Industry News

Food-at-home prices jumped 1.3% in April over the prior month, and were 5.9% higher than the same month last year, according to The Food Institute's analysis of just-released data from the Census Bureau. Full Story

High global food prices are likely to linger for two to three years while the world replenishes food stocks, according to senior White House officials. Disappointing harvests, surging demand in developing countries and increased biofuel production may have contributed to global commodity and food prices increases over last year. However, the White House contends that ethanol use accounts for only up to 3% of the overall increase in global food prices, reported Reuters. Full Story

Chicken is becoming increasingly important in fast food sales. Chicken-related items on McDonald's menu outnumber beef-based products, and the company bought 663 million-lbs. of chicken in the U.S. last year, up 59% from 2003. Its U.S. beef purchases, which totaled 795 million-lbs. in 2007, rose 10% during the same time, reported The Chicago Tribune. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Kraft Foods Inc. will raise its prices to offset increasing commodity costs. CEO Irene Rosenfeld claims the company needs to protect its margins and profits, which dropped last year due to the soaring costs of wheat, dairy and other commodities, reported Crain's Chicago Business. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

In order to do business with Wal-Mart, companies should determine what their competition is - both in terms of companies and products; determine what kind of price they will need to hit to be competitive; and figure out who their customer is, according to a "How to Do Business With Wal-Mart" seminar. Companies were also advised to know their capacity. "Our buyers can write orders that can blow you away," said Excell La Fayette Jr., Wal-Mart's director of supplier development. Wal-Mart also requires companies it does business with to have $2 million in liability insurance and a Dun and Bradstreet rating, according to The Lakeland Ledger. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Food Institute News

Consumer Understanding of Buying Local - A Webinar
Presented by The Food Institute and The Hartman Group

The Food Institute and The Hartman Group will host a webinar on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 2PM (EST) that will examine American consumers' understanding of what the term "buy local" means. This 45-minute webinar is your guide to understanding consumer perceptions of what "buy local" means in the context of products, brands, retailers, restaurants and businesses. Additionally, this webinar will provide a current view on where "buy local" is at with consumers and how this acquired knowledge translates into marketing opportunities. There will be a question and answer session following the presentation. For more information or to register for the webinar, click here.

Henningsen Cold Storage Co. Henningsen is an 83-year-old, diversified company with full service temperature controlled logistic services and real estate holdings in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. The company offers over 37 million cubic feet of multi-temperature storage including: freezer, cooler, dry, blast and room freezing; specialized product handling; import/export services; computerized inventory management; EDI capability; transportation management; transloading; cross docking; containerized loading/unloading; USDA approved warehouses; USDA meat and poultry establishments; land available for expansion and/or allied industry. To learn more about this 20-year Food Institute member visit: www.henningsen.com. Interested in seeing your company featured here? Email us for more details.

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International News

For George Weston Ltd., the worst part of its multiyear restructuring plan at Loblaw Cos. Ltd. is over, according to chairman W. Galen Weston. George Weston, he said, is concentrating on three things: continuous product innovation, optimizing infrastructure and determined control of costs, according to The Globe and Mail. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Health News

Only 18% of American children are eating three or more servings of fresh fruits and vegetables each day, according to a study commissioned by Produce for Kids. Some 38% of parents claim their children eat two servings of fresh fruit and vegetables per day, while 43% percent report that their children have one or less daily serving. Full Story

The Daily Update is a substantially abbreviated version of Today In Food. You can get a subscription to Today In Food, which usually has over 30 news items each day, as well as access to the archives for just $49.95 per year. Click here to sign up.

Washington News

FDA needs $275 million immediately to ensure that imported foods, drugs, and medical devices are safe, according to a letter written to Congress by Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach. The request was made to Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and details spending plans for opening new foreign offices, increasing inspections, and constructing new databases, reported The New York Times on the Web. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Market News

Sweet sorghum sap can be turned into a potent biofuel, and experts and companies are studying its potential with hopes that farmers will want to plant more of it. Normally grown in the U.S. for cooking and livestock feed, sweet sorghum sap produces about eight units of energy for every unit of energy used in its production, which is the same as sugarcane but four times more than corn, reported The Associated Press. Full Story

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.