News
70 Percent Of Consumers Still Concerned About Gulf Seafood
February 1, 2011 3:49 am | CommentsNEW ORLEANS (AP) — A marketing survey commissioned by Louisiana's seafood promotion board shows more than 70 percent of consumers polled nationally express some level of concern about seafood safety following the BP oil spill, and 23 percent have actually reduced their consumption. The figures, a mixed bag of good and bad news for the seafood industry, are the result of online canvassing of a thousand households in December — the first of three "waves" of such research that will help the board craft a public relations message.
KFC Franchisees Ordered To Cooperate In Fried vs. Grilled Dispute
February 1, 2011 3:45 am | CommentsLOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — KFC and its franchisees have been told to cooperate on advertising strategies by a judge's ruling Monday that delves into the fried-versus-grilled dispute at the world's most popular chicken-restaurant chain. The franchisees argued in the non-jury trial in Delaware Chancery Court that their KFC National Council and Advertising Cooperative had authority to develop advertising plans as well as to modify those offered by KFC.
Smithfield To Close Virginia Plant
February 1, 2011 3:42 am | CommentsSMITHFIELD, Va. (AP) — A Smithfield Foods facility in Virginia that produces barbecued ribs, stews and soups will close next month. Vice president for human resources Jeff Gough told The Virginian-Pilot that the closure of the Ham and Products Facility in Smithfield won't affect consumers.
Photo Of The Day: Slashing The Salt
January 31, 2011 11:26 am | Comments(AP) — Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius,left, and Agriculture Tom Vilsack, take part in a news conference at George Washington University in Washington, Monday, Jan. 31, 2011, announcing new dietary guidelines to help Americans make healthier food choices and confront obesity epidemic.
Starbucks' Profits Nearly Double, CEO's Pay Up 45 Percent
January 31, 2011 4:12 am | CommentsSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Starbucks CEO and founder Howard Schultz's compensation rose nearly 45 percent to $22 million in fiscal 2010 as the company roared back from the recession with rising revenue and profit nearly twice 2009's. Schultz, who had left the company but returned during the recession to lead its turnaround, got a salary of $1.
Taco Bell Says Filler Is More Beef Than Bull
January 31, 2011 4:08 am | CommentsAP Business Writers Taco Bell says a legal beef over the meat in its tacos is bull. The fast-food chain took out full-page ads in at least nine major newspapers and launched a YouTube campaign featuring its president Friday to proclaim its taco filling is 88 percent beef. A false-advertising lawsuit filed last week that caused an online stir alleges the company's filling doesn't have enough beef to be called that.
Craft Breweries Turn From Glass To Metal
January 31, 2011 4:04 am | CommentsAssociated Press LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Canned beer isn't just for swilling anymore. Baxter Brewing in Maine has joined a growing number of small craft-beer breweries distributing their brews in cans — just like mainstream mass-produced beers — rather than in bottles. A decade ago, it's believed there weren't any U.
Food Producers Join To Fight Bad Image
January 31, 2011 3:58 am | CommentsDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Two dozen of the nation's largest and best-funded farm groups have formed a coalition to counter poor publicity that they say has led to some bad public policies and threatens farmers' ability to produce food for the world's population. The groups have been alarmed by such things as the release of videos that show male chicks being put into grinders, egg-laying hens in battery cages and the mistreatment of hogs in large confinement operations.
Government Slashes Salt Recommendations
January 31, 2011 3:48 am | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — The government is telling half of the U.S. population to drastically cut their daily salt intake. That's the advice to consumers — and the food industry — as the government issues new dietary guidelines, which are the recommendations behind the popular food pyramid.
Photo Of The Day: Craft Beers Shed Their Bottles
January 31, 2011 3:20 am | Comments(AP) — In this Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2011 photo, barley is mixed to create mash during the brewing process at the Baxter Brewing Co., in Lewiston, Maine. The beer company has joined a growing number of small craft-beer breweries distributing their brews in cans, rather than in bottles.
UN: Don't Restrict Food Exports
January 27, 2011 10:31 am | CommentsROME (AP) — The United Nations urged governments Wednesday not to impose export restrictions or other short-term measures to cope with rising food prices, saying they can actually make matters worse by driving global prices up. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization issued an updated policy guide for governments in the developing world who are grappling with the impact of high food prices.
Iowa Pork Exports Set Record
January 27, 2011 10:28 am | CommentsDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa's 2010 pork exports have set a record that will be even higher when December figures come in. The state says in a news release that pork producers exported more than $1 billion worth of pork products in the first 11 months of last year. Iowa Department of Economic Development spokeswoman Kay Snyder said Wednesday that the previous record was set in 2008, also just over $1 billion.
PepsiCo Gets Acquisition Approval From Russia
January 27, 2011 10:26 am | CommentsPURCHASE, N.Y. (AP) — PepsiCo Inc. said Thursday it received approval from the Russian government to take a majority stake in Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods for $3.8 billion in a move that will make the snacks and soft drink company the largest food and beverage company in Russia. PepsiCo said in December it would take a majority stake in Wimm-Bill-Dan, a Russian company that produces dairy products, juices, mineral water and baby food.
Giant Food Recalls Organic Salads
January 27, 2011 10:24 am | Commentscan cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease. Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea, which can arise up to several weeks after consumption. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy.
Mexico Denies Monsanto Seed Project
January 27, 2011 10:21 am | CommentsMEXICO CITY (AP) — A Mexican regulatory body has denied an application from U.S. seed giant Monsanto Co. to expand to pilot planting projects of genetically modified corn in northern Mexico, officials said Wednesday. Government experts say more experimental planting in very small, strictly controlled plots is needed to ensure the GM crops won't affect native corn varieties.
Photo Of The Day: Pepsi And The World
January 27, 2011 10:19 am | Comments(AP) — Chairman and CEO of PepsiCo Indra Nooyi from the US, right, prepares to shake hands with Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, left, during a panel session at the 41st annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 27, 2011.
IDFA: Relief Program Wouldn't Provide Much Relief
January 26, 2011 3:17 am | CommentsMIAMI (PRNewswire-USNewswire) — A new study by Informa Economics concludes that the Dairy Market Stabilization Program (DMSP) proposed by the National Milk Producers Federation would have withheld an estimated $626 million from dairy farmers during periods when they were already under significant financial pressure.
Arizona Execs Admit To Conspiracy To Defraud Consumers
January 26, 2011 3:16 am | CommentsMOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Two Arizona business executives have pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud consumers by mislabeling foreign fish shipped to Mobile and then selling them in Alabama and Florida as more expensive catch. Karen L. Blyth and David H.M. Phelps entered their pleas Monday shortly before they were scheduled to go on trial in federal court in Mobile.
Plan To Encourage Virginia Shellfish Farming Stalls
January 26, 2011 3:15 am | CommentsNEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — A proposal to encourage oyster farming in some prime Virginia waters is on hold while the General Assembly is in session. The Virginia Marine Resources Commission voted 7-0 Tuesday to table the proposal, which it unveiled last year. Under the proposal, 1,000 acres in waters off the Northern Neck, the Middle Peninsula and Tangier Island would have been designated for commercial shellfish farming zones.
Coca-Cola Faces Soft Drink Shortage Due To Worker Strike
January 26, 2011 3:13 am | CommentsCARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Coca-Cola's bottler in Venezuela says shortages of soft drinks have grown due to a strike that has been running for more than 11 days at a key plant. Rodrigo Anzola, legal director of Coca-Cola Femsa de Venezuela SA, said the strike at the company's Valencia plant continues even though there have been signs of progress in talks with union leaders.
