Industry News

Food Safety News named the top 10 food safety stories of the year, including the recall of 3,918 separate products made with Peanut Corporation of America peanut butter or peanut paste. Full Story

The Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute predicts several key food packaging trends for 2010. These include interest in sustainable packaging and food processors and regulators looking for new ways to communicate nutrition messages. Full Story

Supervalu's Jewel Express introduced a new prototype, a 1,900-sq. ft. convenience store that emphasizes foodservice and private label products. The prototype includes six heads of frozen carbonated beverages and an expanded coffee area branded with PapaNicholas Coffee, reported CSP Daily News. Full Story

Descriptive menu labels increase sales by as much as 27%, according to research by Brian Wansink, director of the Food and Brand Lab at Cornell University. Diners also respond to names of mothers, grandmothers and other relatives on their menus, such as Grandma's zucchini cookies. Restaurants are increasingly relying on menu engineers and consultants to boost sales. Huddle House, for instance, is rolling out a test menu at 20 restaurants, reported The New York Times on the Web. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Street food will become more popular in 2010, according to trade publication Eat In Eat Out. Supermarkets will continue to push discounts, and restaurants will expand use of their bargain menus. Eat In Eat Out predicted fast 2010 growth for kombucha, black garlic, lardo, home cooking, upscale burgers and small domestic distilleries, reported Denver Business Journal. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

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If a food tests positive for an indicator organism, such as Listeria, is it a "reportable food" under the FDA Reportable Food Registry? Yes No I would like to know Not sure

Food Institute News

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KENDALL FROZEN FRUITS, INC. KENDALL FROZEN FRUITS is an industrial food brokerage specializing in the sale and marketing of frozen, dried and concentrated fruit products. Headquartered in Beverly Hills/Dana Point,CA, KENDALL sources product both domestically and abroad, proudly representing the finest food manufacturers in the industry. By working directly with growers, packers and customers, Kendall Frozen Fruits, Inc. remains on the cutting edge of innovation and will continue expanding its presence both nationally and internationally. KENDALL FROZEN FRUITS was named one of the top 25 women owned businesses in Los Angeles County. To learn more about this 42-year Food Institute member visit: www.kendallfruit.com. Interested in seeing your company featured here? Email us for more details.

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International News

Nestle suspended its operations in Zimbabwe due to pressure by the country's government, reported FoodNavigator.com. Full Story

Suntory Holdings Ltd. plans to sell beverages in China in 2010 through a distribution alliance with PepsiCo Inc. The companies plan to sign a contract next month to allow two Suntory dairy products to be distributed through regional PepsiCo-affiliated sales companies. Suntory aims to increase Chinese beverage sales to $219 million in 2012, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story

Washington News

Pilgrim's Pride Corporation and six of its subsidiaries emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Full Story

Taiwan may reinstate a ban on some U.S. beef imports amid concern that the U.S. government lacks adequate safeguards against mad cow disease. The decision is expected to be voted into law on Jan. 5, the same day lawmakers will also vote on whether to restore the ban on bone-in beef, reported CBS News. Full Story

Market News

U.S. hog producers continued to reduce their herds in 2009 amid ongoing losses and, as a result, analysts expect supplies to be the smallest in three years. Hog prices were down 25% in first eight months of 2009, but a late year rally produced a 6% year-to-date gain, reported Reuters. Full Story

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