Food Roundup: Beef and Milk Recalls, Compost Law in San Francisco, and More

JBS expands beef recall — JBS Swift Beef is recalling an additional 380,000 pounds of ground beef due to concerns about E. coli contamination. Originally the company had only recalled 41,000 pounds. The tainted beef carries the highest risk level, meaning the product could potentially cause “serious, adverse health consequences or death.” The timing — right before 4th of July weekend — couldn’t be worse. [Sources: Food Business Review, AP]

Milk products recall — Plainview Milk Products Cooperative has halted production and recalled two years worth of products after the FDA found salmonella on equipment in a company plant. The products include instant nonfat dried milk, whey protein, fruit stabilizers, and gums, all of which the company sells to other companies to use as ingredients in other food items. No illnesses have been associated with any of Plainview’s products. [Sources: Food Business News, Reuters]

San Francisco passes composting law — A new city law will require individuals and businesses to separate their food scraps for composting. San Francisco has had a voluntary composting program for several years, but now those who don’t take advantage of the program will face fines between $100 and $500. The law — which will apply to restaurants — is the first of its kind in the nation. [Source: Nation's Restaurant News]

Marketing experts applaud El Pollo Loco’s digs at KFC — Marketing experts interviewed by Chain Leader unanimously praised the recent strategies of the small grilled chicken chain El Pollo Loco. Ever since KFC added grilled chicken to its menu, the smaller chain has jumped at every opportunity to poke fun at its new rival, most recently highlighting the fact that KFC uses beef ingredients in its chicken marinade. But some of the marketing experts warned that KFC might bite back. [Sources: Chain Leader, BNET Food]

Private label set for long haul — More than 90 percent of shoppers say they’ll continue to buy store brands even after the recession is over, according to a poll by GfK Custom Research North America. The increasing quality of private label products is a major factor, according to a vast majority of those surveyed. Though the fact that the poll was commissioned by the Private Label Manufacturers Association might make one want to know a bit more about the methodology before putting too much faith in the results. [Sources: Supermarket News, FoodNavigator-USA.com]