The Leading Source for Food Manufacturing News
Abused Disabled Iowa Plant Workers Awarded $240M
May 2, 2013 9:45 am | by RYAN J. FOLEY,Associated Press | News | CommentsFor decades, the lives of 32 mentally disabled Iowa turkey processing plant workers were controlled by their Texas-based employer, which profited handsomely by hiring them out. Regardless of sickness or injury, they were driven from the dilapidated, bug-infested bunkhouse where they were housed to their 41-cents-an-hour jobs removing the slaughtered birds' innards.
Calif. Lawsuit Claims Lead in Ginger, Plum Candies
May 2, 2013 9:43 am | by JASON DEAREN,Associated Press | News | CommentsCalifornia has filed a lawsuit against Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and other food retailers, manufacturers and distributors, alleging the companies are selling lead-tainted ginger and plum candies without warning labels, as required by state law.
Photo of the Day: Spreading the Word About Wine
May 2, 2013 9:42 am | News | CommentsThe Traverse City Wine & Art Festival is a production of the Leelanau Peninsula Vintners Association (LPVA). The LPVA was formed in 1998 with a goal to help spread the word about all the wonderful things the Leelanau Peninsula has to offer including a growing number of award-winning wineries, excellent restaurants and a rich agricultural history.
Frozen Foods a Good Bet
May 2, 2013 9:02 am | by Bloomberg Television | Videos | CommentsBloomberg's Senior Markets Correspondent Julie Hyman talks about betting on frozen foods. She highlights the strong performance of what she calls staples food companies and suggests that frozen foods companies will likely continue to be profitable in the coming months.
Protecting Your Key Innovations
May 2, 2013 9:02 am | by Katie Crosby Lehmann, Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. | Articles | CommentsFood manufacturers often make significant investments in product, packaging and processing innovations to gain a competitive advantage. That advantage could lead to competitors adopting the same innovations without respecting the original manufacturer’s intellectual-property rights.
Two-Compartment PET Container
May 2, 2013 1:00 am | by Food Manufacturing Staff | Product Releases | CommentsThe Smiler™ two-compartment polyethylene terephthalate (PET) container is the first of its kind. The Smiler™ technology enables bottles and containers to be injection blow molded into different shapes and sizes.
Polyethylene Packaging System
May 2, 2013 1:00 am | by Food Manufacturing Staff | Product Releases | CommentsThe tna robag® FXIS 3ci vertical form fill and seal (VFFS) rotary polyethylene packaging system offers efficiencies up to 99% of target output while reaching speeds of 150 bpm.
Countertop Induction Range
May 2, 2013 1:00 am | by Food Manufacturing Staff | Product Releases | CommentsThe IR1800 Induction Range is ideal for cooking, warming and sautéing.
May 2013 - A Cut Above the Rest
May 2, 2013 12:00 am | Digital Editions | CommentsTucked away in Pascoag, R.I., Daniele Inc. is using innovative technology to extend shelf-life, ensure food safety and expand the reach of its sausage products to a growing base of consumers. The company is employing high pressure processing to heighten food safety in its facilities.
Daily Sound Bite: Monster Sues San Francisco City Attorney
May 1, 2013 12:51 pm | News | CommentsMonster Beverage is suing San Francisco’s city attorney, arguing that City Attorney Dennis Herrera unfairly singled the company out by asking that it produce evidence that its drinks are safe. Since then, Monster says Herrera has asked it to reformulate its drinks and change its labels and marketing materials.
U.S. Manufacturing Grows at Slower Pace in April
May 1, 2013 12:45 pm | by CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER,AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsU.S. factory activity expanded at a slower pace in April, held back by weaker hiring and less company stockpiling. The report is the latest sign that economic growth may be slowing this spring. The Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday that its index of manufacturing activity slipped to 50.7 last month.
Cargill Looks To Improve Nutrition of Kids’ Food
May 1, 2013 12:43 pm | News | CommentsCargill today announced a new initiative to help food and beverage manufacturers and foodservice operators find formulation solutions to address the complex challenges associated with improving childhood nutrition. In support of this initiative, Cargill is launching www.childhood-nutrition.com to provide ideas for solving formulation challenges associated with creating kids' products that are healthier and taste great.
PepsiCo Pulls Controversial Mountain Dew Ad
May 1, 2013 12:41 pm | News | CommentsPepsiCo pulled an online ad for Mountain Dew that was criticized for portraying racial stereotypes and making light of violence toward women. In the 60-second spot developed by African-American rapper Tyler, The Creator, a battered white woman on crutches is urged by an officer to identify a suspect out of a lineup of black men. A goat character known as Felicia is included in the lineup.
Jury Deliberates in Iowa Worker Abuse Case
May 1, 2013 12:39 pm | by RYAN J. FOLEY,Associated Press | News | CommentsA government attorney asked jurors Tuesday to award damages to 32 mentally disabled workers, saying they were subjected to around-the-clock discrimination by a Texas company that profited from their work at an Iowa turkey plant. An attorney said the former workers for Henry's Turkey Services suffered "broken lives" because of the conditions they endured while living at a run-down bunkhouse in rural Iowa and working at West Liberty Foods.
Monster Beverage Suing San Francisco City Attorney
May 1, 2013 12:37 pm | by Candice Choi, The Associated Press | News | CommentsMonster Beverage is suing San Francisco's city attorney over demands that the company reduce the amount of caffeine in its energy drinks and stop marketing to minors. The company, based in Corona, Calif., says it's being unfairly singled out by City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who late last year had asked Monster to produce documentation showing that its drinks are safe.
Consumer Trends: Same-Store Sales Improve at Restaurants
May 1, 2013 12:00 pm | News | CommentsBuoyed by positive sales results and a more optimistic outlook among restaurant operators, the National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) rose above 100 in March. The RPI — a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry — stood at 100.6 in March, up 0.7 percent from February's level of 99.9.
Taking Advantage of the Industrial Internet
May 1, 2013 11:00 am | by Cindy Waxer | Articles | CommentsBig data is not just for predicting election outcomes and mapping genomes. General Electric (GE) is betting on the so-called Industrial Internet — a term they coined — to help manufacturers boost performance, streamline processes and better compete in the global marketplace.
May Featured Products: Meat Processing & Instrumentation/Weighing
May 1, 2013 9:47 am | by Food Manufacturing Staff | Product Releases | CommentsEach month, Food Manufacturing highlights products and news in a featured category. This month, we are spotlighting meat processing equipment and instrumentation/weighing equipment.
NYC Elementary School Adopts Vegetarian Menu
May 1, 2013 9:31 am | News | CommentsA New York City elementary school has adopted an all-vegetarian menu, serving kids tofu wraps and veggie chili. Public School 244 is the first public school in the city to go all-veggie. The animal-welfare group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals says it might be the first all-veggie public elementary school in the nation.
U.S. Horse Slaughter Plant To Open Soon
May 1, 2013 9:30 am | News | CommentsThe first U.S.-based horse slaughter plant in six years will open soon unless Congress reinstates a ban on the practice, the country's agriculture secretary said Tuesday. Valley Meat Co. has been fighting for more than a year for permission to slaughter horses.
