Milling & Baking News - March 16, 2004 - 12

B U S I N E S S

Senate approves measure requiring
labeling of eight key food allergens
WASHINGTON - The Senate last week
approved legislation that would require
food manufacturers to identify key food
allergens with clear information on
product labels.
The Food Allergen Labeling and
Consumer Protection Act, covering potential allergens including milk, eggs,
fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts
and soybeans, now goes to the House of
Representatives.
The bill would require food manufacturers to either list those ingredients
among a product's ingredient list or list
them following the word "Contains."
Manufacturers also may use a parenthetical statement identifying the
potential root allergen of a technical

ingredient. For instance, a listing on
food containing whey might appear as
follows: Whey (Milk).
If approved, the legislation, also covering spices, flavorings, colorings and
other food additives, would take effect
Jan. 1, 2006, the same date that food
manufacturers must start listing trans fat
content on their labels.
Anne Munoz-Furlong, founder of The
Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network
(F.A.A.N.), said the bill is overdue for
the 7 million Americans battling food
allergies.
"Those with food allergies depend on
the ingredient label to make decisions that
impact their health," Ms. Munoz-Furlong
said. "Inaccurate and confusing ingredi-

ACH to buy Unilever food oil brands
in Mexico, including Mazola
MEMPHIS - ACH Food Companies, Inc., a
subsidiary of Associated British Foods, said
it has entered an agreement to purchase
Unilever's food oil brands in Mexico for
$110 million in cash.
The brands, with annual sales of $124
million, include Mazola, one of the world's
leading corn oil brands; Inca, the country's

dominant shortening brand; and Capullo, a
premium canola oil brand.
ACH, maker of Karo corn syrups and
Argo corn starch, acquired Mazola's U.S.
rights from Unilever in 2002. With seven
U.S. plants, it already markets several
branded, food service and private label oil
products throughout the United States,

ConAgra develops Golden Cuisine
line of meals for senior citizens
OMAHA - ConAgra Foods, Inc. has introduced Golden Cuisine, a deliverable line of
meals designed for senior citizens.
ConAgra said dietary and geriatric specialists formulated the meals, which meet
government standards for senior nutrition.
Each meal contains 3 ozs of cooked protein,

one-half cup starch and two one-half cup
servings of vegetables.
The Golden Cuisine line includes Beef Pot
roast, mashed potatoes with gravy, green
beans and corn; Pork Riblet with barbecue
sauce, roasted sweet potatoes, sugar snap
peas and a blend of broccoli and cauliflow-

Willis Stein agrees to acquire
bankrupt snack manufacturer Jays Foods
CHICAGO - Willis Stein & Partners, a
private equity firm, announced that it has
signed an asset purchase agreement to
acquire the assets of Jays Foods L.L.C., the
Chicago-based snack food manufacturer of
Jays Potato Chips, Krunchers Potato Chips
and O-Ke-Doke popcorn. Jays also markets
pretzels, tortilla chips and other products
under the Jays brand.
Terms of the transaction, which is expected to close by mid-to-late April, were
not disclosed.
Coinciding with the transaction an12 / Milling & Baking News, March 16, 2004

nouncement, Jays filed for bankruptcy protection under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The company said it expects
to quickly exit bankruptcy protection based
on the capital infusion and turnaround
strategy.
The bankruptcy case was filed in U.S.
Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District
of Illinois at Chicago.
Willis Stein has named Tim Healy chairman and leader of the management team.
Previously, Mr. Healy held senior executive positions at General Foods, H.J. Heinz,

ent labels have caused reactions as some
labels are incomplete or misleading."
Many food manufacturers already list
food allergens voluntarily, but the varying
ways in which they do so sometimes create a problem, Ms. Munoz-Furlong said.
"Consumers with food allergies have
been caught in the middle, not sure how
to interpret the varying labeling practices and confused by technical ingredient terms such as caseinate, albumin or
semolina," she said. "This is a practical,
common-sense solution."
Sponsored by Senator Jeff Sessions of
Alabama, the bill (S. 741) has received
generally good reviews from various
food industry groups, including the National Food Processors Association and
the Independent Bakers Association. The
N.F.P.A., though, suggested it may have
to undergo some modification in order to
receive the organization's full support. MBN

Canada and Puerto Rico.
"This proposed acquisition is aligned
with our strategy and core capabilities,"
said Dan Antonelli, president of ACH.
"We've expanded our rights to Mazola,
our lead brand in the U.S., and we're adding two new premium brands, Capullo and
Inca, in categories with which we have great
knowledge and competency."
With the deal, ACH said it would add
135 employes in Mexico City but would not
acquire any fixed assets. MBN

er; Mesquite Chicken with barbecue sauce
over a black-bean rice blend, carrots and
green beans; and Baked Fish and rice pilaf
with carrots and red peppers, served with
brussels sprouts and a vegetable blend.
The meals, which have a suggested retail
price of $3.70 to $4.70 each, excluding shipping charges, can be ordered via the Internet
at www.goldencuisine.com. In addition, the
Golden Cuisine line is available through
www.amazon.com. MBN

Nutrasweet and Frito-Lay, Inc., and led the
successful turnaround of Select Beverages,
the third-largest independent direct-store
delivery franchise soft drink bottler in the
United States.
"We are committed to Jays' consumer
customers, retailers and employes, who
have built Jays into an icon brand that we
want to perpetuate," Mr. Healy said. "We
intend to create an exciting, new regional
snack food company by investing in the
manufacturing facility, improving Jay's
distribution system, developing innovative new products and acting as a flexible,
responsive partner to our retail trade customers." MBN
bakingbusiness.com/world-grain.com

http://www.goldencuisine.com http://www.amazon.com http://www.bakingbusiness.com/world-grain.com

Milling & Baking News - March 16, 2004

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