News on Food Trends from the Americas

As if unemployment rates, home foreclosures and the deepening recession weren't enough, the beleaguered casual-dining industry has to fend off new, formidable competition: fast-food chains. As consumers increasingly trade down to fast food, several pla...

Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) has completely overhauled its oldest and biggest store brand, a move likely to send shock waves through the ranks of branded grocery manufacturers around the globe. For the past year, Wal-Mart has worked with suppliers and consu...

Last year’s economic slowdown and supply chain issues, including ingredient availability problems and vendor pricing, had a large affect on the global food and beverage market. In spite of these deterrents, the industry lost only 5.1% of its market val...

The province Alberta has put an end to Calgary's trans fat initiative. In January 2008, the Calgary Health Region began limiting the amount of trans fats restaurants could use to less than two percent. It was the first part of a multi-phase initia...

With potato-processing plants around the world, McCain Foods has a total production capacity to make more than one million pounds of french fries an hour. In fact, the company makes one-third of all frozen french fries in the world. Despite the high pe...

The potato industry needs innovation to create a long-term rise in demand, U.S. Potato Board President Tim O’Connor said at the group’s annual meeting.“There’s a difference between increasing demand and just getting a temporary sales bump,” O’Connor sa...

Portion-controlled packaging for snacks could play a dual role in fighting raging obesity rates by reducing consumer calorific in-take and heightening awareness to portion size, finds new research from the US. Scientists at the University of Colorado D...

The Canola Council of Canada (CCC) today announced a new wave of investment - $350,000 - into research on the role of canola in the prevention and treatment of heart disease and diabetes.The announcement of funding under the Canola Product Research Fun...

A small group of New Brunswick potato industry experts led by provincial Agriculture and Aquaculture Minister Ronald Ouellette is in Cuba this week for a follow-up on seed potato exports and to evaluate trials of different varieties of seed potatoes s...

Potatoes are for more than just french fries. With the federal government's aid, a nation-wide network of researchers co-ordinated from Fredericton is hoping to develop new uses for spuds - and help Canadian farmers cash in. The federal government is i...

Ever wonder why those French fries taste so good when you are depressed?Here’s one theory: Salt is a natural antidepressant, which might explain why we have a tendency to over-ingest it.Kim Johnson, a psychologist from the University of Iowa, discovere...

Frito-Lay's Canton, Ohio, facility has become the city's first member of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Environmental Performance Track Program by demonstrating excellence in environmental management and committing to above-stand...

McDonald's Corp (MCD.N) posted a 1.4 percent rise in February sales at restaurants open at least 13 months, as strength in the United States helped offset the impact of the stronger dollar. Shares in the company -- one of the restaurant industry's to...

Un nuevo estudio sugiere que una sustancia química potencialmente cancerígena presente en algunos alimentos ricos en carbohidratos no elevaría el riesgo de desarrollar tumores mamarios. La sustancia, llamada acrilamida, ganó notoriedad hace varios año...

Bell Flavors and Fragrances has introduced a new sodium-reducing flavor technology for use in meats, snacks, condiments and soups, which it claims mimics the flavor of salt without its negative health impacts. ReduxSo is a natural flavor system based o...

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston is known for uncovering opportunities for the foodservice industry in even the most challenging of economies. And today, that opportunity comes via a program that delivers a most innovative kind of support during these tough t...

Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc. posted a net loss of $393.2 million for its fourth quarter, as impairment charges and continued slow sales at the Arby’s chain weighed down results.The parent company to both the Wendy’s and Arby’s chains reported on Monday im...

The following packaging of potato products won an award at the FPA 2009: Ore Ida’s Steam n’ Mash package (Packaging Excellence Category)Heinz North America wanted a lightweight, flexible package instead of a rigid tray for its convenience. Alcan Packagi...