News
Photo of the Day: A Taste of Prison Food
June 10, 2013 9:33 am | CommentsIn this Friday, May 31, 2013 photo, director of public programming Sean Kelly displays a plate of Nutraloaf, presently served in Pennsylvania prisons as a “behavior modified meal,” at Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. The historic penitentiary served visitors sample meals from the 1800s, 1900s and today on June 8th and 9th.
Target Rolls Out Organic, Natural Brand
June 7, 2013 12:26 pm | CommentsTarget Corp. is planning a new organic and natural store brand as it works to rev up its grocery business. The big-box retailer said the new brand, called Simply Balanced, will start with drinks and snacks like corn chips on Sunday. The line is an outgrowth of similar products within its existing Archer Farms store brand, which is positioned as a premium alternative to national name brands.
Ark. Poultry Plant Closes
June 7, 2013 12:25 pm | CommentsA poultry plant that opened in Pine Bluff a year ago has closed its doors, putting 180 people out of work while the owners look for a buyer or new investors. Horizon Foods shut down on Monday and is seeking new money to keep the venture going.
Daily Sound Bite: Chocolate Collusion?
June 7, 2013 12:22 pm | CommentsCanada's Competition Bureau is filing charges against the Canadian divisions of global chocolate giants Nestle and Mars, accusing the companies of price fixing. Hershey Canada has already pleaded guilty of price fixing and is cooperating with the Canadian investigation.
Study Sheds Light on Origins of French Winemaking
June 7, 2013 12:21 pm | by GREG KELLER,Associated Press | CommentsScrapings from the bottoms of 2,500-year-old pottery containers have shed new light on the origins of French winemaking. A team of archaeologists led by the University of Pennsylvania's Patrick McGovern used biomolecular analysis to confirm that fifth-century B.C. Etruscan amphorae found near Montpellier in southern France once contained a type of wine flavored with thyme, rosemary and basil.
China’s Top Butcher Tries To Sell U.S. on Smithfield Takeover
June 7, 2013 12:18 pm | by JOE McDONALD,AP Business Writer | CommentsShuanghui International's $4.7 billion bid for Smithfield Foods Ltd. has the endorsement of the American company's board. But facing anxiety over food safety scandals in China and complaints about Chinese cyber spying, 72-year-old chairman Wan Long has launched a charm offensive to reassure Americans they have nothing to fear and possibly much to gain from the tie-up.
Washington Farmers Sue Monsanto over GMO Wheat
June 7, 2013 12:16 pm | by SHANNON DININNY,Associated Press | CommentsSeveral Washington wheat growers filed suit Thursday against Monsanto Co. over the unauthorized release of genetically modified wheat, claiming the discovery of the wheat in an Oregon field last week has damaged sales of exports. The lawsuits seek class-action status on behalf of all growers of soft white wheat who may have been harmed by the release of an unapproved product.
Consumer Trends: Coconut Water Takes Off
June 7, 2013 12:00 pm | CommentsWhile coconut water was once the preserve of exotic holidays, according to new research from Mintel, coconut water has been the surprise toast of the beverage industry in recent years. Indeed, the number of product introductions more than quintupled (+540%) in the past five years and products containing it have been taking off on an international scale.
Officials Revoke Dairy Plant’s Permit
June 7, 2013 9:38 am | CommentsAgriculture officials have revoked the permit of a dairy plant in northern Iowa because of food safety concerns. An administrative law judge ruled Wednesday in favor of the state Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, which revoked the dairy plant permit for Meinders Farm Fresh Dairy in Buffalo Center. The company must cease all operations and sales.
PepsiCo Denies Reports of SodaStream Talks
June 7, 2013 9:36 am | CommentsPepsiCo is shooting down a report that the company is in talks to buy SodaStream, an Israeli company that makes at-home carbonation machines. PepsiCo Inc. spokesman Jeff Dahncke said the report in an Israeli newspaper is "completely and totally untrue."
Negligence at China Poultry Plant Caused 'Chaotic' Conditions
June 7, 2013 9:34 am | by CHRISTOPHER BODEEN,Associated Press | CommentsChina's workplace safety agency said negligence among factory managers and government inspectors caused "extremely chaotic" work-safety conditions at a poultry plant where a deadly fire killed 120 workers this week. Safety exits were blocked at the Jilin Baoyuanfeng Poultry Co. plant and managers neglected to hold required safety drills or worker education.
Global Food Prices Expected To Rise
June 7, 2013 9:32 am | by JOE McDONALD,AP Business Writer | CommentsRising global food demand will push up prices 10 to 40 percent over the coming decade and governments need to boost investment to increase farm production, a forecast by two international agencies said Thursday. Growth in food production has slowed over the past decade even as rising incomes in developing countries boosted consumption.
Canada Accuses Nestle, Mars of Price Fixing
June 7, 2013 9:30 am | CommentsThe accused in a chocolate price-fixing case could face a bitter fate if convicted — millions of dollars in fines for the companies and potential jail time for the individuals. Canada's Competition Bureau said Thursday it is laying criminal charges against Nestle SA's Canada arm, Mars Inc.'s Canada division and ITWAL Ltd., a network of independent wholesale distributors.
Photo of the Day: Rummaging Through the Rubble
June 7, 2013 9:28 am | CommentsIn this photo taken Tuesday June 4, 2013, Chinese paramilitary policemen go through the burnt factory of Jilin Baoyuanfeng Poultry Co. in Dehui city in northeast China's Jilin province. China's workplace safety agency said negligence among factory managers and government inspectors caused "extremely chaotic" work-safety conditions at a poultry plant where a deadly fire killed 120 workers this week.
FDA To Hold Hearings for New England Farmers
June 6, 2013 12:40 pm | CommentsThe Food and Drug Administration is organizing public hearings in New England for farmers who are concerned that proposed safety rules could hurt their businesses. New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and Rep. Annie Kuster have led a bipartisan effort of lawmakers to call on the FDA to come to New England.
Review Blames Plant Staff, Inspectors for XL Foods Recall
June 6, 2013 12:39 pm | CommentsA relaxed attitude towards mandatory procedures on the part of both plant staff and federal food inspectors is partly to blame for an E. coli outbreak last fall that sickened 18 people and led to the largest beef recall in Canadian history.
Horse Slaughterhouse Accuses USDA of IRS Tactics
June 6, 2013 12:37 pm | by JERI CLAUSING,Associated Press | CommentsA southeastern New Mexico company's plans to convert a cattle plant into a horse slaughterhouse has hit another roadblock, this time over an environmental dispute that the company's attorney blames on the Obama administration putting politics over policy.
Calif. Man Gets Hepatitis A from Tainted Berries
June 6, 2013 12:34 pm | by GREGORY BULL and SHAYA TAYEFE MOHAJER,Associated Press | CommentsGeoff Soza was celebrating his 30th wedding anniversary in Yellowstone National Park when the 64-year-old man learned the hard way that his seemingly healthy breakfast habit of mixing thawed berries with Greek yogurt had exposed him to a national outbreak of hepatitis A.
Gov’t Proposes Safety Labels for Tenderized Beef
June 6, 2013 12:30 pm | by MARY CLARE JALONICK,Associated Press | CommentsBeef tenderized by machines before it is sold in grocery stores could soon carry labels warning customers to cook the meat thoroughly. The Agriculture Department is proposing to require the new labels and cooking instructions for the meat, which is poked with needles or blades to increase tenderness.
Daily Sound Bite: Cheerios Stands Behind Ad
June 6, 2013 12:26 pm | CommentsCheerios stirred a bit of unexpected controversy after an ad showing a mixed race family drew criticism and some negative reactions on the internet. Marketing expert Laura Ries explains that advertising often shies away from anything that could potentially be controversial — even if most viewers would just see a normal family eating breakfast.
