FDA

SAN DIEGO — Cell-based seafood start-up BlueNalu secured $20 million in Series A funding. Funds from the round, which was co-led by Stray Dog Capital, CPT Capital, New Crop Capital and Clear Current Capital, will go toward developing a pilot production facility in San Diego. BlueNalu added several investors that......

SEATTLE — New from Starbucks Corp. is ready-to-drink (R.-T.-D.) nitro cold brew, available at grocery stores and Starbucks locations nationwide. The beverages are available in black, dark caramel and vanilla sweet cream varieties. The black and dark caramel flavors feature about 155 mg of caffeine, while the vanilla sweet cream......

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration on Feb. 25 issued a warning letter to Jimmy John’s in connection with the Champaign, Ill.-based sandwich shop chain’s role in a string of recent outbreaks of E. coli and salmonella. Citing evidence from five outbreaks, including the most recent outbreak in Iowa......

NEW YORK — The Rainforest Alliance announced plans to strengthen its cocoa certification program. The new measures, which will be published in June and rolled out during the subsequent 12 months, were designed to promote greater transparency and shared responsibility throughout the cocoa supply chain, the organization said. Changes include......

WASHIINGON — After languishing 15 years in regulatory limbo, a proposed rule whose aim is to establish a set of general principles to use when considering whether to establish, revise or eliminate a food standard of identity has been put on the front burner by the U.S. Food and Drug......

MINNEAPOLIS — Two recent studies linked the Mediterranean diet to healthy aging. Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School examined the influence of diet on aging and found that olive oil in the Mediterranean diet may hold the key to mitigating aging-related diseases. Earlier studies on the diet suggested......

LA QUINTA, CALIF. — Sugar is on Americans’ “radar” as 74% of teenagers and adults say they are seeking to reduce or avoid the sweetener completely, yet consumers aren’t “demonizing” sugar, Darren Seifer, executive director, industry analyst — food consumption at The NPD Group, said at the International Sweetener Colloquium......

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Carmen Rottenberg’s plans to step down from the role of administrator of the Food Safety and Inspection Service (F.S.I.S.) and the appointment of Paul Kiecker as her replacement. Ms. Rottenberg was appointed to that role by Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture,......

KANSAS CITY — Oat-based products are on track to lead plant-based dairy alternatives in the United States, according to data and analytics company GlobalData. “Oat-based products competing in the U.S. dairy category across milk, cream, ready-to-drink and yogurt segments have had a great 12 months,” said Andy Coyne, food correspondent......

HARTSVILLE, S.C. — Sonoco has joined 4evergreen, an international industry alliance dedicated to increasing the use of fiber-based packaging. The association generates awareness about the benefits of fiber-based packaging materials, advocates for European legislation supporting product design for recyclability and aids in the development of collection systems and other recycling......

IRVINE, CALIF. — Taco Bell is expanding its retail footprint with the introduction of Cheddar Crisps. Made by baking cheese into crisps and seasoning with Mexican spices, Cheddar Crisps are keto-friendly, gluten-free and certified vegetarian. Packaged in 0.7-oz on-the-go pouches and 2-oz pouches, the crunchy snacks provide 13 to 14......

CHICAGO — Greenleaf Foods SPC, a subsidiary of Maple Leaf Foods Inc., is bolstering its breakfast offerings with three new plant-based breakfast sausage products from its Lightlife and Field Roast Grain Meat Co. brands. Lightlife is launching Plant-Based Breakfast Sausage Links and Plant-Based Sausage Patties made with pea and rice......

SEATTLE — Start-up Atomo is developing molecular coffee. It contains the same amount of caffeine and all the essential elements found in a traditional cup of coffee. The only difference? It isn’t derived from the coffee bean. “Our coffee is as lab grown meat is to conventional meat,” said Jarret......

VEVEY, SWITZERLAND — Starbucks instant coffee is coming to shelves. Nestle S.A. co-developed the premium instant soluble coffee products with Starbucks Corp. as part of the global coffee alliance. Available in multi-serve tins and single-serve formats, the new range of instant coffee consists of medium roast and dark roast coffees......

LA QUINTA, CALIF. — Mixed views about Mexico’s ability to meet its export commitment to the United States were expressed by speakers Feb. 24 at the International Sweetener Colloquium in La Quinta. Frank Jenkins, president of JSG Commodities, said he thought Mexico’s forecast of 2019-20 sugar production of 5,672,000 tonnes,......

LA QUINTA, CALIF. — Analysts at the 40th annual International Sweetener Colloquium held Feb. 24 in La Quinta agreed that global sugar supplies would be tight near term but would increase when new-crop Brazilian sugar comes to market as the year progresses. Indications that Brazilian sugar mills will favor sugar......

SEATTLE — Greek yogurt brand Ellenos secured an $18 million investment from Daniel Lubetzky, founder and executive chairman of Kind Snacks. The investment will bolster national expansion efforts, Ellenos said. Mr. Lubetzky also will serve as a mentor to the brand’s founders and leadership team. Ellenos was founded in 2013......

DEERFIELD, ILL. — Mondelez International, Inc. has agreed to acquire a majority interest in Give & Go Prepared Foods Corp., an in-store bakery company, from Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. Financial terms of the transaction, which is expected to close in the second quarter of 2020, were not disclosed. Founded......