US food regulators had a busy few days this week. They were forced to deal with the latest salmonella scare to hit the industry, while firing off a series of warning letters to manufacturers – including Nestle and Schwan’s – over alleged misleading nutrition labels. The debate over how food is labelled also re-emerged in the UK, with the FSA’s latest proposals for a hybrid scheme, which angered the country’s retailers. On the retail front, the Co-operative Group received a sales boost in the UK, while over the English Channel, Casino acknowledged problems at home and Dutch giant Ahold eyed expansion.
US: Nestle, Schwan’s in FDA labelling “crackdown”
US food safety officials have written warning letters to 16 manufacturers that claim the companies have broken labelling laws.
US: HVP salmonella recall widens
The number of US food makers linked to the HVP salmonella scare continues to grow, although food safety officials insist that there have been no cases of illness linked to the recall.
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UK: FSA outlines “flexible” labelling scheme
The UK’s Food Standards Agency today (5 March) put forward plans for a “flexible” front-of-pack labelling scheme that would include text, traffic lights and Guideline Daily Amounts (GDAs).
UK: Promotions propel Co-op, says Kantar
Price cuts and promotions have made The Co-operative Group the fastest-growing retailer in the UK, according to the latest sales data from Kantar Worldpanel.
UK: M&S adds commitments to Plan A green programme
Marks and Spencer is aiming to become the “world’s most sustainable retailer” by 2015, with the addition of 80 more commitments under the UK retailer’s Plan A “eco-plan”.
NETHERLANDS: Ahold buyback cheers investors as profits fall
Shares in Ahold rose by more than 4% this morning (4 March) despite an 8% fall in quarterly profits after the Dutch retail giant said it would hand EUR500m (US$682.8m) back to investors.
FRANCE: Casino shows mixed hand in 2009
French retail giant Casino this morning (4 March) reported a mixed performance for 2009, with overseas growth bolstering a business seeing challenges at home.
UK: Kraft starts talks over Cadbury jobs
Kraft Foods has started talks with Cadbury staff over the possibility of making around 150 job cuts at sites in the UK.
US: Industry rejects omega-3 lawsuit
Fish oil suppliers have rejected concerns over the safety of omega-3 supplements after a lawsuit was filed against manufacturers and retailers in California.
US: Sargento rolls out reduced-sodium cheeses
US cheese specialist Sargento Foods has introduced a series of reduced-sodium products targeted at health-conscious consumers in the US.
