The clock is ticking, mid-term elections are nearing, and it doesn’t look likely that the federal food safety bill that’s been gathering dust in the Senate is going to go anywhere soon.Despite broad bipartisan support, S.510 Food Safety Modernization Act remains deadlocked. Legislators say that the measure might not be perfect but it is a…

Quick update on McDonald’s and healthcare: The burger giant and 29 other companies that provide very limited health insurance benefits to nearly one million workers have been granted 1-year waivers by the federal government from a provision of the new health-reform law. The companies, including Jack in the Box, offer “mini-med” plans which cap coverage…

The Food Safety Modernization Act and Child Nutrition Act are both languishing in Washington, victims of intraparty fighting and the looming mid-term elections. But a few things are getting done on the state level. Last week, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a landmark piece of food safety legislation: the California Food Handler Card Act. The new law…

McDonald’s is refuting a story in the Sept. 30 Wall Street Journal that it will drop health insurance for its employees. In a statement posted on the company’s corporate website, Steve Russell, senior v.p and chief people officer at McDonald’s USA, says: “Media reports stating that we plan to drop healthcare coverage for our employees…

The power of franchise owners versus a franchisor’s authority is under debate in two states as franchisees for two separate Yum! Brands concepts are suing the company. Some KFC franchisees are sticking a fork in the grilled chicken concept and pronouncing it done. Angry over the corporate parent’s push to sell grilled rather the fried…

Last fall, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy launched the Partnership on Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Products. Now they are looking for input on energy efficiency and enhancing the Energy Star program. EPA and DOE will host a conference call on October 13, from noon to 1:30 p.m. EST. Representatives from…

Opening a new QSR in South Los Angeles is going to remain difficult, if not impossible. The moratorium on new, freestanding fast-food units instituted by the L.A. City Council in 2008 expired Sept. 14, but a proposal to make the ban permanent is expected to be approved by the council sometime in the next two…

Financial help for operators to clear the air is available in counties east of San Francisco. In an effort to reduce emissions from charbroiling meat, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District is offering funding to retrofit commercial under-fired charbroilers. The units emit particulate matter and volatile organic compounds, both considered pollutants harmful to…

Whether or not you like checking off boxes and crunching numbers, more of it is likely heading your way. The long-debated small business aid bill passed in the Senate last week includes newly expanded 1099 tax-form reporting mandates, which the National Restaurant Association says creates a significant burden for restaurants and associated businesses. Beginning in…

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled last week that restaurants cannot claim a tax exemption for the purchase of kitchen equipment, nor claim a resale exemption for the purchase of tables, chairs, plates and servingware used by their patrons. The ruling pivoted on a determination that restaurants prepare rather than manufacture food for their customers. Consequently,…