News
Senators Agree On Food Safety Bill
August 13, 2010 4:25 am | CommentsKEVIN FREKING Associated Press Writer- A ugust 13, 2010 WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan group of senators said Thursday they have reached agreement on legislation designed to enhance the safety of the nation's food supply, setting the stage for the full Senate to take up the measure later this year.
FDA Says China Is Improving Food Safety
August 13, 2010 4:22 am | CommentsSHANGHAI (AP) — The head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says China is improving its oversight of its exporters following a slew of scandals over bogus or substandard drugs and foods ranging from vaccines and infant formula to dog chow. FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said Friday that Chinese officials she spoke with during her first visit to China since she was appointed were pursuing a "common agenda" to improve manufacturing practices and regulation of complex supply chains for the food and drug industries.
Nestle Makes $5B In Half A Year
August 11, 2010 4:44 am | CommentsGENEVA (AP) — Swiss food and drinks company Nestle SA reported Wednesday a 7.5 percent rise in half-year net profit to 5.45 billion Swiss francs ($5 billion) and raised its full-year outlook as global sales increased despite adverse currency exchange rates. The results from the maker of Nescafe, Jenny Craig and Haagen-Dazs beat analyst expectations and compared with a 5.
Mexico Eliminates Anti-Dumping Duties On U.S. Beef
August 11, 2010 4:39 am | CommentsIn a decision announced today, Mexico’s Ministry of the Economy has eliminated anti-dumping duties that have been imposed on imports of U.S. beef for the past ten years. The Ministry's resolution goes into effect tomorrow (Aug. 11, 2010) and eliminates the duties effective April 29, 2010.
Wine Vending Machine Pilot A Success
August 11, 2010 4:35 am | CommentsHARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A pilot test of two wine vending kiosks at suburban Harrisburg supermarkets has gone better than expected, the head of Pennsylvania's state liquor agency said Tuesday, adding that 98 more machines would likely be approved in two or three weeks. Sales at the two sites have been 20 to 30 percent higher than anticipated, a total of more than 3,300 bottles since June 21, Liquor Control Board chief executive Joe Conti said.
Mangoes Offer Hope For Haiti
August 11, 2010 4:30 am | CommentsPORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Former President George W. Bush ambled into a steamy, fragrant mango warehouse in Haiti on Tuesday and surveyed several long tables neatly packed with the luscious fruit. He clapped Ralph Perry, the warehouse owner, on the shoulder. He shook hands with farmers, dressed in button-down shirts and ties for the occasion.
Chinese Candy Contaminated With Lead
August 11, 2010 4:27 am | CommentsSACRAMENTO (CDPH) — California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director Dr. Mark Horton today warned consumers not to eat Transformers ‘Revenge of the Fallen™’ Crunchy Candies from one specific lot after tests found unacceptable levels of lead. Consumers in possession of the candy should discard it immediately.
Wendy's/Arby's Expands To Russia
August 11, 2010 4:22 am | CommentsATLANTA (AP) — Wendy's/Arby's Group plans to open 180 dual-branded Wendy's and Arby's restaurants in Russia over the next 10 years. The company's international affiliate signed a deal with Wenrus Restaurant Group Ltd., an affiliate of Food Service Capital, in the Russian Federation.
China Investigates Formula, Baby Breast Link
August 10, 2010 4:43 am | CommentsBEIJING (AP) — China is investigating parents' claims that a brand of milk powder has caused a small number of babies to grow breasts, the health ministry said Tuesday. The China Daily newspaper and other state media on Monday said parents of at least three children in the central province of Hubei had made the claims involving formula made by China-based Synutra International Inc.
Pop-Tarts Store Pops Up In Times Square
August 10, 2010 4:40 am | CommentsOne of Kellogg Co.'s most popular brands is popping up in Times Square on Tuesday at Pop-Tarts World, with more than 3,000 square feet dedicated to toaster pastries. Customers will be able to eat Pop-Tarts "sushi," order a customized pastry or create a custom box filled with a mix of their favorite flavors.
Oiled Crabs Are Sign Of Tainted Food Web
August 10, 2010 4:37 am | CommentsBARATARIA, La. (AP) — To assess how heavy a blow the BP oil spill has dealt the Gulf of Mexico, researchers are closely watching a staple of the seafood industry and primary indicator of the ecosystem's health: the blue crab. Weeks ago, before engineers pumped in mud and cement to plug the gusher, scientists began finding specks of oil in crab larvae plucked from waters across the Gulf coast.
McDonald's Cold Smoothies Get Warm Reception
August 10, 2010 4:32 am | CommentsCHICAGO (AP) — McDonald's lesson from July: If you want to start selling cold, fruity drinks, pick one of the hottest months in U.S. history. The fast-food giant posted its biggest monthly increase in more than a year in an important U.S. sales figure as U.S. as the fast-food chain's new fruit smoothies and ice-cold frappes got a warm reception from customers.
Sara Lee CEO Steps Down
August 10, 2010 4:27 am | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Sara Lee Corp. Chairman and CEO Brenda Barnes will step down permanently to focus on improving her health following a stroke, the food maker said Monday. Barnes, 56, had been on temporary medical leave since May 14. She will also leave her position on Sara Lee's board of directors.
Russia Wheat Harvest Down 30 Percent
August 10, 2010 4:21 am | CommentsMOSCOW (AP) — Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Monday that this year's wheat harvest will be off more than a third, down to 60 million tons. Last year, the world's third largest grain exporter harvested 97 million tons of wheat and exported 21.4 million tons. Putin said in televised remarks that his government will not lift its ban on wheat exports until the end of the year.
Gulf Industry Tries To Clean Oily Image
August 9, 2010 4:54 am | CommentsNEW ORLEANS (AP) — Those who rely on the Gulf of Mexico's rich fishing grounds say there's a new crisis brewing — convincing skeptical consumers that the seafood they harvest and sell is safe to eat. The Gulf's fisheries are beginning to reopen more than three months after the oil began gushing from the sea floor, but those in the seafood industry say that doesn't mean everything has returned to normal.
Co-owner Of Closed Slaughterhouse Arrested
August 9, 2010 4:51 am | CommentsMONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — The co-owner of a defunct Vermont slaughterhouse who is wanted on animal cruelty charges has been arrested in New York, near the Canadian border. The Vermont attorney general's office says 51-year-old Frank Perretta of Grand Isle was arraigned Friday in St.
Pet Food May Be Making Kids Sick
August 9, 2010 4:46 am | CommentsCHICAGO (AP) — Fido's food may be making kids sick, a government report warns, detailing the first known salmonella outbreak in humans, mostly young children, linked to pet food. The outbreak sickened 79 people in 21 mostly eastern states, between 2006 and 2008. Almost half of the victims were children aged 2 and younger.
Tyson Income Jumps As Chicken Improves
August 9, 2010 4:44 am | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Meat producer Tyson Foods Inc. posted an 89 percent jump in third-quarter net income, helped by higher beef and pork prices and a chicken business that's recovering. The company has been working through an industrywide downturn brought on by a combination of higher production costs and slumping demand as shoppers cut back on trips out to eat.
One Million Pounds Of Ground Beef Recalled
August 9, 2010 4:40 am | CommentsSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A meat processor recalled about 1 million pounds of ground beef products Friday after seven people were sickened by E. coli contamination. Valley Meat Co., of Modesto, sold the potentially contaminated beef patties and ground beef in California, Texas, Oregon, Arizona and internationally, the U.
Report Shows Food Industry Is Thriving
August 9, 2010 4:37 am | by Survey Research Methodology | CommentsMinneapolis – Recent analysis of responses to McGladrey’s fifth annual Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution Survey show that the Food and Beverage industry leads all other industry segments when it comes to weathering the economic downturn, with 49 percent indicating their companies are “thriving and growing.
