Industry News

After years of 20% annual sales growth, consumers are curtailing their organic consumption due to higher prices, according to the Hartman Group. With higher corn, grain and soybean prices, the financial incentive is for farmers is to grow conventional products versus organic, reported Newsweek. Full Story

Rapid increases in high-fructose corn syrup prices could mean a switch to lower priced sugar for some food and beverage products. Even before corn prices increased, several smaller soda and food makers in the U.S. began to reject the syrup in favor of sugar as consumers shied away from heavily processed snacks and ingredients, noted The Wall Street Journal. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required)

Supermarkets have the opportunity to better tailor health-related messages to individual consumers, noted Stephen Vowles, Senior V.P. of marketing for Stop & Shop and Giant-Landover at the FMI Show. Additionally, focusing more carefully on health and wellness offers a means for supermarkets to better differentiate themselves from competitors, reported Supermarket News. Full Story

Price increases by Sara Lee Corp. helped cover surging commodity costs, and sales growth from its international coffee and bakery business resulted in a rise in profits for the company. The firm also dropped several brands in its fresh bakery business, sold a stake in a Mexican meats business, and ended some coffee contracts with independent operators in the foodservice market, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required)

New food and beverage products featuring ancient grains are appearing on markets worldwide, according to Datamonitor's Productscan Online. The number of products introduced featuring these grains rose from 257 in 2005 to 515 in 2007, representing a 50% increase, reported Food Production Daily. Full Story

Food Institute News

The U.S. Hispanic market currently drives $34 billion in CPG spending and is estimated to reach $52 billion by 2015. Spending per household among Hispanic consumers significantly outpaces the national spending averages across nearly every channel, according to Information Resource's Inc.'s Hispanic Consumers: Capturing CPG Market Potential report. For more information, click here. (FI Membership Required)

Chicken of the Sea With nearly a century of service, Chicken of the Sea is one of the oldest seafood companies in the U.S. While the company has changed over the years, their products, marketed under the Chicken of the Sea trademark and the Mermaid logo since 1952, have always been trusted for great taste and high quality To learn more about this 18-year Food Institute member visit: www.chickenofthesea.com. Interested in seeing your company featured here? Email us for more details.

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International News

China has enough grain reserves to keep food prices stable, reported China Daily. Output of wheat, rice and corn exceeds consumption; and the country only needs some imports to meet the shortfall in soybeans, according to China's National Development and Reform Commission. Full Story

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Health News

The obesity epidemic is likely to get worse as food prices rise, reported The Philadelphia Inquirer. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Washington News

FDA estimates that it will receive one nutrient content claim notification and two health claim notifications per year and the agency is now seeking comments on the collection of information associated with the submission of notifications of health claims or nutrient content claims based on authoritative statements of scientific bodies of the U.S. government. Specifically, whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; the accuracy of FDA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques. Full Notice Looking for more information about nutrient content claims and health claims? Find out more about the current regulations at the Food Institute's U.S. Food Labeling Seminar on June 3, 2008 at The Marriott Newark Liberty International Airport Hotel, Newark, NJ. This day-long seminar will update you about the latest developments impacting the labeling of food products, as well as provide an overview of the basics of food labeling. Learn what important changes in food labeling may lie ahead and could affect your products. Click here for details.

Market News

Wisconsin cherry fruit growers may produce fewer cherries in 2008 due to last year's drought and an unusually large crop, reported The Chicago Tribune. Early signs show 25% - 50% fewer buds on cherry trees in Door County, WI, according to Richard Weidman of the University of Wisconsin Peninsular Research Station. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

How Can You Comply With Complex Food Safety Regulations? The Food Institute's HACCP & U.S. Food Safety Guide - 2nd Edition provides clear explanations of the recent regulations and requirements issued by FDA and USDA regarding the handling and sanitation of food products. Authored by Olsson, Frank & Weeda, P.C., this guide includes information on applying HACCP plans in the plant, mandatory HACCP systems in general and specific HACCP requirements for seafood, meat & poultry. For details, click here.