March, 2024

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Choosing kitchen equipment for enhanced operational efficiency

Restobiz

By Madan Kanala In recent years, the landscape of multi-unit food service operations has been plagued by financial volatility. Despite a resurgence in consumer dining habits post-pandemic, these businesses continue to encounter unique hurdles. Escalating food and beverage inventory costs pose significant operational challenges in the kitchen, exacerbating thin profit margins amidst persistent battles against […] The post Choosing kitchen equipment for enhanced operational efficiency appear

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Yet another E. coli Outbreak in Children linked to Animal Exhibit – this time in Tennessee – Again

Bill Marler

Summary On October 3, 2023, the Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) Northeast Regional Office was notified of two cases of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Over the next two weeks a total of ninepatients with STEC infections were reported, seven (78%) were hospitalized, and four (44%) developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure.

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professionals

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Agrifoodtech Startup Investment Drops 50%, Ron Desantis and Florida Turn on Cultivated Meat + More

Food + Tech Connect

Image Credit: AgFunder News Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines. Agrifoodtech startups faced a significant setback in 2023 as their investment share plummeted by 50%, comprising only 5.5% of global venture capital funds, down from 6.7% in 2022 and 7.6% in 2021.

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New 2D Barcodes Offer Easy Access to Dynamic Information for Food Traceability and More

Modern Restaurant Management

Restaurants started using 2D barcodes (such as QR codes) at dining tables to offer digital menus and even allow patrons to order with their smartphones during the pandemic, when contactless transactions were necessary. Since then, the practice has become ubiquitous. While a QR code can connect users to a host of static information, a more powerful 2D barcode is on the horizon to offer a wider suite of capabilities with virtually unlimited data storage capacity for instantaneous retrieval with th

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Food & Beverage Industry Report 2024

Driven by a diverse and exciting ecosystem of passionate, ambitious, and often young entrepreneurs, the Food & Beverage (F&B) sector is a highly competitive environment full of immense challenges and exciting opportunities. Expert Market’s 2024 industry report, sponsored by Toast, is informed by a survey of 522 U.S. food and beverage professionals, from restaurant owners to food service managers, providing insights into the real-time challenges and opportunities within the industry.

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Over 10,000 cases of shredded cheese products recalled over Listeria contamination

Food Safety News

Sargento Foods, Inc. of Plymouth, WI, is recalling certain shredded cheese products over potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. According to the details posted online by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), the recall was initiated on Feb. 5, 2024, and is ongoing. The recalled products were distributed in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

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Addressing restaurant cancellations and no-shows

Restobiz

As restaurateurs continue to balance thin margins and staffing shortages, more have begun taking steps to deter diners from last-minute cancellations (or not coming at all) as a way to try and manage their costs. According to studies, 17 per cent of U.S. restaurants charged at least one cancellation fee in January, up four per […] The post Addressing restaurant cancellations and no-shows appeared first on Restobiz.

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Elevated Lead Levels in Cinnamon prompt FDA Warning and Recalls

Bill Marler

What is the problem? Through product testing, the FDA has determined that the ground cinnamon products listed in the table below contain elevated levels of lead and that prolonged exposure to these products may be unsafe. The FDA is advising consumers to throw away and not to buy these ground cinnamon products. The FDA has recommended that the firms voluntarily recall these products, with the exception of the MTCI cinnamon.

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Lawmakers Aim to Ban Cultivated Meat, Food Delivery Startup Wonder Raises $700M + More 

Food + Tech Connect

Image Credit: Green Queen Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines. Lawmakers across various states are increasingly pushing to ban cultivated meat, citing concerns about its impact on traditional livestock farming.

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A Call for Human-Centric Restaurant Leadership in an AI Future

Modern Restaurant Management

In the wake of the post pandemic world, the restaurant industry is undergoing a transformative phase, embracing AI technology at an unprecedented pace. However, as we surge forward, it's imperative to highlight what's missing from today's dining experience and identify the qualities that elevate a great manager to give the next level service assisted by AI, required to succeed in this new environment.

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FDA warns consumers to throw out certain ground cinnamon in wake of lead poisoning outbreak

Food Safety News

In response to the problem with elevated levels of lead in cinnamon in children’s applesauce and recalls of products in the fall of 2023, the FDA initiated a review of ground cinnamon and has issued warnings. During the review the Food and Drug Administration found elevated levels of lead in several products. The products are not targeted toward children, but are used as ingredients in foods that consumers may make and serve to children.

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Your 10-Step Guide to Restaurant Marketing

Sculpture Hospitality

Building a successful business in the restaurant industry involves more than just crafting delicious dishes - it requires a strategic approach to all areas of your business, such as inventory management and restaurant marketing.

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Restaurant marketing in 2024

Restobiz

Standing out from the crowd is vital for restaurants still on the road to recovery and while you might have some tried and true practices, this year offers some marketing trends that can help you get ahead in some new ways. Looking to switch up your marketing strategy and offer something new to your audiences? […] The post Restaurant marketing in 2024 appeared first on Restobiz.

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Lead Chromate contamination in Cinnamon was intentional says FDA

Bill Marler

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are now 468 patients spread across 44 states. The FDA has confirmed that lead chromate is the source of lead and chromium in cinnamon applesauce marketed for children and imported from Ecuador. Leaders at the FDA continue to believe the contamination was intentional. The Food and Drug Administration had already confirmed that applesauce samples had as much as 2,000 times the amount of lead considered safe.

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Jeff Bezos Bets $60M on Alt Meats, Oprah Rebrands Obesity + More

Food + Tech Connect

Image Credit: Fast Company Every week we track the business, tech and investment trends in CPG, retail, restaurants, agriculture, cooking and health, so you don’t have to. Here are some of this week’s top headlines. In recent news, Jeff Bezos has committed $60 million through the Bezos Earth Fund to advance research in alternative meat production, aiming to enhance both affordability and nutritional value within the industry.

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Choosing the Best Payment Processor For a Restaurant

Modern Restaurant Management

The most popular way to pay at restaurants is through card transactions, whether it's credit or debit. According to a PYMNTS study , 68 percent of consumers use their credit cards to purchase food at a restaurant, equating to $29.8 billion in sales in February 2022. While credit cards seem easy and simple for consumers, the payment method impacts a restaurant's bottom line more than guests realize.

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Trader Joe’s nuts recalled after testing finds Salmonella

Food Safety News

Wenders LLC of Dublin, CA is recalling specific production lots of Trader Joes Nuts – 50% Less Sodium Roasted & Salted Whole Cashews because of potential Salmonella contamination. The issue was identified through routine testing by Food and Drug Adminitration during import, which indicated that at least one of the recalled lots tested positive for the presence of Salmonella.

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Residues of Pesticides Containing PFAS Tripled in EU Produce Over Last Decade

Food Safety Magazine

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are sometimes used in pesticides as active substances or co-formulants. An analysis of EU pesticide residue monitoring data by Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe shows that the average proportion of produce containing PFAS pesticide residues in the EU has nearly tripled over the last decade.

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Kitchen equipment monitoring for enhanced operational efficiency

Restobiz

By Madan Kanala In recent years, the landscape of multi-unit food service operations has been plagued by financial volatility. Despite a resurgence in consumer dining habits post-pandemic, these businesses continue to encounter unique hurdles. Escalating food and beverage inventory costs pose significant operational challenges in the kitchen, exacerbating thin profit margins amidst persistent battles against […] The post Kitchen equipment monitoring for enhanced operational efficiency appe

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Vulto pleads Guilty to selling Listeria-tainted Raw Milk Cheese

Bill Marler

A former raw milk cheese manufacturer and the company he owned and managed pleaded guilty today to charges related to cheese that was linked to a 2016-2017 outbreak of listeriosis, the disease caused by the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. Johannes Vulto and his company, Vulto Creamery LLC, each pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of causing the introduction of adulterated food into interstate commerce.

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Why Restaurant Inventory Software and POS Systems Aren't Competitors

Sculpture Hospitality

Technology, technology, technology. Finding the right balance between investing in too much technology and not enough is a perpetual challenge that restaurant owners manage within their businesses.

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The Power of Ranch

Modern Restaurant Management

Did you know that a plumber from Alaska is responsible for one of the most beloved condiments in the U.S.? The story of ranch dressing dates back to the 1940s when Steven Henson thought up the buttermilk and herb concoction. After purchasing the Hidden Valley dude ranch, he started selling his dressing and its popularity grew from there. According to a 2021 survey conducted by YouGov , ranch is the most popular salad dressing in the United States, with 51 percent of respondents indicating that t

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New York State is latest to threaten removal of harmful food additives

Food Safety News

The movement to ban certain additives in food or beverages that started last year in California and spread this year first to Illinois has now reached as far as the Empire State. Two New York State lawmakers introduced related bills to protect consumers from dangerous known and unknown additives used in foods and beverages. The first bill, A6424A/S6055B , would prohibit the use of seven dangerous and unnecessary additives in foods or drinks sold in New York state: azodicarbonamide, brominated ve

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How to Create a Culture of Food Safety

Food Safety Magazine

Delivering safe and high-quality food must be a top priority for everyone involved in the food industry, from food manufacturers and suppliers to grocery stores and restaurants, and from CEOs and CFOs to manufacturing plant workers. Food manufacturers can eliminate the risk of food contamination anywhere along the supply chain by creating a culture of food safety.

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Can geofencing help operators get ahead?

Restobiz

Geofencing is a marketing tool using GPS tracking that’s designed to target specific geographic areas to deliver personalized, location-based content to the audience. This could include anything from announcements to special offers or incentives from restaurants to local customers. There are several ways that restaurants can use geofencing to analyze traffic data and patterns, increase […] The post Can geofencing help operators get ahead?

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Westin Shigella Outbreak sickens 32 linked to ill food service workers

Bill Marler

The Alameda County Public Health Department, Los Angeles Department of Public Health, and California Department of Public Health (CDPH) investigated an outbreak of shigellosis associated with a Kaiser Permanente union delegate conference held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in downtown Los Angeles from August 21 to August 24, 2023. The event included 269 attendees from across California.

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Coffee Certifications: A Guide for Foodservice Professionals

Wasserstrom

Understanding the different types of coffee certifications help people leverage their purchasing power to support initiatives that prioritize our ecosystems and improve the lives of farmers. Our guide sheds light on the world of coffee certifications to help foodservice professionals to make informed choices that align with their values as well as choices that resonate […] The post Coffee Certifications: A Guide for Foodservice Professionals appeared first on The Official Wasserstrom Blog.

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Dining in the Digital Age

Modern Restaurant Management

As traffic slows, how do restaurant operators keep and capture customers? By cracking the code of restaurant app usage, according to Revenue Management Solutions (RMS). The data analytics firm did some decoding by asking 330-plus restaurant consumers what app features were most valuable – and what turned them away. ( Cracking the Code of Restaurant App Usage, November 2023 ) What Customers Value RMS segmented respondents by generation, and while preferences varied, all ages placed the most

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The ‘Glove Guy’ calls upon his industry to ban the sale of vinyl gloves

Food Safety News

Steve Ardagh is the founder and CEO of Eagle Protect, a leading glove. He is known as “The Glove Guy” for his food safety leadership. In the glove world, the toxic chemical of the moment – phthalates – is a crucial ingredient often found in vinyl gloves. It is estimated to be used by two-thirds of the 200,000 quick service restaurants (QSR) in the U.S.

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Sodexo doubles down on plant-based offerings at college campuses

FoodService Director

The foodservice provider’s DefaultVeg initiative is launching at nearly 400 college campuses.

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The rise of eatertainment

Restobiz

The foodservice industry has seen many changes in the last few years, but the rise of eatertainment is one trend that looks like it is here to stay. Guests are looking for more from their restaurant visits, and that means adding value with an exceptional experience – that’s eatertainment. While not a strictly new concept […] The post The rise of eatertainment appeared first on Restobiz.