Food Roundup: Monsanto and Dole Super Veggies, Alfalfa Recall, Alfalfa Lawsuit, and More

Monsanto and Dole to improve vegetables — Dole Fresh Vegetables Inc. is collaborating with Monsanto to breed tastier, more attractive and more nutritious versions of broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce and spinach. Unlike Monsanto corn and soy, however, these products will not be genetically modified, but merely bred through natural methods. The two companies have agreed to work together on the project for the next five years, and Dole will be able to market any resulting products. [Sources: Reuters, Food Business Review]

Alfalfa sprouts and salmonella: here we go again — Kowalke Family Sprouts has issued a voluntary recall of its products containing alfalfa sprouts because of possible salmonella contamination. The company owner said only one package tested positive for the bacteria and the contamination most likely occurred after it left the company. [Source: AP]

No GM alfalfa for Monsanto — An appeals court upheld a previous ruling banning Monsanto from selling its genetically modified Roundup Ready alfalfa seed until an environmental impact study is completed. There are concerns that the seeds could contaminate non-GM alfalfa crops and that Roundup Ready plants encourage overuse of pesticides, polluting the soil. [Source: Reuters]

Restaurant Associates unveils new green practices — Restaurant Associates, a foodservice provider that runs cafeterias for corporations, museums, etc., has collaborated with the Environmental Defense Fund to decrease its environmental impact, along with its costs. The company will replace bottled water with water dispensers, cut down on energy use and start offering more sustainable seafood. “We only participate in projects we think have the potential to create widespread change, and this is one of them,” a VP at the Environmental Defense Fund said. [Sources: Nation's Restaurant News, PRNewswire]

Canadian company to purchase Agriprocessors plant — SHF Industries LLC has agreed to buy the kosher meat-packing plant in Postville, Iowa, where an immigration raid in May, 2008, led to all sorts of problems for Agriprocessors, the current owner. Agriprocessors is now bankrupt and many former executives are facing criminal charges related to immigration fraud, bank fraud and other issues. [Source: Meat & Poultry]