|  British researchers and colleagues from around the world reviewed scientific studies on milk and meat, finding that organically grown products contained more beneficial nutrients, especially omega-3 fatty acids. The data showed that organic milk and meat have more desirable fat profiles, and could raise omega-3 fat intake by 50 percent without increasing calories and undesirable saturated fat. They also showed lower levels of myristic and palmitic acid in organic meat and a lower omega-3/omega-6 ratio in organic milk. There were also higher levels of fat soluble vitamins such as vitamin E and carotenoids, and 40 percent more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in organic milk. Organic cattle raising involves more outdoor grazing and low... More "Higher PUFA and omega-3 PUFA, CLA, a-tocopherol and iron, but lower iodine and selenium concentrations in organic bovine milk: A systematic literature review and meta- and redundancy analysis. ", British Journal of Nutrition, April 05, 2016
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Midwestern retail chain Meijer announced a commitment to all cage-free eggs in its stores by 2025. The company's current volume sales of cage-free eggs are “relatively low,” but the trend is in that direction. Meijer sells cage-free, free-range and traditional eggs, most of them sourced from farms in Michigan that have been working with the Meijer family for more than 50 years. Meijer (Grand Rapids, Mich.) operates 223 supercenters and grocery stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin.
"Meijer Announces Goal to Source Only Cage-Free Eggs by 2025", News release, Meijer, April 01, 2016
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|  Chickens fed antibiotics can live in cramped, unsanitary conditions without getting sick. They also tend to gain more weight. However, a highly vocal movement against antibiotic use in meat and poultry in the United States is inducing more producers to end the use of antibiotics. The goal is to protect consumers from a growing threat of antibiotic resistance as well as early puberty in children. Restaurant chains like Subway and McDonalds are demanding antibiotics-free meats. And poultry producers, including Tyson, Pilgrim’s Pride, Perdue Farms, and Foster Farms have all promised to mostly stop using antibiotics over varying time frames. It’s an uphill climb, however: 92 to 95 percent of food produced in the U.S. contains... More "Movement Against Antibiotic-Treated Meat Gaining Momentum in the United States", Blog, Euromonitor International, March 31, 2016
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 PepsiCo has done some organizational reshuffling in the wake of Tom Greco’s departure as CEO of Frito-Lay North America (FLNA). The company said it has pulled together its three North America businesses – FLNA, North America Beverages (NAB) and Quaker Foods North America – under Albert Carey, who will be CEO of North America. Carey has been with the company for 35 years, serving in various senior roles across snacks, beverages and food service. Kirk Tanner will be the new president and COO of NAB, and Vivek Sankaran will be president and COO of FLNA.
"PepsiCo reshuffles management team", Food Business News, March 31, 2016
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|  Germany’s food and agriculture minister wants to end food waste he believes is due largely to confusing expiration dates on packages, but his plans are more ambitious than that. According to one study, Germans discarded 82 kg of edible food in 2012, mostly fruits and vegetables, pasta and bread. Christian Schmidt’s plan to end food waste by 2030 includes eliminating the “best before date” established by food manufacturers. Not an expiry date, it merely suggests how long the food will retain its specific taste, smell, color, consistency and nutritional value. Schmidt has also called for installing electronic chips in food packaging, such as yogurt cups, that show a color-coded scale indicating product aging. Schmidt’s agency has... More "Germany plans ‘smart’ packaging to cut food waste", EurActiv.de, March 30, 2016
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 Canadian grocery shoppers are spending more time, and money, in the frozen food section of their supermarkets, thanks to a falling Canadian dollar and rising fresh produce prices. The result is an impressive 3.5 percent increase ($188 million) in sales over last year. Frozen produce is selling especially well, with fruit sales up 11 percent and vegetables up eight percent. Frozen produce, according to Nielsen, is a way to eat more healthful foods without having to worry about waste. Also selling well in this era of limited free time and more convenience are frozen (family size) dinners and premade meat patties. Sales of these items have increased two percent and 18 percent, respectively.
"What's Heating Up In The Frozen Food Section?", News release, Nielsen, March 24, 2016
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 Add ConAgra Foods Inc. to the growing list of food companies that are doing what they can to comply with a Vermont GMO label law in the absence of judicial intervention or federal action. ConAgra will change its labels on all GMO products distributed across the country to comply with the Vermont law that goes into effect in July. Kellogg Co., General Mills Inc., Mars Inc. and Campbell Soup Co. have also announced nationwide compliance with Vermont’s law because it’s too expensive to make packaging changes for just one state. Most companies would prefer to have a comprehensive federal standard, but the U.S. Congress is not likely to come to an agreement on the issue any time soon.
"ConAgra Going Nationwide With GMO Labeling", The Wall Street Journal, March 22, 2016
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 Another major food producer has decided to change its food labels in anticipation of a strict Vermont law targeting GMO ingredients. Candy company Mars Inc. will add GMO labels to products that contain genetically modified organisms to comply with the law, enacted in May 2014, that is due to take effect in July unless stopped by lawsuits. Other companies, including General Mills and Campbell Soup, are also complying with the law, implementing label changes on a nationwide basis, not just in Vermont. And like those other companies, Mars says it is acting to keep costs down and in a spirit of transparency, though it does not believe GMOs present a threat to the health of consumers.
"Mars to Add GMO Labels to Products", The Wall Street Journal, March 21, 2016
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 Following a successful six-month, 14-store pilot program, British grocery chain Tesco has finalized a plan to donate all unsold food to 5,000 charities in an effort to eradicate food waste from its stores and distribution centers by 2017. During the test, the Community Food Connection program resulted in delivery of more than 22 tons of food to needy people – approximately 50,000 meals. The company acknowledged it had discarded more than 55,000 tons of food last year. The Tesco initiative follows a similar effort by the Morrisons grocery chain.
"Tesco to give all unsold food to charity after finalising deal", Independent, March 12, 2016
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Kroger Co. said it has entered into a strategic partnership with specialty grocery store chain Lucky’s Market. As part of the deal, Kroger has made a significant investment in Lucky’s Market, which focuses on selling natural, organic, and locally grown products. Established in 2003, Lucky’s Market operates 17 stores in 13 states. Its store format, “Organic for the 99%,” highlights its selection of natural and organic food products.
"Kroger & Lucky's Market Announce Strategic Partnership", Kroger, April 01, 2016
UCT Unilever Institute of Strategic Marketing partnered with market research firm Ipsos to conduct a multi-city study aimed at gathering information on the middle class in sub-Saharan Africa. Expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2016, the research project will include qualitative, quantitative, and ethnographic methodologies. Also, the study will use mobile qualitative solutions that would enable researchers to stay in touch with respondents as they go about their daily lives. Topics to be covered by the study include education, income, health, insurance, and entertainment.
"Ipsos and UCT Unilever Institute of Strategic Marketing partner to uncover the potential of the sub-Saharan Africa middle class", Bizcommunity.com, April 01, 2016
| News Ghana, April 06, 2016 Bloomberg Gadfly, April 04, 2016 The Seattle Times, April 04, 2016 The Economic Times, April 02, 2016 | |