​The House passed the Senate GMO bill  and sent the legislation on to the President, who has said he will sign it into law. The compromise legislation preempts state labeling requirements but mandates GMO labeling of food products with flexibility in how food manufacturers convey this information. Under the terms of the legislation, USDA will be required to issue a rule establishing a national labeling standard within two years.
 
Amazon will launch its Amazon Restaurants service in London. Amazon Restaurants lets users order food from the menus of partner restaurants via the Prime Now app for one-hour delivery, reported TechCrunch.
 
Dannon is looking at ways to reduce the sugar content of its products. The company already reduced sugar in most items to 23 grams per 6 oz. serving, and is attempting to bring levels below the 20 grams recommended by the American Heart Association, reported Reuters.
 
Coca-Cola Brasil will launch a specialty coffee line under the Leao brand, which the company acquired in 2007. Leao currently produces tea, and will offer arabica coffee under the name Cafe Leao, reported Reuters.
 
Replacing red meat with alternate proteins can reduce the risk of kidney failure, according to a study in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Researchers found people with the most red meat in their diet had a 40% increased risk of kidney disease, but replacing one serving of red meat daily with other proteins reduced the risk by up to 62%, reported HealthDay.
 
USDA will make more than $8.3 million available to support small businesses in the creation of advanced research and development projects to help American agriculture. The funding is available through the Small Business Innovation Research program.
 
Starbucks will open up to 500 stores in Thailand over the next four to five years. The company currently operates 262 stores in the country, reported The Nation.
 
Royal Ahold NV and Delhaize Group will sell 86 U.S. stores as they seek to win antitrust approval for their merger. The companies reached deals with seven companies, including Weis Markets, Supervalu, Albertsons, Big Y and Publix, reported MarketWatch
 
Placement of foods at supermarkets and buffets has an effect on what people choose, according to a study in the British Journal of Nutrition. Researchers found placing healthier items in certain positions can cause more people to purchase them, reported Times of India.
 
Jamba Juice opened a concept store in Pasadena, CA, that features a new design and an updated menu. The store makes use of natural wood, fruit inspired artwork and minimalist furniture, with iPads for quick ordering. The menu features different types of cold-pressed juice and healthy dishes, like quinoa salads, reported Fast Company.
 
Supermarket bars stretch out the time shoppers spend in a store, according to Stores Consulting Group. Chains are taking advantage of the benefits of giving customers something to drink, including Whole Foods Market having nearly 350 locations that allow customers to carry open beverages in the store. Gelson's is planning to add six more bars to its stores in the next year, reported The Wall Street Journal.
 
Gold'n Plump added two attributes to its All Natural chicken products: No Antibiotics-Ever and the American Human Certified farm program seal. Twenty-five items featuring both claims are currently available in stores, with plans to gradually extend these attributes to the entire Gold'n Plump line, reported Minneapolis Star Tribune.
 
Foodservice, manufacturing and retailing are the sectors most likely to be automated in the next decade, according to McKinsey & Co. Foodservice was considered the most likely to be transformed by technology, since 73% of the tasks workers perform could be automated based on currently-existing technologies, reported MarketWatch.
 
Increased water consumption may be associated with lower weight, according to a study in the Annals of Family Medicine. Researchers found people who drank too little water daily had 50% higher odds for obesity compared to those who consumed enough, reported HealthDay.
 
California avocado growers are harvesting a large crop this year despite issues with weather, market price fluctuations and pests. Production will reach over 390 million-lbs. and could top 400 million-lbs., according to the California Avocado Commission's midseason estimate, reported AgAlert
 
More acres of corn and soybeans were planted than initially estimated, prompting USDA to boost the fall harvest expectations for both crops. Farmers are expected to bring in 14.5 billion bushels of corn on 94.1 million acres planted, about a half-million acres more than first projected. The soybean harvest is estimated at 3.9 billion bushels on a record 83.7 million acres planted.
 
Winter wheat production was forecast at about 1.6 billion bushels, an 8% increase from the June 1 forecast and up 19% from the 2015 total, according to USDA. Based on current conditions, the U.S. yield forecast is at a record high of 53.9 bushels per acre.
 
Denny's unveiled a new pancake recipe that replaces the just-add-water powdered mix with fresh buttermilk and eggs. It took the chain three years to revamp the recipe, and the new ingredients cost $5 million more for franchisees. Breakfast accounts for 24% of Denny's average daily sales, reported USA Today.
 
Amazon Prime members now make up more than half of the online retailer's customer base, according to a study by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners. The study estimates Prime shoppers spent about $1,200 on average in 2015, compared to about $500 for non-members, reported Fortune.
 
Whole Foods Market Inc. will sell locally raised beef from Adams Ranch in its Florida stores. The local option will allow for less transportation time than out-of-state options and offer beef at peak freshness, reported Orlando Business Journal.
 
Grubhub launched a new rating system that will track user feedback on delivery times, food quality and order accuracy in order to help users pick restaurants based on the factors they value most. Restaurant owners will also be able to use the feedback to understand what factors influenced their ratings, reported Chicago Tribune.
 
Nearly one in 10 dairy farms across England and Wales closed in the last three years, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board. Despite the closure 1,002 farms during the time period, the number of dairy cows in the UK increased by about 113,000 and milk production by 8%, mainly due to a higher yield per cow, reported BBC.
 
USDA will fund 821 projects nationwide to boost renewable energy use for businesses and agricultural producers. The program will provide $43.2 million in loan guarantees and $11.6 million in grants.
 
Modesto, CA, is now under quarantine due to the presence of Asian citrus psyllid, which can damage commercial citrus groves. A single psyllid was found in a lemon tree, the third for the city, and the quarantine will restrict movement of citrus trees out of the area, reported Modesto Bee.
 
The 2015 U.S. apple harvest was set at 238 million bushels, 12% lower than the 2014 season, according to the U.S. Apple Association. The total was 1% lower than the five-year average and 2% lower than a preseason estimate, reported The Packer.
 
 

​Restaurant sales softened in May, along with operator expectations, as the industry continued its choppy 2016, according to the latest Restaurant Performance Index from the National Restaurant Association.
 
The British government may introduce a new law to protect specialty foods once the UK leaves the EU. Environment Secretary Liz Truss wants to develop a "British protected food name status" as a replacement for the EU system that currently gives legal protection to regional and traditional foods, reported iNews.
 
Eating fruits and vegetables can substantially increase happiness, according to a study by the University of Warwick. Researchers found each extra serving of produce consumed daily increased life satisfaction within two years, reported News Nation.
 
San Francisco banned polystyrene packaging in a measure that goes beyond earlier regulations on takeout containers. Under the new measure, San Francisco businesses will not be permitted to use foam to wrap meat and poultry or to ship goods, reported Denver Post.
 
The Senate passed legislation to create a national standard for GMO labeling. The Biotech Labeling Solutions Act provides for federal preemption, prohibiting states from enacting their own food labeling laws. The bill requires the USDA to set a standard to define when a foods contains GMO's and requires labeling of food products but provides a number of options such as QSR codes to allow consumers access to this information. The legislation now moves to the House where efforts are underway to pass the bill before Congress leaves for the national conventions and summer recess this week.
 
Amazon's planned private label grocery program could affect convenience store retailers more than any other retail channel, according to a study by Carbonview Research. Forty-four percent of respondents said they would buy private label products less frequently from c-stores if products from Amazon's private label program were offered to them, reported Convenience Store News.
 
DuPont Pioneer and Monsanto are among the companies working to demonstrate to consumers how biotechnology can benefits crops. GMO technologies are focusing more attention on creating foods that improve public health and provide convenience for shoppers, expanding to products such as potatoes, pineapples, tomatoes and healthier soy oils, reported Des Moines Register.
 
Better flavor gives Mississippi wild caught shrimp a competitive advantage over imported and pond raised shrimp, according to study by the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Consumers who participated in blind taste tests tended to prefer the taste of wild-caught Gulf shrimp over that of pond raised, imported products, reported The State.
 
People who eat more meals at home have a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to a study in PLOS One. Researchers found those who ate at least five to seven evening meals prepared at home weekly had a 15% lower chance of developing Type 2 diabetes than those who consumed two or fewer home cooked meals, reported Science Daily.
 
McDonald's will add McGriddles to its all-day breakfast menu starting in September, reported Yakima Herald-Republic.
 
Kellogg's will update its classic Raisin Bran with granola in a bid to capture adult tastes. The company will offer two new flavors, Raisin & Honey Granola and Cranberry Almond Granola, reported MarketWatch.
 
Nestle will launch Henri@Nestle, a digital platform that will encourage innovation. Nestle already piloted projects, including collaborations with Instacart, Feastly and SpoonRocket, by embedding products in the services to test consumer response, reported San Francisco Business Journal.
 
Unsaturated fats are healthier than saturated or trans fats, according to a study in JAMA Internal Medicine. Researchers tracked more than 126,000 participants over 32 years, finding that every 2% increase in trans fat intake was associated with a 16% higher risk of death, and every 5% increase in saturated fat intake was associated with an 8% higher risk of death, reported HealthDay.
 
The U.S. government recognized Ireland's raw meat control system as equivalent to its own. The move clears the way for USDA to approve individual Irish beef plants wishing to export ground beef to the U.S., reported The Irish Times.
 
FDA launched the Nutrition Facts Label Online tool, which provides an in-depth look at specific nutrients and their role in the consumer's daily diet. The tool includes an ingredients list, nutrition glossary, resources from FDA and other government agencies, and downloadable fact sheets.
 
Hostess will market Twinkies to Millennials as a pop culture icon to overcome healthy eating trends. Hostess will release new varieties of the snack cake later this year, reported Bloomberg
 
Creative advertising can prompt children to eat more vegetables, according to a study in Pediatrics. Researchers placed banners around school cafeteria salad bars that featured animated characters, finding that over four weeks the number of children who took vegetables from the bars doubled or tripled, reported Reuters.
 
California farm products will likely become more expensive in Europe following the Brexit vote due to short-term disruptions and currency fluctuations, according to trade experts. The U.S. and Britain could reach new trade agreements that could benefit California farmers, especially almond and raisin producers, according to experts, reported AgAlert.
 
Frisch's Restaurants Inc. is revamping its Big Boy chain, adding brighter colors and lighting, updating employee attire and dinnerware, and including a kids' area. The chain is also updating its menu to include new burgers, appetizers and drinks, reported CBS News.
 
McDonald's is investing $557 million to modernize its restaurants in Germany. Seventy-two "restaurants of the future" will start offering children's play areas, table service and custom-made burgers, such as the "make your Mac" option. Most of the chain's 1,472 sites in Germany will be redesigned by the end of 2019, reported Seattle Times.
 
U.S. consumption of hot coffee will be 6.8-lbs. per capita in 2016, up slightly from 2015, according to Euromonitor International. Demand will be the highest ever in China, Japan and India, reported Denver Post.
 
People who consume pasta in moderation are less likely to be overweight or obese, according to a study in Nutrition and Diabetes. Researchers found those who ate some pasta had a lower body mass index than normal or overweight participants, reported CNN.

​McDonald's Chicken McGriddle sandwich was expanded to more Ohio markets. After successfully launching in the Columbus market, the sandwich is now available in Cincinnati, Dayton, Toledo and Lima, reported Columbus Business First.
 
The Kroger Co. opened its first Kroger-branded convenience store in College Station, TX. The location will feature items such as milk and bread at grocery store prices, as well as 50 flavors of soft drinks and nine different types of coffee. The company will expand the concept outside Texas in the future, reported KAGS.
 
The Hershey Co.'s board unanimously rejected a takeover bid from Mondelez International. Mondelez offered $107 per share for Hershey, making the bid worth $23 billion, reported Fortune
 
Resistant starch can improve gut bacteria in people with metabolic syndrome, according to a study in Scientific Reports. Researchers found adding flour with resistant starch to patients' diets helped lower bad cholesterol and decrease inflammation associated with obesity by altering the makeup of gut bacteria, reported Science Daily.
 
Corn planted area for all purposes is estimated at 94.1 million acres in 2016, up 7% from 2015, according to USDA. Soybean planted area was estimated at a record high of 83.7 million acres, up 1% from the year before.
 
Triple-digit heat harmed the Southern California avocado crop the week of July 18, burning trees, shriveling leaves and causing fruit to drop. As of June 25, packinghouses were paying $1.56 a pound for size 48 avocados, up from $1.18 in May, reported Los Angeles Times
 
Orange juice sales at major U.S. retailers fell 4.8% in the four-week period ending June 11 compared to a similar period last year, according to the Florida Department of Citrus. The decline came despite the fact the average retail price for all 100% OJ products declined 1% over that period, reported The Ledger.
 
Some Coca-Cola Co. products will be temporarily unavailable in Vermont due to the state's GMO labeling law. The company's most popular beverages will remain stocked, but some lower volume brands will be temporarily unavailable to avoid making multiple labeling changes, reported Reuters.
 
Shipments of table-top mayonnaise for commercial use rose 3% in the year ending April 30, according to NPD Group. Ketchup shipments grew 4.3% during the same period, while mustard shipments grew 1.4%, reported New York Post.
 
Kellogg Co. will open a cereal cafe in New York City. The store will combine cereals like Special K and Frosted Flakes with ingredients like pistachios and lemon zest, reported Chicago Tribune.
 
Consumers who see online menus with caloric content order meals with fewer calories, according to a study by Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pennsylvania. Participants who used a lunch-ordering system with exact calorie counts or "traffic light" coding ordered dishes with 10% fewer calories than those who did not have access to that information, reported NPR.
 
U.S. poultry certified wholesome during May totaled about 4 billion-lbs., up 8% from May 2015, according to USDA. The preliminary total live weight of all federally inspected poultry during May was about 5.1 billion-lbs., also up 8% from the year-ago period.
 
A Mexican federal judged banned the entry of fresh potatoes from the U.S. on the grounds that they may contain pests. The judge held that measures taken by Mexico's Ministry of Agriculture could not guarantee the prevention of the spread of 63 quarantine pests, reported Reuters.
 
A weaker pound could benefit British supermarkets, provided they are able to pass higher food prices on to customers, according to analysts. It could also help UK-based online grocer Ocado secure an overseas licensing deal due to making its services cheaper for international customers, reported Reuters.
 
Brazil's coffee market shifted due to dry weather from El Nino, which cut the robusta harvest by a quarter. At the same time, rains in arabica areas created ideal conditions and more supply than expected. The most common strain of robusta is 3.2% more expensive on average in 2016 than arabica, reported Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel.
 
Eating a healthy diet may reduce chances of physical disability later in life for women, according to a study in the Journal of Nutrition. Researchers found a lower risk of disability was most strongly linked with eating oranges, orange juice, apples, pears, romaine or leaf lettuce, and walnuts, reported HealthDay.
 
Starbucks Corp. will open 900 locations in its China and Asia Pacific unit in 2016. The primary focus will be on India, where roasting capacity will be expanded. India is poised to become one of Starbucks' five largest markets in the long term, reported Bloomberg.
 
Starbucks will sell single-origin coffee from India in the U.S. through its Starbucks' Reserve Roastery in Seattle, WA. The initial batch will be limited, but Starbucks will offer additional reserve coffees from India in the future, reported Reuters
 
PepsiCo will bring the aspartame-sweetened version of Diet Pepsi back to U.S. stores in September, while continuing to sell the sucralose-sweetened version. PepsiCo will also rebrand Pepsi Max as Pepsi Zero Sugar in the U.S., reported MarketWatch
 
Perdue Farms will overhaul its animal welfare practices. Initiatives include installing windows to give chickens access to sunlight, giving birds more space in barns and connecting animal care to pay and incentives for farmers, reported Modesto Bee
 
A diet high in fiber and vitamin A may help alleviate food allergies, according to a study in Cell Reports. Researchers fed mice with peanut allergies a special high-fiber diet, which altered their gut bacteria and reduced the severity of allergic reactions to peanuts, reports Science World Report
 
U.S. garlic producers reported a more normal crop in 2016 following a 30% to 40% decrease in production in 2015. Tariffs on Chinese garlic are making prices almost as high as for domestic garlic, reported The Produce News