How Hot Is Too Hot?

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In a story that has echoes of the 1994 Liebeck v. McDonald’s Restaurants case, a Canadian woman who was scalded by a cup of tea from Tim Hortons is demanding new regulations for how hot beverages should be served at restaurants.The Winnipeg resident says she suffered second- and third-degree burns after an extra-large cup of…

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New Controversies Stall Food Trucks

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While the West Coast food-truck business continues to boom, other major cities continue to wrestle with the politics of curb-side foodservice. The city council in Washington, D.C., plans a yes or no vote on newly proposed regulations. Food-truck operators there oppose new regulations and complain about the lack of specifics on the number of parking…

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Brazil Fines McDonald’s For Happy Meals

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The Hamburgler, not to mention Ronald McDonald, has taken a legal hit in Brazil. A consumer protection agency in the state of Sao Paolo has taken aim at the Happy Meal, fining McDonald’s Corp. $1.6 million for targeting children with its advertising and toys. The fine stemmed from a 2010 campaign offering meals with toys…

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ANSI Marks World Standards Week

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During the same week that the United States government shut down, the American National Standards Institute is marking World Standards Week, highlighting the role standards play in the global economy. ANSI’s Sept. 30-Oct. 4 commemoration aims to raise awareness about the importance of standardization to the world economy and promote the role of standards and…

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New Momentum For Composting

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Chicago officials are moving to make all restaurants at its two airports recycle waste, use eco-friendly materials and include sustainable ingredients in at least 20% of its menu items. The city aviation department’s new green-concessions policy will affect 248 restaurants and concessions operations at O’Hare Int’l. and Midway. If they haven’t already, all will have…

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NRA Talks Immigration Reform While Chipotle’s Staffing Gets More Federal Scrutiny

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Immigration fuels the American workforce and the political dialogue. It’s also a major headache for Chipotle Mexican Grill, which has been juggling a three-month federal investigation into its hiring practices. The government expanded its investigation in late April when it requested work authorization documents for all of Chipotle’s employees since 2007, plus employee lists and…

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NRA Show Hosts Health Care Knowledge Center

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Operators with questions or concerns about how the Affordable Care Act will affect their businesses should head to the Health Care Knowledge Center at this month’s 2013 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show. Booth #6520 will be staffed by independent, restaurant-focused healthcare consultants and employee benefit experts who can meet one-on-one with operators to discuss…

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Rising Water Costs Hit Home In Nova Scotia

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Are foodservice operators being asked to foot the bill for years of municipal neglect? That’s what Halifax, New Scotia, restaurateurs, and the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association are claiming. The CRFA is appealing to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to reject a proposed hike to water rates that would hit the region’s restaurants…

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Minimum Wage Protests Rock NYC

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Hundreds of foodservice workers and supporters protested in New York City and other cities on April 4 outside restaurants to demand higher wages. Demonstrators, chanting “Hey, hey! Ho, ho! Minimum wage has got to go,” voiced demands that quick-service restaurants pay $15 per hour, almost double the current hourly average of $8.25. New York City…

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Ethanol Bill Reform To Lower Wholesale Food Costs

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A bipartisan bill introduced in Congress April 10 would reform the Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires that large quantities of corn be diverted for use in the production of corn-based ethanol. Opponents of the standard argue that the government’s policy of fostering the use of corn, the chief ingredient in U.S. livestock feed, as a…

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