Biz.PeanutButterNews.com

Full Story at news.Yahoo.com

DES MOINES, Iowa – U.S. Agriculture Department employees worked full-time at two Iowa egg farms at the center of a salmonella outbreak and massive recall, but two former workers said they ignored complaints about conditions at one site.

The USDA employees worked next to areas where roughly 7.7 million caged hens laid eggs at the two operations, but agency spokesman Caleb Weaver said their main duties are “grading” the eggs and they aren’t primarily responsible for looking for health problems.

Full Story at news.Yahoo.com

NEW YORK – PepsiCo Inc. is hoping to revive its Quaker division with new types of cereal, a reformulation of its instant oatmeal and a new marketing campaign.

The brand’s trademark hot and cold cereals have been hurting in the down economy as people shift away from name brands to save money. They’re also not eating as much breakfast, said Quaker President Jaya Kumar.

So the company is adding whole grains, removing sugar and focusing on the healthy aspects of breakfast to link its brands to the first meal of the day.

Full Story at money.cnn.com

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — KFC’s Double Down, an uber-fried bacon-and-cheese mega-sandwich with chicken instead of bread, has not been a big hit with fast foodies.

The Double Down created a news feeding frenzy when KFC, owned by Yum Brands Inc., launched the sandwich on April 12. The company has sold 10 million of the sandwiches, according to KFC spokesman Rick Maynard. But in the company’s earnings call Wednesday, Chief Financial Officer Rich Carucci referred to sales of the sandwich as “immaterial.”

Full Story at money.cnn.com

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — A nutrition watchdog group is threatening to sue McDonald’s if the fast-food giant won’t stop using toys to to lure children to its Happy Meals .

The Center for Science in the Public Interest said Tuesday that it has served McDonald’s notice of its intent to sue over what it says is unfair and deceptive marketing.

Full Story at msnbc.com

New Orleans restaurant owner Ralph Brennan had only recently started to see business pick up following Hurricane Katrina and the recession when he was hit with another blow: the Gulf oil disaster.

Since the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and began spewing oil off the coast of Louisiana, Brennan says the price he pays for shrimp has gone up around 25 percent, and oyster prices have almost doubled.

Full Story at msnbc.com

he weak U.S. economy is no match for fast-growing Five Guys Burgers and Fries, where the standard hamburger has two patties and french fries are served in a cup with an extra scoop on the side for good measure.

While most U.S. restaurants fight for every dollar, a new crop of indulgent burger chains have bucked the trend by recasting the American food standard with higher-quality ingredients and quirky toppings like fried eggs or pineapple.

Full Story atmoney.cnn.com

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — From California produce to New England seafood, the ash cloud from the Iceland volcano is taking its toll on U.S. businesses. Air traffic to and from Europe has been disrupted for days, and that is keeping goods grounded.

On Saturday, Boston-based Black Pearl Seafood was supposed to import 25 tons of fresh fish from a London warehouse, fish with a wholesale value of $320,000.

Full Story at msnbc.com

NEW YORK – A race to develop natural, zero-calorie sweeteners is bubbling up in the nation’s $100 billion beverage industry.

PepsiCo, looking to revive itself in the declining soda industry, is boosting its development spending for this search and to mix up new drinks.

PepsiCo Inc. said Tuesday at an investor meeting that it is putting “unprecedented resources” toward reformulating its beverages with natural, no-calorie sweeteners such as stevia, an herb grown in South America and Asia, and to find new ones.

Full Story at msnbc.com

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Burger King is opening a restaurant in Miami Beach that will serve beer along with burgers and fries, the chain’s first U.S. location with alcohol.

At the Whopper Bar South Beach, guests can pair a Whopper sandwich with Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors brews. With fries, the combo will run $7.99.

The restaurant will offer outdoor dining, a walk-up window and delivery service.