Brominated vegetable oil is the ingredient a teenage girl noticed in her Gatorade. Her investigation revealed potential health risks associated with BVO, and she started an on-line petition to get this apparently alarming ingredient out of her sports drink.

Predictably, the collective response of my friends and colleagues in public health to a new television ad about obesity by the Coca-Cola Company has been less than warm and bubbly.

There are, of course, some valid concerns and challenges raised by those who oppose gun control. I don’t mind admitting that. For one thing, nothing worthwhile- as having fewer gun-related deaths in the U.S. is worthwhile- is ever easy.