Food/Beverage
Monster Suing San Francisco Over Energy Drinks
May 1, 2013 7:41 am | by Candice Choi, AP Food Industry Writer | News | CommentsThe company, based in Corona, Calif., says it's being unfairly singled out by City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who late last year had asked Monster to produce documentation showing that its drinks are safe. Since then, Monster says Herrera has asked it to reformulate its drinks and change what it says on labels and marketing materials.
AB Inbev Sees Volumes Fall In Key Markets
April 30, 2013 8:40 am | News | CommentsAnheuser-Busch InBev NV, the world's largest brewer, says that its profits rose in the first quarter in spite of falling sale volumes in important markets. The company behind Budweiser, Stella Artois, and Becks said Tuesday that even though revenues grew by 1.5 percent in the first quarter, volumes declined by 4.1 percent.
FDA To Investigate Added Caffeine In Foods
April 30, 2013 7:37 am | by Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press | News | CommentsWith a growing number of foods boasting added caffeine for an energy boost, the Food and Drug Administration says it's time to investigate their safety. The FDA's new look at added caffeine and its effects on children and adolescents is in response to a caffeinated gum introduced this week by Wrigley.
Hostess To Open Bakeries In Indiana And Illinois
April 29, 2013 1:40 pm | News | CommentsHostess Brands LLC said Monday that it will open bakeries in Indiana and Illinois, following announcements last week that it will reopen bakeries in Georgia and Kansas in its effort to bring back some of its snack brands. The predecessor to Hostess Brands filed for bankruptcy protection in 2012 after years of turmoil.
Baby Food Shortage In Europe Due To China Demand
April 26, 2013 1:26 pm | by Kirsten Grieshaber, Associated Press | News | CommentsChinese demand for foreign brands soared after drought in Australia and New Zealand cut supplies from China's major sources of imported baby formula. Chinese parents who have enough money have largely shunned local brands since a contaminated milk scandal in 2008 left six babies dead and another 300,000 sick.
Hostess To Reopen, Expand Bakery In Kansas
April 26, 2013 7:53 am | News | CommentsHostess Brands LLC says it will reopen its eastern Kansas bakery this summer, with the hiring of an initial 250 people already underway. The announcement was made Thursday by the investment partnership that bought Hostess Brands' snack cake product lines.
Anheuser-Busch Tries To Block Ohio Brewery Measure
April 25, 2013 2:06 pm | News | CommentsThe world's largest brewer is trying to stop Ohio from enacting a measure that would prohibit brewers from buying wholesale beer distributors. That provision was part of a bill that moved quickly through the Legislature last week and is now before Gov. John Kasich.
Hershey Reshuffles Management
April 25, 2013 8:06 am | News | CommentsThe Hershey Co. said Wednesday that it has made a number of management changes to help position the candy company for better global growth. The company, based in Hershey, Pa., is the largest chocolate maker in North America, but it faces tough competition globally.
New Deadline Ordered For FDA Food Safety Reforms
April 24, 2013 8:32 am | News | CommentsA federal judge is siding with two California advocacy groups in ruling that the Food and Drug Administration must set a new timetable to implement delayed food safety reforms. U.S. District Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton in Oakland, Calif. handed down the decision on Monday.
Hostess Plans To Reopen Georgia Baking Facility
April 24, 2013 8:07 am | News | CommentsHostess Brands, LLC has announced plans to re-launch its bakery in Columbus and plans to add about 300 jobs in the area over the next several years. The Georgia Department of Economic Development Tuesday announced the company plans to resume operations this summer and will produce a full assortment of iconic Hostess snack products — including Twinkies.
Study: Chicken, Ground Beef Are Riskiest Meats
April 23, 2013 12:15 pm | by Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press | News | CommentsAn analysis of more than 33,000 cases of foodborne illness shows that ground beef and chicken have caused more hospitalizations than other meats. The report by the Center for Science in Public Interest says chicken nuggets, ham and sausage pose the lowest risk of foodborne illness.
Slaughterhouse Is Ground Zero In U.S. Horse Debate
April 23, 2013 7:54 am | by Jeri Clausing, Associated Press | News | CommentsAt issue is whether horses are livestock or pets, and whether it is more humane to slaughter them domestically than to ship tens of thousands of neglected, unwanted and wild horses thousands of miles to be slaughtered in Mexico or Canada.
EEOC Seeks Damages For Disabled Iowa Plant Workers
April 23, 2013 7:43 am | by Ryan J. Foley, Associated Press | News | CommentsThe U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing Henry's Turkey Service, of Goldthwaite, Texas, on behalf of 32 former workers whom it housed and oversaw while they worked at West Liberty Foods in West Liberty, Iowa. The commission is expected to seek unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
Taking Manufacturing To School
April 21, 2013 8:36 pm | by Lindsey Jahn, Associated Editor, Food Manufacturing | Blogs | CommentsAn AMP Steering Committee was appointed, and in July 2012, the Committee issued a report with 16 recommendations to help AMP attain its mission. The report included five “workstreams,” or focus areas, each of which the Committee assessed and then made recommendations for improvement.
Natura Expands Pet Food Recall
April 21, 2013 8:31 pm | News | CommentsThe company, a unit of Procter & Gamble Co., first announced a voluntary recall in March of its dog, cat and ferret foods because they may be contaminated with salmonella bacteria. The company's recall now includes all dry pet food products and treats with expiration dates prior to and including March 24, 2014.
Beer Makers, DOJ Reach Deal
April 19, 2013 12:03 pm | by Sarah Skidmore, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsAnheuser-Busch InBev reached a final agreement with the Department of Justice, settling a dispute over its $20.1 billion acquisition of the Mexican brewer, Grupo Modelo. The world's largest brewer has been trying since June to buy the half of Grupo Modelo that it doesn't already own.
Nestle 'On Track' Despite Fragile Global Economy
April 18, 2013 8:12 am | News | CommentsSwiss food and drinks giant Nestle SA notched a gain of 2.3 percent in first-quarter sales and confirmed Thursday it was on track for another year of steady growth, despite economic problems in a number of its key markets in the developed world.
Budweiser Introducing Bowtie-Shaped Can
April 17, 2013 11:56 am | News | CommentsAnheuser-Busch is introducing a new, bowtie-shaped beer can that mirrors its iconic Budweiser logo. The St. Louis-based subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev NV said Wednesday that the new cans will be available in a special 8-pack nationwide beginning May 6. The can has been in development since 2010.
Brazilian Meat Packers Face Fines
April 16, 2013 9:59 pm | News | CommentsThe federal prosecutors' office says in a statement that prosecutors in the Amazon jungle states of Amazonas, Mato Grosso and Rondoni, want the companies to pay $278.5 million for producing beef products from cattle raised in environmentally sensitive regions, on indigenous reservations and at farms that have been blacklisted for using slave-like labor.
Q&A: Safety On Ice
April 16, 2013 9:22 pm | by Lindsey Jahn, Associated Editor, Food Manufacturing | Articles | CommentsAmmonia refrigeration leaks pose both safety and economic risks to food companies, but many are unaware of these hazards. Attorney J. Tom Boer spoke with Food Manufacturing about ammonia refrigeration regulations and how manufacturers can ensure their system’s safety.
EU: Tests Show No Safety Issues With Horsemeat
April 16, 2013 11:05 am | News | CommentsThe tests also showed the veterinary anti-inflammatory drug phenylbutazone, or bute, was present about .50 percent of the horse meat. Bute is banned for human use because in rare cases it causes severe side effects, but veterinary experts say there is little risk from consuming small amounts of the drug in horse meat.
Coca-Cola's Profit Comes In Above Expectations
April 16, 2013 8:38 am | by Candice Choi, AP Food Industry Writer | News | CommentsCoca-Cola Co.'s first-quarter results came in above expectations as the world's biggest beverage maker saw global sales volume grow. The Atlanta-based company says it earned $1.75 billion, or 39 cents per share, for the period ended March 29. That's down from $2.1 billion, or 45 cents per share, a year earlier.
Dutch Company Linked To Horse Meat Fraud Bankrupt
April 16, 2013 7:45 am | News | CommentsA meat processing plant and wholesaler suspected of mixing undeclared horse meat with beef has been declared bankrupt. A court in the eastern Dutch city of Den Bosch court declared the Willy Selten meat works bankrupt Tuesday. The company is at the center of a huge recall announced last week of suspect beef across the European Union.
Louisiana Company Recalls 468K Pounds Of Meat
April 15, 2013 2:38 pm | News | CommentsThe Manda Packing Company recall announced this past week now includes 468,000 pounds of roast beef, ham, turkey breast, tasso pork, ham shanks, hog headcheese, corned beef, and pastrami. The agriculture department said Friday the products were recalled because of possible contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.
'Kool-Aid Man' Gets A New Look
April 15, 2013 2:30 pm | by Candice Choi, AP Food Industry Writer | News | CommentsThe Kool-Aid Man, known for busting through walls and his "Oh yeah!" tagline, will now be computer-generated and take on the personality of a celebrity trying to show he's just a normal guy. In past ads, the character was played by an actor in foam costume and had little to say or do besides crashing through a wall with a big, smiley face.
