News
Chesapeake Oysters Gain Disease Resistance
July 6, 2010 5:37 am | CommentsBALTIMORE (AP) — Chesapeake Bay oysters appear to becoming more resistant to diseases that have caused their numbers to decline in recent years, and states should expand sanctuaries that allow resilient oyster populations to expand, according to a new report released Tuesday by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Bison Meat Recalled After Link To E. Coli
July 6, 2010 5:36 am | CommentsHENDERSON, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado company has recalled 66,000 pounds of bison meat sold nationwide after federal agriculture officials linked it to E. coli sicknesses. Rocky Mountain Natural Meats in Henderson recalled the ground and tenderized bison after it was linked to sickening five people in Colorado and one in New York, the U.
Ex-Slaughterhouse Exec Appeals Conviction
July 6, 2010 5:35 am | CommentsDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Attorneys on Friday appealed the conviction of a former Iowa kosher meatpacking plant executive accused of bank fraud, saying the judge wrongly allowed jurors to hear evidence about a massive immigration raid at the plant and the 27-year prison sentence was unjust.
Denmark Hikes Taxes On Sweets
July 6, 2010 5:34 am | CommentsCOPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — The Danish government has increased taxes on cigarettes, ice-creams, sweets and other products in an effort to make Danes healthier. The tax reform came into effect Thursday and also means taxes have increased on soft drinks and flavored alcoholic beverages, so-called alcopops.
Schumer Takes On Filthy Flying Kitchens
July 6, 2010 5:34 am | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) is pushing for stiffer fines against companies that prepare airline food in unsanitary conditions. Pointing to repeated health code violations by three major airline caterers, Schumer wants to fine airline kitchens up to $50,000 per violation.
Dr Pepper Swaps Out HFCS For Sugar
July 2, 2010 4:26 am | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Dr Pepper is prescribing some sugar this summer in honor of its 125th anniversary, the latest in a series of moves by soda makers to temporarily swap out high fructose corn syrup. The spicy soda made by Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. is rolling out Dr Pepper "Made With Real Sugar" this weekend through early September.
Cattlemen Back Obama On U.S.-Korea Trade
July 1, 2010 11:06 am | CommentsWASHINGTON (NCBA) – Over the weekend, President Obama directed the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to initiate new discussions with Korea to resolve outstanding trade issues prior to the President’s visit to South Korea for the next G-20 meeting in November. According to USTR, “after the meeting and with those issues successfully resolved,” the President plans to submit the Korea-U.
American Sugar Refining Buys UK Sugar Refining Business
July 1, 2010 11:05 am | CommentsLONDON (AP) — Tate & Lyle PLC said Thursday it is selling its European sugar refining business to American Sugar Refining Inc. for 211 million pounds ($314 million) in cash as it focuses on producing ingredients for industry. American Sugar Refining, based in Yonkers, New York, is buying cane sugar refineries in London and Lisbon, the Lyle's Golden Syrup factory in London, the associated sugar and syrup brands, and the Tate & Lyle Process Technology consulting business.
HSUS, Ohio Farmers Strike Animal Cruelty Deal
July 1, 2010 11:04 am | CommentsCOLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Animal welfare groups led by the Humane Society of the United States have agreed to abandon a fall ballot issue against animal cruelty as part of a deal with state farm groups brokered by Gov. Ted Strickland. The agreement was struck just ahead of Wednesday's signature deadline.
EPA Stalls On Ethanol Mandate Increase
July 1, 2010 11:03 am | CommentsSIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Gov. Mike Rounds criticized the federal government for delaying a decision on allowing a 15 percent ethanol blend in gasoline during a conference Wednesday on using technology and research to expand South Dakota's agriculture economy. Executives at the Governor's Ag Development Summit talked about scientific and biotechnological research that can be used to grow more grain and create new fuel sources.
Corn Supply Drops, Prices Surge
July 1, 2010 11:02 am | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Corn prices surged Wednesday after a new report showed drastically less of the crop is currently available than expected. The amount of acres planted also came in below forecasts. The Department of Agriculture said there were 4.31 billion bushels of corn currently available and 87.
Pepsi's To 'Refresh' Gulf Coast
July 1, 2010 11:01 am | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Pepsi is expanding its popular Refresh Project charitable program to help communities affected by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The soft drink and snack maker said Thursday it will give an additional $1.3 million in grants next month to projects that will help communities in the five-state region — Texas, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama.
ConAgra Acquires American Pie
June 30, 2010 5:32 am | CommentsOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — ConAgra Foods Inc. said Tuesday it completed its acquisition of American Pie LLC, a maker of desserts and frozen dinners under the Marie Callender's and Claim Jumper brand names. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. American Pie makes pies, fruit cobblers and pie crusts under license from Marie Callender's and Claim Jumper.
Chinese Honey Trade Tainted By Dirty Dealings
June 30, 2010 5:30 am | CommentsBEIJING (AP) — Businessman Yan Yongxiang was trying to get around stiff U.S. levies on imports of cheap Chinese honey. So he sent 15 shipping containers of cut-rate honey to the Philippines, where it was relabeled and sent on to the United States. It's called honey-laundering, and the subterfuge let Yan skirt $656,515 in taxes before he was caught in a bust and pleaded guilty.
Coors Light Hits Shelves In Russia
June 30, 2010 5:29 am | CommentsDENVER (AP) — Coors Light is now available in Russia, Molson Coors Brewing Co. announced Tuesday as it continues to take its flagship brand into new markets. The brand will be in grocery and convenience stores and some bars across the Moscow region in what is considered the world's fourth largest beer market by volume, the company said.
Report: Research Too Focused On Food Production
June 30, 2010 5:27 am | CommentsCHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) — American farmers are producing more food than ever, but agricultural research is too focused on increasing production and needs to do better at considering consequences such as water and air pollution, according to a report issued Tuesday by a federal advisory group.
Ensuring Safety Of Gulf Coast Seafood
June 30, 2010 5:25 am | CommentsFederal and State Agencies Will Use a Joint Protocol for Reopening Closed Waters NEW ORLEANS (FDA) — Gulf State health and fisheries officials joined with senior leaders from several federal agencies to affirm a shared commitment to ensuring the safety of seafood coming out of the Gulf of Mexico, through closures of affected waters, surveillance, and with an eye toward reopening closed waters as soon as possible, consistent with public health goals.
Officials May Change Rules For Cleaning Industrial Pipes
June 29, 2010 5:11 am | CommentsMIDDLETOWN, Conn. (AP) — The widow of a pipefitter who died with five colleagues in a Connecticut power plant blast urged federal officials Monday to tighten safety rules for cleaning industrial pipes. Jodi Thomas' plea to members of a congressional subcommittee came as its members and a separate federal safety board consider asking regulators to ban a procedure that uses explosive gas to clean pipes, a practice that led to deadly blasts in Connecticut and North Carolina.
Allens Plans Expansion
June 29, 2010 5:11 am | CommentsSILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas-based Allens Inc. has announced plans to expand its vegetable plants in Arkansas and New York and to buy a plant in Texas. The Siloam Springs company said in a news release it will spend $13.5 million to expand its sweet potato canning plant in Van Buren.
