Food & Drink Weekly

Browse past and current articles from this publication.

FDA sets safety threshold for contaminant melamine.
Responding to concerns about the presence of the contaminant melamine in numerous foods made in China and exported to the United States and elsewhere, FDA says that consuming a very small amount of . . .

GAO report says FDA hamstrung by lack of resources.
FDA has primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of both domestic and imported fresh produce but, according to a recent GAO report, the agency's efforts to combat food-borne illnesses are hamp . . .

Food stamp participation increases as economy lags.(Brief article)
Almost a million more people participated in the federal government's food stamp program for the needy between April and July, according to USDA, which oversees the program. The latest federal sta . . .

Some consumers question safety of aspartame.(News Briefs ...)
Some Consumers Question Safety Of Aspartame: Research by Nielsen suggests fears over the health risks of artificial sweetener aspartame have dented supermarket sales in New Zealand of low- and no-ca . . .

New food labels may surprise shoppers.
Supermarkets will feature new labels and signs in the meat case and produce aisle, but they may leave shoppers puzzled. New rules took effect last week requiring meat, produce and some nuts to be la . . .

USDA's final COOL rules could be issued by year's end.
Retailers and food makers have six months--beginning today--to adjust to the mandatory country-of-origin labeling law that covers meat, fruit and vegetables sold in grocery stores. The labeling is n . . .

Yum brands.(BUSINESS BRIEFS ...)
Yum Brands--the parent of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver's and A&W All-American Food--says it will voluntarily add product calorie information to menu boards in its company-owned restau . . .

Hansen Natural is to pay more than $100 million in early termination fees in order for Coca-Cola Co.(BUSINESS BRIEFS ...)
Hansen Natural is to pay more than $100 million in early termination fees in order for Coca-Cola Co. and its main bottler Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) to take over distribution of its Monster Energy . . .

Campbell Soup Co. announced that it has completed the sale of its French condiments business, Generale Condimentaire, to Lesieur
Campbell Soup Co. announced that it has completed the sale of its French condiments business, Generale Condimentaire, to Lesieur. In July, Campbell said that it would sell the unit to focus on its s . . .

PepsiCo said that it has made "significant" progress toward its long-term environmental sustainability goals.(BUSINESS BRIEFS ..
PepsiCo said that it has made "significant" progress toward its long-term environmental sustainability goals. The goals, which include reducing water consumption by 20 percent, electricity consumpti . . .

Willamette Valley Vineyards has acquired three new vineyard sites.(BUSINESS BRIEFS ...)
Willamette Valley Vineyards has acquired three new vineyard sites. The Oregon-based winery said late last week that it has acquired the sites in the Willamette Valley, adjacent to its current operat . . .

Eric Foss, president and chief executive officer, has been elected by Pepsi Bottling Group's (PBG) board of directors as its new
Eric Foss, president and chief executive officer, has been elected by Pepsi Bottling Group's (PBG) board of directors as its new chairman, taking over from Barry Beracha, who had served as Pepsi Bot . . .

Dr Pepper Snapple Group has made several management changes in a move to "increase its focus on key consumers and capitalize on
Dr Pepper Snapple Group has made several management changes in a move to "increase its focus on key consumers and capitalize on [its] distribution network" and to be able to "respond nimbly to the e . . .

Cadbury chief financial officer Ken Hanna has signaled his intention to leave the confectioner in April next year.(GRAPEVINE: Ne
Cadbury chief financial officer Ken Hanna has signaled his intention to leave the confectioner in April next year. After five years with Cadbury, Hanna said that he wanted to pursue a number of non- . . .

Wine importer Henriot Inc. has appointed a new CEO.(GRAPEVINE: News About People ...)
Wine importer Henriot Inc. has appointed a new CEO. The wine and Champagne distributor, seller and marketer, which operates out of New York, confirmed that former Moet Hennessy exec, Walter Sawitsky . . .

Fortune Brands chairman Norm Wesley has announced his retirement, with current president and CEO Bruce Carbonari set to replace
Fortune Brands chairman Norm Wesley has announced his retirement, with current president and CEO Bruce Carbonari set to replace him. Wesley said that he would retire as chairman with immediate effec . . .

With COOL about to be implemented, meatpackers urged to source products.
Meatpackers should list the source of their products as much as possible and not abuse the flexibility of the country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law for meat and meat products that takes effect this . . .

China's tainted milk found in U.S. products.
A little-known brand of instant coffees and teas became the first recalled product in the United States connected to China's tainted-milk scandal, while a New Zealand company tied to severe baby-for . . .

Egg industry probe urged.
The Humane Society of the United States petitioned the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission to investigate the nation's largest egg producers, alleging that their animal-welfare program m . . .

Food marketers cook up "value" campaigns.
Food companies hope to capitalize on the slumping economy by steering consumers to cheaper, high-margin products. It is a big shift for food makers. For several years they have tried to increase the . . .

News media overlook food system-climate change connection.
A study conducted by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health shows the nation's top newspapers have largely overlooked the food system as one of the more important contrib . . .

Purdue Research Park-based company develops test for E. coli.
A Purdue Research Park-based company has developed a method to capture and detect foodborne illness-causing bacteria such as E. coli that promises to be quicker and less expensive than current conve . . .

GAO cites FDA's lax oversight of produce industry.(News Briefs ...)
GAO Cites FDA's Lax Oversight of Produce Industry: FDA's efforts to combat food-borne illness are hampered by infrequent inspections, not enough staff and the failure to implement a program devoted . . .

House passes nutrition program fix.(News Briefs ...)(Brief article)
House Passes Nutrition Program Fix: The House passed S 3597, which makes technical fixes to the farm bill, ensuring fiscal 2008 funding for community food projects, a nutrition program that is desig . . .

Energy drinks should carry warning labels about the amount of caffeine they contain, a team of scientists in the United States h
Energy drinks should carry warning labels about the amount of caffeine they contain, a team of scientists in the United States has said. Some energy drinks contained caffeine levels equivalent to dr . . .

PepsiCo's.(BUSINESS BRIEFS ...)
PepsiCo's main bottling arm, The Pepsi Bottling Group, has signed a deal to acquire fellow Pepsi bottler Lane Affiliated Companies. The agreement is Pepsi Bottling Group's (PBG) biggest deal since b . . .

Smithfield Foods.(BUSINESS BRIEFS ...)
Smithfield Foods has said that it will process only U.S. born and raised hogs, starting from next April. The announcement follows the introduction of new labeling regulations - the Country of Origin . . .

Produce company Dole foods is nearing completion of the sale of JP fresh in the UK and its ripening and distribution business in
Produce company Dole Foods is nearing completion of the sale of JP Fresh in the UK and its ripening and distribution business in France. The company has signed a definitive purchase and sale agreeme . . .

Diamond Foods.(BUSINESS BRIEFS ...)
Nut maker Diamond Foods has sealed its acquisition of popcorn business Pop Secret from General Mills. The $190 million deal was announced last month but Diamond said that it had finalized the agreem . . .

Drinks Americas.(BUSINESS BRIEFS ...)
Drinks Americas has lined up the purchase of a majority stake in Netherlands-based Olifant Vodka from distiller J.J. Melchers Ws. Scheidam for $1.4 million. The remaining 10 percent will be retained . . .

Global beverage giant Diageo has appointed a new U.S. president, as part of several changes to its executive committee.(GRAPEVIN
Global beverage giant Diageo has appointed a new U.S. president, as part of several changes to its executive committee. Larry Schwartz has been appointed to the committee as president of Diageo U.S. . . .

Foster's, the troubled Australian drinks group, has appointed acting CEO Ian Johnston to head the business on a permanent basis.
Foster's, the troubled Australian drinks group, has appointed acting CEO Ian Johnston to head the business on a permanent basis. Johnston, a former managing director of Cadbury Schweppes, will take . . .

Brown-Forman has elected John Cook to the company's board of directors.(GRAPEVINE: News About People ...)
Brown-Forman has elected John Cook to the company's board of directors. Cook is a director emeritus of McKinsey & Company, the world's leading management consulting firm. His 25-year career with McK . . .

Robert Probst.(GRAPEVINE: News About People ...)(Beam Global Spirits & Wine )(Brief article)
Beam Global Spirits & Wine has appointed Robert Probst as senior vice president and chief financial officer. With effect from 29 September, Probst will assume responsibility for directing the compan . . .

EU research institute says GM foods are safe.
There is no scientific evidence that foods from genetically modified crops pose any hazard to human or animal health, although little is known about the potential long-term effects, the leading Euro . . .

Health conscious consumers force shift away from alcoholic beverages.
World non-alcoholic beverage markets are benefiting from a shift away from alcohol thanks to increased health awareness, and in turn, a number of non-carbonated markets are benefiting from a shift a . . .

Supermarkets downsizing.
After years of building bigger stores--many larger than a football field and carrying 60,000 items--retailers are experimenting with radically smaller grocery stores that emphasize prepared meals, f . . .

Food groups build stronger Ad campaigns.
Food-makers may be worried about higher costs for key ingredients, pushing through price increases and still maintaining a profit. But for big names like Sara Lee, Kraft and others, these slim times . . .

China will fuel global meat consumption.
Global meat consumption is expected to rise about 20 percent higher by 2015 due to Chinese demand, despite a world economic downturn, an industry researcher said last week. "We're still looking at v . . .

EU Court rejects damages claim in EU-U.S. banana trade spat.
European companies which suffered losses because of U.S. trade sanctions in a row over EU banana imports can't receive compensation, Europe's highest court ruled. Dow Jones Newswires notes that the . . .

A commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission said last week that full administrative hearings on the legality of the 2007.(BUS
A commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission said last week that full administrative hearings on the legality of the 2007 merger between Whole Foods Market and Wild Oats Markets will begin Feb. 16 . . .

Brewer Anheuser-Busch (A-B) has formed a new subsidiary to handle sales and marketing of the non-alcoholic drinks brands it owns
Brewer Anheuser-Busch (A-B) has formed a new subsidiary to handle sales and marketing of the non-alcoholic drinks brands it owns and distributes under license and also develop new products, it indic . . .

The Center for Science in the Public (CSPI) is suing MillerCoors after its refusal to withdraw its caffeinated alcoholic drink S
The Center for Science in the Public (CSPI) is suing MillerCoors after its refusal to withdraw its caffeinated alcoholic drink Sparks from the market. MillerCoors, as Miller Brewing and Molson Coors . . .

The Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has begun consultations on bringing country-of-origin marketing regulations into line
The Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has begun consultations on bringing country-of-origin marketing regulations into line with changes recently introduced by the Agricultural Marketing Service . . .

ConAgra Foods has promoted Bill Hahn to the position of vice president.(GRAPEVINE: News About People ...)
ConAgra Foods has promoted Bill Hahn to the position of vice president, finance. Hahn joined ConAgra in 1993 and has held positions in the corporate finance and strategic development departments. In . . .

Chris Novak has been named chief executive officer of the National Pork Board, replacing Steve Murphy.(GRAPEVINE: News About Peo
Chris Novak has been named chief executive officer of the National Pork Board, replacing Steve Murphy, who announced his resignation in January and who has continued to serve while the board searche . . .

The National Corn Growers Association named Robyn Stevens as manager of research and business development.(GRAPEVINE: News About
The National Corn Growers Association named Robyn Stevens as manager of research and business development. She previously worked as a research associate at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center i . . .

The International Food Information Council has named Eric Mittenthal to be director of media relations.(GRAPEVINE: News About Pe
The International Food Information Council has named Eric Mittenthal to be director of media relations. Mittenthal previously was a news reporter and producer, most recently with WAGA-TV in Atlanta, . . .

Heineken has named John Nicholson, previously managing director of Scottish & Newcastle's Eastern Europe.(GRAPEVINE: News About
Heineken has named John Nicholson, previously managing director of Scottish & Newcastle's Eastern Europe, Asia and USA division to head up its Americas operations. The Dutch brewer bought roughly ha . . .

Frederick Wildman and Sons has appointed a director of marketing for its fine wine division in the United States.(GRAPEVINE: New
Frederick Wildman and Sons has appointed a director of marketing for its fine wine division in the United States. The New York-based company said that Martin Sinkoff will join Wildman from Pasternak . . .