Risk/Compliance: Page 159

Railex to Suspend Service in the Southeast

The Riverhead, N.Y.-based rail logistics transporter of refrigerated perishables plans to cease operations in Jacksonville, Fla., by August 13.

Railex is working with the Union Pacific and CSX railroads to identify a service plan that will allow timely deliveries to Southeastern customers through a new location.

Food Facilities Face Sept. 16 Deadline for FSMA Preventive Controls Rule

American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI)

Facilities also have to verify and document that their preventive controls are working. Also, according to the rule, the plans must be re-analyzed at least once every three years.

Fsma

Fast Food Gains on Fast Casual, Boosted by Promotions

In other words, fast-food giants such as McDonald's, KFC, and Taco Bell have figured out how to offer the best of both worlds, drawing from fast-casuals' upscale aesthetics while undercutting their competitors' prices.

'QSR giants are slowly but surely gaining share back from fast casual challengers as they offer cheaper food promotions, such as KFC’s $5 Fill Ups and updated in-store experiences including Taco Bell’s new higher-end cantinas,' reads the report.

BJ’s Wholesale Club Taps CommerceHub Boost E-Commerce Growth

BJ’s Wholesale Club Inc.

The platform will coordinate the process of buying, storing and shipping inventory from CommerceHub’s network of approximately 9,500 drop-ship suppliers that receive orders and ship products directly to consumers.

BJ’s joins a vibrant network of trading partners, which in 2015 powered an estimated $11.6 billion in gross merchandise value (total economic value of goods) through CommerceHub’s platform.

Software & Technology

Walmart Bids to Acquire Jet.com to Fight Amazon

The world's largest retailer is playing catch up with Amazon.com Inc. on distribution and technology, and acquiring Jet.com could give Wal-Mart access to their innovative pricing software, its network of warehouses and customer data.

Wal-Mart disclosed a total of $3.1 billion for e-commerce and digital projects, such as its platform and new warehouses, in the four fiscal years to January 2017.

BNSF and Los Angeles Appeal Ruling Halting Southern California International Gateway

The appeal could mean years of legal wrangling for the Southern California International Gateway, a project nearly a decade in the planning and opposed by the community, the city of Long Beach, its schools and several environmental groups.

In the latest twist of what has been a three-year-long legal battle, the city of Los Angeles and BNSF Railway rejected a Contra Costa judge’s finding that the city failed to adequately analyze the environmental impacts the rail yard would have on the West Long Beach community, as required by state law.

E-Commerce Solutions

Illinois Lawmakers Crack Down on Unlicensed E-Commerce Wine Shipments

The legislation represents the alcohol industry's attempt to protect the so-called three-tier system against unlicensed wine shippers sending booze to Illinois customers and merchants illegally bringing alcohol across state borders without paying taxes.

When you buy a six-pack or a bottle of wine or tequila at a store in Illinois, you're participating in the three-tier system in its most traditional format. A wholesaler sold that alcohol to the store after buying it from the manufacturer.

Georgia Port Authority Receives $44 Million for Rail Expansion

Georgia Ports Authority

The $44 million award, made possible through the Nationally Significant Freight and Highway Projects (NSFHP) Program, is a significant portion of a total $128 million project known as the Port of Savannah International Multi-modal Connector.

Currently, 18 percent of the containers handled at Garden City Terminal (above) moves on Class I railroads Norfolk Southern and CSX.

Cal-Maine Foods to Acquire Foodonics International's Egg Production Assets

The assets to be acquired include commercial egg production and processing facilities with capacity for approximately 1.6 million laying hens and related feed production, milling and distribution facilities in Georgia, Alabama and Florida.

In addition, Cal-Maine Foods will acquire the Egg-Land’s Best, Inc. franchise with licensing rights for portions of certain markets in Alabama, Florida and Georgia as well as Puerto Rico, Bahamas and Cuba.

McDonald’s Removes Artificial Preservatives from Breakfast Menu Items

McDonald's Corp.

The menu upgrades are the latest attempt by the fast-food chain to remake its image for a customer base that's become more concerned with eating healthful and natural food.

McDonald's spokeswoman Becca Hary said the company got rid of an artificial preservative used in the cooking oil for McNuggets and now makes McNuggets themselves with 'ingredients that sound more familiar to people,' such as pea starch and rice starch. Sodium phosphates, a common food additive that helps keep meat moist, are gone from the chicken meat, but not the breading.

‘Supermarket Guru': GMO Labeling Rule Falls Short in Addressing Bioengineering Concerns

According to Phil Lempert, the new GMO Labeling bill signed into law last week is more troubling in that there are no penalties for lack of compliance, and no authority to recall products that are not properly labeled.

One thing is for sure is that the legislation as written will require food packages to declare, through a QR code, a symbol, 800# or plain text whether a food contains genetically engineered ingredients.

USDA Announces Reopening of Brazilian Market to U.S. Beef Exports

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has reached an agreement with Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply to allow access for U.S. beef and beef products to the Brazilian market for the first time since 2003.

Both countries will immediately begin updating their administrative procedures in order to allow trade to resume. U.S. companies will need to complete Brazil's regular facilities registration process.

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