News On French Fries and Potato Specialties from Northern America

December 21, 2009

Health Canada plan would put asparaginase in french fries, potato chips to fight acrylamide

Health Canada is proposing an unorthodox way of combatting acrylamide, a food ingredient suspected in some cancers: It wants to let manufacturers put small amounts of asparaginase - also used as a cancer-fighting drug - into potato chips and similar fo...

December 21, 2009

ConAgra Foods Reports Strong Second-Quarter EPS Driven by Excellent Consumer Foods Growth

ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG) one of North America’s leading packaged food companies, today reported results for the fiscal 2010 second quarter ended Nov. 29, 2009. Diluted EPS from continuing operations was $0.55 compared with $0.38 a year ago. Cur...

December 21, 2009

Conagra Foods Q2 results: Lamb Weston Profits improved

We want to highlight the details on Conagra Foods Lamb Weston in the just published Q2 results of Conagra Foods:"Lamb Weston profits improved, reflecting the positive impacts of higher prices necessitated by increased input costs, as well as plant...

December 15, 2009

US Potato use for French Fries processing down 12%;Recovery in processing of Potato flakes

Potato processors in the 9 major potato processing States have used 60.9 million cwt of potatoes this season (harvest 2009), down 12 percent from the same period last year and down 17 percent from 2 years ago. Dehydrating usage accounted for 11.0 milli...

December 10, 2009

Simplot contribution saves Parma Research Center of University of Idaho

At a meeting today in Twin Falls, the University of Idaho Board of Regents heard details about a proposal between the University of Idaho and the J.R. Simplot Co. focused on the university's Parma Research and Extension Center that both preserves a vit...

December 08, 2009

McCain Foods eyes P.E.I. training funds

Officials with McCain Foods Ltd. have been talking to the P.E.I. government about training dollars for employees during an upcoming shutdown of their Borden-Carleton plant. Allan Campbell, the minister of innovation, said the frozen food and potato pr...

December 03, 2009

FAS/USDA: Global Export of Frozen Potato Products stalls

Over the past decade, world demand for frozen potato products (comprised mostly of frozen fries) has trended upward, expanding over 50 percent. However, the global economic crisis has stalled world demand. In marketing year (July-June) 2008/09, world ...

November 25, 2009

McCain Foods received award for fryer energy recovery system in Carberry

McCain Foods (Canada) was recognized for its environmental leadership and energy conservation achievements at an awards dinner in Toronto on Nov. 24. The company received the award for its energy recovery system at its potato processing plant in Carber...

November 25, 2009

Frozen Potato Institute behind acrylamide comment period extension

The Frozen Potato Institute [AFFI] whose members supply fast food chains with the raw material for french fries, succeeded in persuading FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition to extend its comment period on scientific data and information ...

November 19, 2009

American Frozen Food Institute Announces New Conferences Staff

American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz today announced the addition of two new staff members to AFFI’s conferences department. Mary Becton joins AFFI as the new director of conferences, while Kristen Friend is the new ma...

November 19, 2009

Prince Edward Island government offers Cavendish Farms workers money for training during shutdowns

The union representing Cavendish Farms workers has publicly thanked the P.E.I. government for more than $600,000 in training money.The money will allow employees of the company's two potato processing plants in New Annan who expect to be out of work du...

November 06, 2009

North American French Fry manufacturers schedule temporary shut-downs

Cavendish Farms announced Thursday it was planning to stop processing for one week in November and again for about 10 days in December because of the downturn in the U.S. economy. But scheduled downtimes may have to be extended beyond that, spokeswom...

November 02, 2009

Simplot launches ToHellWithPrep.com to promote Roastworks fruit, vegetables and potatoes

With a struggling economy and rising food costs among the leading foodservice trends this year, how can anything else 2009 has to serve up frighten operators? How about learning how much money they`re wasting by prepping vegetables and fruit from scra...

October 30, 2009

Alexia Foods issues product recall of Alexia Olive Oil, Sun-Dried Tomatoes & Pesto Oven Reds frozen potatoes

Today, Alexia Foods, Inc, Kennewick, WA, in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is voluntarily recalling packages of its Alexia – Olive Oil, Sun-Dried Tomatoes &Pesto Oven Reds (frozen seasoned potato wedges) for an undecla...

October 22, 2009

Queens restaurant turns 'Regular' Fry into culinary hot potato

In this era of the updated hamburger, it’s surprising that such short shrift has been given its sidekick, the French fry. But at last a thrilling new fry has revealed itself — in the Chinatown neighborhood of Flushing, Queens, of all places. Xiao La Ji...

October 22, 2009

McCain Foods (Canada) turns former waste water lagoon at Carberry plant into nature

Business, government, and conservation interests gathered at the McCain Foods (Canada) plant in Carberry today to celebrate a remarkable achievement. A former wastewater lagoon that for years had been devoid of wildlife, has been revitalized.

October 20, 2009

Americans Likely to Continue Cooking At Home As Economy Recovers

The instability of the economic climate has affected Americans in countless ways, including in the kitchen. Early on in the economic downturn, it became apparent that Americans were headed back into the kitchen, cooking more meals at home to cut spendi...

October 19, 2009

McCain Foods Releases its First Global Corporate Social Responsibility Report

McCain Foods has released its first global corporate social responsibility (CSR) report. This benchmark report, following the guidelines of the Global Reporting Initiative, outlines for the first time the company’s progress and commitment to continued ...