Essentra plc announced this week it has entered into an agreement to acquire Clondalkin Group’s Specialist Packaging Division for approximately $455 million.

After USDA’s recent approval of J.R. Simplot Company’s genetically engineered potato, McDonald’s, one of the company’s long-time business partners, says it has no intention of using the potatoes.

Lancaster, PA-based City Line Foods Manufacturing Co. has issued a recall for approximately 1,196,669 pounds of frozen pretzel hot dog products because of misbranding and undeclared allergens, according to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).

Pinnacle Foods, Inc. announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Canada-based Garden Protein International Inc. from founder Yves Potvin and TSG Consumer Partners LLC for approximately $154.6 million.

The Food and Drug Administration is in the midst of revising the Nutrition Facts label on packaged food products, in an effort to make it convey more relevant information to consumers. In the background, interested parties are staking out their positions.

After months of negotiations the United States and Mexico have reached a settlement over U.S. accusations that Mexico is dumping sugar, to the detriment of U.S. sugar producers. Phillip Hayes, a spokesman for the American Sugar Alliance, says the agreement will help both sugar producers and consumers.

The Beef Checkoff Program, established in 1985, is a producer-funded marketing and research program designed to increase demand for beef. The Cattlemen's Beef Board and USDA jointly oversee the collection and spending of checkoff funds, but now the cattlemen say the government is trying to “hijack” the program.

Citrus growers in Florida are optimistic about the first forecast for the 2014-2015 season as USDA reports healthier looking groves with improved external quality compared to a year earlier.

Monsanto Company has agreed to pay nearly $2.4 million to wheat farmers in the Pacific Northwest to resolve a number of lawsuits related to the discovery of genetically-modified wheat on an Oregon farm.