Assault on battery hens
Foods giant General Mills (NYSE:IS) has pledged to use only eggs from chickens that are free to roam and given itself a good 10 years to make good on this pledge.
The Cheerios breakfast cereal maker said back in July that it was mulling switching away from using eggs produced by chickens kept in cages, and now it has set a deadline for the transition to be completed.
It's a long deadline, for sure, but Josh Balk, senior food policy director for the Humane Society of the United States, has welcomed it all the same.
Other companies may now follow suit, but I would not count your chickens before they are hatched on that score.
It's a surreal thing
The Global Energy Balance Network, a non-profit organization founded to combat obesity, has received $1.5mln in funding from fizzy drink maker Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO).
The organization claimed the full-fat donation had no influence on its work, but emails obtained by The Associated Press (AP) suggest otherwise.
AP claims the emails show the world’s largest beverage maker was instrumental in shaping the organization's management team, its mission statement and the content of its web site.
If true, that seems like an unhealthy level of influence.
Wednesday's small cap risers
Computer Programs and Systems (NASDAQ:CPSI), up 17.7%. The information technology solutions provider focused on healthcare providers is becoming even more focused on that sector by acquiring Healthland Holding.
The Bon-Ton Stores (NASDAQ:BONT), up 21.3%. The market seems to be excited by the announcement that it is holding a two-day cyber-Monday sale. Aside from the fact that having a two-day sale on a single day is almost impossible, isn't every retailer?
Aptose Biosciences (NASDAQ:APTO), down 9.7%. The stock has been slowly recovering this week from last Friday's shock news about a voluntary suspension of its APTO-253 trial, but it has had a relapse today.