Teaching kids empathy could lead to long-term learning benefits, according to a study by the University of Cambridge. The report says that teaching children to empathize with others measurably improves their creativity, as well as increased emotional expressiveness and open-mindedness. This week, we’re trying to keep an open mind about diet, tobacco, and construction. 😬

Beware Big Food’s role in setting America’s dietary guidelines

Thu Jan 28

The U.S. government’s dietary guidelines haven’t changed much over the past decade. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which is updated every five years, released its 2020 report in December. Problem is, they failed to account for the key recommendations provided by their own committee of nutrition and medicine science experts, including reducing daily sugar intake and limiting alcohol consumption.

Instead of basing guidelines off the latest research, major food corporations may be the puppeteers behind the U.S. government’s recommendations. How? 

• First, the advisory committees that release the report are often nominated by food industry trade groups who partner with major food corporations.
• Second, the guidelines were shaped by former Trump appointees who have ties to the food organizations that benefit from the existing guidelines.
• Third, for the three years leading up to these “new” recommendations, alcohol industry stakeholders spent an average of $81 million lobbying.
• And on top of all that, 70% of the comments from the “public” were filed from major food and beverage companies and trade groups. 

Why do these guidelines even matter? 

These guidelines are the nation’s go-to source for nutritional advice. They directly shape food standards for government programs including lunch programs and food resources for schools, the elderly, Indian reservations, and pregnant women. 

Meanwhile, Canada got ahead of these updates by releasing their own Food Guide in 2019. The Canadian experts who put this together rejected research funded by the food industry. They specifically cited how the 2016 U.S. report removed a recommendation to cut back on red and processed meat after meat producers protested.

Should Big Tobacco profit from vaccine distribution?

Mon Jan 11

It’s a question setting off alarm bells in Canada’s tobacco control community. After reviewing over 50 potential candidates for the coronavirus vaccine, the Canadian government moved forward with Medicago, a vaccine developer in the country. 

Canadians responded with concerns over Medicago’s ties to big tobacco. One of the company’s major shareholders is Philip Morris Investments (PMI), who has spent years actively working to evolve their public image.

• PMI is among the Big Tobacco companies that began diversifying their offerings by diving into pharmaceutical products. 
• This shift in direction is what ultimately led them to Medicago in 2007, a natural investment and partner given Medicago's niche is making vaccines using a cousin of the tobacco plant. 
• Then in October 2019, PMI launched a product called I Quit Ordinary Smoking (IQOS) to help wean people off cigarettes after submitting for FDA approval three years prior. 

Though all this had little to do with why Canada chose Medicago. Instead, it came down to speed and viability. Not only did Medicago’s phase one clinical trials show no severe adverse effects, but they were simply the first to even progress that far. Most Canada-based vaccine contenders are just now entering phase one trials while Medicago is entering phase three.

Want to learn more about business in Canada? Check out The Peak, a newsletter covering the latest Canadian business and tech news in an entertaining and informative email that only takes five minutes to read – like the Morning Brew, but Canadian.

Dripping in solar panels and cost savings: net-zero architecture

Tue Feb 5

Can net-zero, green buildings also be affordable? One firm in Philadelphia is already proving they can. Front Flats apartments, created by architecture and construction firm Onion Flats, is a four-story, airtight building covered on each side by 492 translucent, double-sided solar panels — including the roof.

In addition to these solar panels generating power for the entire building, the energy-efficient construction helps reduce energy costs long-term. The building currently has 28 apartments, with one-bedroom apartments renting for less than $1,400 — which is $300 lower than neighborhood averages. In fact, the cost to build such green buildings so far has not exceeded the cost of conventional buildings.

So why isn’t everyone building net-zero apartments? 

• Few architects or contractors have experience with sustainable construction. 
• One study found that building a zero-energy home costs, on average, roughly 7% more than standard practices, but these costs are expected to drop 17% by 2025. 
• Aesthetic preferences currently lean towards inefficient designs, such as glass walls.

Currently, buildings contribute 38% of greenhouse gas emissions, including heating, cooling, and construction materials. While we await buildings that generate their own power, we’re turning to NuTiliti to take control of setting up and splitting our utilities. Rather than waiting on your roommate to pay the water bills or realizing someone didn’t set up the right utilities... NuTiliti manages it all. 

Even better? NuTiliti is offering three months to Below the Fold readers. Just click here to get started — and just ignore the part that says it's only two months free. The extra month is exclusive to Below the Fold and will be automatically applied when you go through our link. :) 

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Mary, will you… split your bills with me? 

ASCII Art UK