The Food and Drug Administration has determined that Primatene Mist is no longer considered "an essential product" that would be exempted from bans of ozone-depleting products. That means retailers will no longer be permitted to sell epinephrine metered-dose asthma inhalers (sold over-the-counter as Primatene Mist) by year's end. The reason for the ban is that Primatene Mist uses the chemical CFC-12, which is an ozone-depleting substance, as a "puffing" agent when sprayed.

Australian beer giant Foster's has accepted an improved takeover worth Aus$9.9 billion (£6.5 billion) from British-based brewer SABMiller, the pair announced on Wednesday. Foster's Group, whose leading lager brands include Corona and Foster's, had in August rejected a hostile bid of Aus$9.51 billion from SABMiller, which produces rival beers Grolsch and Miller Lite. SABMiller on Wednesday said the Foster's board had since accepted an improved cash offer of Aus$5.10 per Foster's share. SABMiller said it expects the takeover to be completed before the end of 2011 after approval by Foster's shareholders.

PepsiCo will announce a new venture today aimed at increasing its access to chickpeas, which play an increasing role in its food products, and expanding production of the crop in Ethiopia. With partners the World Food Program and the United States Agency for International Development, PepsiCo plans to work with farmers in Ethiopia to increase the production and quality of chick peas, which the company needs to meet demand for its hummus products. Currently, some 100,000 farmers there grow chickpeas, but not as a primary crop. The company wants to invest in better seeds and drip irrigation systems so that …

Hitherto the Internet ad model has been click-through based. Online video, social networks, etc. have changed all that and made it more of a branding platform, with some caveats. Ad technology firm Collective has a new survey showing 90% of marketers and agencies now say online display ads are good for branding; 57% said their online ad spend will now be focused on brand advertising; 70% of agencies say online video is an efficient brand-building alternative to television and 20% are moving some TV dollars to online. Finally, 62% of the marketers polled say they will increase spending in social …

Michael Phelps has experience the joy of victory (Olympic gold) and the agony of defeat (the photo that nearly ruined his career). Now, less than one year to the 2012 Summer Games in London, he talks about training for the Olympics, working with marketing partners such as Visa and Subway, the challenges of being a public figure and dealing with cell phone photos.

The Grey unit of the Grey Group, which is owned by WPP, is forming a global division, Grey Healthy People, that will specialize in advertising for health-related products and services, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and general health and well-being products. The division will have a base of $500 million accounts already handled by Grey for the likes of Allergan, Bausch & Lomb, Boehringer Ingelheim, GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly and Pfizer. Others among the 30 or so brands involved include Aquafresh, Botox, Cialis, Flomax, Juvederm, Preparation H, Robitussin and Tums.

SABMiller has agreed a deal to buy Foster's Group for AUD5.1 per share in cash, valuing the business at AUD12.3bn (US$12.6bn), including debt. The deal marks a change of heart by Foster's' management, which had rejected SABMiller's earlier approach at AUD4.9 per share. Foster's chairman David Crawford said: "This is a compelling proposal from SABMiller and represents the value inherent in this iconic Australian company and in its brands and people." He said that the offer will deliver "certain cash proceeds [to shareholders] in an uncertain global economic environment."

German luxury carmaker Mercedes-Benz is relaunching the Smart car in the United States, where the two-seater has not had stellar volume. A national TV ad campaign this week promotes the Fortwo as the answer for people "right-sizing" their lives and reducing their energy consumption. "It's asking people to think about what they need," said Tracey Matura, general manager of Smart, part of Daimler AG's Mercedes car division. The first ad, shown Monday on network TV, aims to build awareness. Auto analysts say the Smart car, starting at $12,490, has struggled in the U.S. market, but not because people don't know …

Barry Janoff mulls who's next among NFL MMP's (most marketable players): Two weeks into the NFL season and no Peyton Manning sighting on the field and none predicted in the near future. We see what that means to the 0-2 Indianapolis Colts, but what does it mean to marketers who have made Manning the highest paid player in the NFL in terms of annual endorsements?

You may have seen people washing down pico de gallo with Jarritos at a burrito place, but the Mexican soft drink is hoping to go beyond its core demographic to get non-Hispanics check out its array of flavors. The campaign, via Austin, Tex. GSD&M began on Sept. 6 in the Los Angeles market, where Jarritos has commissioned three murals and is doing consumer sampling. The brand also has a new website, Jarritos.com, and is advertising on Pandora, the Internet radio service, and elsewhere online. Jarritos is made with granulated natural sugar, is sold in glass bottles at grocery and convenience …