News
Protestors March Against Monsanto
May 28, 2013 9:50 am | CommentsProtesters rallied in dozens of cities Saturday as part of a global protest against seed giant Monsanto and the genetically modified food it produces, organizers said. Organizers said "March Against Monsanto" protests were held in 52 countries and 436 cities, including Los Angeles where demonstrators waved signs that read "Real Food 4 Real People" and "Label GMOs, It's Our Right to Know."
Photo of the Day: Kosher in the Industrial Age
May 28, 2013 9:46 am | CommentsIn this Friday, April 26, 2013 photo, Rabbi Pinchas Herman inspects machinery used for enzyme production for kosher products at Novozymes North America Inc., in Franklinton, N.C. The inspection is an example of how the centuries-old dietary code of observant Jews is adapting to its role as a mark of quality in the global food and drinks industry.
Consumer Trends: Grilling a Mouthwatering Sandwich
May 24, 2013 12:00 pm | CommentsA recent survey from KRAFT Singles revealed that 98 percent of Americans consider themselves to be sandwich eaters, but only 10 percent consider using the grill to make hot sandwiches. KRAFT Singles has teamed up with Weber-Stephen Products, LLC to show Americans how to use their grills to create mouthwatering sandwiches this summer and beyond.
Horizon Organic Eyeing Snacks Beyond Dairy Aisle
May 24, 2013 11:40 am | by CANDICE CHOI, AP Food Industry Writer | CommentsThe maker of Horizon Organic milk is looking beyond the dairy aisle to introduce snacks such as cookies and crackers. WhiteWave CEO Gregg Engles declined to "pin it to a time frame" but said the dry-goods snacks should be available within the next year.
Brewers Team Up on Beer to Help Military Families
May 24, 2013 11:23 am | by MICHAEL FELBERBAUM, AP Business Writer | CommentsCraft breweries from around the country are toasting the troops with a beer aged with a unique ingredient that symbolizes America's pastime — baseball bats. Nine different brewers collaborated to create Homefront IPA, all using the same recipe, complete with orange peel and unfinished maple Louisville Sluggers.
New U.S. Rules for Labeling Meat Go into Effect
May 24, 2013 11:17 am | by M.L. JOHNSON, Associated Press | CommentsShoppers in the U.S. will soon have more information about where their meat comes from after new federal labeling rules went into effect Thursday. The rules require labels on steaks, ribs and other cuts of meat to say where the animal was born, raised and slaughtered.
Canada Disapproves of U.S. Meat Labeling Rules
May 24, 2013 11:15 am | CommentsCanada said Thursday that it is considering retaliatory measures against the United States in a dispute over meat-labeling rules that Ottawa and the World Trade Organization consider discriminatory and the Canadian government says will mean additional costs for producers.
Campbell Buying Plum Organics Baby Food Maker
May 24, 2013 11:13 am | by CANDICE CHOI, AP Food Industry Writer | CommentsSoup said it's buying Plum Organics, which makes food for babies and kids, for an undisclosed amount as it looks to move into faster-growing categories. The company had been struggling to grow sales of its canned soups as people increasingly look for foods with a fresher feel.
Daily Sound Bite: Sunland Stages Comeback
May 24, 2013 11:11 am | CommentsThe New Mexico peanut butter processing plant at the center of a massive salmonella outbreak and recall earlier this year has begun operations again after being shuttered by regulators eight months ago. The FDA gave the company approval to restart operations last week.
Snapple Co-Founder Leonard Marsh Dies at 80
May 24, 2013 10:03 am | by SARAH SKIDMORE, AP Business Writer | CommentsLeonard Marsh, the co-founder of the Snapple beverage brand, has died at age 80. The Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Inc. of Plano, Texas, which now owns Snapple, on Thursday confirmed Marsh's death. He died Tuesday at his home in Manhasset, N.Y., The New York Times reported.
NJ: Caramel-Colored Rubbing Alcohol Sold as Scotch
May 24, 2013 10:01 am | by REMA RAHMAN, Associated Press | CommentsState officials provided those new details Thursday on raids they conducted a day earlier as part of a yearlong investigation dubbed Operation Swill. Twenty-nine New Jersey bars and restaurants, including 13 TGI Fridays, were accused of substituting cheap booze — or worse — for the good stuff while charging premium prices.
Sunland Plant Resumes Peanut Butter Production
May 24, 2013 9:56 am | by JERI CLAUSING, Associated Press | CommentsThe eastern New Mexico peanut butter plant shuttered eight months ago after a salmonella outbreak is back in production, and the company's officials say their coveted natural and organic butters could be back on store shelves within a month.
McDonald's Can't Shake Criticism About Nutrition
May 24, 2013 9:53 am | by CANDICE CHOI, AP Food Industry Writer | CommentsMcDonald's once again faced criticism that it's a purveyor of junk food that markets to children at its annual shareholder meeting Thursday. McDonald's was taken to task by speakers associated with an advocacy group about its menu and marketing toward kids.
Turkey Debates Alcohol Sales and Ad Restrictions
May 24, 2013 9:51 am | by SUZAN FRASER, Associated Press | CommentsTurkish lawmakers on Thursday began debating a bill that bans all alcohol advertising and tightens restrictions on sales of such beverages — a controversial proposal the government insists is aimed at protecting the young from the ills of spirits.
Photo of the Day: Distribution Center Powered by Food Waste
May 24, 2013 8:00 am | CommentsThe Kroger Co. has unveiled a clean energy production system that will convert food that can't be sold or donated into clean energy to help power its Ralphs/Food 4 Less Compton distribution center. The anaerobic conversion system will process more than 55,000 tons of organic food waste into renewable energy annually and provide power for the over 650,000 square foot distribution center.
Daily Sound Bite: Food Stamp Administration to Remain Federal
May 23, 2013 12:47 pm | CommentsThe senate has rejected an attempt by Republican lawmakers to move the administration of food stamp benefits under the SNAP program to the states. Opponents of the measure cited fears that individual states would impose restrictions on benefits including eliminating those with criminal records from the program.
Bitters: Move Beyond Cocktails to Baking Industry
May 23, 2013 12:41 pm | by Megan Cole, The Canadian Press | CommentsAt Victoria Spirits, where they make a line of three bitters — orange, black pepper and rosemary grapefruit — they use the redistilled tails of their gin distillation combined with botanicals to give each of the three varieties their distinct flavor.
New Zealand Resumes Meat Exports to China
May 23, 2013 12:38 pm | CommentsNew Zealand's Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy said Thursday exports of frozen lamb, beef and mutton to China should resume next week after a paperwork problem resulted in hundreds of tons of meat getting stranded at Chinese docks.
Hormel Foods 2Q Profit Falls, Misses Expectations
May 23, 2013 12:36 pm | CommentsHormel Foods' fiscal second-quarter net income fell 2 percent as it dealt with one-time costs related to its acquisition of the Skippy peanut butter brand, higher grain costs and weaker turkey prices. Its quarterly performance missed Wall Street's expectations.
Senate Rejects GMO Labeling Amendment to Farm Bill
May 23, 2013 12:35 pm | by MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press | CommentsThe Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly rejected an amendment that would allow states to require labeling of genetically modified foods.Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, said his amendment was an attempt to clarify that states can require the labels.
