Tag Archive for: boost

Baby formula milk companies ‘exploit’ parents’ fears to boost sales, analysis alleges


Many baby formula milk companies allegedly exploit parents’ emotions and “manipulate” scientific data to boost sales, according to a major new analysis published in The Lancet.

The analysis, led by Professor Nigel Rollins of the World Health Organization, said urgent clampdowns are needed to address misleading claims made by the industry.

It comes on the heels of the formula crisis in the U.S. last year, which saw parents struggling to find formula due to global supply chain issues exacerbated by a large recall of Abbott baby formula after two infants died.

“Part of what we’re exploring in The Lancet breastfeeding series is that the system of influence that commercial formula companies are engaged in is much, much more pervasive and much more influential than maybe previously thought.” study co-author Dr. Cecília Tomori, a breastfeeding expert and associate professor at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, told ABC News.

Scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports breastfeeding newborns, if possible and desired. Breastfeeding has well-documented health benefits for both the parent and the baby.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, babies who are breastfed are at lower risk of illnesses and diseases including asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes and sudden infant death syndrome.

PHOTO: Hand spooning baby food.

Hand spooning baby food.

STOCK PHOTO/Getty Images

Babies can also receive antibodies from the mother’s breast milk, which boosts their immune systems and helps protect them from disease.

Meanwhile, mothers who breastfeed lower their risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

The authors say while many new parents breastfeed, many choose not to, and all choices should be supported.

According to the analysis, formula milk companies use exploitative tactics to sell products such as preying on parents’ fears about their children’s health and development.

For example, companies have said it’s important to introduce formula to help settle the behaviors of babies, such as disrupted sleep and persistent crying, implying that breast milk alone is not enough.

“The formula milk industry uses poor science to suggest, with little supporting evidence, that their products are…

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Jamf touts big boost to enterprise security at JNUC


Jamf opened its annual JNUC event for Apple admins today with a slew of announcements focused on device management and security, a new Jamf Trust app, further information on its recently announced ZecOps deal and other updates likely to be of interest to Apple IT professionals.

The company also committed to supporting Microsoft Device Compliance on Macs later this year, with support for Google’s context-aware zero trust framework (BeyondCorp) on iOS devices in early 2023.

What drives the Jamf way?

In advance of JNUC, I spoke with Jamf CEO Dean Hager, who explained the philosophy behind what the company is announcing. Ultimately, it’s a continuation of Jamf’s core mission, which is to bring complex enterprise tech integration into the 21st century by ensuring not only that it supports Apple’s tech, but that its implementation is married to the kind of consumer simplicity you expect on Cupertino’s platforms.

“We’ll kick off the event by asking two simple questions: ‘Do your users love their work technology?’” he said. “‘Does your organization trust all the access that is coming in from that technology?’ And it’s our view that you should see a resounding ‘yes’ to both. We believe that through the melding or the combining of management, software and security software, we feel like that combination is what makes that love and trust possible.”

Jamf also confirmed that it now manages 29 million Apple devices worldwide with 69,000 customers — that’s up 15% since earlier this year. Complex simplicity makes a difference.

Here’s what Jamf unveiled at the start of JNUC 2022

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IRS looks to boost security of federal tax information through computer reviews


Written by

Dave Nyczepir

The IRS Office of Safeguards seeks a contractor to support computer security reviews ensuring outside agencies are protecting the federal tax information provided them, according to a sources sought notice posted Tuesday.

The forthcoming task order, expected in the first quarter of fiscal 2023, will cover preparatory agency outreach, pre-review analysis of areas of concern, automated and manual computer security scans, reporting of results and findings, and responding to agencies’ submissions.

Safeguards verifies more than 300 federal, state and local agencies and contractors are complying with the Internal Revenue Code — when it comes to protecting the confidentiality of and preventing unauthorized access to federal tax information (FTI) — by identifying and mitigating risks of loss, breach or misuse.

“The Office of Safeguards has a need to increase security of FTI and to ensure consistent application of information security standards across all partner agency information systems by obtaining computer security review expertise and ancillary contractor support for the Safeguards Program,” reads the notice. “Safeguards seeks contractor support to optimize its processes, to reduce costs and minimize risk to FTI in possession of agency partners, while continuing to meet all regulatory and agency documented standards and guidance.”

The chosen vendor will also be responsible for risk-based modeling to select agencies for review; methodology updates; and assessing new projects, pilots and legislation.

The notice wants responses from interested vendors offering a fair market price by 3 p.m. EST on Aug. 12, 2022. Safeguards hasn’t decided on a small business acquisition strategy yet.

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U.S. House approves security, cyber-funding boost for federal judiciary


  • U.S. House approves $8.6 billion in discretionary appropriations for judiciary
  • Bill faces long road before becoming final

The federal judiciary would receive a significant boost in funding for court security and cybersecurity under a $492.6 billion spending package for 2023 that the U.S. House of Representatives approved on Wednesday.

The House voted 220-207 to approve a massive package of six bills to fund an array of arms of the federal government including the judiciary, which would receive $8.6 billion in discretionary appropriations, up 7.2% from the 2022 fiscal year.

The budget package, which also includes funding for departments ranging from the Department of Transportation to the Department of Homeland Security, passed on a party-line vote with no Republican support.

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The money allocated to the judiciary includes nearly $751 million for court security, a 6.5% bump from 2022 amid a rising number of threats to judges. The U.S. Marshals Service says federal judges were subject to 4,511 threats and inappropriate communications in 2021.

It also includes $128 million for 2023 that can go toward the $403 million the judiciary sought over a multi-year period for cybersecurity improvements needed to guard against cyberattacks on its aging, vulnerable computer systems.

It now goes to the Senate for consideration in a process that could continue for months. Changes are possible once the Senate and House get into serious negotiations on spending priorities for the fiscal year beginning on Oct. 1.

The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts had no immediate comment.

The bill includes increased spending on all aspects of the judiciary including the U.S. Supreme Court, which would receive $143 million, a 27% increase partly aimed at assisting the high court with its own security needs.

Security concerns have heightened amid protests outside of several of the justices’ homes prompted by the court’s reversal last month of its 1973 ruling Roe v. Wade recognizing a right to abortions.

The bill, if approved by Congress, would also renew funding for a program aimed at the voluntary removal of judges’ personal information from the internet.

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