CDC Updates Guidelines for Restaurants

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The new directives stress the importance of social distancing. “The more an individual interacts with others, and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread,” the CDC said, noting that the lowest risk is in restaurants that only offer drive-thru, delivery, takeout and curbside pickup. Operators should designate one staff person each… read more

Industries Adjust to Deliver Food During Pandemic

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The food industry, in addition to President Donald Trump and others, have stressed that food supplies are adequate during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. But getting those supplies where they need to be has proven to be a challenge as buying patterns shift and “panic” buying creates temporary shortages of certain grocery staples. While all modes… read more

FDA Addresses Food Safety During and After Pandemic

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Government and industry are working to ensure the safety of the US food supply remains strong during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic even as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been forced to curtail certain inspections and other activities for the duration, Frank Yiannas, the FDA’s deputy commissioner for food policy and response, asserted in… read more

Federal Targets for Reducing Foodborne Illness won’t be Met, CDC says

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A review of Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) data for 2019 found that, compared with the previous three years, the incidence of infections caused by foodborne pathogens increased for Campylobacter, Cyclospora, STEC, Vibrio, Yersinia, while incidence of infections was unchanged for Listeria, Salmonella and Shigella. FoodNet identified 25,866 cases of infection, 6,164 hospitalizations, and 122 deaths in 2019. The overall… read more

Chick-fil-A Will Start Selling Bottles of its Signature Sauce

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Starting in April, the 16-ounce bottles will be sold in Florida at Publix, Target, Walmart and Winn-Dixie stores for around $3.49. It’s the first time that Chick-fil-A will sell its products in retail stores. The move is part of Chick-fil-A’s broader strategy to reach people outside of the restaurant. “Increasingly, our customers are searching for ways… read more

FDA Campaign Alerts Consumers to Changes in Nutrition Facts Label

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The US Food and Drug Administration has launched an initiative designed to help consumers use the new Nutrition Facts Label appearing on packaged foods. The campaign called “What’s In It For You?” includes videos and educational materials. “This campaign highlights that the new Nutrition Facts Label has been designed to assist consumers in making better… read more

Pesticide meets Environmental Protection Agency re-Approval

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The Environmental Protection Agency in January ruled that a chemical manufactured for agricultural weed control is not a carcinogen and creates no risks to human health when used as directed. At the same time the agency has compelled further mitigation measures to ensure pesticide sprays target certain pests and curb glyphosate resistance in weeds. The… read more

Craig Wilson Reflects on 20 Years as American Recruiters Franchise

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  – Craig Wilson, CFSP, American Recruiters Franchise Owner – CHICAGO   It was May, 1999, and I was finishing up a consulting project for Carl Carieri, who was at the time, the co-owner with Gino Scialdone, of American Recruiters. Their successful Executive Search Firm was positioning itself to roll out a franchising model for… read more

Fresh Bowl Introduces Chef-Made Vending Machine Food in “Closed Loop” Reusable Container Program

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Fresh Bowl, the New York City-based food technology company that has introduced chef-created vending machines using a “closed loop” reusable container program — has received $2.1 million in a round of seed funding led by venture capital companies, Betaworks and Ground Ventures, with participation from Tuesday and Mana Capital. Venture fund Bling Capital led the company’s first pre-seed… read more

Sanitation Strategies: Keep it Simple

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During a Christmas past, one of my daughters received a knitting kit with several rolls of yarn and needles accompanied with knitting directions. This daughter was actually quite intrigued by the thought of making herself an attractive scarf for the approaching cold, windy months in Chicago. Shortly after opening, she began reading the directions but… read more