News
Taco Bell Fires Employee for Licking Taco Shells
June 5, 2013 12:26 pm | CommentsTaco Bell is firing a California employee who was photographed licking a stack of taco shells. The shot was made in March at a Taco Bell in Ridgecrest, 100 miles north of Los Angeles. Taco Bell Products Inc. says the shells were provided for workers to practice making its new Cool Ranch tacos and were thrown out without being sold.
Daily Sound Bite: Unexpected GMO Wheat Discovery Prompts Lawsuit
June 5, 2013 12:25 pm | CommentsAfter unapproved GMO wheat was discovered in an Oregon field last week, farmers, regulators and Monsanto — the company responsible for creating the crop — were left scrambling. Now a Kansas farmer is suing the seed giant claiming the discovery is driving down U.S. wheat prices.
Pa. Senator Still Deciding Liquor Bill
June 5, 2013 12:25 pm | by MARC LEVY,Associated Press | CommentsHow much the Pennsylvania treasury will suffer from privatizing state-controlled wine and liquor sales — and how to keep prices from rising in such a system — will be among the many questions a key state senator will try to answer as he finalizes a piece of much-anticipated legislation.
Food Rationing To Begin in Venezuela
June 5, 2013 12:23 pm | by FRANK BAJAK and JORGE RUEDA,Associated Press | CommentsIn a sign Venezuela's food shortages could be worsening, restrictions on the sale of 20 basic items subject to price controls, including toilet paper and chicken, are set to begin next week in its most populous state, officials said Tuesday.A spokesman for President Nicolas Maduro's government said it is incorrect to call the plan rationing because it is meant to fight smuggling of price-controlled food across the border into Colombia.
USDA, EPA Working To Reduce Food Waste
June 5, 2013 12:21 pm | by MARY CLARE JALONICK,Associated Press | CommentsWorking with the nation's largest retailers and food companies, the Agriculture Department and the EPA said Tuesday that they are going to try to reduce food waste. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the department will work with industry to make it easier for companies to donate misbranded meat and poultry, test out a meat-composting program and increase donations of edible food that may get discarded because of appearance.
AB InBev Completes $20.1 Billion Grupo Modelo Deal
June 5, 2013 12:19 pm | CommentsAnheuser-Busch InBev has completed its $20.1 billion purchase of Mexican brewer Grupo Modelo. The world's largest brewer has been trying for almost a year to buy the half of Modelo that it did not already own. The Department of Justice initially blocked the deal, but signed off on the combination after AB InBev agreed to sell Modelo's entire U.S. business to a wine maker, Constellation Brands Inc.
Consumer Trends: Health and Wellness Products Gain Traction
June 5, 2013 12:00 pm | CommentsGrowth trends indicate that a number of products with individual health and wellness claims have recently experienced declining sales; however, there is evidence that products providing a holistic approach that advances general health and well being are gaining market traction.
Monster Beverage Sales Improving
June 5, 2013 9:35 am | CommentsShares of Monster Beverage rose Tuesday after CEO Rodney Sacks reiterated the safety of the company's energy drinks and said sales have been improving. The company, based in Corona, Calif., held its annual shareholders meeting Monday. While noting that sales have risen in the past few months, Sacks also cautioned that it was "very, very soon" to be able to tell whether they were indicative of a long-term trend.
Farmer Sues Monsanto over GMO Wheat Discovery
June 5, 2013 9:33 am | by ROXANA HEGEMAN,Associated Press | CommentsA Kansas farmer has sued seed giant Monsanto over last week's discovery of genetically engineered experimental wheat in an 80-acre field in Oregon, claiming the company's gross negligence hurt U.S. growers by driving down wheat prices and causing some international markets to suspend certain imports.
Wet Spring Forces Tough Decisions on Farmers
June 5, 2013 9:32 am | by DAVID PITT,Associated Press | CommentsIt's decision time for many Midwest corn farmers stuck in one of the wettest springs ever: Plant late in ground that's been too wet, replant corn in muddy fields or collect crop insurance. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said 91 percent of the nation's corn crop is in the ground but just 74 percent of the plants have emerged. But some states — leading corn producer Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and North Dakota — are much further behind.
General Mills Recalls Some Cinnamon Toast Crunch
June 5, 2013 9:30 am | CommentsGeneral Mills Inc. said Tuesday it is recalling about 168 cases of its single-serve reduced-sugar Cinnamon Toast Crunch sold to restaurants and foodservice customers due to risk of salmonella exposure. The cereal maker said Tuesday that it is making the move after a supplier recalled an ingredient due to the possible presence of salmonella.
Death Toll Hits 120 in Poultry Plant Fire
June 5, 2013 9:28 am | CommentsAuthorities raised the death toll Wednesday by one to 120 in this week's disastrous fire at a northeast China poultry processing plant, with another 17 people unaccounted for. The State Administration of Work Safety said a total of 395 people were at work during Monday's tragedy, the country's worst industrial accident in almost five years.
Photo of the Day: Soggy Spring Troubles Farmers
June 5, 2013 9:26 am | CommentsCorn stalks grow in standing water in a field, Tuesday, June 4, 2013, near Colfax, Iowa. Many corn farmers in the Midwest are running out of time to plant — or replant — their crops after the soggy spring kept them out of the fields and, in some cases, washed away their seeds.
Senate Votes on Changes to International Food Aid
June 4, 2013 12:30 pm | by MARY CLARE JALONICK,Associated Press | CommentsThe Senate on Monday voted to make modest changes to the way international food aid is delivered, a much scaled-back version of an overhaul proposed by President Barack Obama earlier this year. Senators adopted an amendment by voice vote to a wide-ranging farm bill Monday that would slightly boost dollars to buy locally-grown food close to needy areas abroad.
Q&A: The Farm Bill
June 4, 2013 12:28 pm | by MARY CLARE JALONICK,Associated Press | CommentsThe Senate is considering a massive, five-year farm bill this week that would set policy for farm subsidies and food stamps. Here are answers to frequently asked questions about the nearly $100 billion-a-year bill, which outlines government farm subsidies and pays for the country's nutrition programs, including food stamps.
Cargill Opens $40M Chicken Plant in Russia
June 4, 2013 12:25 pm | CommentsCargill has officially opened a chicken processing facility at its complex in Efremov, Russia. This poultry facility represents a further investment of US$40 million at the company's industrial complex, located 300 kilometres south of Moscow. The facility will predominantly supply McDonald's restaurants in Russia with high quality Chicken McNuggets as well as other chicken products.
NYC Ads Warn About Sweet Tea, Energy Drinks
June 4, 2013 12:23 pm | CommentsNew York City's campaign to cut consumption of sugary drinks now features ads warning people about sweet teas, sports and energy drinks and fruit-flavored beverages. The city health department launched the TV and bus ads Monday. The spots say such drinks might sound healthy but are packed with added sugar and that can lead to obesity and other health problems.
Fire Forces Closure of Oat Processing Plant
June 4, 2013 12:22 pm | CommentsAn early morning fire on Monday prompted the closure of a South Sioux City oat processing plant. The Sioux City Journal reports firefighters responded about 3 a.m. Monday to a fire on a manufacturing line at the Viterra grain processing plant.
Consumer Trends: Rise of the 'Hybrid Consumer'
June 4, 2013 12:00 pm | CommentsAccording to a new report from Rabobank, consumers are becoming less interested in mid-market products and are instead trading down when it comes to everyday value-for-money items, such as basic groceries. Using money saved by trading down on staples, hybrid consumers are trading up to premium, high-end products that matter most from an emotional and social perspective, such as premium brands in supermarkets and fine dining.
Daily Sound Bite: China's Safety Lapses Are Deadly for Workers
June 4, 2013 11:51 am | CommentsThe two deadliest industrial plant disasters in China — including Monday's poultry fire that killed at least 119 workers — have one thing in common: locked doors. A cavalier attitude towards laborers and little punishment for employers who break the rules mean safety threats are rampant.
