Food/Beverage
The Lead
Campbell Channels Andy Warhol For New Cans
August 29, 2012 9:52 am | by Candice Choi, AP Food Industry Writer | News | Comments
The world's biggest soup maker plans to introduce special-edition cans of its condensed tomato soup bearing labels reminiscent of the pop artist's paintings at Target stores starting Sunday. The Campbell Soup Co.'s embrace of Warhol's iconic imagery is a switch from its initial reaction, when the company considered taking legal action before deciding to see how the paintings were received by the public.
Waste Can Become Business
June 19, 2013 1:43 pm | by Suley Muratoglu, vice president, Marketing & Product Management, Tetra Pak Inc. | Articles | CommentsIt can rot in the field, go bad during processing, spoil at the grocery store or get tossed in the garbage by the consumer. For food producers, processors and manufacturers with the foresight and ingenuity to tackle this problem, there is more than a cautionary tale here — there is real business opportunity.
Food Companies Work To Make It Look Natural
June 18, 2013 7:59 am | by Candice Choi, AP Food Industry Writer | News | CommentsFood companies are responding to the adage that people eat with their eyes. Americans still love their fast food and packaged snacks, but they're increasingly turning their noses up at foods that look overly processed. Home-cooked meals — or ones that at least look like they were homemade — are seen as more wholesome and authentic.
Whey From Greek Yogurt Used To Produce Power
June 17, 2013 2:07 pm | by Michael Hill, Associated Press | News | CommentsAt the Gloversville-Johnstown wastewater plant west of Albany, it's pipelined from the nearby Fage yogurt plant, where it goes into a 1.5 million-gallon tank filled with anaerobic bacteria, called an anaerobic digester. The resulting methane gas becomes combustible fuel that generates nearly enough electricity to power the plant.
Dorner’s DTools Conveyor Configuratior Now Tablet-Optimized
June 17, 2013 11:07 am | Product Releases | CommentsDorner Tools has optimized its DTools online conveyor productivity applications for use with tablet computers. The company says that with the most recent upgrade, users will better be able to configure their own conveyor system on the go, with all the design tools needed to fully configure a new belt conveyor.
Starboard: Smithfield Sale Undervalues Company
June 17, 2013 8:03 am | News | CommentsOne of Smithfield Foods' largest shareholders says a $4.72 billion takeover bid from China's largest meat producer falls short of what the company would be worth if sold off piece by piece. New York-based investment firm Starboard Value LP estimated the pork producer's value at $9 billion to $10.8 billion.
U.S. Wholesale Prices Rise 0.5 Percent In May
June 14, 2013 8:57 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsA rise in food and gas costs drove a measure of wholesale prices up sharply in May. But outside those volatile categories, inflation was mild.The Labor Department said Friday that the producer price index rose 0.5 percent in May from April.
New Hostess Owner Prepares To Restart Ga. Plant
June 14, 2013 7:51 am | News | CommentsThe smell of snack cakes could soon return to the Dolly Madison plant in Columbus as Hostess Brands LLC prepares to relaunch production.Hostess Brands LLC spokesman Michael Cramer said workers will be resuming production by July. He said crews are now getting the facility ready to bake goods again, including testing equipment that's been idle since November.
Keeping It Fresh
June 13, 2013 1:57 pm | by Krystal Gabert, Editor, Food Manufacturing | Articles | CommentsThe triple helix. The golden triangle. The Dutch government uses many names to describe its unique three-pronged approach to economic development, but one thing’s for certain: for companies seeking innovation, the system can offer tremendous benefits.
'Pink Slime' Lawsuit Heads Back To State Court
June 13, 2013 7:38 am | by Dirk Lammers, Associated Press | News | CommentsA federal judge on Wednesday moved a South Dakota beef processing company's defamation lawsuit against ABC News back to state court. Beef Products Inc. sued American Broadcasting Companies Inc. and ABC News Inc. for defamation in September.
Q&A: Light On Packaging, Long On Shelf Life
June 11, 2013 2:22 pm | by Lindsey Jahn, Associate Editor, Food Manufacturing | Articles | CommentsFood manufacturers seeking sustainable packaging options often face a tough challenge: finding an eco-friendly solution that does not negatively impact shelf life. Ron Puvak of Plastic Technologies, Inc. (PTI) spoke with Food Manufacturing about how manufacturers can find sustainable packaging solutions, without compromising shelf life.
Hepatitis A Linked To Frozen Berries Sickens 87
June 11, 2013 2:15 pm | by Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press | News | CommentsTownsend Farms of Fairview, Ore., last week recalled its frozen Organic Antioxidant Blend, packaged under the Townsend Farms label at Costco and under the Harris Teeter brand at those stores. So far the illnesses have only been linked to the berries sold at Costco.
Dole CEO Makes Buyout Bid
June 11, 2013 10:22 am | News | CommentsDole Food's Chairman and CEO David Murdock and his family are offering to buy the business with a bid that values the entire company at approximately $1.07 billion. Shares of the fresh fruit and vegetable company jumped in premarket trading on Tuesday.
NM AG Says Slaughter Of Some Horses Illegal
June 11, 2013 7:43 am | by Jeri Clausing, Associated Press | News | CommentsIn an opinion issued Monday, King says the slaughter of horses with certain drugs in their system would be a violation of the state's adulterated food act. Those drugs, he says, would include an anti-inflammatory commonly found in racehorses, and medications used to treat bacterial, parasitic and viral infections.
Canada Threatens Tariffs Against U.S. Products
June 10, 2013 8:10 am | News | CommentsCanada warned Friday that it may impose tariffs on everything from orange juice to bread if the United States doesn't change a meat-labeling policy that Canadian beef and pork industries say is costing them more than CA$1 billion (US$979 million) a year.
PepsiCo Shoots Down Report Of SodaStream Talks
June 7, 2013 2:08 pm | News | CommentsPepsiCo is shooting down a report that the company is in talks to buy SodaStream, an Israeli company that makes at-home carbonation machines. PepsiCo Inc. spokesman Jeff Dahncke said the report in an Israeli newspaper is "completely and totally untrue."
3G Shuffles CEOs On Completion Of Heinz Deal
June 7, 2013 1:53 pm | News | CommentsKetchup maker H.J. Heinz Co. began a new chapter on Friday. The company, which also makes baked beans, vinegar and Classico pasta sauce, said that it completed its acquisition by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and 3G Capital, the Brazilian investment firm that also owns Burger King.
Canada Charges Nestle, Mars With Price Fixing
June 7, 2013 8:01 am | News | CommentsThe accused in a chocolate price-fixing case could face a bitter fate if convicted — millions of dollars in fines for the companies and potential jail time for the individuals.Canada's Competition Bureau said Thursday it is laying criminal charges against Nestle SA's Canada arm, Mars Inc.'s Canada division and ITWAL Ltd., a network of independent wholesale distributors.
Food Safety & Collaboration
June 6, 2013 4:51 pm | by Krystal Gabert, Editor, Food Manufacturing | Articles | CommentsI can remember exactly where I was in my life as the story broke and continued to unfold, as I’m sure many of you can as well. For those who cared about food safety, the recall — and the illness and death associated with it — was big news.
Gov't Proposes Safety Labels For Tenderized Beef
June 6, 2013 1:41 pm | by Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press | News | CommentsBeef tenderized by machines before it is sold in grocery stores could soon carry labels warning customers to cook the meat thoroughly. The Agriculture Department is proposing to require the new labels and cooking instructions for the meat, which is poked with needles or blades to increase tenderness.
Horse Slaughterhouse Accuses USDA Of IRS Tactics
June 6, 2013 7:35 am | by Jeri Clausing, Associated Press | News | CommentsA southeastern New Mexico company's plans to convert a cattle plant into a horse slaughterhouse has hit another roadblock, this time over an environmental dispute that the company's attorney blames on the Obama administration putting politics over policy.
Anheuser-Busch Completes $20.1B Grupo Modelo Deal
June 5, 2013 1:39 pm | News | CommentsThe world's largest brewer has been trying for almost a year to buy the half of Modelo that it did not already own. The Department of Justice initially blocked the deal, concerned that it would hurt U.S. beer shoppers' choices, but signed off on the combination after AB InBev agreed to sell Modelo's entire U.S. business to a wine maker, Constellation Brands Inc.
Monsanto: Modified Wheat 'Isolated Occurrence'
June 5, 2013 1:29 pm | by Nigel Duara, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe company that developed a genetically modified test strain of wheat that emerged to the surprise of an Oregon farmer says it has tested the parent wheat stock and found it clean.Representatives for Monsanto Co. say the emergence of the genetically modified strain was an isolated occurrence.
China Slams EU Solar Duties, Launches Wine Probe
June 5, 2013 8:01 am | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsChina announced a trade investigation of European wine Wednesday after the European Union hit Chinese exporters of solar panels with anti-dumping duties.The Ministry of Commerce's announcement of the wine probe came in the same statement that expressed "resolute opposition" to punitive European tariffs on Chinese solar products.
General Mills Recalls Some Cinnamon Toast Crunch
June 4, 2013 2:08 pm | News | CommentsGeneral Mills Inc. said Tuesday it is recalling about 168 cases of its single-serve reduced-sugar Cinnamon Toast Crunch sold to restaurants and foodservice customers due to risk of salmonella exposure. The cereal maker said Tuesday that it is making the move after a supplier recalled an ingredient due to the possible presence of salmonella.
Coca-Cola Opens Myanmar Bottling Plant
June 4, 2013 4:45 am | by Yadana Htun, Associated Press | News | CommentsCoca-Cola began bottling its famous soft drink in Myanmar on Tuesday as part of a planned five-year, $200 million investment after having no local production for more than 60 years. The return of Coca Cola is emblematic of the opportunities U.S. companies see in Myanmar as it builds a free market economy after decades of military rule.
