for a jar of organic baby food at Safeway. The 11-month-old Portlander with spiked hair won the O Organics national baby smiling contest in July. His face will be plastered on the brand's baby-food jars and oversized store posters. Out of 275 babies in 11 U.S. cities, five judges fell in love with Matthew's pudgy face and easy smile. "His eyes are very bright and sweet," says judge and Safeway spokeswoman Margaret Bradley. "You could tell the child was happy." Diane Zipper, who discovered the contest online, didn't think much about it when she entered her then 9-month-old baby's name. Then she got a call asking her to take Matthew to a Milwaukie Safeway for a photo shoot. While other babies cried and whimpered in front of the camera, Matthew acted like a pro for his first modeling gig.
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