Food and Farm News

Grocery Store Chain in New England Implements a Food Rating System
New York Times, November 6, 2006

To help their customers make healthier food choices, Hannaford Brothers, a New England grocery store chain, has developed a rating system for all of the food carried in their stores. Called the “Guiding Stars” program, Hannaford Brothers rated each food item according to nutritional value and assigned stars – from zero to three – according to several nutritional standards (such as fiber content, sodium, and fat content). The chain reviewed 27,000 products, of which 77% – including several of the company’s own products – failed to earn a single star. Hannaford Brothers’ rating system raises questions about products that are marketed as “healthy” but may contain less than desirable additives, such as sodium and sugar. Learn more about food additives.

Salmonella Outbreak Update
US Food and Drug Administration, November 6, 2006

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released information about the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) investigation of a large salmonella outbreak which sickened 183 people in 21 states. The CDC’s epidemiologic investigation traced the salmonella outbreak to tomatoes; the report concludes that the consumption of tomatoes in restaurants was the probable cause of the illness. The distribution of the salmonella outbreak indicates that the tomatoes were shipped over a wide geographic range. The FDA did not release information about where the outbreak originated, but did confirm that no new illnesses have been reported. Because it is likely that the tomatoes that caused the outbreak have been consumed or have perished, the FDA and the CDC are not issuing a consumer warning at this time.

Read more about food-borne illness .