Raw Farm Recalls Unpasteurized Cheese While Denying Link to E. Coli Outbreak
Raw Farm LLC issued a voluntary recall of certain raw cheddar cheese batches, stating the action is taken under protest and disputing the FDA’s epidemiological link to a recent E. coli O157:H7 outbreak. The outbreak has sickened nine individuals, primarily children under five, in California, Texas, and Florida since September 2025. FDA officials cite consumer interviews and whole-genome sequencing that point to Raw Farm products as the likely source, while the company maintains its testing found no pathogens. Congressional food‑safety lawmakers have pressured the firm to remove the suspect cheese from the market.
Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin Shares Best Cheeses for Cooking
Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin released “The Art of Cooking with Cheese,” a consumer‑focused guide that categorizes cheeses by acidity, moisture, texture and flavor for optimal cooking results. The guide highlights specific varieties for melting, sauces, and desserts, and advises using...
Private Label Products Garner 24% of Retail Food, Beverage Dollar Share
Private‑label products captured 24% of the U.S. retail food and beverage dollar share in 2025, generating $330 billion in sales, according to Circana. The share rose 0.4 percentage points year‑over‑year, led by growth in refrigerated, fresh perimeter, frozen foods and shelf‑stable...
Saudi Arabia Drops Export Verification for US Beef
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority announced that U.S. beef shipments will no longer need to undergo the Export Verification (EV) Program, and the kingdom now permits bovine‑derived tallow in animal feed. The policy shift removes a barrier that has...
Editor to Editor: Key Takeaways From Expo West 2026
Expo West 2026 highlighted a market shift from broad protein expansion to high‑intensity formulations, with products now delivering 40‑50 grams of protein per serving. Gummies are ceding ground to soft chews, gels and advanced encapsulation, turning delivery systems into a...
Resurrecting Bastyr and Preserving the Soul of the Natural Health Movement
Bastyr University, the nation’s first accredited naturopathic medical school, is confronting a severe financial crisis, having lost $14 million over three years and facing a $3.3 million budget deficit. Founder Joe Pizzorno returned in 2025 to steer a turnaround, leveraging alumni donations, salary...
Starbucks Brings Protein Drinks to Europe, Including Lattes with Alpro Soy Milk
Starbucks has partnered with Danone’s Alpro to roll out protein‑boosted lattes across Central Europe, using a high‑protein soy milk that delivers 5 g protein per 100 ml. The new sugar‑free vanilla and matcha lattes provide 8‑22 g of protein per serving and can...
Jones Soda Expands Fallout Beverage Platform with New Pack
Jones Soda Co. is launching a national rollout of its Fallout‑inspired Sunset Sarsaparilla 12‑pack to club‑store locations across the United States and Canada. The distribution expands a previously limited‑release product into a full‑scale club‑channel format, leveraging its licensing deal with...
More Than A Quarter Of UK Shoppers Cut Grocery Spending Amid Rising Costs: GlobalData
GlobalData reports that 28% of UK shoppers have trimmed grocery spending as inflation and geopolitical tensions drive food prices higher. The first‑quarter survey of 500 consumers shows a generational split, with 38% of Gen X, 31% of Millennials and 28% of...
Fairlife Unveils New Packaging
fairlife is rolling out refreshed packaging for its Core Power protein shakes and 52‑oz ultra‑filtered milk, emphasizing a cleaner shelf look and clearer nutrition messaging. The new designs showcase 50% more protein and 50% less sugar for the milk line...
New Nielsen Program Delivers Data Sooner
Nielsen has launched a new data‑delivery program that shortens the reporting cycle for consumer‑goods metrics, delivering insights up to 50% faster than its legacy system. The accelerated timeline gives food manufacturers and retailers near‑real‑time visibility into sales, pricing and shopper...
Golden West Boosts Jack Daniel’s Meat with Ongoing Pork Demand
Golden West Food Group reports that its Jack Daniel’s ready‑to‑eat meat line has surpassed 120 million servings, fueled by a surge in protein demand linked to GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs. The 20‑year‑old portfolio offers slow‑smoked, preservative‑free products delivering 15‑22 g of protein per...
Coca-Cola Beverages Florida Unveils America250 Commemorative Cans
Coca‑Cola Beverages Florida unveiled limited‑edition America250 mini cans at its Jacksonville plant, marking the United States’ 250th birthday. The commemorative packaging, featuring patriotic graphics, will roll out to Florida retailers on April 6 for both Coca‑Cola and Coca‑Cola Zero Sugar. Branded...
The Year of Redefining Indian Food in America
Mom‑and‑pop curry houses are giving way to a new generation of Indian restaurants that blend regional flavors with contemporary concepts. 2026 is poised to become a breakout year as upscale, tech‑savvy South Asian brands attract affluent diners. Investors are...
Just How Much Cheaper Is McDonald’s Under $3 Menu?
McDonald’s launched an Under $3 Menu on April 21, featuring items like the McDouble and Sausage McMuffin at promotional prices. Introductory pricing cuts the McDouble to $2.50 (24% below the $3.30 national average) and the Sausage McMuffin to $1.50 (42% below its $2.58...
Multi-Brand Thompson Restaurants to Add Franchising to the Mix
Thompson Restaurants, a 33‑year‑old family‑owned operator with nearly 70 locations across 15 brands, announced it will begin franchising its value‑positioned Wiseguy Pizza concept. The eight‑unit chain generates $1,300‑$1,400 revenue per square foot and a flagship D.C. store pulls $4.5 million in...
The Big Problem with Red Lobster
The latest episode of Restaurant Business’s "The Week in Restaurants" podcast spotlights Red Lobster’s lingering struggles despite emerging from bankruptcy. Hosts discuss weak brand perception, an outdated menu, and cost pressures that continue to hamper growth. The conversation also touches...
Why Sysco Could Ultimately Regret the Restaurant Depot Deal
Sysco announced the purchase of Restaurant Depot, a cash‑and‑carry wholesaler, aiming to broaden its service model beyond traditional food‑service distribution. The deal mirrors US Foods' 2020 foray into cash‑and‑carry, which it now plans to sell after four years. Analysts warn...
Taco Bell's Butter Chicken Taco Is Coming to the U.S.
Taco Bell announced that its India‑inspired Butter Chicken Taco will debut in the United States as a limited‑time offering later this year. The taco captured nearly 65% of votes in the brand’s Global Taco Vote, beating Thailand’s Kickin’ Chicken Taco....
California City Presses Pause on Food Delivery Robots
Glendale, California city council approved a 3-2 vote to impose a moratorium on food‑delivery robots, halting operations for companies like Serve Robotics. The pause aims to give officials time to develop a regulatory framework, as the city currently lacks ordinances...
How One Restaurant Tackles the Pay Gap Between Front- and Back-of-House Workers
Lita, a 70‑seat Spanish‑Portuguese restaurant in New Jersey, has built a chef‑only staff model that rotates employees between kitchen and front‑of‑house duties. Workers earn a $17 hourly base wage during back‑of‑house weeks and the tipped minimum plus pooled tips during...
How Flying Dolly’s Is Cooling Down the Gulf Coast
Flying Dolly’s, a boutique creamery founded in 2011 in Mandeville, Louisiana, blends artisanal ice cream with New Orleans‑style snoballs. The company now operates five stores and a snoball stand, and has been franchising for six years, aiming for ten Gulf‑Coast locations...
Arby's Intros French Dip Royale LTO
Arby’s has launched the French Dip Royale, a limited‑time sandwich available nationwide through May 25. The sandwich layers three‑hour roasted beef, melted provolone, caramelized onions, garlic aioli and steak seasoning on an artisan sub roll, served with au jus. Priced from $7.49,...
Center for Food Safety Opposes Monsanto–Bayer Legal Efforts to Preempt State Pesticide Warnings
A coalition led by the Center for Food Safety filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case Monsanto v. Durnell, urging the Court to preserve state authority to require pesticide health warnings. The brief challenges Bayer’s effort to preempt...
Ecuador’s Shrimp Sector Working to Expand Sales in Japan
Ecuador’s shrimp farming sector posted a record $7.47 billion in export revenue last year, shipping 3.07 billion pounds of product. While China, Europe and the United States absorb over 90 % of shipments, sales to Japan rose 35.6 % in volume and 48.6 % in...
World’s Largest Food Companies Call on EU to Include Novel Foods in Regulatory Sandboxes
The EU’s Biotech Act created regulatory sandboxes for food‑tech but left novel foods—such as cultivated meat and precision‑fermented proteins—out. Eight leading food and biotech groups, including FoodDrinkEurope’s members like Nestlé and Danone, issued a joint statement demanding that novel foods...
Codex Committee Advances Work on Standards for Veterinary Drug Residues in Food
The Codex Committee on Residues of Veterinary Drugs in Foods (CCRVDF) concluded its 28th session in Minneapolis, advancing several key standards. It introduced the first maximum residue limits (MRLs) for veterinary drugs in camelid tissues, including tetracyclines and ivermectin. The...
Safety First: China Liquid Transport Controls, Cyberattacks and More
China has introduced stricter transport regulations for edible oils, alcohol and syrups after a PR crisis, while the food‑and‑beverage sector faces rising cyber‑threats that could cripple operations. Regulators across APAC are tightening scrutiny of e‑commerce product claims, prompting brands to...
The Hands that Pick the Tea Should Share in Its Prosperity
Ahmad Tea launched the Hand Picked Profit Shared initiative, redistributing a portion of profits to tea pickers, primarily women, via digital payments. In 2025, 12,242 workers received bonuses, helping close the living‑wage gap in tea supply chains. The program ties...
The Straight Dope on Seafood
Retailers targeting seafood shoppers must leverage eye‑catching displays and clear messaging to capture a demographic with higher household incomes and a willingness to spend on premium protein. Highlighting wellness benefits, affordability, easy‑prep recipes, and the relevance of seafood in GLP‑1...
Extreme Weather Pushes Easter Lamb Prices up by a Fifth
Extreme weather events have driven Easter lamb prices up by between 7% and 21% across the UK. Drought, record heat and heavy rainfall have reduced pasture quality, increased feed costs and lowered animal growth rates. The price surge threatens traditional...
JBS, the World’s Largest Meat Company, Opens $37M ‘Superprotein’ Centre in Brazil
JBS has opened a $37 million, 4,000‑square‑meter biotech centre in Florianópolis, Brazil, branded JBS Biotech, to develop "superproteins" – microbial, cultivated and plant‑based functional proteins for supplements and precision nutrition. The facility houses 20 specialised labs that span the entire research‑to‑production...
Ferrero Rocher to Host Immersive Pop-Up in Toronto
Ferrero Rocher is launching its chocolate squares in Canada with a national campaign that includes an immersive pop‑up at The Grand Bridge in Toronto’s The Well from April 10‑12. The brand previously conducted a sampling activation at the Union subway station kiosk...
AWG Launches Wellwerks, Nüwerks Private Brand Wellness Program
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) has introduced two exclusive private‑brand wellness lines—Wellwerks and Nüwerks—across its network of over 1,100 member retailers and 3,500 stores in 33 states. Wellwerks offers functional foods such as popcorn, granola and bars with protein, gut‑health and...
Mastronardi Produce to Showcase 2 New Products at CPMA 2026
Mastronardi Produce will unveil two new items at the 2026 Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) show in Toronto: the Sunset Tomato Branch and Sunset Pop Its cucumbers. The Tomato Branch features micro‑grape tomatoes presented in a distinctive triangular paperboard package...
Top 10 Stories for March
The March roundup highlights a wave of activity across the U.S. meat sector, from regulatory pushback against the Family Grocery and Farmer Relief Act to major capacity investments by JBS, Conagra and Three Rivers. AI‑driven humane‑handling technology debuted at Sustainable...
McDonald's USA Expands McValue Menu With New Under $3 and $4 Breakfast Deals
McDonald's USA is rolling out an expanded McValue Menu on April 21, adding an Under $3 menu and a $4 Breakfast Meal Deal at participating locations. The Under $3 menu will offer at least ten items, with highlighted prices such as a...
Burger King to Hire Up to 60,000 Team Members Nationwide
Burger King announced a nationwide hiring drive to add up to 60,000 new team members across its roughly 6,500 U.S. restaurants. The recruitment spans entry‑level positions through management roles and responds to higher guest traffic after recent restaurant modernizations. Most...
Publix Opens New Supermarket In Spring Hill, FL
Publix opened its newest 48,387‑square‑foot supermarket on April 2 at Seven Hills, 160 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill, Florida. The store features a full‑service bakery, deli, seafood, pharmacy and an upstairs seating area designed for on‑site dining. Contactless payment, Instacart grocery and...
SN Products to Watch: Harry Potter Butterbeer Flavored Peeps
Supermarket News highlights the launch of a limited‑edition Harry Potter Butterbeer‑flavored Peeps, slated for release this spring across major U.S. grocery chains. The novelty marshmallow treats are priced at $2.99 per 12‑oz bag and feature the iconic Butterbeer taste licensed...
AgriFood Signals: Circulate Capital Closes $220m Fund, All G GRAS Approval, Unilever & McCormick
Circulate Capital announced the first close of its second climate‑focused fund, securing $220 million to back agri‑food startups tackling emissions. European and Asian innovators also drew sizable capital, including Standing Ovation’s $34 million round, Nature Robots’ €4 million ($4.4 million) for AI‑driven robotics, and...
FDA’s Human Foods Program Publishes Priority Scientific Needs to Advance Food Safety
The FDA’s Human Foods Program has released a prioritized list of scientific research, data, and method needs aimed at strengthening food safety across the United States. The list spans nutrition, human behavior, microbiological detection, chemical hazards, risk assessment, and economically...
Shaq-A-Licious SLAMS Brings Big Flavor to Final Four Weekend
Shaquille O'Neal and The Hershey Company have launched Shaq‑A‑Licious SLAMS, a new gummy candy that serves as the official gummy partner for the NCAA Final Four. The snack features crunchy‑coated watermelon, strawberry and orange gummies paired with a sour mango...
Why Restaurants Should Consider Second-Chance Hiring
Restaurants face a tightening labor market and immigration constraints, prompting many to consider applicants with criminal histories. Over 150 U.S. cities and counties now enforce Fair Chance or Ban‑the‑Box ordinances that limit blanket exclusions. The Department of Labor has allocated...
Burger King to Hire 60K Workers as Part of Turnaround
Burger King announced a nationwide hiring campaign to add up to 60,000 employees across its roughly 6,500 U.S. restaurants. The effort supports the “Reclaim the Flame” turnaround program that has delivered comparable sales growth in three of the last four...
Ontario Rebate Reduces Cost of Beverage Alcohol License for Small Grocers
Ontario’s Alcohol and Gaming Commission has raised the annual rebate for eligible small grocery stores to $2,750, slashing the net cost of a beverage‑alcohol licence to $500 per year through 2030. The rebate applies to grocers with less than $1 billion...
US Lent Seafood Sales Volume Drops; Retailers and Restaurants Hopeful for Easter Spend
U.S. seafood retail volume slipped 2.8% during Lent as high gas prices and grocery inflation squeezed household budgets, yet dollar sales rose 4.4% thanks to a 6.6% price‑per‑unit increase. Shelf‑stable products, especially tuna and salmon, posted double‑digit dollar growth, while...
Newfoundland Snow Crab Harvesters Union Decries Price-Setting Process Once Again as Season Closes In
Newfoundland’s Fish Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW) has again denounced the provincial snow‑crab price‑setting process as inadequate, accusing the Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) of offering a price below last year’s level despite a stronger market. After 13 hours...
Coca-Cola Unites Foodservice Partners in Latest Campaign
On April 2, 2026, Coca‑Cola launched the U.S. “And a Coke” campaign, uniting 13 major food‑service partners such as Arby’s, Domino’s and Wendy’s. The campaign, debuting in cinemas on April 3, features three TV spots that culminate with the tagline...
DoorDash, Family Dollar Expand SNAP Payments for Online Grocery Orders
DoorDash and Family Dollar announced that SNAP recipients can now use EBT cards to pay for eligible groceries and household items through the DoorDash app at participating Family Dollar stores. The service is live in 48 states and Washington, D.C.,...