Friday, June 30, 2000
Hain Celestial to reorganize
6/30/2000-The Hain Celestial Group, which recently merged to form a leading U.S. natural and organic food company, announced plans to reorganize. The reorganization will optimize and consolidate some functions. The Hain Celestial Group headquarters is located in Uniondale, NY. Celestial Seasonings, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hain Celestial Group, will remain in Boulder, CO, in its entirety, including management and manufacturing. In addition, Grocery Sales, Category Management, Creative Services, and Manufacturing for the combined companies will be managed out of the Boulder offices. These changes have resulted in the elimination of 18 positions at Celestial Seasonings, or 5% of the Boulder workforce.The Hain Celestial Group expects that these will be the primary merger-related organizational changes in Boulder. The revised structure reinforces the company's commitment to long-term growth and creates new opportunities for shareholders, customers and employees.
Kellogg acquires Kashi
6/30/2000-Kellogg Company announced that it has acquired Kashi Company, a leading natural cereal and convenience foods company. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Kashi Company will continue to be based at its La Jolla, Calif., headquarters and will operate as part of Kellogg's natural and functional foods division. "The acquisition of Kashi Company will give Kellogg leadership in a growing segment of the ready-to-eat cereal category,'' said Kellogg Company Executive Vice President John Cook, president of Kellogg North America. "Kashi will enhance our leadership position in the RTEC category and further extend our commitment to build our consumer base in the rapidly growing natural foods marketplace." In November 1999, Kellogg acquired Worthington Foods, Inc., the nation's leader in the veggie foods category.
Solvay Interox announces expanded website
6/30/2000-Solvay Interox, a North American producer of hydrogen peroxide and its derivatives, have launched a newly expanded website, www.solvayinterox.com. The expanded site offers an extensive library of technical and safety information on the products manufactured by Solvay Interox and provides real time access to inventory levels and shipping information.
Quick Products names authorized distributor
6/30/2000-Ashland Distribution Company's Fine Ingredients Division (FID) was named authorized distributor in the U.S. and Canada for Alfred L. Wolff Quick Products - Advanced Confectionery Coatings line, effective May 2000. Wolff Quick Products has a line of confectionery compounds used for panned confections and mogul gums. FID is a North American distributor of more than 3,500 specialty and nutritional ingredients, additives and processing aids to the food/beverage, nutritional, pharmaceutical, personal care and cosmetic industries. Ashland Distribution, a division of Ashland Inc., is a leading distributor of fine ingredients in North America. Ashland Distribution has 100 distribution centers serving North America and Europe.
Tasman Extracts and Whole Herb form partnership
6/30/2000-Tasman Extracts Limited, based in New Zealand, and The Whole Herb Company, based in Sonoma, California, announced their partnership in distribution for North America. Whole Herb has been appointed as Tasman Extracts exclusive distributor in the U.S. According to Whole Herb, the partnership will add substantial benefits to both companies in the development of new products and providing customers with quality products from New Zealand.
Agriculture negotiating proposal presented in Geneva
6/30/2000-Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman and U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky unveiled the agriculture negotiating proposal the U.S. presented in Geneva Thursday as part of world agriculture trade talks. "Our proposal is bold and comprehensive," said Glickman. "It opens up markets and levels the playing field for American farmers and ranchers." Building on earlier world trade reforms, the U.S. proposes to eliminate export subsidies. In addition, the proposal hopes to reduce and strictly limit domestic supports, further open global markets by lowering tariffs and raising quotas, limit the use of agricultural monopolies that control imports and exports, give special consideration to the needs of the least developed and developing countries, recommit to the concept of the availability of food for all.
FDA amends food additive regulations
6/30/2000-The Food and Drug Administration is amending the food additive regulations to provide for the safe use of 1,3-dihalo-5,5- dimethylhydantoin (where the dihalo (halogen) may be bromine and/or chlorine) that may contain no more than 20 weight percent 1,3-dihalo-5- ethyl-5-methylhydantoin (where the dihalo (halogen) may be bromine and/ or chlorine), as a slimicide in the manufacture of paper and paperboard intended to contact food. This action is in response to petitions filed by Great Lakes Chemical Corp. and Lonza, Inc. This rule is is effective June 30, 2000.
Sun-dried tomatoes recalled; undeclared sulfites
6/30/2000-Cavallaro Specialty Foods, Inc. is voluntarily recalling its 4 oz. packages of Flora Imported Sun-Dried Tomatoes (Bags) because the product contains undeclared sulfites. People who have allergies to sulfites run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume these products. The recalled "Sun-Dried Tomatoes" were distributed in Central and Western New York, in retail stores. The product comes in a 4 oz. plastic bag. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.
Thursday, June 29, 2000
Collaboration creates broad-based color supplier
6/29/2000-BFGoodrich Food & Beverage Ingredients and Overseal Color, Inc. have formed an exclusive U.S. alliance to provide the food and beverage industry with a substantially increased line of FD&C synthetic and natural colors, as well as application and formulation technical services. Jim Donnelly, senior business manager of BFGoodrich says that the alliance establishes a major new force in the industry, providing food and beverage producers with the ultimate resource for colors and technical services. According to Paul Collins, commercial director of Overseal Color, the alliance will be virtually transparent to customers as BFGoodrich's trained technical sales force will represent Overseal Color throughout the U.S. BFGoodrich colors, offered in single and pre-blended formulations, are available in liquid, powder, granule, suspension, or emulsion formats. Overseal Colors offers a broad range of natural colors in both liquid and dry formats, as well as GM-compliant colors.
Malting barley research facility established
6/29/2000-Members of the Canadian malting and barley industry have become partners in a malting barley research and market development facility, called the Malting Barley Technical Centre (CMBTC), to be located in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The new facility will become a focal point for applied technical research and market support for malting barley marketers, processors, and their customers, both in Canada and internationally. The CMBTC has been established by the Canadian Wheat Board, Canadian Grain Commission, and other parties in the industry. Its major goal is to support development, commercialization, and marketing of Canadian malting barley varieties. Legal incorporation has taken place and work is underway on equipment selection for the pilot facility. Full operation is expected to begin in early 2001.
Scientists map brain reaction to food
6/29/2000-Scientists at the University of Florida and the University of Texas have pinpointed the time it takes for the human brain to signal that the body is full, and which areas of the brain are involved in eating. By mapping changes in blood flow and oxygenation using a technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging, termed fMRI, the researchers were able to record activity changes in the neurons to determine where in the brain, and more important, when the physiological reactions to food occur, the scientists reported in the June 29 issue of Nature. As it turns out, 10 minutes is generally all that separates feeling satisfied from feeling stuffed. That knowledge could be key in the diagnosis and treatment of obesity and associated conditions. Anthony Comuzzie, an expert studying the genetics of obesity at the Southwest Foundation for Biomedical Research, a non-profit scientific institution in San Antonio, said the study's findings are an exciting advance. The work provides a unique set of new observable characteristics for the study of obesity, he said, "which should help us get closer to the fundamental regulation of food intake."
Dole honored with first-ever ethical award
6/29/2000-On June 15, the Dole Food Company Inc. was awarded the Ethical Workplace Award from Social Accountability International (SAI). SAI, formerly known as the Council on Economic Priorities Accreditation Agency, is the developer of the international humane workplace standard, Social Accountability 8000 (SA8000). Pascual Hermanos, a majority-owned Dole subsidiary, was recognized by this award for being the first agricultural operation in the world to obtain SA8000 certification. The workplace policies, practices and overall management system of the Spanish-based operation was certified by SGS-ICS, an internationally recognized, social accountability auditor. SA8000 is a standard was developed as a means of addressing substandard working conditions and practices both in the U.S. and abroad.
X-ray test center opens in New York
6/29/2000-The IBA Food Safety Division announced Wednesday the opening of a new X-ray test center in New York. The center currently testing a variety of food products such as ready-to-eat meats, raw poultry, ground beef, and fresh and frozen vegetables from more than a dozen different customers. The new test center is an electrically driven ionization center and is designed to allow food companies to treat their products with proprietary X-ray technology. In addition to X-ray, e-beam, and gamma processing services, IBA offers assistance with the development and running of turn-key systems. For further information, see the IBA web site.
Cargill expands Iowa plant
6/29/2000-Cargill Foods has announced plans for a three-year, multi-phase expansion of its food starch operation in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The first phase, which will significantly increase specialty starch production capacity, will be completed October 1. Total investment over the project's three phases is expected to approach $50 million. Corn grinding capacity will not be increased for the expansion.
Wednesday, June 28, 2000
Dean Foods acquires Agrilink pickle business
6/28/2000-Dean Foods Company and Agrilink Foods, Inc., announced today that Dean Foods has purchased from Agrilink its Nalley's pickle business based in Tacoma, Washington. The acquired business sells approximately $40 million annually of pickle, pepper and relish products under the Nalley's and Farman's brand names. Agrilink Foods is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Agrilink, an agricultural marketing cooperative based in Rochester, New York. Dean Foods, headquartered in Franklin Park, Illinois is the nation's largest pickle processor and a leading fluid milk and dairy products processor.
Karlshamns expects growth from new regulations
6/28/2000-On 25 May the European Council confirmed the recommendation previously issued by the European Parliament, to the effect that other vegetable fats may now replace up to 5% of cocoa butter in chocolate products sold within the European Union. This new legislation is said to be a positive development for Karlshamns AB, as the market for cocoa butter replacers may be expanded, says Chairman of the Board Jan Ohlsson from Nordico Invest. Karlshamns is now preparing for the consequences, reviewing how the company's production capacity for speciality fats may be further improved. Harmonisation of the European chocolate standard means that free trade between the member states is now guaranteed, while it is now also possible to replace up to 5% of cocoa butter by other, clearly specified and EU approved, vegetable fats.
Snapple files for IPO
6/28/2000-Triarc Companies, Inc. announced that its subsidiary Snapple Beverage Group, Inc., has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) a registration statement for an initial public offering (IPO) of its common stock. Snapple Beverage Group will own Triarc's premium beverage business and its soft drink concentrates business. Snapple plans to list on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ``SNP'' and expects to complete the offering during the third quarter of 2000, subject to SEC review, market conditions and other factors.
Alto and Land O'Lakes studying joint venture
6/28/2000-While Alto Dairy Cooperative and Land O'Lakes, Inc. are encouraged by the preliminary results of a feasibility study focusing on the construction of a jointly owned, world-scale cheese plant in Wisconsin, officials of the two cooperatives today said many questions about the project remain to be answered. "The feasibility study is on track and the initial results look positive," Larry Lemmenes, President and General Manager of Alto, said today. "This progress is encouraging. However, this project would require a major financial commitment, and there are a significant number of questions still to be answered before a final decision is made." Among the issues cited were determining an exact location (based on such issues as sustainable milk supply, transportation infrastructure, natural resources and available work force); environmental conditions and requirements; overall construction costs; financing options; and available economic support.
Dairy import guidance document available
6/28/2000-The FDA announced today the availability of a final guidance document entitled "Importation of PMO Defined Dairy Products (M-I-00-4)". This guidance provides information that States can use to respond to inquiries regarding the importation of "Grade A" dairy products from other countries. This level 2 guidance is being issued consistent with FDA's good guidance practices (62 FR 8961, February 27, 1997). According to the Federal Register, this guidance document represents the agency's current thinking on the subject and it does not create or confer any rights for or on any person and does not operate to bind FDA or the public. An alternative approach may be used if such approach satisfies the requirements of the applicable statute, regulation or both. For further information, see the Federal Register Online.
USDA proposes inspection and certification revision
6/28/2000-The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service issued a proposed rule that would revise the regulations governing inspection and certification for processed fruits, vegetables, and processed products made from them by increasing by approximately three to nine % fees charged for the inspection services. According to the Federal Register, these revisions are necessary in order to recover, as nearly as practicable, the costs of performing inspection services under the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. The fees charged to persons required to have inspections on imported commodities in accordance with the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1937 would also be affected. Comments on the proposed rule must be submitted on or before August 28, 2000. For more information, see the Federal Register Online.
Food and beverage recalls
6/28/2000-Country Pure Foods, Inc. is conducting a recall of certain Ardmore Farms brand 100% Pure Apple Juice, in 4-ounce cups, 96 cups per case, because the products are contaminated with yeast. According to FDA, 1,627 cases were distributed in West Virginia, Minnesota, California, New York, Indiana, Washington state, Tennessee, and Ohio. The recalled products bear the codes of N1370B2, N1380B3, and N1380B1 on shipping case. Dr. Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. is conducting a recall of certain Caffeine Free Dr. Pepper, both regular and diet, because the product contains 55 mg sodium but lists 0 mg sodium on the label. According to FDA, 6,890 6-packs and 33,040 12-packs were distributed in Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee. See SafetyAlerts.com for a list of the recalled products. Lipton is conducting a recall of certain Lipton Noodles and Sauce, Butter Egg Noodles in a Butter Sauce, in 4.5-ounce foil pouch, because the product was manufactured using onion powder found to be contaminated with Salmonella cerro. According to FDA, 1,200 pouches were distributed in the northeastern U.S. The recalled products bear the lot number of OB02L*** (the last three digits vary). Ex-Cel Corned Beef Company, Inc. has voluntarily recalled 1,200 pounds of beef because of possible bacterial contamination. The company agreed to the action after a sample of its "Sliced Cooked Beef in Natural Juices" tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes. The product was manufactured June 19 - 20 and sold in ten pound packages to restaurants and other businesses in Illinois' food service industry. The package label bears Ex-Cel Corned Beef Company's establishment number of 517 inside the Illinois seal of inspection and a date code of 1720.
Tuesday, June 27, 2000
Cerestar to build new applications lab
6/27/2000-Cerestar USA has begun construction on a new application lab at its corporate headquarters in Hammond, Ind. "Ingredient suppliers are being asked to assume a larger role in product development, because mergers and acquisitions have left food processors with fewer resources for their own in-house research and development," said Kevin Weber, vice president of sales and marketing services. Weber says that Cerestar USA will assign separate application staff members to work on bakery, convenience, and diary product lines. The applications lab is expected to be completed by the end of 2000. The application lab will include a wet lab for production modeling emulsified sauces, starch jellies, hard candies, soups, sauces, dairy products, and frozen dairy desserts and for emulsification and encapsulation of flavors and oils. A full test kitchen will provide production modeling for bread, bakery products, and refrigerated and frozen foods.
Keebler recalls cookies for undeclared dairy
6/27/2000-Keebler Company is recalling 2 oz. Snack Size Fudge Shoppe Mini Fudge Stripes Shortbread Cookies because the product may contain may contain undeclared dairy ingredients. These cookies are sold in 2-ounce packages, which may be sold individually, or may be packed in a multi-pack tray of 6 packages or a multi-pack tray of 8 packages. According to the company all package codes begin with the letters 'AL...'. No other Fudge Shoppe Fudge Stripes Cookies are affected by this recall. Consumers may call Keebler Company at 1-800-554-5676 for additional information.
Benecol reduces cholesterol levels in patients
6/27/2000-Patients controlling their high cholesterol levels with statin (cholesterol-reducing drugs) achieved further significant reductions in cholesterol by adding Benecol® spread to their diet, according to a multicenter study published in the July 1, 2000 issue of the American Journal of Cardiology. Benecol contains plant stanol esters, a unique ingredient known to inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the gastrointestinal tract. In the eight-week study, Benecol lowered blood levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, the "bad" cholesterol) by 17% and total cholesterol by 12%, compared with seven percent and five percent, respectively, for placebo (canola oil spread). The cholesterol-lowering effect of the stanol ester spread was evident by the second week of the study.
Food company earnings top estimates
6/27/2000-Both General Mills and Dean Foods reported quarterly earnings that beat estimates. General Mills Inc., the second largest cereal maker in the U.S., on Tuesday reported a 12% rise in fiscal fourth-quarter earnings per share, beating analysts' estimates as sales rose 6%. Dean Foods Co., a dairy company, reported its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings from continuing operations rose 10.3% driven by gains in its dairy segment and contributions from new products.
More consolidation on the way for food industry?
6/27/2000-According to a report in today's Wall Street Journal, some analysts see more food-industry consolidation in the near future. The acquisitions of the past few weeks, such as Unilever's pending acquisition of Bestfoods and Philip Morris' agreement to buy Nabisco Holdings Corp., are going to cause other companies to take a second look at operations and their peers. Some recent food industry deals in the past few months include the Phillip Morris purchase of Nabisco on June 25; ConAgra's purchase of International Home Foods on June 23; Unilever's purchase of Bestfoods, Slim Fast, and Ben& Jerry's in June and April; Hain Foods merger with Celestial Seasonings in March, Kraft Foods acquisitions of Balance Bar and Boca Burger; and Kellogg's purchase of Worthington Foods in November 1999
Monday, June 26, 2000
Industri Kapital to buy Alfa Laval
6/26/2000-Industri Kapital, a European private equity firm, and Tetra Laval have signed an agreement whereby the Industri Kapital 2000 Fund has agreed to buy Alfa Laval. Tetra Laval will retain a minority interest in the business. Industri Kapital intents to further develop Alfa Laval as a leader in equipment for separation, heat transfer, and fluid handling, with a view to listing the shares publicly within five years.
IBP plants recall ground beef
6/26/2000-IBP-Lakeside Packers, an Alberta, Canada company, is voluntarily recalling approximately 46,000 pounds of ground beef products distributed in the United States that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. Another IBP, Inc. plant in Geneseo, Ill., is also voluntarily recalling approximately 266,000 pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. For more information, see the USDA recalls page.
Program priorities for CFSAN to be established
6/26/2000-The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting comments concerning the establishment of program priorities in the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) for fiscal year (FY) 2001. As part of its annual planning, budgeting, and resource allocation process, CFSAN is reviewing its programs to set priorities and establish work product expectations. This notice is being published to give the public an opportunity to provide input into the priority-setting process. For more information, see the Federal Register of June 26, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 123).
Comments requested on CSPI's added sugars petition
6/26/2000-The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability for comment of a petition submitted by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). The petition requested that FDA establish a Daily Reference Value (DRV) for added sugars with a corresponding Daily Value, require the declaration of added sugars, and revise criteria pertaining to nutrient content claims and health claims. CSPI, in a citizen petition filed on August 4, 1999, requested that the agency establish a DRV of 40 grams for added sugars and require the declaration of added sugars in nutrition labeling in both grams per serving and a corresponding percent Daily Value. CSPI also requested that FDA define nutrient content claims for added sugars. Finally, CSPI requested that, when nutrient content or health claims are made about a food, meal product, or main dish product, FDA set, in addition to the limits on other nutrients described in the current regulations, limits and require disclosure of the total amount of added sugars for these claims. For more information, see the Federal Register of June 26, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 123).
Philip Morris acquires Nabisco
6/26/2000-Philip Morris Companies Inc. announced that it entered into definitive agreements with Nabisco Group Holdings and Nabisco Holdings Corp. to acquire all outstanding shares of Nabisco Holdings Corp. for $55.00 per share in cash. The transaction reflects an enterprise value of $18.9 billion, which includes the assumption of approximately $4.0 billion in net debt. As part of the acquisition, Nabisco will be combined with Kraft Foods, Inc., the operating food company of Philip Morris Companies Inc. Following the combination, Kraft plans to undertake an initial public offering for less than 20% of the newly combined company. The IPO proceeds will be used to retire a portion of the debt incurred as a result of the acquisition of Nabisco. It is expected that the IPO of Kraft will be completed in early 2001. Geoffrey C. Bible, chairman and chief executive officer, Philip Morris Companies Inc. said, "The acquisition of Nabisco coupled with our plans for an IPO of what will be the world's most profitable food company is truly compelling from a strategic, financial and shareholder value perspective. The combination of Kraft and Nabisco will create the most dynamic company in the food industry both in terms of absolute earnings levels and revenue and earnings growth rates. '' The acquisition of Nabisco will enable Philip Morris to retain its position as the world's second-largest food company after Swiss giant Nestle. That ranking had been threatened by Unilever's recent deal to buy rival Bestfoods for $20.3 billion, which would have reduced Philip Morris to the No. 3 spot.
Friday, June 23, 2000
USDA seeking nominations for advisory committee
6/23/2000-The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting nominations for membership on the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF). For more information, see the Federal Register of June 23, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 122).
Nabisco board will meet to discuss sale
6/23/2000-The board of U.S. food giant Nabisco Group Holdings is expected to meet later today to discuss starting takeover bids which came in lower than anticipated for it and its majority-owned food unit. News reports said the board would review two bids from Philip Morris and a joint venture of Groupe Danone and Cadbury-Schweppes Plc. and decide how to proceed with a sale that some analysts see staying open until late July.
Praxair offers new juice preservation technology
6/23/2000-A technology that significantly extends the shelf-life of juices while maintaining their fresh flavor is in the preparatory stages of in-plant testing by Praxair, Inc. The process, expected to achieve food safety results similar to heat pasteurization, is likely to have a noticeable impact on the $15 billion juice market by allowing the taste of fresh-squeezed juice to be widely available. Praxair's new technology treats juice with carbon dioxide (CO2), an antimicrobial. Working together with the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Praxair developed the equipment and the continuous process that utilizes the patented CO2 technology perfected by UF researchers. The resulting process produces a final product that meets current U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) standards for juice food safety programs, yet allows the juice to retain its fresh-squeezed flavor. For more information, visit Praxair on the Internet.
Triarc plans IPO for Snapple unit
6/23/2000-Triarc, which operates the Arby's restaurant chain, announced that its board has approved plans to spin off its Snapple beverages unit in an initial public offering later this year. Triarc, which bought the iced-tea brand from Quaker Oats in 1997, said the company being spun off would comprise Snapple and its other beverage labels including Mistic, Stewart's Royal Crown, Diet Rite RC Edge, and Nehi.
ConAgra to buy International Home Foods
6/23/2000-ConAgra Inc. announced that it would acquire International Home Foods Inc. for about $1.6 billion in cash and stock. International Home Foods, maker of Chef Boyardee pasta products, PAM cooking spray, and Gulden's Mustard will join such well-known consumer names as Healthy Choice, Butterball, Orville Redenbacher, and Swiss Miss as part of ConAgra's packaged foods business. ConAgra currently owns some 100 consumer brands, including 27 brands with annual retail sales of more than $100 million. International Home Foods brings numerous brands to ConAgra's portfolio, six of which individually have retail sales in excess of $100 million. International Home Foods shareholders will receive $22 per share, half of which will be paid in cash and half of which will be paid in ConAgra stock.
Thursday, June 22, 2000
USDA announces steps to promote cleaner wheat exports
6/22/2000-Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman announced Wednesday two new steps designed to make U.S. wheat more competitive in world markets by encouraging the export of cleaner wheat. "By tightening standards for USDA purchases and providing incentives for cleaner wheat, we can help improve the quality and value of U.S. wheat around the world," Glickman said. The USDA will immediately raise the standard for cleanliness of wheat purchased for U.S. foreign food assistance programs by reducing the level of dockage permitted. Dockage includes all matter other than wheat that must be removed prior to milling the wheat into flour. USDA also will request public comments on a proposal to establish an official U.S. standard for maximum dockage levels in exported wheat. USDA's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) measures and reports dockage on each export shipment, but the actual level is determined contractually between buyer and seller. GIPSA is expected to publish the proposal in the Federal Register this fall.
Auditors want tighter sanitation enforcement
6/22/2000-Auditors said Wednesday that the Agriculture Department needs to tighten its enforcement of sanitation standards in meat and poultry plants and require processors to do more testing for deadly microbes. USDA's switch to a science-based inspection system four years ago is improving meat safety, but the agency "reduced its oversight beyond what was prudent and necessary for the protection of the consumer," according to report by the department's inspector general. The new inspection system requires companies to identify potential hazards in slaughterhouses and processing plants, and implement controls for foodborne pathogens. Previously, companies relied on USDA inspectors to find contaminated. The inspectors' job now is to ensure that the plants are following their sanitation plans and to do some microbial testing. Last month, President Clinton announced that the department would require processors to start testing for Listeria. USDA officials are considering tighter standards for E. coli.
Diageo plans flotation of Burger King
6/22/2000-According to a report in today's Wall Street Journal, British food and drinks group Diageo Plc announced it planned a partial flotation of its U.S.-based fast food restaurant chain Burger King on the New York Stock Exchange. Current Burger King Chief Executive Dennis Malamatinas is to leave the group and will resign from the board of Diageo on August 30. A worldwide search has begun for a new head to lead the Miami-based company toward flotation. The company said Guinness brewing chief Colin Storm would be appointed chief executive of Burger King.
U.S. Codex Office to hold public meeting
6/22/2000-The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of Food Safety and the Food Safety and Inspection Service announced a public meeting June 22 to provide information and obtain comments from stakeholders on a draft U.S. response to the Codex Committee on General Principles's draft working principles of risk analysis. The topic of a "precautionary principle" will be discussed as part of the risk analysis principles. The public meeting will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, June 22, in Room 107A, Jamie L. Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20005. The draft U.S. comments are available electronically.
Philip Morris and Cadbury-Danone submit bids to buy Nabisco
6/22/2000-Philip Morris Cos. and a joint venture of Danone SA and Cadbury PLC submitted final bids for all of Nabisco Holdings Corp. that could reach nearly $55 a share, or $14.57 billion. According to some reports, the bidding for Nabisco won't reach the upper end of projections, which could go to $60 a share, or $15.9 billion.
Wednesday, June 21, 2000
Guernsey Bel acquires Pacific Foods
6/21/2000-Guernsey Bel, Inc. of Chicago, Ill. has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Pacific Foods based in Seattle, Washington. The acquisition will provide Guernsey Bel and Pacific the opportunity to generate new business within their respective customers bases, and the ability to expand their offerings. Pacific Foods is a seasoning and food ingredient company and Guernsey Bel is a producer of ice cream inclusions, variegates, and flavors.
IFT Expo exhibitor donations to feed North Texas needy
6/21/2000-Every year, at the close of Food Expo, IFT and its exhibitors work with a local hunger-relief organization that accepts food donations for the needy from our exhibitors. In Dallas, IFT worked with the North Texas Food Bank (NTFB), a not-for-profit food depository which has worked since 1982 to feed the hungry in North Texas with food that would otherwise go to waste. For the 2000 Annual Meeting and Food Expo, food donations totaled 18,575 lb up from the 1999 total of 17,009 lb and the 1998 total of 11,755 lb. Freeman Decorating Co. worked closely with NTFB to orchestrate a timely transfer of leftover food as the Expo closed on Wednesday afternoon. This year Freeman delivered to the food bank two trailers containing cold storage and one trailer of dry storage to assist the Food Bank who's own vehicles were dispatched for other duties. IFT salutes the North Texas Food Bank, the Freeman Decorating Co., and the Food Expo exhibitor donors for their generosity to this very worthwhile cause. A list of participants follows: Kelatron; Activ Intl; ISP, Inc.; IDSA-USA, Inc. ; David Michael; Miyako; Watson; MBI Intl.; McCormick; Mooney Farms; California Fig; Penford; Greenvalley Pecan; Balchem Corp; Nutrical Sa De Cv; Calif Dates; Archer Daniels; Paramount Farms; United Soybean; Superior Quality Foods; Timber Crest Farms; Orafti Active; Pinahs; Natl Sunflower Assn. ; Williams Foods; Cherry Marketing; Northland Cranberries; Flow Intl Corp.; Inland Empire Foods; Central Soya; Griffith Labs; Danisco Cultor ; Land Of Lakes; Novo Nordisk; Sunsweet Groves; Texture; Virginia Dare; Supherb Farms; Flavors Of North America; Heller Seasonings; National Starch & Chemical; Metarom USA; Glucona America; Vitusa Products; Kerry Ingredients; Beatrice Cheese; Bartek Ingredients; Peters Chocolate; BASF Corp.; Nitta Gelatin NA; Nutri Nova; Roche Vitamins; Robertet Flavors; Morton Salt; H B Taylor; Dahlgren & Co; Original Nut House; Grande De Custom; Calif Natural Products; Andre Klein; Mitsubishi; Kraft Ingredients; Scholle; Fortitech; Nabisco; Barry Callebaut; Glambia; Wixton; State Of Colorado; Dairy Farmers Of America; Ottens Flavors; Kellogg; Buderim Ginger Ltd; Bell Flavors; Chiquita Brands; Sargento Foods Inc. ; Remy Industries; Graceland Fruit Inc; Modern Mushroom Farms; Monarch Wine Co; Sesmark Foods; Hazelnut Council; Knouse Foods; Thiel Cheese Inc; Organic Commodity; USDA; Pecan Deluxe.
JIFSR appoints new Executive Director
6/21/2000-The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the appointment of Jerry R. Gillespie, DVM, PhD, as the Executive Director of the Joint Institute for Food Safety Research (JIFSR). JIFSR, which was created in 1998 as part of the Clinton Administrations Food Safety Initiative, is a joint undertaking staffed and supported by DHHS and USDA. Its major functions are to coordinate planning and priority setting for food safety research among the two departments, other government agencies, and the private sector, and to foster effective translation of research results into practice. In the last four years, Gillespie has conducted research on the food safety of beef production, serving as the principal investigator for studies on the ecology of Escherichia coli in beef cow-calf operations. During his two-year appointment, which began on June 1, 2000, Gillespie will provide leadership for the coordination of research on food safety issues across the government, including USDA, DHHS, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
EU to ban high-risk cattle tissues
6/21/2000-A majority of European Union farm ministers are supporting proposals to ban cattle tissues thought to carry mad cow disease, according to a Reuters report on Monday. Ministers failed to reach a qualified majority under the EUs weighted voting system on the ban, which outlaws the use of Specified Risk Materials (SRM) -- cattles eyes, spinal cords, and brain tissue in food and animal feed, but a simple majority in favor was enough to give the European Commission the green light to implement the measure. Under the proposal, EU countries would be divided into high-risk and low-risk. Countries with a high risk of mad cow disease such as Britain and Portugal would have to remove a long list of cattle tissues, and others, deemed to be low-risk, would have a shorter list of cattle parts to ban. Countries which export products containing SRMs to the EU have until April 2001 to submit data proving they are free of mad cow disease.
Tuesday, June 20, 2000
USDA proposes changes in dry whey and shell egg standards
6/20/2000-The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) is soliciting comments on its proposal to change the United States Standards for Dry Whey. AMS is proposing changes that would lower the bacterial estimate of not more than 50,000 per gram to not more than 30,000 per gram, incorporate maximum scorched particle content as a requirement for U.S. grade, and expand the Test Methods section to allow product evaluation using the latest methods included in Standard Methods for Examination of Dairy Products, in the Official Methods of Analysis of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists, and in standards developed by the International Dairy Federation. These changes are being proposed to strengthen the quality requirements of this Standard to reflect improvements that have occurred in dry whey quality since the Standards were last reviewed. AMS is also proposing editorial changes to provide consistency with other dry milk standards. AMS is also changing the United States Grade Standards for Shell Eggs. Specifically, the changes delete the general term ``Inedible eggs'' and its definition, revise the definition of the general term ``Loss'' eggs by including examples of inedible eggs, revise the term descriptive of an A quality white, and delete specifications for packaging materials. These changes will simplify and clarify the terminology used and will remove information that is no longer of value to the industry. For more information, see the Federal Register of June 20, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 119).
Resource lists on obesity available online
6/20/2000-Two new resource lists from the Food and Nutrition Information Center are now available: Childhood Obesity: A Food and Nutrition Resource List for Educators and Researchers and Weight Control and Obesity for Consumers. They are on-line at www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/pubs_and_db.html.
Tetra Pak opens new pilot plant
6/20/2000-Tetra Pak, a leader in liquid food processing and packaging, has announced the opening of a new pilot plant in Denton, Tex. The Tetra Pak Aseptic Technology Pilot Plant is designed to provide customers with complete processing facilities for the development of food products from the bench to full-scale production. The Pilot Plant is said to offer maximum flexibility in the development of liquid (primarily aseptic) food products. The plant is capable of handling a variety of products including fruit juices, fruit concentrates, wine, soy, diary, and non-dairy milk, puddings, soups, sauces, salad dressings, and others. For more information, see www.tetrapak.com.
Elevated triglyceride levels linked to heart attack risk
6/20/2000-In the first study of its kind in families, researchers have shown that elevated triglycerides - a blood fat - sharply increase a person's risk of dying from a heart attack, even if a person's blood cholesterol is normal. According to Melissa A. Austin, Ph.D., of the department of epidemiology at the University of Washington School of Public Health and Community Medicine in Seattle, who reported the study in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, "The findings offer more evidence of the need to measure levels of both cholesterol and triglycerides when patients undergo lipid profile testing."
Cosun acquires bakery ingredients company
6/20/2000-Cosun, a Dutch food ingredients company, has acquired the food ingredients division of Dohler. With this acquisition, Cosun strengthens the position of its business group in the fine bakery sector in the Netherlands, France, and the United States. The product range includes flavors, fruit preparations, pastry fillings, and pastry mixes.
Monday, June 19, 2000
Impress to acquire Heinz's can-making plants
6/19/2000-A Dutch firm, Impress Metal Packaging Holdings B.V., announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire all of the H. J. Heinz Co.'s can-making assets in North America and form a global strategic relationship with Heinz. Impress would acquire and operate all five of Heinz's North American can-making operations located within Heinz's food processing plants in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania; Terminal Island, California; American Samoa; and Puerto Rico; including one stand-alone end (lid)-making and coated sheet facility in Weirton, West Virginia. Together these five plants employ approximately 920 people. Impress expects to complete the acquisition in early August, 2000. Impress will have an initial 10-year Supply Agreement for all Heinz metal food can requirements at its StarKist Seafood and Heinz Pet Products facilities throughout North America.
Ralcorp to acquire syrup and sauce producer
6/19/2000-Private-label food giant Ralcorp Holdings Inc. has announced that it plans to acquire the Red Wing Co. Inc. in a deal valued at $132.5 million. Ralcorp makes a variety of foods sold under the stores' brand names. Products include cereals, crackers and cookies, snack nuts, mayonnaise, salad dressings and candies. Tomkins PLC is selling its Red Wing division to focus on its core engineering and industrial activities. Red Wing makes store-brand products ranging from syrups, peanut butter and jelly to barbecue sauce and tomato-based products.
Seagram to sell beverage business if merger successful
6/19/2000-Negotiations to combine the French utilities and media conglomerate Vivendi SA and Seagram Co. of Canada are in their final phase, Vivendi said Sunday, suggesting the estimated $30 billion deal could be sealed today. A statement said that the companies would refuse comment ahead of a news conference on Tuesday. The proposed merger would combine Seagram's film production and music interests with Vivendi's European cable TV, satellite and Internet distribution systems. Vivendi chairman Jean-Marie Messier said last week that Seagram would sell its $9 billion drinks business as part of a deal with Vivendi.
USDA to donate wheat to North Korea
6/19/2000-The U.S. Department of Agriculture will donate 50,000 metric tons of wheat to the World Food Program's emergency feeding operations in North Korea. "Given the severe food shortages that continue in North Korea, the United States is responding to the World Food Program's latest appeal for emergency humanitarian assistance," Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said Thursday. This donation, valued at an estimated $12.8 million, will be provided under USDA's Section 416(b) program. Noodles and other food products made from the donated wheat will be distributed to children, pregnant and lactating mothers, hospital patients, and other vulnerable groups. Earlier this year, USDA donated 10,000 metric tons of wheat for distribution in North Korea. Under fiscal 1999 food aid programs, USDA provided more than 550,000 metric tons of wheat, flour, corn, and nonfat dry milk as part of U.S. food assistance to support World Food Program feeding operations in North Korea.
Food product recalls
6/19/2000-Packerland Packing Co., Inc. is recalling approximately 196,000 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the FSIS announced Wednesday. The products being recalled were shipped in boxes bearing "EST. 562-B" inside the USDA seal of inspection and the production date of "05/23/00." All boxes bear brand names of either "Sysco Ground Beef" or "Packerland Ground Beef." The recalled products were produced on May 23, and sent to distributors and wholesalers in New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Indiana, Wisconsin, Ohio, Illinois, New Hampshire, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania. Archway Cookies is recalling 12-ounce packages of Gourmet Rocky Road cookies because the product contains eggs which are not indicated in the ingredient statement. The recall is the result of a recent packaging change for the Gourmet Rocky Road product which inadvertently omitted eggs from the list of ingredients on the product label. The label error affects approximately 100,000 packages distributed in the U.S. containing the printed dates June 5 through August 25. Packages of Archway Rocky Road sold by the company's franchisees in the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and Hawaii do not contain the label error and are not affected by the recall. No other Archway products are affected by the recall. Farmland Foods Inc. is recalling approximately 86,000 pounds of sliced turkey products that may have been exposed to non-food grade lubricating oil, the FSIS announced Friday. Sliced turkey ham subject to recall is "Farmland" sliced "Turkey Ham" in 10 and 16 ounce packages. Package labels bear establishment number P2122 and use by dates of "JUL 05" and earlier. FSIS is also informing the public that sliced turkey breast, which had a use by date of April 30 or earlier, may have also come into contact with the non-food grade lubricating oil. The products were distributed to retail stores nationwide. For a list of the products recalled, see SafetyAlerts.com. Allen Family Foods, Inc., is recalling approximately 387,000 pounds of chicken products that may be contaminated with glass, FSIS announced Saturday. The products were bulk packaged on ice in 40 pound boxes from May 31 through June 15 with labels that bear "P-171" inside the USDA seal of inspection and the following codes: 05HF, 06AD, 06AE, 06AH, 06AI, 06AJ, 06DD, 06DE, 06DH, 06DI, 06DJ, and 06ED. The products were distributed to wholesalers in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. The problem was discovered by the company through a customer complaint.
Thursday, June 15, 2000
IFT 2000 Annual Meeting and Expo ends
6/15/2000-The Institute of Food Technologists 2000 Annual Meeting and Food Expo is now over. For more information on the meeting see IFT Today on the Web.
Heinz buys more Hain shares
6/15/2000-H.J. Heinz Co. announced it intends to exercise its right to increase its stake by June 19, 2000 in Hain Celestial Group Inc. to restore Heinz's investment level to 19.5% of the outstanding stock of Hain. The Heinz investment level was diluted following the acquisition by Hain Food Group of Celestial Seasonings Inc. on May 30, 2000. "We are delighted with our global partnership with Hain Celestial, which is the leading player in the natural and organic segment,'' said William Johnson, Heinz president and chief executive officer.
Ralston and others form B2B electronic marketplace
6/15/2000-Ralston Purina Co. announced it has joined with 48 other leading consumer product companies to create a global business-to-business (B2B) electronic marketplace called Transora.com. The new for-profit company will enable consumer products companies like Ralston to streamline business transactions with their suppliers, buyers and distributors via the Internet. To launch Transora, the 49 food, beverage and consumer product companies have made investment, which total nearly $250 million. Transora plans to roll out its first service offerings in the fourth calendar quarter of 2000. Pilot transactions are already underway. Services will span the entire supply chain on a global basis, from suppliers to manufacturers to retailers, and will provide procurement, vendor and product catalogs, online order management, supply chain collaboration and financial services. For more
information about Transora, visit its web site.
StarKist intoduces tuna in a pouch
6/15/2000-StarKist Seafood introduced StarKist Tuna in a Pouch today. The vacuum-sealed foil pouch is said to deliver firmer, fresher-tasting tuna with no draining. Unlike canned tuna, the pouch contains virtually no liquid. Consumers who tested the pouch in home trials conducted by StarKist preferred the new product 5 to 1 over canned tuna. Consumers rated StarKist Tuna in a Pouch significantly higher in quality, fresh taste, texture, appearance, and convenience. The national product launch begins this September. The suggested retail price is $1.99 for the chunk light varieties and $2.79 for the albacore. The 7-ounce pouch is designed for families and provides enough tuna for four sandwiches.
Ham products recalled for possible Listeria contamination
6/15/2000-Demes Gourmet Corp. is recalling approximately 1,800 pounds of hams that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the FSIS announced Wednesday. The hams subject to recall are "Black Forest Brand Ham" in approximately 2 1/2 pound packages. The package label bears "EST .2888" inside the USDA seal of inspection. An additional product weight label has a "Packed On" date of "MAY29" through "JUN9". The hams were distributed to retail stores in California. AALA Meat Market, Inc., a Honolulu, Hawaii, firm, is voluntarily recalling approximately 270 pounds of ham that may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, the FSIS also announced Wednesday. The products subject to recall are "AALA Meat Market Inc." brand "Sliced Chopped Ham," "Sliced Luncheon Meat," and "Lean Cooked Ham" in six to 40-pound packages. The package labels bear "EST. 12425" inside the USDA seal of inspection and date codes "6-1-00" to "6-10-00." The ham was produced from June 1 through June 10 and distributed to hotels, restaurants, and other food service entities in Honolulu. Both problems were discovered through routine FSIS microbiological sampling. FSIS has received no reports of illness associated with consumption of these products.
Cambrex announces agreement with Safe Foods
6/15/2000-Cambrex Corporation announced that its subsidiary, Zeeland Chemicals, Inc., and Safe Foods Corporation have concluded an agreement for the manufacture and supply of Cecure, a proprietary anti-bacterial formulation for food and food processing applications. Cecure is a food safety intervention, originally developed by researchers at the University of Arkansas, which has shown dramatic ability to eliminate bacteria such as Salmonella, E. Coli, Listeria, and Campylobacter. Zeeland Chemicals will exclusively manufacture Cecure for Safe Foods for use as an antimicrobial food processing aid, and as a decontamination aid for food processing equipment, food preparation surfaces, and packaging for all sales in North, Central and South America, and Europe, pending regulatory approval.
Texas beef plant asked to shut down
6/15/2000-Supreme Beef Processors Inc., a Texas beef processor at the center of a dispute over government meat-safety standards, was asked by the Agriculture Department Tuesday to voluntarily shut down after the firm failed a set of microbial tests for the fourth straight time. A federal judge recently barred USDA from using such test results to force the closing of the facility, agreeing with the meatpacking industry that testing for Salmonella bacteria was not a fair measure of whether a plant was sanitary. Thomas Billy, administrator of FSIS, has said that the latest failure came after the company made improvements in February to its sanitation procedures, adding, "As a result of the court decision, FSIS has asked Supreme Beef to voluntarily suspend its ground beef operations and to determine what further corrective actions should be taken to bring the plant into compliance." FSIS spokeswoman Carol Blake said, "It's too early to tell" what the department will do if the plant refuses to close.
Wednesday, June 14, 2000
Ground beef sold in restaurants and bars recalled
6/14/2000-Del Gould Meats, Inc. is recalling approximately 7,160 pounds of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's FSIS announced today. The products subject to recall are Del Gould brand "Ground Beef Patties," "Beef Patty," and "Ground Beef" packaged in 10 to 60 pound random weight boxes. The box labels bear production dates of "060200," "060500," or "060600," and "EST. 5553" inside the USDA seal of inspection. The ground beef products were produced on June 2, 5, and 6, and distributed to restaurants, bars, and cafes in southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa. The problem was discovered through routine FSIS monitoring.
NMA encourages FSIS to inform plants of GMPs
6/14/2000-NMA and other associations wrote to FSIS to encourage the Agency to provide information to small establishments, directly through field inspection personnel, about the availability of the Guidelines for Good Manufacturing Practices, Standard Operating Procedures and Environmental Sampling, and Testing Recommendations for Ready-to-Eat Products. Despite efforts to distribute these guidelines, many firms involved in recent recalls have never heard of the them, which have been around since April 1999. For further information about the guidelines see www.nmaonline.org.
Ecolab, Inc. files food additive petition
6/14/2000-The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had announced that Ecolab, Inc., has filed a petition proposing that the food additive regulations be amended to provide for the safe use of a mixture of peroxyacetic acid, octanoic acid, acetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, peroxyoctanoic acid, and 1-hydroxyethylidene-1, 1-diphosphonic acid as an antimicrobial agent on red meat carcasses. Written comments on the petitioner's environmental assessment are due by July 13, 2000.
Rice helps cut oil in deep-fried doughnuts
6/14/2000-Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture's principal research agency, the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), are hoping to ease consumer guilt by reducing the oil content of doughnuts, a breakfast favorite that generates $4-5 billion in annual sales. In preliminary trials led by ARS chemist Fred Shih, doughnuts made from dough containing small amounts of modified rice starch, rice flour and other ingredients absorbed as much as 70% less oil during frying than traditional, all-wheat doughnuts. Though less oily, the doughnuts' taste, texture, and other sensory properties are comparable to traditional cake doughnuts, according to Shih. Shih's team has submitted a paper on the research for publication. They're also exploring the patent potential of the approach, which involves a procedure to physically modify rice flour. ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's principal research agency.
Farmland National Beef receives food safety license
6/14/2000-Farmland National Beef Packing Company, Kansas City, Mo., announced Tuesday that it has licensed the commercial development rights for activated lactoferrin, a new food safety technology that protects consumers from harmful bacteria that may be found in meat. The development rights were licensed from A.S. "Narain" Naidu, Ph.D., a medical microbiologist who directs the Center for Antimicrobial Research at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Dr. Naidu's invention involves an activated form of lactoferrin, a natural protein from cow's milk that is applied to meat surfaces during processing and packaging. Laboratory results indicate the activated form of lactoferrin is effective against more than 30 different kinds of harmful bacteria, including E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and Campylobacter. John R. Miller, chief executive officer of Farmland National Beef, said Farmland National Beef plans to conduct additional testing, assess how the technology can be used in beef processing plants, and pursue regulatory approval from the FDA and USDA.
Food additive regulations amended for safe use of Imidazolium
6/14/2000-The Food and Drug Administration is amending the food additive regulations to provide for the safe use of imidazolium compounds, 2-(C
Cases of food poisoning drop in Britain
6/14/2000-Cases of food poisoning in Britain have, according to a survey released Monday to mark National Food Safety Week, dropped for the first time in 15 years, to 8,000, largely due to a dramatic decline in the number of Salmonella cases. Campylobacter had also dropped by a few thousand, while Listeria remained static, the figures showed. But gastroenteritis caused by viruses has increased. According to Health Minister Gisela Stuart, "The safety and quality of the food we eat matters to everyone. Food safety is one of our top priorities." Hugh Pennington, professor of microbiology at Aberdeen University, said, "This is welcome news but does not give us grounds for complacency. We are making great strides in tackling Salmonella, but there is a long way to go. Importantly, these figures refer only to the reported cases, for each case of Salmonella reported, over three go unreported and for each case of Campylobacter, around eight go unreported. The rise in the number of SRSV-implicated cases is potentially disturbing. As the effects are relatively short lived, few cases are reported so this is the tip of an enormous iceberg. For each reported case there are estimated to be a staggering 1,500 unreported cases. Many of these cases are preventable. We must get the message across that under no circumstances should people suffering from sickness and diarrhoea prepare food. Education is the key. If we can do for E.coli and campy what has been done for Salmonella, we can see off food poisoning as a major issue in this country."
Tuesday, June 13, 2000
Sunkist orange juice recalled
6/13/2000-Olympic Foods of Spokane, Wash., announced the voluntary removal from distribution of Sunkist Orange Juice From Concentrate in 16 oz. plastic bottles, coded JUL10, due to suspected product contamination. The distribution of this product was limited to Southern California. There have been two instances where consumers detected and reported possible product contamination. The company is working with FDA and is in the process of having independant testing done to determine exactly what the contamination is, and its cause. The recall affects approximately 37,000 bottles.
Cargill introduces new soy protein isolate
6/13/2000-CCargill Soy introduced its new soy protein isolate at a press conference on Sunday, at the IFT Annual Meeting and Food Expo. This is Cargill's first entry into the soy isolate segement. It uses a proprietary manufacturing process that eliminates the "beany" taste that was associated with soy isolate and reduced the utility of the protein source. The improved flavor will permit higher levels of isolate to be used in food products without decreasing acceptance. Cargill currently produces the soy isolate product in a lab setting, and expects a pilot facility to be completed next February, followed by a full-scale plant planned within the next two years.
Malnutrition Widespread in U.S. Nursing Homes
6/13/2000-Malnutrition and dehydration in U.S. nursing homes has been termed a “silent epidemic” according to a study released by The Commonwealth Fund. The report claims certified nursing assistants employed by nursing homes are overworked, their turnover rate is high and there is a lack of supervisory nurses. “Malnutrition, dehydration, and weight loss in nursing homes constitute one of the largest, silent epidemics in this country,” authors Sarah Greene Burger and colleagues report. They suggest that at least one third of the nation's 1.6 million nursing home residents may be suffering from such conditions, posing potentially serious consequences. Undernourished residents are at greater risk for a number of medical problems, including infections, hip fractures and anemia, which in some cases could lead to death. And, as more people live longer lives, the incidence of malnutrition and dehydration is likely to worsen, the report notes. The researchers report that certified nursing assistants typically help 7 to 9 residents to eat and drink during the day and as many as12 to 15 in the evening. The ideal, they suggest, would be one certified nursing assistant for every 2 to 3 residents who need assistance eating.
World population to grow for next 50 years
6/13/2000-The Population Reference Bureau announced Thursday that the current rapid increase in the world population will continue for at least another 50 years. “By 2050, the world is expected to add 3 billion more people to reach a total of 9 billion,” according to a statement from the Bureau. The less developed countries of Asia, Africa, and Latin America account for 80% of the world population, report Carl Haub and Diana Cornelius, co-authors of the 2000 World Population Data Sheet. These countries currently represent 99% of the global population growth, they write. Sub -Saharan Africa has the fastest growing population of any major region in the world in spite of having the highest proportion of its population (7.1%) infected with HIV/AIDS. The report projects the region will have 1.5 billion inhabitants by 2050. In contrast, the population in Europe and Russia continues to decline. While Europe accounts for 12% of the world population today, by 2050 that number will decrease to 7%. Russia's current 145 million population is expected to decline to 127 million in 2050.
Monday, June 12, 2000
Vegan diet may cut prostate cancer risk
6/12/2000-Men who eat a vegan diet have lower levels of a protein associated with prostate cancer, British scientists said on Thursday. Researchers at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund in Oxford said that while further investigation was needed, their findings suggested that a diet without meat or dairy products could reduce the risk of contracting the deadly disease. Earlier studies have suggested that high levels of IGF-I, an insulin-like growth factor, could play a key role in causing prostate cancer. The Oxford study of 696 British men found IGF-I levels were 9% lower in vegans than in meat-eaters and 7% lower than in vegetarians. The study, published in this week's British Journal of Cancer, also said previous research had found prostate cancer rates were generally lower in countries with low consumption of meat and dairy products.
Agrinomics announces discovery of novel genes
6/12/2000-Agrinomics LLC has announced highlights of a recent presentation in San Diego, California at the Second Annual Agricultural Genomics conference sponsored by the International Institute for Research. Ry Wagner, Agrinomics' chief scientific officer presented current developments in the company's functional genomics program including the following highlights: The company has substantially upgraded its research facilities. The company has also formed its first strategic alliance with Genopsis. The joint venture will sponsor a five-year $7.5 million research program to discover genes that confer desirable traits in certain vegetables for use by Vilmorin and by Hazera Quality Seeds, Ltd. More than 100,000 transgenic lines of Arabidopsis plants have been generated and screened using the company's proprietary activation-tagging process, called ACTTAG(TM). Agrinomics researchers have discovered a number of novel genes exhibiting either gain-of-function or loss-of-function.
PepsiCo steering clear of Nabisco
6/12/2000-PepsiCo Inc. Chairman and Chief Executive Roger Enrico said the company "was steering clear" of Nabisco Group Holdings, a company many analysts had thought PepsiCo would be interested in acquiring, according to a report published in June 12 edition of Barron's. In the article, Enrico said if PepsiCo is going to add a fourth leg to its business it would want to make sure it mirrors the company's growth dynamics. However, he does not think Nabisco is what it is looking for.
Hershey introduces new candy bar
6/12/2000-Hershey Foods Corp. is launching the "Kit Kat Big Kat" wafer bar into retail venues this summer. Three times thicker and twice as wide as a standard "Kit Kat," the new bar offers more wafers, more praline, and more chocolate–an all-time favorite flavor combination. With "Kit Kat" maintaining its status as one of the top three candy bars in the United States, retailers are said to be anticipating strong public demand for the new product. The introduction of the new bar will be supported by television advertising, on-air radio giveaways and publicity events. Hershey Foods is the leading North American manufacturer of quality chocolate and non-chocolate confectionery and chocolate-related grocery products and has a variety of international operations.
Nabisco combines food ingredient companies
6/12/2000-Nabisco, Inc., a manufacturers of cookies, confections, crackers, snacks, and premium grocery products, has announced a restructuring to form a new food ingredients group. The group, Nabisco Ingredients, is the result of Nabisco's recent acquisition of Chicago-based Favorite Brands International, a manufacturer of sweet inclusions such as marshmallow products, caramels, and gummi candies. Nabisco Ingredients will be based in Parsippany, New Jersey. This restructuring will produce an expanded product line for customers who include manufacturers in the cereal, baking, food processing, confection, dairy, and nutraceutical industries. Nabisco's branded and unbranded products will be combined with Favorite Brands International's sweet ingredients to create new sweet and savory offerings.
Friday, June 09, 2000
USDA to promote healthy eating in schools
6/09/2000-Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman today announced that the U. S. Department of Agriculture is joining a new national partnership with various food and health organizations to promote healthy eating by children in schools. "The link between good nutrition and good education is clearly demonstrated by higher test scores, better attendance and fewer behavior problems in school," said Glickman. Ten key principles are outlined to assist each school community in writing its own prescription for change. The "Ten Keys" address the challenges that children increasingly face in school such as not having enough time to eat; meals that are not scheduled in the middle of the school day; and, food choices that do not meet nutritional standards. The partnership, signed today by Shirley Watkins, Under Secretary forFood, Nutrition and Consumer Services at USDA, is one of the steps USDA is undertaking to promote nutrition and good health, following last week's release of the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans at the National Nutrition Summit. For additional information, see www.fns.usda.gov/fns/.
Web site wants to feed the world
6/09/2000-The Hunger Site (www.thehungersite.com), allows individuals to donate free food with the click of their mouse. In the last twelve months, more than 70 million people have clicked on The Hunger Site in over 180 countries. Together they have generated more than 150 million cups of food for the world's hungry, paid for by corporate sponsors. The donations go directly to the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations' front-line agency in the battle against global hunger, which is using the money to deliver food aid worldwide. "The Hunger Site's contribution has been extraordinary, thanks to the many people who click daily, and the corporations who pay for their donations," said Catherine Bertini, Executive Director of the World Food Programme. "Not only has this site generated much-needed funds for our work, it has also created a great deal of awareness of hunger and its consequences ... a vital step on the road towards a world without hunger." WFP projects supported by The Hunger Site's donations are encouraging hungry children across the world to go to school by offering school lunches and snacks. The donations are also directly helping communities hit by drought and floods better prepare for emergencies.
Poore Brothers acquires Boulder Natural Foods
6/09/2000-Poore Brothers, Inc. announced Thursday that it has acquired Boulder Natural Foods, Inc. and Boulder Potato Company(TM) brand totally natural potato chips for approximately $2.3 million. In addition, there is a three-year revenue growth incentive paid in shares of the Company's common stock. Mr. Eric J. Kufel, President and CEO, stated "The acquisition of Boulder Natural Foods and Boulder Potato Company(TM) brand natural potato chips is a positive strategic action for the Company and our shareholders. The Company is gaining access to the rapidly expanding $28 billion natural food channel and the Colorado retail grocery marketplace with a well positioned, growing brand that currently generates approximately $2.3 million in annualized revenues. The Company also plans to develop and launch innovative new snack food products under the Boulder Natural Foods(TM) brand name, leveraging the Company's abundant and unique snack food manufacturing capabilities.
Consumer Reports rates best meals and deals
6/09/2000-The July issue of Consumer Reports rates 67 family restaurants and dinner houses. The ratings are based on the experiences of more than 68,000 of the magazine's subscribers, gathered from Consumer Reports' 1999 Annual Questionnaire survey. Results indicate that Consumer Reports readers were typically very satisfied to fairly well-satisfied with their dining experiences. In addition to rating their overall satisfaction with each restaurant, readers also rated food, value, service and mood. In commenting about service at the 67 restaurant chains, almost one in five readers overall said it was fair or poor. Readers said that dinner houses generally offered better-tasting food, ambience, and service than family restaurants.
Thursday, June 08, 2000
Demand for Kosher-certified products growing
6/08/2000-As people place greater emphasis on their health, Kosher-certified nutritional supplements are becoming increasingly popular among Jewish and non-Jewish groups, including vegetarians and those who are lactose intolerant. Research from Integrated Marketing Communications indicates that an estimated 10 million consumers spent $5 billion on Kosher products in 1999, and Kosher food sales have been increasing at an annual rate of 12 to 15% since 1984. Under Kosher law, food must be prepared on equipment in an environment deemed fit for Kosher service and use. To obtain Kosher certification, food companies must enlist rabbinical organizations to oversee their production and grant certification. Consumers often prefer Kosher-certified products because of their rigorous review process.
Host America announces acquisition plans
6/08/2000-Host America announced today that it has entered into a "Letter of Intent" to acquire a private Connecticut based contract food service firm. The management of both firms have along-standing business relationship and similar goals for their future. Due diligence has been completed and bank financing secured along with the signed "Letter of Intent." The transaction is expected to be completed by June 19, 2000 when the financial data will be released along with other details. This acquisition, when completed and combined with the large number of new clients already recruited in this current calendar year, will likely push the revenues growth rate to a new record level that may easily exceed last years +62% rate.
Daily vitamins recalled for contaminatioin
6/08/2000-The FDA reported Tuesday that Hi-Tech Pharmacal Company, Inc. is recalling certain Rugby Daily Vitamins and H-T Dalyvite Liquid, in 8 and 16-ounce bottles , because the products are contaminated with yeast. Lot number appearing on both labels is 910624 EXP 12/01. Product number specific to the Rugby label is 602-0412. The Hi-Tech label erroneously lists NDC #50383-624-16, This is not a drug. The Hi-Tech labeled product distributed 16,857 bottles to the following states: Maine, Indiana, New York, California, North Carolina, Michigan, Texas, New Jersey, Ohio, Alabama, Missouri, Connecticut, Florida, Washington State, Oregon, Utah, Puerto Rico. The Rugby labeled product was distributed to Alabama only. Questions concerning this recall may be directed to the FDA at 1-888-INFO-FDA. FDA Recall #f
Pesticide residues in fresh foods too high
6/08/2000-Foods enjoyed by many children, like apples and grapes, have high levels of toxic residues from pesticides, Consumers Union, a nonprofit advocacy group, said on Tuesday, urging the U.S. government to do more to ban the use of dangerous chemicals. The group, which publishes Consumer Reports magazine, released on Tuesday an update to its 1999 report on food safety. The report is based on conclusions of an independent analysis of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 1998 tests of thousands of fruit and vegetable samples, domestic and imported, fresh and processed, for pesticide residues. The group said parents should not stop feeding their children fruits and vegetables, but limit exposure to pesticides by peeling fruit and washing it well before eating. For the complete report, including identification of foods with the highest levels of toxic residues, see www.ecologic-ipm.com.
Wheat growers hope for eased trade embargo
6/08/2000-According to an Associated Press report, representatives of American wheat farmers are meeting with Cuban trade and food officials amid hopes that the U.S. government will ease restrictions on sales of food and medicine to the communist island. The visit by U.S. Wheat Associates, an international wheat promotion organization, is the latest in a recent series of trips to Cuba by representatives of American farmers who want the U.S. trade embargo eased so they can sell their products here. "Cuba has to pay a high price for a product, and we are denied a market,'' said Paul Dickerson, vice president of overseas operations for the group that promotes U.S. wheat in foreign countries. "If it were not for the embargo, the United States would probably be the largest supplier" of wheat to Cuba, Dickerson said. The U.S. House is debating legislation that would allow food and medicine to be sold to Cuba.
200 sickened on cruise ship
6/08/2000-Disney officials were cited as saying Tuesday that about 200 passengers aboard Disney's Magic ship became sick during a three-day cruise. The ship, carrying 2,600 passengers, returned to port as scheduled Monday. It set sail on another cruise later in the day. Food samples and passengers' stool samples were collected and will be analyzed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta.
Wednesday, June 07, 2000
DFA, NZDB announce joint venture
6/07/2000-Two of the world's largest dairy marketing cooperatives, Dairy Farmers of America and the New Zealand Dairy Board, have announced the launch of a major new joint venture company called DairiConcepts. Named to reflect the company's emphasis on innovation, DairiConcepts will manufacture and market a range of cheese and dairy ingredients. Operated as a joint venture with equal ownership and management, the new company will capitalize on the combination of the distinct strengths of the two partner groups: the vertical integration and spray-dry expertise of DFA and the cheese ingredient development skills of NZMP.
Kikkoman launches web site
6/07/2000-Kikkoman International Inc. has launched a web site about their products for industrial professionals. The site includes detailed company information, recent news articles, and application suggestions.
Bestfoods accepts Unilever bid
6/07/2000-Bestfoods, maker of Skippy peanut butter, Knorr soups and Hellmann's mayonnaise, on Tuesday accepted a sweetened $20.3 billion bid from Anglo-Dutch group Unilever Plc to create a new powerhouse in the slow-growing food industry. The deal is the latest and largest in a series of acquisitions for Unilever, which pursued Englewood Cliffs, N.J.-based Bestfoods in order to capture more top-name brands and boost revenue. Unilever also recently has bought U.S. food companies Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc. and SlimFast Foods Co. The combined company would have had 1999 revenues and operating income of approximately $52.3 billion and $6.2 billion, respectively. The merged company will have leading brand positions in key product categories, such as culinary products, spreads, tea, ice cream and frozen food.
EU fines ADM and others
6/07/2000-The European Commission said on Wednesday it had fined U.S. firm Archer Daniels Midland Co., Japan's Ajinomoto and three other companies almost $105.4 million for operating an alleged global price-fixing cartel for lysine. Details of the other three companies and the breakdown of the fine were not immediately available. The Commission has been probing since 1997 the market for lysine and other amino acids used in animal feeds.
Tuesday, June 06, 2000
Glickman honors USDA employees
6/06/2000-GAgriculture Secretary Dan Glickman honored U.S. Department of Agriculture employees from across the nation Monday for exemplary service and achievements in the 54th annual USDA Honor Awards Ceremony. "Nothing at USDA has impressed me more than the dedication of our workforce," Glickman said. "The Honor Awards are a tribute to our employees for their diligence, commitment, and sacrifice in carrying out their responsibilities, and serving the American people." In addition to the 121 honor award presentations, USDA recognized its 15 Presidential Rank Award recipients, USDA recipients of major awards sponsored by external organizations, and the over 300 employees across the country who have more than 40 years of service each. See www.usda.gov for a list of the highest USDA Honor Awards, the Golden and Silver Plow Awards.
USDA proposes regulations on processing equipment
6/06/2000-The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is proposing to develop a voluntary, user-fee funded program under the authority of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to inspect and certify equipment and utensils used to process livestock and poultry products. Livestock and poultry processing equipment and utensils inspected and certified by AMS to voluntary consensus standards for sanitary design will provide a third party assurance that they meet minimum requirements for cleanability, suitability of materials used in construction, durability and inspectability. Development of this program is required under the provisions of the 1999 Agricultural Appropriations Bill. For more information, see the Federal Register of June 6, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 109).
Suprema to use Cornell's cheese patent
6/06/2000-Suprema Specialties, Inc. has announced it has entered into an exclusive agreement with the Department of Food Science at Cornell University to use their research and patent for processed mozzarella cheese. Suprema, in conjunction with Cornell University, is developing a processed mozzarella cheese for commercial distribution that has natural mozzarella cheese characteristics. The new, processed cheese is expected to have a shelf-life of approximately six months. In addition, the processed cheese is expected to stretch, melt and have a flavor profile like natural mozzarella. Suprema believes it will be the first cheese company to offer the industry a processed cheese that has all the functionalities of natural mozzarella cheese. Currently, the processed cheese market is a $7 billion industry and by 2008 is projected to grow to $9.5 billion.
Monday, June 05, 2000
Newly Wed Foods acquires Chicago Spice Co.
6/05/2000-Newly Wed Foods has acquired Chicago Spice Co. Headquartered in Elk Grove Village, Ill., Chicago Spice Co. is a full-service manufacturer of custom blended seasonings, rubs, glazes, sauces, and marinades. In recent years, Newly Wed has acquired the following seasoning houses: F.W. Witt Co, UFL Foods, and Precision Blends.
Margarine recalled, may contain metal
6/05/2000-Land O'Lakes has announced a voluntarily recall of a limited quantity of Land O' Lakes® Margarine in stick form because certain lots of the product may contain pieces of metal. The potentially affected product would have been purchased after May 25, 2000, in Washington D.C. or one of the following states: Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia or West Virginia. The product can be identified with the following codes: 02 16 01 KE10, 02 17 01 KE10, 02 18 01 KE10, 02 19 01 KE10, 02 20 01 KE10. The code date is printed in black ink on the package end-flap. No other Land O'Lakes products are affected by this recall.
NRC hosts biotech crop workshop
6/05/2000-The U.S. National Research Council's Standing Committee on Biotechnology, Food and Fiber Production, and the Environment will host a workshop on monitoring for ecological effects of transgenic crops on July 13-14, in Washington, D.C. The meeting is free and open to the public, although advance registration is recommended. To register or for more information, contact Derek Sweatt, phone:(202) 334-2483.
NY Times posts site on genetic engineering
6/05/2000-The New York Times has established a web site on which current and past articles on genetic engineering. Users will need to be registered at NY Times to access the site.
Bestfoods to consider Unilever bid
6/05/2000-The board of Bestfoods is expected to meet to discuss a bid from Unilever NV, which is willing to offer Bestfoods' shareholders close to $72 a share, or $20.5 billion, according to a report in today's Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, Bestfoods, which has rebuffed Unilever for one month, is continuing talks for a major acquisition of Campbell Soup Co., whose stock has fallen 46.5% during the past two years and has a market capitalization of $12.6 billion.
Cadbury and Danone making Nabisco bid
6/05/2000-According to some reports, Cadbury Schweppes PLC and Groupe Danone SA are looking to join together in offering a $15 billion bid for Nabisco Holdings Corp. The British sweets and beverage maker would contribute about 40% of the cash for Nabisco's confectionery business. Danone, which owns Jacob's the world's largest biscuit company, would fund 60% and extend its reach into the U.S. with Nabisco's cracker and cookie business Other companies interested in bidding for Nabisco include RJ Reynolds Tobacco Holdings and Philip Morris. Corporate raider Carl Icahn, who holds 10% of Nabisco Group, has also offered a bid for the company.
Friday, June 02, 2000
First-ever food science and technology Internet conference
6/02/2000-IUFoST, in association with Korean Adhering Body and Congress Organizers, KOSFoST, has launched the first internet conference in the field of food science and technology. The conference, organized under four main subject areas: Asian Foods (non-fermented), Food Fermentation and Biotechnology, Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals, Food Processing/Engineering, and will run until October 2000. Visit the conference, submit papers and discuss your work with others in the field by connecting to www.foodcy2001.or.kr. This internet conference is a major part of the preparations for the 11th World Congress in Food Science and Technology, taking place in Seoul, Korea, April 22 - 27, 2001.
Unilever hinting at talks with Bestfoods
6/02/2000-According to a Reuters report, Unilever NV/Plc said on Friday it had had no fresh talks with Bestfoods amid reports it increased its bid for the U.S. food group but a spokesman did not rule out that informal "conversations" took place. Officials with Unilever in Amsterdam declined to comment on a report in Friday's Wall Street Journal that said the company had quietly sweetened its bid for Bestfoods to
$70 a share, or nearly $20 billion.
Key Technology acquires Farmco, Inc.
6/02/2000-Key Technology, Inc., a process automation equipment manufacturer for the food processing industry, announced today that it has completed its acquisition of Farmco, Inc., a privately held corporation. The Redmond, Oregon-based company designs and produces mechanical sizing, sorting, separating and grading machines for the fruit, vegetable and potato processing industries.
Perdue Farms to automate live haul operation
6/02/2000-After five years of researching the latest technologies, two years of exploring implementation and usage scenarios and six months of intensive field trials at area poultry farms, Perdue Farms has announced plans to automate its live haul operations on the Delmarva Peninsula. The search for an automated means of collecting chickens from farms to transport to processing facilities (a process known as live haul) included evaluations of systems developed in Denmark, England and Italy. In the end, four separate chicken harvester machines were considered for the Delmarva Peninsula, and two brought to the Eastern Shore for onsite trials.
Hain Food now Hain Celestial Group
6/02/2000-Hain Food Group, Inc. has begun trading under the new name, Hain Celestial Group Inc. The company is listed on the Nasdaq National Market System and trades under the ticker symbol HAIN.
Food product recalls
6/02/2000-Kraft foods is voluntarily recalling one day's production of six Breakstone's and Light N' Lively cottage cheese products because routine testing found E. coli O157:H7 in samples taken. All affected products have the date and plant code 06 JUN 00 W appearing on the bottom of the cup, the products were distributed Nationwide. Consumers with questions about the products involved in the recall can call 1-800-433-9363 from 7:00 A.M. CDT to 10:00 P.M. CDT. The FDA reported that Lipton Englewood Cliffs has conducted a recall of certain Shedd's Spread Country Crock Light, packaged in 1-pound tubs because the product is contaminated with ammonia. Recalled codes included Feb2100TA (located on side of lid), UPC: 27400 22402 (located on side of tub). The FDA considers this recall to be complete. 792 cases (18 units per case) were distributed in Mississippi, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana. Questions concerning this recall may be directed to the FDA at 1-888-INFO-FDA. Recall #F-463-0. The FDA) also reported that AC Humko Rice Specialties is recalling over 9 million pounds of rice. Numerous brands of White and Parboiled Rice are being recalled because the product is contaminated with pieces of wire ranging from 7-12 mm in length, approximately 25 gauge. Codes include in the recall: 042G0, 045G0, 046G0, 047G0, 048G0, 049G0, 050G0, 052G0, 053G0, 054G0, 055GO, 056G0, 059G0, 060G0, 061GO, 062G0, and 063G0. Added May 31: Bulk parboiled rice manufactured from 2/26/00-3/3/00 and bulk white rice manufactured from 2/11/00-3/3/00. According to the FDA report the product was distributed in New Jersey, New York, Texas, Illinois, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Louisiana, South Carolina, Missouri, California, Tennessee, Ohio, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Yemen. Questions concerning this recall may be directed to the FDA at 1-888-INFO-FDA. FDA Recall #f
Scientists develop new vitamin packed tomato
6/02/2000-Researchers in Britain, Japan, and Germany say they've genetically engineered a new kind of tomato containing three times as much beta-carotene as normal. According to their study in the journal Nature Biotechnology, the genetic changes were passed on for at least four generations, making the vitamin-packed fruit permanently available. The researchers say raising the the amount of beta-carotene, and other carotenoids, in food is generally viewed as a more effective method than the use of supplements in the form of pills since other nutrients in food act alongside the carotenoids. Trials are underway to ensure the tomatoes are safe for human consumption.
Genetic researchers discover faster growing plant
6/02/2000-Genetic researchers have accelerated a plant's growth by making its cells split faster - a technique that could someday lead to heartier crops, shorter growing seasons, and less use of herbicides. But the technique needs more testing on a range of plants, and public fear of genetically modified food is jeopardizing support for such experiments, especially in Europe, researchers said. The experiment, reported Thursday in the journal Nature, was carried out by a team at Cambridge University. The researchers first took a gene promoting cell division from inside the arabidopsis plant, a flowering weed often used for genetic experiments. They transplanted that gene into a tobacco plant. Within a month after planting, the altered tobacco grew as much as twice as tall as other tobacco plants. The leader of the study, Claire Cockcroft, said it is conceivable that the technique could be transferred to other species. Such plants, which probably would take years to develop commercially, might allow an extra planting in some climates or the introduction of crops in places where the growing season is too short, researchers said.
Search on for more E. Coli deaths
6/02/2000-According to an Associated Press report, Ontario's coroner urged the public Wednesday to notify authorities if they think anyone who died in the last two weeks exhibited symptoms of E. coli infection, thought so far to have killed as many as nine people. Ontario Premier Mike Harris announced a public inquiry into the water contamination in Walkerton, a rural community of 5,000 people located 90 miles west of Toronto, amid allegations that officials failed to promptly warn residents. Health officials have confirmed six adults and a 2-year-old child have died from the contamination. More than 20 people remain hospitalized, including one considered terminally ill, and as many as 1,000 have been sickened in and around Walkerton over the past two weeks from the E. coli that infiltrated the water supply. Dr. James Young, the province's chief coroner, asked for Walkerton residents to notify authorities of anyone who drank Walkerton water or suffered from diarrhea before dying. A report on tests for E. coli in the Walkerton water was due Wednesday and would be released Friday, said Terry Flynn, a spokesman for the municipality.
FSIS to hold public meeting on In-distribution
6/02/2000-The U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service will hold a public meeting to discuss its strategy for addressing the safety of meat and poultry products during distribution and to provide an overview and update on the In-distribution Inspection Pilot Test Project. Under the Federal Meat Inspection Act and the Poultry Products Inspection Act, FSIS has the authority and responsibility to regulate not only the production but also the transportation, storage, and other handling of meat and poultry products. FSIS is now looking at additional strategies for monitoring these food safety concerns, and one way of doing this is through the In-distribution Inspection Pilot Test Project. The meeting will be held June 9 in Washington, DC. To register contact Ida Gambrell, tel. (202) 501-7260, fax (202) 501-7615.
Emerging infectious disease conference scheduled
6/02/2000-The International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases 2000 is a meeting of 2,500 public health professionals in many areas of specialty. The program will include plenary sessions and symposia with invited speakers, presentations on emerging infections activities, and oral poster presentations. Major topics will include current work on surveillance, epidemiology, research, communication and training, bioterrorism, and prevention and control of emerging infectious diseases, both in the U.S. and internationally. For registration or conference information go to www.asmusa.org.
Thursday, June 01, 2000
FSnet has moved
6/01/2000-A resource that I consider to be one of the finest to be found on the Internet dealing with food safety is the Food Safety Network web site and their associated listservs on food safety produced by a group at the University of Guelph. The site has moved to a new location. Information can now be found at www.plant.uoguelph.ca/safefood. I would urge anyone with an interest in food safety and other food issues to sign up for their FSnet, Agnet or Animalnet listservs.
Nabisco declares dividends
6/01/2000-Directors of Nabisco Group Holdings Corp. and Nabisco Holdings Corp. declared regular quarterly cash
dividends. For Nabisco Group Holdings Corp., the dividend will be $ .1225 per share, or $.49 per share on an annualized basis, on Nabisco Group Holdings Corp. common stock. The dividend is payable on July 1, 2000 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 20, 2000. Nabisco Group Holdings owns 80.6% of Nabisco Holdings Corp.