McDonald’s is giving members of the British public unique access to go behind the scenes of the farms and factories in its supply chain and evaluate and report on what they find there.The “quality scouts” initiative allows volunteers, led by former rugby star and Celebrity Masterchef winner Phil Vickery, to visit different parts of the…

In the 21st century, the days of wine and roses, coffee and cigarettes are long gone. As of June 1, Starbucks has made it official: The Seattle-based chain now restricts smoking—be it tobacco or electronic cigarettes—within 25 ft. of its 7,000 U.S. storefronts. Because smoking bans have swept the nation in the last decade, it’s…

Are quick-service and fast-casual restaurants becoming as frightening and onerous to vacation communities as the shark in “Jaws” was to Amityville’s image? In March, the Town of Eastchester, N.Y., amended its zoning regulations to ban restaurants with 15 or more locations, a stand-up counter or menus on the wall. City officials disparaged quick-service outlets’ cookie-cutter,…

The controversial decision by the European Union to ban restaurants from using refillable jugs and bowls of olive oil has been dropped. After a deluge of criticism from the foodservice industry and consumers, bureaucrats in Brussels have scrapped the proposed regulations, which were described as “nonsense” by Martin Couchman, the deputy CEO of the British…

The National Restaurant Association’s Health Care Knowledge Center was kept busy during the 2013 NRA Show. Owners, operators and other show attendees brought questions to the center about implementing the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Many wanted to know whether, with fluctuating numbers of employees, they were an “applicable large employer” under the law, and consultants…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…