| March 31, 2011 | News for the food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry |  |  |
| Company Watch |  |  | | - Hershey increases wholesale prices
Hershey said it raised wholesale prices for most of its products by about 9.7% to offset increased costs for fuel and ingredients. Because the chocolate maker buys seasonally, it will see most of the financial benefit in fiscal 2012, though it still expects 2011 net sales to rise between 3% and 5%, and earnings to go up between 6% and 8%. The Wall Street Journal (3/30), Reuters (3/30)       | Trends | | | | - Sustainable packaging moves forward, albeit slowly
Many food makers are working to make their packaging sustainable but are facing hurdles, including higher costs, compromised freshness and, in the case of SunChips, an unacceptably loud bag. But progress is being made, with Heinz licensing Coca-Cola technology for a bottle made partly from sugar-cane residue and PepsiCo introducing a plant-based bottle. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (3/29) - Miracle Whip puts negative feedback to good use
Miracle Whip is asking Internet users to chime in on the virtues of its mayonnaise spread. The brand's "Are You Miracle Whip?" campaign features YouTube videos of people telling the world why they love or hate Miracle Whip. It includes some celebrity commentary from DJ Pauly D, James Carville and Amy Sedaris. Fans can also sign up to get Miracle Whip samples and coupons on its YouTube and Facebook pages. ClickZ (3/30)  | Retail Spotlight | | | | - Wal-Mart CEO sees inflation ahead for U.S. consumers
 Consumers face higher prices in the coming months for food, clothing and other goods, Wal-Mart's U.S CEO Bill Simon warned this week, adding that the chain is working with its suppliers to minimize the impact of higher costs on consumers. Major retail chains such as Wal-Mart are likely to be in the strongest position to do that, said John Long, a retail strategist at Kurt Salmon, but no merchants are going to be able to shield their customers from inflation completely. USA TODAY (3/30)
| Health & Wellness | | | | - Healthy snacks can help sustain energy between meals
Registered dietitian Margie Fougeron says it is important to "pay attention to our body's cues" on hunger and use nutrient-rich snacks to keep our bodies fueled between meals. Experts recommend choosing foods that offer protein, fiber and a small amount of healthy fat to help sustain energy levels. Healthy snack ideas are included. The Indianapolis Star (3/17) - Vitamin K helps elderly maintain stronger bones, study says
A study in Spain found that eating foods rich in vitamin K was linked to high bone-mineral density for elderly adults. The report in the journal Bone said higher intakes of vitamin K among men and women were associated with lower BMD loss and smaller increases in porosity and elasticity, which come with aging. NutraIngredients (3/29) | GMA News | | | | - Register now for the GMA Foodborne Illness Litigation Conference
The GMA Foodborne Illness Litigation Conference will explore a broad range of topics related to litigation stemming from foodborne illnesses, both as a result of product recalls and isolated incidents. Attendees will learn how these issues can be addressed by the entire value chain, from manufacturer to distributor to retailer, as well as by legal counsel within the industry.
Topics to be addressed include:
- Deconstructing Junk Science
- Selecting Experts for Foodborne Illness Litigation
- The Food Safety Modernization Act: What Counsel Need to Know
- The Evolution of Mass Torts: The Toyota Experience and What It Means for the Food Industry
- Managing Foodborne Illness Recalls
- The 2010 Egg Recall: A Case Study
In-house and outside counsel cannot afford to miss this event. Register NOW to gain new tools and insights to protect your company and clients.
| Government & Food Safety | | | | - GMA official to testify on imported food safety
Leon Bruner, GMA's chief science officer, was expected to tell a Food and Drug Administration hearing that imported food will be safer under the new Food Safety Modernization Act. "By requiring that all imported food and food ingredients be produced in accordance with U.S. requirements, this new law will help to maintain a safe and reliable supply chain," he said. FoodNavigator (3/30) - Tests find low levels of radiation in milk from Washington
The FDA and the Environmental Protection Agency said tests of milk samples from Washington state found a tiny amount of iodine-131, a radioactive material, that is 5,000 times lower than the "defined intervention level." "These types of findings are to be expected in the coming days and are far below levels of public health concern, including for infants and children," according to the agencies. The tests are part of a U.S. effort to increase monitoring of radiation levels in response to the nuclear plant crisis in Japan. Reuters (3/30)
| SmartQuote | | | |  | You are never strong enough that you don't need help."
--Cesar Chavez,
Mexican-American labor leader and civil rights activist,
quoted for his birthday, March 31, 1927  |
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