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NEWS WATCH

Americans Buy More Organics, Poll Showseyed said they have purchased organic foods or beverages in the past year, according to a new report by Mintel Consumer Intelligence. Of those, most are more likely to be found in the Northeast and West than in other regions of the country. The firm's researchers concluded the organic industry has a huge number of consumers who are at least receptive to the idea,

Americans Buy More Organics, Poll Shows

eyed said they have purchased organic foods or beverages in the past year, according to a new report by Mintel Consumer Intelligence. Of those, most are more likely to be found in the Northeast and West than in other regions of the country. The firm's researchers concluded the organic industry has a huge number of consumers who are at least receptive to the idea, combining active shoppers (7%) with occasional purchasers (30%), and those who are curious about the category, but do not yet buy (20%). The organic consumer is most likely to add one or a few organic products to mainstream grocery items, rather than be part of a small group of fully committed organic shoppers, they said, noting the findings confirm feelings within the industry that the organic consumer is much more influential than mere analysis of total sales dollars would indicate. The United States will implement the first-ever National Organic Standard Oct. 21, and the event will likely improve the category's profile. According to the report, the organic food market is estimated to reach $6.3 billion in 2002, or approximately 1.2% of the total U.S. food market, and is expected to exceed $10 billion by the year 2006.

Canadian Study Shows PCBS In Salmon

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- A Canadian researcher has published a scientific paper with preliminary findings that the use of contaminated feed is resulting in elevated levels of PCBs in farmed salmon. Michael Easton, a geneticist, stated that farmed fish he examined as part of the study contained nearly 10 times the toxic load of some types of PCBs as wild salmon. Using World Health Organization standards for exposure, Easton estimated that eating as little as one meal including contaminated salmon a week could be unhealthful. Canadian food authorities are disputing the danger posed by the levels of the contaminants, saying their tests show levels of contaminants that are lower than Easton's.

Kosher Line Expands Case-Ready Options

Richmond, Va. -- PM Specialty Foods has introduced a line of kosher, case-ready beef produced under the guidelines and supervision of the Star-K. Zalman's Glatt Kosher Beef is processed at the PM Beef Group plant in Hartley, Iowa, and centrally cut and shipped in modified atmosphere packaging from the PM Specialty Foods plant in Richmond. The line includes steaks, roasts and ribs, as well as 80% and 85% lean ground beef. The product goes through a residue-testing process, for detection of more than 300 different residues of antibiotics, steroids, pesticides, herbicides and growth hormones, according to company officials. PM Beef Holdings brands include Amana Beef, Shenson Beef, BSI-USA Beef, Shenson All Natural Beef, Zalman's Glatt Kosher Beef and the U.S. Department of Agriculture process-verified, source-verified, ranch-to-retail system.

Cheese Continues To Lead Dairy Growth

MADISON, Wis. -- Commercial dairy product demand is expected to grow more than 9% by 2005, propelled by consumption growth in the cheese category, which is expected to average 3% annual growth over the next five years, according to the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association's "What's In Store 2002" report. Citing statistics from the National Milk Producers Federation, the annual survey characterized cheese's increasing share of total dairy demand as a long-term trend. In 1970, cheese represented only 20% of total dairy demand. In five years, it is expected to reach 53% of commercial use, the report stated.