Wal-Mart Watch, a joint project of The Center for Community & Corporate Ethics, a 501(c)3 organization devoted to studying the impact of large corporations on society, and its advocacy arm, Five Stones, has launched a new Iowa advertising campaign targeting the retail giant’s opposition to laws mandating country-of-origin labeling, or COOL.

Wal-Mart Watch’s radio ads, which began airing last week on the Iowa Farm Radio Network, point out that COOL laws are critically important to Iowa farmers. “Remember when Wal-Mart used to have all those signs up in the stores that said they ‘buy American’?” the script goes. “Well, times have changed. Now Wal-Mart buys from just about everywhere but the United States of America, including their meat products.

“It’s why they are fighting against country-of-origin labeling. If you go into a Wal-Mart, good luck figuring out where their meat comes from.”

The commercial quotes Wal-Mart’s head of meat merchandising, Bruce Peterson, as saying COOL should be repealed and that it doesn’t benefit consumers. “Well, Mr. Peterson, you try and tell a mom or dad buying food for their kids that it shouldn’t matter to them where that beef or pork came from,” the announcer concludes, “or that it doesn’t matter to American farmers and ranchers.”

Meredith changes position

Meredith Corp. was featured in a story last week on the Web site Gay.com for reversing its earlier position on a bill in the Iowa Legislature that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of protected characteristics under the Iowa Civil Rights Act.

Art Slusark, Meredith’s vice president of corporate communications and governmental affairs, reportedly told the online magazine that Meredith’s original position was taken in error and that the stance was changed “once we had a chance to talk to our leadership.” Meredith now supports expansion of the Civil Rights Act.

Slusark wrote in a letter to Iowa legislative leaders that “all employees, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, deserve to work in an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment,” and said that Meredith “has provided and will continue to provide such a workplace,” but that expanding the Civil Rights Act “would help ensure inclusive policies at all companies.”

The Des Moines-based media company’s portfolio includes 15 magazines, including flagship titles like Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies’ Home Journal and Family Circle; some 200 special-interest publications; and 14 television stations.

Local chef wins regional event

Jason Kapela, the executive chef at Bravo! Des Moines at Jordan Creek Town Center, claimed top honors in the restaurant chain’s culinary contest for its chefs in North Carolina, Illinois, Wisconsin, Kentucky and Iowa. Kapela will compete against six other regional winners in Columbus, Ohio, on April 25, for a grand prize of a trip to Italy.