NEWS WATCH 2003-06-02 (1)

NET LOSSES: INDUSTRIALIZED FISHING HITS WORLD'S MOST POPULAR SPECIES

reveals a dramatic decline in numbers of large predatory fish -- such as tuna, blue marlin and swordfish -- since the advent of industrialized fishing, according to a review of 50 years of data compiled by Dalhousie University. A report to be published in the journal Nature states the world's oceans have lost more than 90% of large predatory fish, with potentially severe consequences for the ecosystem. Populations of even less popular fish have also drastically declined because of the large-scale fishing techniques used, which often catch and kill these fish unintentionally. Fishing industry officials said the report does not give enough credit to recent conservation efforts that are slowly restoring the most severely depleted fisheries.

CONSUMER AD CAMPAIGN FROM NCBA SETS LEAN BEEF AGAINST CHICKEN

DENVER -- A new advertising campaign comparing the nutritional benefits will rely on government data to illustrate that lean beef compares favorably to skinless chicken breast in terms of fat, while providing greater amounts of some essential nutrients. The initiative, funded by the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, is based on nutritional data comparing a 3-ounce cooked serving of skinless chicken breast to 3-ounce cooked servings of six widely available cuts of lean beef: eye round roast, top round steak, top sirloin steak, boneless shoulder pot roast, round tip roast and shoulder steak. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture database, beef's six leanest cuts have on average just one more gram of saturated fat but eight times more vitamin B12, six times more zinc and three times more iron than chicken's leanest cut, the skinless chicken breast. A series of four ads will appear in the July and September issues of 23 consumer-interest magazines touting the campaign's nutritional comparison, NCBA officials said.

3-A-DAY CAMPAIGN DECLARES EARLY SUCCESS

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Feedback from retailers and consumers indicates the inaugural 3-A-Day of Dairy week (March 3-9) and 3-A-Day of Dairy Day (March 3) were successful in reaching "millions of consumers nationwide," according to organizers of the effort. More than 30 retailers in all 50 states signed on to promote dairy consumption, including Kroger Co., Cincinnati, which mailed 1.4 million direct-mail pieces to customers and offered dairy discount coupons; Wal-Mart, Bentonville, Ark., which ran in-store TV and radio spots, and conducted dairy sampling events; and Ahold USA, Chantilly, Va., which dropped an FSI combining the 3-A-Day message with special pricing on branded dairy partner products, officials said. The multi-year campaign was developed by the American Dairy Association and National Dairy Council.

HAGGEN ROLLS OUT IRRADIATED GROUND BEEF

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Haggen Food & Pharmacy now carries fresh irradiated ground beef at all 29 stores in the chain, officials said. The independent is the first retailer in the Pacific Northwest to sell the product, processed by an electron beam technology provided by the Surebeam Corp., officials with Surebeam said. The process is billed as a food safety technique that eliminates the threat of dangerous bacteria from food products. Haggen sells case-ready, one-pound packages of 85% lean ground beef at the company's stores in Washington and Oregon. In addition to Haggen stores, the retailer operates stores under the TOP Food & Drug banner.