News
Walmart Stops Using Products From Indonesian Firm Over Deforestation
July 8, 2010 9:04 am | CommentsJAKARTA, July 8 (Kyodo) — U.S. retail giant Walmart is following other major companies in stopping buying products from Indonesian agribusiness giant Sinar Mas Group over charges by environmental group Greenpeace the company continues to destroy Indonesia's rainforests. "Walmart does not support deforestation and, as Greenpeace's report shows, our largest markets do not source product from APP, and in the remaining markets that do, we have taken the steps to stop development on private brand products with APP and are looking at what measures can be taken regarding branded products," Walmart said in a press statement, referring to Sinar Mas Group's pulp and paper arm Asia Pulp and Paper.
Nation's First Wine Vending Machines
July 8, 2010 8:52 am | CommentsHARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (AP) — Swipe your driver's license, look into the camera, blow into the breath sensor and — voila! — you have permission to buy a bottle of wine from a vending machine. Pennsylvania, which has some of the most Byzantine liquor laws in the U.S.
Cott Purchases Cliffstar For $514 Million
July 8, 2010 8:47 am | CommentsTORONTO — Canada's biggest soft-drink maker, Cott Corp. (TSX:BCB), is hoping that the acquisition of a privately-held U.S. juice giant will give it a major boost on store shelves. Chief executive Jerry Fowden told analysts in a conference call Thursday that the purchase of Cliffstar Corp.
Produce Company Recalls 702 Cases Of Spinach
July 8, 2010 8:35 am | CommentsIRWINDALE, Calif. (AP) — Ready Pac Foods Inc. announced that it is recalling of 702 cases of bagged spinach salad after federal investigators confirmed the presence of E. coli in a random sample test. The Irwindale-based company said in its announcement Wednesday that no illnesses have been reported in connection with the Spinach Temptations line of six-ounce bagged salads it is recalling.
NCBA Gears Up For Summer Conference
July 7, 2010 5:37 am | CommentsWASHINGTON, DC (NCBA) — Members of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the largest organization dedicated solely to representing the interests of U.S. beef producers, are gearing up for their Summer Conference in Denver, Colo., July 28 through Aug. 1, 2010. According to NCBA President and Illinois cattle producer Steve Foglesong, the Summer Conference is “where the rubber meets the road” regarding industry priorities.
FDA: The State Of The Gulf Coast Seafood Industry
July 7, 2010 5:31 am | by Q: Is seafood harvested in the Gulf Coast area safe? | CommentsWASHINGTON, DC (FDA) — For up-to-date information regarding the Gulf Coast seafood industry, visit the FDA's Gulf Of Mexico Oil Spill Update page. A: Fish and shellfish harvested from areas unaffected by the closures are considered safe to eat. NOAA is closely monitoring the surface and subsurface movement of petroleum and is expanding the closed area as needed.
More Farm Investments Needed To Feed Asia's Hungry
July 7, 2010 5:04 am | CommentsMANILA, Philippines (AP) — Asia and the Pacific, home to two-thirds of the world's one billion hungry people, need increased investment in agriculture of $120 billion a year for the next 40 years to contain hunger and future spikes in food prices, United Nations and Asian Development Bank officials said Wednesday.
Dog Attack Causes Concern In Sheep Industry
July 7, 2010 4:37 am | CommentsTwo sheep dogs' attack on a Colorado mountain biker has prompted ranchers in the West to seek better ways to manage the large dogs that protect their herds against predators. The American Sheep Industry Association has been working with state groups and federal agencies to address the problem as more people make their way into once-remote areas where sheep graze.
Kraft Sells Romanian Confectionary Business
July 7, 2010 4:27 am | CommentsNORTHFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Kraft Foods Inc. has agreed to sell a Romanian confectionary business it acquired when it bought Cadbury to the international investment fund Oryxa Capital. The food maker did not disclose terms of the deal for Cadbury's Kandia-Excelent business, which makes chocolate, soft cake and confections.
"Blue" Mozzarella Sparks Protest From Italian Farmers
July 6, 2010 10:43 am | CommentsROME (AP) — Thousands of Italian farmers and farm activists massed at Italy's border with Austria on Tuesday to protest the importation of what they called sub-quality foods pretending to be from Italy. The protest at the Brenner Pass through the Alps was sparked by the blue mozzarella scandal, in which imported batches of the creamy white cheese, a food Italians consider one of their country's hallmarks, turned blue because of bacterial contamination.
Ohio Farm Owner Not Charged In Cow Abuse Case
July 6, 2010 10:16 am | CommentsMARYSVILLE, Ohio (AP) — The owner of a central Ohio farm won't face charges in connection with a video showing cattle being beaten and poked with pitchforks, a prosecutor announced Tuesday. A Union County grand jury decided not to indict Gary Conklin of Plain City after investigators and veterinarians studied the video and concluded Conklin acted appropriately, County Prosecutor David Phillips said.
EU: Monsanto Can't Stop Sale Of Patented Soy
July 6, 2010 5:37 am | CommentsBRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union's top court says Monsanto Co., the world's biggest seed maker, cannot block Argentine farmers from exporting to Europe soy meal containing the company's patented genetic modifications. A ruling Tuesday by the EU Court of Justice says Monsanto's European patent for the plant genes can't stop sales of the processed final product.
Chesapeake Oysters Gain Disease Resistance
July 6, 2010 5:37 am | CommentsBALTIMORE (AP) — Chesapeake Bay oysters appear to becoming more resistant to diseases that have caused their numbers to decline in recent years, and states should expand sanctuaries that allow resilient oyster populations to expand, according to a new report released Tuesday by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Bison Meat Recalled After Link To E. Coli
July 6, 2010 5:36 am | CommentsHENDERSON, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado company has recalled 66,000 pounds of bison meat sold nationwide after federal agriculture officials linked it to E. coli sicknesses. Rocky Mountain Natural Meats in Henderson recalled the ground and tenderized bison after it was linked to sickening five people in Colorado and one in New York, the U.
Ex-Slaughterhouse Exec Appeals Conviction
July 6, 2010 5:35 am | CommentsDES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Attorneys on Friday appealed the conviction of a former Iowa kosher meatpacking plant executive accused of bank fraud, saying the judge wrongly allowed jurors to hear evidence about a massive immigration raid at the plant and the 27-year prison sentence was unjust.
Denmark Hikes Taxes On Sweets
July 6, 2010 5:34 am | CommentsCOPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — The Danish government has increased taxes on cigarettes, ice-creams, sweets and other products in an effort to make Danes healthier. The tax reform came into effect Thursday and also means taxes have increased on soft drinks and flavored alcoholic beverages, so-called alcopops.
Schumer Takes On Filthy Flying Kitchens
July 6, 2010 5:34 am | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) is pushing for stiffer fines against companies that prepare airline food in unsanitary conditions. Pointing to repeated health code violations by three major airline caterers, Schumer wants to fine airline kitchens up to $50,000 per violation.
Dr Pepper Swaps Out HFCS For Sugar
July 2, 2010 4:26 am | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) — Dr Pepper is prescribing some sugar this summer in honor of its 125th anniversary, the latest in a series of moves by soda makers to temporarily swap out high fructose corn syrup. The spicy soda made by Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. is rolling out Dr Pepper "Made With Real Sugar" this weekend through early September.
Cattlemen Back Obama On U.S.-Korea Trade
July 1, 2010 11:06 am | CommentsWASHINGTON (NCBA) – Over the weekend, President Obama directed the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to initiate new discussions with Korea to resolve outstanding trade issues prior to the President’s visit to South Korea for the next G-20 meeting in November. According to USTR, “after the meeting and with those issues successfully resolved,” the President plans to submit the Korea-U.
American Sugar Refining Buys UK Sugar Refining Business
July 1, 2010 11:05 am | CommentsLONDON (AP) — Tate & Lyle PLC said Thursday it is selling its European sugar refining business to American Sugar Refining Inc. for 211 million pounds ($314 million) in cash as it focuses on producing ingredients for industry. American Sugar Refining, based in Yonkers, New York, is buying cane sugar refineries in London and Lisbon, the Lyle's Golden Syrup factory in London, the associated sugar and syrup brands, and the Tate & Lyle Process Technology consulting business.
