Industry News

Retail food price deflation averaged four-tenths of a percent through the first seven months of 2010, the largest level of deflation seen in 51 years and the first time in 43 years this has occurred, according to exclusive Food Institute analysis of just-released government data. In addition, retail food prices were unchanged during July from August. Full Story (FI Membership Required)

Grocery store sales rose 1.6% during July compared to the same month a year ago and were 3.9% higher than June sales, according to Food Institute analysis of just-released sales data from the Bureau of Census. Supermarkets accounted for 95% of those sales. Eating and drinking place sales fared significantly better, rising 4.4% during July versus a year-prior, the largest such increase this year. Full Story (FI Membership 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.

Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc. will focus on value pricing this fall, including 99-cent Frosty treats at Wendy's and a new menu at Arby's featuring 30 items for less than $3, including five new sandwiches. Wendy's breakfast line will be rolled out to 150 more restaurants by the end of August, and another 100 stores by the end of the year, reported Nation's Restaurant News. Full Story (Free Registration Required), Full Release

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.

Supermarket chains and other retailers are using cereal prices to draw shoppers into their stores, according to Kellogg chief executive David Mackay. The price war could end as early as October or as late as December, according to the executive, as commodity costs are increasing, reported MarketWatch. Full Story

PW Markets will close after 67 years in business. The company is seeking to lease all its seven existing locations. Increasing competition is the biggest reason for the pending closure, according to store representative John Machado, SVP at Colliers International, reported Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Latest sales & earnings from food-related companies (Updated daily - FI Membership Required)

Food Institute News

Purchase Today! The Almanac of Canned Vegetables 2010, a newly revised, updated reference report, presents five-year time series data through the end of 2009. At 216 pages, a variety of data is included, such as acreage, consumption and production, as well as imports and exports. Benefit from this new edition, which contains "exclusive" Food Institute price trend data collected directly from industry sources as well as U.S. Census Bureau data. To purchase or for more information, click here.

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International News

Kraft is focusing efforts on the Asia-Pacific region, mostly on the strength of the Indian and Chinese consumer markets, and is seeking to raise the profile of Cadbury products in China and increase investments in other developing markets. The company is in the process of consolidating the Beijing headquarters of Cadbury to Kraft's Shanghai offices, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required)

Health News

A total of 1,097 foodborne disease outbreaks were reported in 2007 to CDC, according to the agency's Surveillance for Foodborne Disease Outbreaks - U.S., 2007 report. In the 235 outbreaks where one food commodity was identified, the largest number of illnesses listed poultry (691 illnesses), beef (667 illnesses) and leafy vegetables (590 illnesses) as the cause. Full Story, Full Report

Washington News

A compromise food safety bill that reportedly has bipartisan support was released by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) via a "manager's amendment" that omits a ban on the use of BPA in plastic containers. The House passed a version of the bill in 2009 and with Congress in recess until September, the food safety legislation appears to moving to the forefront once again, reported The Des Moines Register. Full Story, Revised Bill

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland, organizations representing livestock producers and other agricultural interests and the Humane Society of the U.S. formed a joint agreement which will result in the Humane Society not pursuing a ballot initiative this fall and enhance animal welfare and animal care standards. The sides agreed to bar new construction of egg farms that pack birds in cages, and to phase out the tight caging of pregnant sows within 15 years and of veal calves by 2017, reported The New York Times on the Web. Full Story (Free Registration Required), Full Release

Market News

Cool early-summer temperatures in Mexico combined with colder-than-usual winter temperatures in Peru will create a demand-exceeds-supply situation this summer for asparagus, reported The Produce News. Full Story