Pistachio recall could be widespread, includes Kraft originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It has not been a good time for me. There is a crisis going on in the Land of Peanut Butter. And if there is one thing I love (besides annual double-digit returns on my stock portfolio), it's peanut butter. You've certainly heard about the concerns regarding some Salmonella-tainted peanut paste. If not, you can check out this piece by Sarah Gilbert. The really bad part is that three deaths are possibly linked to the bacterial infection.

What health officials have advised as of now is to avoid products that use peanut butter as an ingredient. To show how bad this crisis has become, Kellogg (NYSE: K) had to recall some of its products that utilize peanut butter. Naturally, my thoughts eventually turned to Hershey (NYSE: HSY). After all, one of its flagship products is the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup is one of the best confections known to man, and it is my favorite. Every Halloween I look forward to having an excuse for gorging on the product. So, is the wonderful Reese's brand safe to consume? Just as I thought, Hershey ended up tackling the topic. The company issued a press release on January 17 stating that items from the Reese's portfolio are indeed safe to consume.

Continue reading With a peanut-butter scare going on, how will Hershey fare?

With a peanut-butter scare going on, how will Hershey fare? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mattel (NYSE: MAT) had trouble with its stock price when lead was found in some of its toys. Now Kellogg (NYSE: K) may have a similar problem. Some of its peanut-based products may be a cause of the spread of a dangerous salmonella. The trouble has been traced to Peanut Corp. of America, a wholesaler and supplier to Kellogg.

Are Kellogg products among those tainted? It is too early to tell, but the fact that it is pulling 16 products off of grocery store shelves may spook shareholders.

Often shareholders consider selling stocks for reasons that are not rational. Since Kellogg is on a list of firms that may have dangerous products, people holding the stock may think it's an unnecessary risk. In the AP story on the deadly outbreak, Kellogg is the only public company mentioned.

The most visible link at the Kellogg website today says "Austin, Famous Amos & Keebler Product Recall."

Fair or not, reasonable or not, Kellogg opens down at the open on Tuesday.

Douglas A. McIntyre is an editor at 247wallst.com.

Kellogg (K): Peanut butter turning out to be risky to shareholders? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 18 Jan 2009 06:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

After three deaths, Peanut Butter Corp of America recalling possibly tainted product originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Three types of raw tomatoes -- red plum, red Roma and round red tomatoes -- grown in 17 states are voluntarily being pulled of the shelves and menus of McDonald's (NYSE: MCD), Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT), Burger King (NYSE: BKC), Kroger (NYSE: KR), Outback Steakhouse, Winn-Dixie (NYSE: WINN) and Taco Bell, among others. In fact, "McDonald's has stopped serving sliced tomatoes on its sandwiches as a precaution, but will continue serving grape tomatoes in its salads because no problems have been linked to that variety."

Similarly, Burger King, Yum Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM) restaurants, Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI), and Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (NYSE: CMG) have also removed the contaminated brands from their menus across the U.S., and some, like Burger King, in Canada, Puerto Rico and some other Caribbean islands as well. Many left the non-contaminated brands on the menu.

Continue reading Tomatoes removed from shelves, just as they were getting yummy

Tomatoes removed from shelves, just as they were getting yummy originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Sale of U.S. drinks business: The company is expected to announce a sale of its U.S. drinks business, which includes 7-Up and Snapple. The New York Times reported that it is currently unclear which bidder is in the lead for the unit - bids came from a group led by Cott, a consortium that included Thomas H. Lee Partners and TPG and a third consortium led by Blackstone Group and KKR. Other possible candidates for the unit could include The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) or Tootsie Roll Industries Inc (NYSE: TR), in a deal that could value the unit as high as $16B. Other sources believe Kraft Foods Inc (NYSE: KFT) and Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company (NYSE: WWY) could be potential bidders; Kraft, JP Morgan believes, would have an edge over Wrigley due to greater funding, flexibility and synergies.

Continue reading Cadbury to update investors tomorrow

Cadbury to update investors tomorrow originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Peanut butter sickness still coming: Peter Pan, Great Value salmonella cases top 600, would you eat it again? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 01 Jun 2007 11:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Peter Pan peanut butter recalled: have Americans stopped washing their hands?

Peter Pan peanut butter recalled: have Americans stopped washing their hands? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 15 Feb 2007 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE:CAG) is advising consumers to destroy any Peter Pan or Great Value peanut butter with a product code 2111 amid concerns about possible salmonella contamination.

There have been 300 cases in 39 states since August linked to tainted peanut butter, according to the , Associated Press, adding that it's the first time that peanut butter has been linked to this illness. About 20 percent of the people with the infection have been hospitalized and none thank goodness has died.

ConAgra, which hasn't found any problems with its products, is working with government officials and will take any additional measures that are needed, the wire service said. The affected peanut butter came from a plant in Sylvester, Georgia, according to the FDA.

Consumers can call a 24-hour hotline at 866-344-6970 with any questions or concerns.

What should investors do? Absolutely nothing.

Food companies, particularly large ones like ConAgra, are well-prepared to face these sorts of situations. The Omaha-based company isn't panicking and neither should shareholders.

ConAgra Foods investors shouldn't panic because of peanut butter recall originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 15 Feb 2007 08:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.