News
Senators Ask Nickelodeon To Ban Kids’ Junk Food Ads
June 14, 2013 9:27 am | by JOHN RABY,Associated Press | CommentsFour U.S. senators are calling on children's cable network Nickelodeon to ban ads targeted at children that promote and sell junk food and sugar. A letter was sent this week to Nickelodeon and its parent company, Viacom Inc., by Democratic Sens. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Tom Harkin of Iowa.
Daily Sound Bite: Hostess Prepares for Rebirth
June 13, 2013 12:44 pm | CommentsAfter the purchase of Hostess Brands' assets by Apollo Global Management and Metropoulos & Co., the company's Dolly Madison plant in Columbus, Ga., is preparing to again begin production. The company plans to begin production by July, but it is unknown how many jobs the relaunch will create.
Coffee Holding 2Q Loss Widens
June 13, 2013 12:31 pm | CommentsCoffee Holding's second-quarter loss widened, stung by lower coffee prices. President and CEO Andrew Gordon said in a statement that Coffee Holding was more promotional in the period in order to stay competitive at supermarkets. He added that coffee prices may rise during the year's second half, with the company well-positioned to take advantage of the potential opportunity.
Maine GMO Measure Moves Through Senate
June 13, 2013 12:30 pm | CommentsA bill that would require Maine food retailers to put special labels on products that contain genetically modified ingredients is moving forward in the Legislature. The Democratic-led state Senate gave initial approval to the bill. It faces further votes in the House and Senate.
Chicken Salad Recalled due to Improper Labeling
June 13, 2013 12:28 pm | CommentsTracy-based Taylor Farms Pacific said Wednesday it's recalling approximately 678 pounds of its 12.25-oz. Signature Cafe BBQ Flavored Ranch Salad with Chicken, because the dressing packaged with it contains egg, a product that's not declared on the label and can be harmful to some people with allergies.
USDA Reduces Corn Crop Estimate
June 13, 2013 12:27 pm | by DAVID PITT,Associated Press | CommentsCorn farmers are feeling the impact of a cool, wet spring but are still expected to bring in a record crop this year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said in its monthly report released Wednesday that farmers are expected to bring in 14 billion bushels of corn this year. That's 135 million bushels less than last month's estimate, reflecting the impact of the cooler spring.
New Hostess Owner Prepares To Re-Start Ga. Plant
June 13, 2013 12:25 pm | CommentsThe smell of snack cakes could soon return to the Dolly Madison plant in Columbus as Hostess Brands LLC prepares to relaunch production. Hostess Brands LLC spokesman Michael Cramer said workers will be resuming production by July. He said crews are now getting the facility ready to bake goods again, including testing equipment that's been idle since November.
Consumer Trends: Top 10 Natural and Organic Food Trends
June 13, 2013 12:00 pm | CommentsSterling-Rice Group (SRG) has identified the top ten natural and organic food trends that will influence mainstream grocery shelves soon. With a breadth and depth of culinary experience, the brand strategy, innovation, and communications firm has counseled and created foods for several of the largest food companies in the world.
Mich. Company Recalls Sunflower Seed Products
June 13, 2013 9:37 am | CommentsA Michigan snack food maker is recalling sunflower seeds due to the potential of listeria contamination. Lipari Foods in Warren, north of Detroit, says Wednesday the recall includes Raw Sunflower Seeds, Roasted Sunflower Seeds, and Snack Mixes.
Nathan’s Famous 4Q Profit Up 44 Percent
June 13, 2013 9:36 am | CommentsNathan's Famous said Wednesday that its fiscal fourth-quarter net income jumped 44 percent as the company sold more hot dogs. For the quarter ended March 31, Nathan's earned $1.6 million, or 34 cents per share, up from $1.1 million, or 23 cents per share, in the same quarter the year before.
Egypt’s Wheat Harvest Mired by Politics
June 13, 2013 9:32 am | by MAGGIE MICHAEL,Associated Press | CommentsEarly in Egypt's wheat harvest this year, President Mohammed Morsi proclaimed the crop would be 30 percent higher than the year before. Now, weeks later with farmers almost finished bringing in their crops, experts and famers have challenged the claim, raising doubts that the harvest will meet government predictions.
Maine Advances GMO Labeling Bill
June 13, 2013 9:29 am | by ALANNA DURKIN,Associated Press | CommentsMaine food retailers would have to put special labels on products that contain genetically modified ingredients, under a measure advanced by the House on Tuesday. Maine residents have the right to know whether they're eating foods that have been genetically modified, which they say can lead to potential health risks, supporters of the bill say.
‘Pink Slime’ Case Heads Back to State Court
June 13, 2013 9:28 am | by DIRK LAMMERS,Associated Press | CommentsA federal judge on Wednesday moved a South Dakota beef processing company's defamation lawsuit against ABC News back to state court. Beef Products Inc. sued American Broadcasting Companies Inc. and ABC News Inc. for defamation in September over its coverage of a meat product the company calls lean, finely textured beef but that critics dubbed "pink slime."
Photo of the Day: Egypt's Wheat Woes
June 13, 2013 9:26 am | CommentsBread is perhaps the most volatile issue amid mounting economic concerns as Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi nears the end of the first year in office. In recent months, Egypt has faced fuel shortages, water and electricity cuts and rising food prices, at a time of intense political polarization between Morsi and his Islamist supporters and the mainly secular and liberal opposition.
Daily Sound Bite: NYC Takes Its Soda Battle to Court
June 12, 2013 12:41 pm | CommentsDefending the city's recent ban on large, sugary sodas, City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley argued that the growing obesity crisis forced the city to take drastic measures to address public health risks. An attorney for groups challenging the ban disagreed.
Driving Manufacturing Success by Backing Up
June 12, 2013 12:36 pm | by Michael Krutikov, Senior Global Marketing Manager, SMB Data Protection, Symantec | CommentsToday’s smaller manufacturers are creating enormous amounts of data — everything from new product designs to top-secret intellectual property, as well as a constant flow of customer and sales information that must be managed and protected every day.
Mich. Lawmakers OK Wine Sales at Farmers Markets
June 12, 2013 12:33 pm | CommentsSmall winemakers could offer tastings and sell their wine at farmers markets around Michigan under legislation headed to Gov. Rick Snyder. The bill approved 37-0 by the state Senate Wednesday would require small winemakers wanting to do business at a farmers market to pay $25 for a permit.
Boehner Pledges Support for Farm Bill
June 12, 2013 12:32 pm | by MARY CLARE JALONICK,Associated Press | CommentsHouse Speaker John Boehner says he will vote for a wide-ranging farm bill headed to the House floor this month, a major boost for the five year, half-trillion dollar legislation that stalled in the House last year. The Ohio Republican voted against the last farm bill in 2008 and said Wednesday that he has concerns with this year's version as well.
Yum Brands: Sales Decline in China Is Easing
June 12, 2013 12:30 pm | CommentsYum Brands says a key sales figure for China dropped 19 percent in May, as the parent company of KFC began to see signs of recovery from the double whammy of a bird flu scare and an earlier controversy over its chicken supply. The drop is an improvement from the 29 percent decline in April. The company said the latest figure reflects a 25 percent decline at KFC and 12 percent growth at Pizza Hut.
More Wineries Come Out in Support of Gay Marriage
June 12, 2013 12:28 pm | by MICHELLE LOCKE,Associated Press | CommentsWineries are coming out loud and proud in their support of gay marriage. They're putting it right on the label. One of the barrier-breakers is Same Sex Meritage, a red blend that sends its message on the bottle and at the cash register — $1 for every bottle sold is donated to the advocacy group Freedom to Marry.
