Cargill’s US beef business and Meyer Natural Foods have signed a joint distribution venture for the Meyer Natural Angus and Laura’s Lean Beef brands.Under a marketing deal, the two products will be offered to Cargill’s retail and foodservice customers. Products will be produced for Meyer by Cargill at its Fort Morgan, Colorado, processing facility. “This arrangement will result in our customers having an expanded selection of high quality beef products which they can offer... ...Read more »

Sara Lee said today (14 June) that chairman and CEO Brenda Barnes, who has been on a temporary medical leave of absence, is recovering from a stroke.”I know there has been a lot of speculation on my condition, so I want to take the opportunity to provide some details,” said Barnes. “I suffered a stroke a few weeks ago, and I am now in the process of recuperating.” The company intends to provide an update on Barnes’ condition and her future plans by its end-of-year earnings... ...Read more »

Advances in high-yield agriculture may not only have helped to feed the planet, but may also have helped to slow global warming by processing over half a trillion tons of carbon dioxide, say researchers at Stanford University. The yield improvements in existing agriculture have reduced the need to convert forests to farmland, a process that typically involves burning of trees and other plants, which generates carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. Researchers compared actual data on emissions... ...Read more »

The food industry has moved closer to responsibly-produced soy being available in the marketplace, with members of the soy sector agreeing to finalise new global standards to improve production. Late on Thursday (10 June) the Roundtable on Responsible Soy (RTRS), held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, adopted voluntary sustainability standards that will help ensure that current soy production and further expansion of the crop will be done in an “environmentally sound and socially responsible way”... ...Read more »

A team of researchers from Deakin and Melbourne universities have found that children involved in the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program show clear changes in attitude, knowledge, skills and confidence in relation to cooking and gardening. The program, which operates in 139 schools around Australia, helps primary schools set up a kitchen garden, allowing children to grow their own fruit, vegetables and herbs. Kitchen classes encourage students to use the produce to create dishes and learn... ...Read more »

Madelaine Confectionery Pty Ltd is conducting a consumer level recall on three of its Gummy products – Baby Crocodiles, Day Old Chicks and Coral Fish – due to possible contamination with metal pieces. The recall applies to 140g jars with a best before date of 10/04/12, across Australia. FSANZ issued the recall on Friday, with no information currently available on how the confectionary became contaminated or how many consumers were affected by the recall.  Read More →

New research by Datamonitor shows that consumers in Australia are more concerned with their high sugar intake, with nearly 40% of those surveyed keeping a close eye on sugar consumption. “Given the growing focus around ‘healthy’ eating, and improved knowledge of food preparation and nutrition thanks to shows like Masterchef, it is not surprising that our figures show growing concern over sugar consumption,” said Katrina Diamonon, consumer analyst at Datamonitor. “As a source of energy our... ...Read more »

New Zealand’s Talleys Group is lining up a full takeover of the country’s only listed meat processor Affco. Talleys has signed a pre-bid agreement to purchase the shares Toocooya Nominees holds in Affco for 37 cents per share. Toocooya owns 23.5% of the meat group. Talleys already owns 52.8% of Affco (267m shares). According to a statement from Affco, Talleys will now be required to offer for the remaining shares in Affco at the same price. At 37c a share, the company would be valued... ...Read more »

Biodynamic and organic dairy producer Ulli Spranz has been acknowledged for her contribution to South Australian farming and food production at the National Rural Woman of the Year Awards. Spranz, who founded B.-d Farm Paris Creek at Meadows in the Adelaide Hills with her husband Helmut in 1988, recently received the South Australian award in the program, run by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (RIRDC). The awards program celebrates rural women and their contribution to primary... ...Read more »

The Commonwealth Government has reduced the quota for fishing of the Southern Bluefin Tuna by 23.7% to 4015 tons, sparking frustration from the South Australian State Government, who administer almost all of the country’s bluefin fishing out of Port Lincoln. With the northern bluefin populations crashing as a result of overfishing, and with the Japanese market prepared to pay tens of thousands of dollars for a single tuna, the southern bluefin is expected to take up much of the slack of its... ...Read more »