Sustainability: Page 153

Rail And Intermodal Traffic Decline Sharply For Week Ending June 4

Association of American Railroads (AAR)

For this week, total U.S. weekly rail traffic was 455,346 carloads and intermodal units, down 17.3 percent compared with the same week last year.

For the first 22 weeks of 2016, U.S. railroads reported cumulative volume of 5,274,449 carloads, down 13.7 percent from the same point last year; and 5,648,851 intermodal units, down 2.1 percent from last year. Total combined U.S. traffic for the first 22 weeks of 2016 was 10,923,300 carloads and intermodal units, a decrease of 8.1 percent compared to last year.

Food Companies Add GMO Labels with Vermont Law Set to Take Effect July 1

In the next two weeks, the U.S. Senate could reach a national compromise on GMO labeling or a federal appeals court could overturn a lower-court decision that denied a request by the food industry to put the Vermont law on temporary hold.

In the next two weeks, the U.S. Senate could reach a national compromise on GMO labeling or a federal appeals court could overturn a lower-court decision that denied a request by the food industry to put the Vermont law on temporary hold.

ConAgra Foods To Divest Ingredient Business; Will Remove Partially Hydrogenated Oils

As of June 2, ConAgra has discontinued the use of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) in the manufacturing of all spreads in the company’s portfolio, including Fleischmann’s, Blue Bonnet and Parkay.

Conagra Brands will be comprised primarily of the operations currently reported as the company’s consumer foods segment, which generated approximately $7.2 billion in fiscal 2015 revenues, as reported. The consumer foods segment consists of popular leading brands such as Marie Callender’s, Hunt’s, RO*TEL, Reddi-wip, Slim Jim, PAM, Chef Boyardee, Orville Redenbacher’s, P.F. Chang’s and Healthy Choice.

Waste Reduction

Global Standard To Measure Food Waste

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

The backers of the standard, launched at the Global Green Growth Forum in Copenhagen, hope governments will adopt it to measure progress under the new Sustainable Development Goals.

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Ocean Ports & Carriers

Port Of Los Angeles To Test Near-Zero Emission Technologies

Port of Los Angeles

At full build out, Pasha will be the world’s first marine terminal able to generate all of its energy needs from renewable sources.

With the goal of making the Pasha terminal a more sustainable and resilient facility that can operate independently off the grid in the event of a power loss, the project also features a microgrid that includes solar generation, battery storage and an energy management system to maximize usage.

Cargill To Acquire Five Star Custom Foods

Adding Five Star Custom Foods to the Cargill family will enhance the company’s existing cooked protein capabilities, optimize supply chain efficiencies and provide innovation opportunities.

The acquisition includes both of the Five Star Custom Foods facilities in Fort Worth and Nashville, Tenn.

Protesters Call For Boycott Of Wendy’s For Refusal To Join ‘Fair Food Program’

Since the Wendy’s Boycott was announced in March, tens of thousands have taken up the charge in the form of institutional endorsements and actions in local communities around the country.

Allies from cities around the Midwest – Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Ann Arbor, Nashville and Louisville – traveled to Wendy's headquarters for the shareholder meeting.

FDA Sets Targets for Reducing Sodium in Processed and Prepared Food

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Americans consume almost 50 percent more sodium than what most experts recommend.

The draft short-term (two-year) and long-term (10-year) voluntary targets for the industry are intended to help the American public gradually reduce sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day, a level recommended by leading experts and the overwhelming body of scientific evidence. The targets are also intended to complement many existing efforts by food manufacturers, restaurants, and food service operations to reduce sodium in foods.

Pizza Hut to Remove Antibiotics and Preservatives

This announcement comes roughly a year after Pizza Hut became the first national pizza restaurant to remove artificial flavors and colors from its core pizzas in May 2015.

Pizza Hut will remove BHA/BHT from all meats by end of July 2016, artificial preservatives from cheese by end of March 2017, and antibiotics important to human medicine from chicken for its pizzas by end of March 2017.

Freight Executive Has Suggestions For Fulfilling Online Grocery Orders

Uber’s recent decision to end instant deliveries indicates that the company’s courier-provided meals posed a greater logistical challenge than the giant company anticipated.

If Uber couldn’t do it, it’s not hard to see why some of the other high-end courier startups like DoorDash and Instacart are struggling as well, according to Jaime Jimenez, CEO of freight-moving company iContainers.

Agriculture Department Invests $8.8 Million In Biofuels At Renewable Energy Sites

he funding is being provided through USDA's Advanced Biofuel Payment Program, which was established in the 2008 Farm Bill.

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U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack Calls For Mandatory GMO Labeling

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

In the absence of Congress creating a national standard for labeling products made from genetically modified organisms, a flawed, de facto system has cropped up, Vilsack said at the Organic Trade Association's annual policy summit.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement at the Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition (GODAN) Summit.

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