(Dave Bedard photo)

KFC faces pressure after McDonald’s says no antibiotics in chicken

Los Angeles/Chicago | Reuters — KFC, the world’s largest chain of fried chicken restaurants, may face pressure from consumer and environmental groups to change how its poultry are raised after McDonald’s said it would switch to chicken raised without human antibiotics. McDonald’s will phase out chicken raised with antibiotics that are important to human health […] Read more

McDonald’s in March launched a new “Welcome to McDonald’s” ad campaign in Canada, featuring the chain’s Canadian food suppliers, staff and customers. (Dave Bedard photo)

McDonald’s vows ‘modern’ makeover amid U.S. sales struggle

Reuters — McDonald’s on Monday vowed to remake itself as a “modern, progressive burger company” after aggressive competition from Chipotle Mexican Grill, Chick-fil-A and myriad “better burger” chains bit into U.S. restaurant sales last month. February ended the run of former CEO Don Thompson. His short tenure included 2014, when falling profit, revenue and traffic […] Read more


(McDonalds.com)

McDonald’s to phase out human antibiotics from U.S. chicken supply

Reuters — McDonald’s U.S. restaurants will gradually stop buying chicken raised with antibiotics vital to fighting human infections, the most aggressive step by a major food company to change chicken producers’ practices in the fight against dangerous “superbugs.” The world’s biggest restaurant chain announced on Wednesday that within two years, McDonald’s USA will only buy […] Read more

(Starbucks.com)

Starbucks eyes coconuts as non-dairy, non-soy demand soars

Reuters — Starbucks Corp. said on Wednesday its 12,123 U.S. shops would begin offering coconut milk on Feb. 17, as it seeks to keep pace with soaring demand for non-dairy and non-soy milk alternatives. Starbucks began offering soy milk in 1997. Consumer tastes have since evolved, driving strong demand for other non-dairy alternatives made from […] Read more






Pilgrim’s bid for Hillshire puts Pinnacle deal in peril

Reuters — Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. on Tuesday offered to buy Hillshire Brands in an all-cash deal valued at US$6.4 billion, as the world’s second-largest chicken processor seeks to expand its protein footprint with Hillshire’s sausages and lunch meats. Shares in Hillshire soared almost 23 per cent on word of the bid, which landed two weeks […] Read more


GMO labeling efforts change course after California defeat

The failure on Tuesday of a California ballot initiative that would have mandated labeling of genetically modified foods is not a death knell for those seeking nationwide labeling, U.S. labeling proponents said. U.S. President Barack Obama’s re-election could be a boost, as he is seen, in general terms, as being supportive of labeling. Still, efforts […] Read more

Ad blitz pummels support for California GMO labeling

An intense advertising blitz, funded by Monsanto and others, has eroded support for a California ballot proposal that would require U.S. food makers to disclose when their products contain genetically modified organisms. If California voters approve the measure in November, it would be the first time U.S. food makers would have to label products that […] Read more