Jim Compton, Continental's marketing chief, says the free-meal policy "has served us well for many years." But, he says, "We need to change to reflect today's market and customer preferences."

It seems the Queen City was the Green City yesterday. First, Procter & Gamble unveiled plans for a major public awareness campaign called Future Friendly that will encourage consumers to save energy, waste and water, David Holthaus reports. It will also tout brands such as Tide laundry detergent, Pampers diapers, Duracell batteries and PUR water purifiers. "We're trying to educate mainstream consumers on how to conserve natural resources in their homes," says Melanie Healey, P&G's group president for North America. Tide Coldwater detergent, for example, will be promoted as saving energy because it's made to be used …

What does it mean to claim that your product is "Made in America"? asks MSNBC senior producer John W. Schoen. Well, the Federal Trade Commission says that a product has to be "all or virtually all" produced in the United States (or one of its territories or protectorates) to bear the "Made in America" imprimatur. But it's not that simple, as 40 pages of rules attest. And therein lie the loopholes. If part of your product was made in the U.S., "Made in USA from imported parts" is okay with the FTC. "Assembled in the USA," on …

Bank of America has garnered heaps of praise -- even from some formerly staunch critics -- for its widely covered decision last week to do away with a $35 charge to consumers who overdraw on their debit accounts. They don't deserve it, according to consumer columnist David Lazarus. "All of this is in response to our customers," Susan Faulkner, the svp who heads BofA's debit-card business, tells him. "We heard it loud and clear. It's about building a foundation of trust with our customers." But Lazarus says the bank is just taking new federal rules regulating debit cards …

Jeremy Mullman traces Bud Light's woes -- it posted its first loss in sales ever last year, you may recall -- to the "Drinkability" campaign that was the product of research by the consulting firm Cambridge Group. The agencies involved with the execution, the consulting company's CEO and Anheuser-Busch executives all seem to agree that Cambridge did not dictate creative execution but its findings did apparently have big impact on the repositioning of both Bud Light and the flagship Budweiser brands. "Each brand largely abandoned the emotional appeals that had helped them become the two largest beer brands …

Time's Quote of the Day comes courtesy of Rob Stringer, chairman of Sony's Columbia Epic label: "There may be theater. There may be films and movies. There may be computer games." He's referring to the deal cut with the specter of Michael Jackson, which guarantees his estate at least $200 million over seven years and is being touted, according to Ethan Smith in the Wall Street Journal, as the most lucrative recording contract ever. "Sony is betting that the appetite for Mr. Jackson's music will prove more than just a spike generated by his unexpected death and the ensuing …