News
Hepatitis A Linked to Frozen Berries Sickens 87
June 12, 2013 9:26 am | by MARY CLARE JALONICK,Associated Press | CommentsThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says an outbreak of hepatitis A linked to a frozen berry mix sold at Costco has grown to 87 people with illnesses in eight states. The CDC said Tuesday that illnesses have been reported in Arizona, California Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Washington.
Photo of the Day: Arguing over Big Sodas
June 12, 2013 9:23 am | CommentsA state appeals court panel peppered a city lawyer with tough questions during a Manhattan court session, Tuesday, June 11, 2013, aimed at determining whether New York City health officials exceeded their authority in placing a 16-ounce limit on most sweetened beverages at city-licensed eateries.
Health Groups Unite Against Wis. Provision To Prohibit Sugar Bans
June 11, 2013 12:38 pm | CommentsSix health groups have united against a provision in the Wisconsin state budget that would prohibit local communities from banning sugary foods and drinks. The groups on Tuesday called on the Legislature to remove the provision before passing the budget later this month.
Amazon Expands Grocery Service
June 11, 2013 12:37 pm | CommentsAmazon.com's push into the grocery business could win over shoppers with convenience, but it faces a tougher challenge if the decision comes down to price, Janney Capital Markets said in a research report Tuesday. Amazon has tested an online grocery service for almost six years in Seattle and on Monday it said it's bringing AmazonFresh to Los Angeles. The company may add dozens of markets.
NCBA Comments on Senate’s Passage of Farm Bill
June 11, 2013 12:35 pm | CommentsThe U.S. Senate in a 66 to 27 vote passed the 2013 Farm Bill (S. 954) today. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Scott George, a dairy and beef producer from Cody, Wyo., issued the following statement on the passage of the legislation.
General Mills Increases Forecast
June 11, 2013 12:34 pm | CommentsGeneral Mills Inc. on Monday raised its earnings forecast for its 2013 fiscal year. The company now expects to earn between $2.68 and $2.69 per share for the year on an adjusted basis. This compares with its prior guidance of $2.66 to $2.68 per share.
NM Attorney General Says Slaughter of Some Horses Illegal
June 11, 2013 12:32 pm | by JERI CLAUSING,Associated Press | CommentsNew Mexico Attorney General Gary King, who has been a vocal opponent of plans by a southeastern New Mexico company to resume domestic horse slaughter, says state law could prohibit the operation. In an opinion issued Monday, King says the slaughter of horses with certain drugs in their system would be a violation of the state's adulterated food act.
Daily Sound Bite: Farm Bill Approved in Senate
June 11, 2013 12:25 pm | CommentsThe U.S. Senate has passed a comprehensive Farm Bill for the first time in five years. The bipartisan bill was approved with over 60 yea votes but is expected to face a tougher road in the U.S. House of Representatives. House Speaker John Bohener urged his colleagues to bring their suggestions to the table as the congress prepares to consider the bill.
Consumer Trends: Flavored Milk To Spur Dairy Industry Growth
June 11, 2013 12:00 pm | CommentsNew research from Tetra Pak forecasts that flavored milk consumption will grow at more than double the rate of white milk globally between 2012 and 2015. Consumers are increasingly turning to tasty, nutritious and conveniently packaged flavored milk as an alternative to other beverages, creating opportunities for dairies to improve profitability.
Pa. Liquor Privatization Hits Wholesale Snag
June 11, 2013 9:46 am | by MARC LEVY,Associated Press | CommentsWhat may end up derailing the Republicans' drive to privatize Pennsylvania's sale of wine and liquor is not who gets to sell it — but who gets to deliver it. Both a four-month-old plan by Gov. Tom Corbett, a Republican, and a bill that passed the GOP-controlled House in March would dismantle the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board's less-seen but lucrative business of buying and delivering wine and liquor.
Dominican Official Denies Report of Bird Flu
June 11, 2013 9:44 am | by EZEQUIEL ABIU LOPEZ,Associated Press | CommentsA Dominican official says Haiti erroneously reported that his country has an outbreak of avian flu when it cited the disease as a reason for imposing a ban this week on the import of Dominican meats, chicken, eggs and other goods. Dominican Ambassador in Haiti Ruben Silie said in a statement on Friday that there's no evidence of bird flu in the country, which shares the Caribbean island of Hispaniola with Haiti.
China May Approve Monsanto’s Modified Soybeans
June 11, 2013 9:43 am | CommentsAfter meeting with China's agriculture minister, several analysts said China's agriculture minister Han Changfu indicated he would approve Monsanto's Intacta soybeans for importation. China is hosting a summit on agriculture and food. The U.S. is not attending but Brazil and Argentina are. China has made no official announcement. Monsanto declined to comment.
Senate Passes Farm Bill
June 11, 2013 9:41 am | by MARY CLARE JALONICK,Associated Press | CommentsConservatives calling for an overhaul of the domestic food aid program will try to trim the nation's nearly $80 billion grocery bill when the House weighs in on farm legislation in a few weeks. The Senate overwhelmingly voted Monday to expand farm subsidies and make small cuts to food stamps in a five-year, half-trillion dollar measure. But passage in the House isn't expected to be so easy — or so bipartisan.
Dole CEO Makes Buyout Bid
June 11, 2013 9:39 am | CommentsDole Food's Chairman and CEO David Murdock and his family are offering to buy the business with a bid that values the entire company at approximately $1.07 billion. Shares of the fresh fruit and vegetable company jumped in premarket trading on Tuesday.
Photo of the Day: Company Debuts New Mandarins
June 11, 2013 9:36 am | CommentsParamount Citrus plans the largest marketing campaign in the history of U.S. citrus industry to promote "pure goodness" of sweet, seedless mandarins. Wonderful Halos will be available in the produce aisles of grocery, mass and club stores this fall.
Smucker Nominates Ex-Kent State Dean to Board
June 10, 2013 12:31 pm | CommentsJam maker J.M. Smucker Co. said Monday that it will nominate Robert B. Heisler Jr., a retired dean of the College of Business Administration and Graduate School of Management at Kent State University in Ohio, to its board. Heisler was chosen due to his experience in the investment management and financial services area, as well as his experience as director for other public companies, J.M. Smucker said.
Schwan Closing Two SD Facilities, Opening One
June 10, 2013 12:30 pm | CommentsThe Minnesota-based Schwan Food Company is closing distribution centers in Oakes, N.D., and Faulkton, S.D., and building a facility in the South Dakota city of Aberdeen. The move is aimed at increasing efficiency. The 7,000-square-foot Aberdeen facility is to be completed in the fall at a cost of more than $1 million, company spokesman Chuck Blomberg told the American News.
Cheap Eats Boost McDonald’s Sales
June 10, 2013 12:28 pm | CommentsCheap eats and new menu items helped McDonald's boost a key sales figure in May, bouncing back from a decline the previous month. The world's biggest hamburger chain said Monday that global sales rose 2.6 percent at restaurants open at least a year, helped by an extra Friday in the month. In the U.S., the figure rose 2.4 percent, as the Dollar Menu and its new chicken wraps and egg white breakfast sandwiches lifted results.
Venezuelan President Halts Restricted Food Sale Plan
June 10, 2013 12:26 pm | by JORGE RUEDA,Associated Press | CommentsPresident Nicolas Maduro said Saturday that he has put a halt to a plan to restrict sales of 20 basic food products in Venezuela's most populous state, a scheme critics had deemed rationing in disguise. Officials in western Zulia state had said the plan to limit sales of items such as cooking oil, flour, chicken and toilet paper — all of which are subject to price controls — could begin as early as Monday at 65 supermarkets.
Canada Threatens Tariff Against U.S. Products
June 10, 2013 12:24 pm | CommentsCanada warned Friday that it may impose tariffs on everything from orange juice to bread if the United States doesn't change a meat-labeling policy that Canadian beef and pork industries say is costing them more than CA$1 billion (US$979 million) a year.
