Dave Fusaro

Itasca, United States

Editor-in-Chief, Putman Media at Food Processing (U.S.)

Editor of Food Processing

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Articles

For Sale: Vermont Craft Cheesemaker on the National Register of Historic Places

4 days ago | foodprocessing.com | Dave Fusaro

Crowley Cheese, which claims to be America’s oldest continuously operating cheesemaker, is seeking new ownership. Its owners of 16 years – caretakers, really – say if you’re interested, contact them directly. Crowley traces its cheesemaking roots in Healdville, Vt., to the late 1700s, with commercial production beginning in 1824.
Most Innovative New Products From Sweets & Snacks Expo

4 days ago | foodprocessing.com | Dave Fusaro

How ’bout a matcha latte popcorn? Or ramen-flavored snack mix? Maybe one of those Dubai chocolates you keep hearing about? Those were among the winners of the Most Innovative New Product Awards at this year’s Sweets & Snacks Expo, held in Indianapolis May 19-21. Retail judges weighed more than 400 nominees, settling on winner in 14 categories. Three winners were popcorns, two from Belle's, although in different categories.
Mondelez Sues Aldi Over Copycat Private-Label Packaging

5 days ago | foodprocessing.com | Dave Fusaro

Mondelez International is suing the Aldi grocery store chain for carrying private-label products that too closely resemble some of the top brands of Mondelez. In a filing May 27 in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Illinois, Mondelez charges Aldo with “willful trademark infringement, trade dress infringement, unfair competition, unjust enrichment and dilution under federal and state law,” according to the filing. Both companies are headquartered in Illinois.
FDA Names its Self-Developed AI Tool Elsa

5 days ago | foodprocessing.com | Dave Fusaro

Last week we reported the FDA was developing its own artificial intelligence (AI) tool. Today (June 2) the agency gave it a name: Elsa. Elsa is a large language model–powered AI tool designed to assist with reading, writing, and summarizing. It can summarize adverse events to support safety profile assessments, perform faster label comparisons and generate code to help develop databases for nonclinical applications, among its potential uses. The agency gave no immediate explanation for the name.
Rags-to-Riches Alleged Inventor of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Has His Lawsuit Dismissed

1 week ago | foodprocessing.com | Dave Fusaro

PepsiCo this week won the dismissal of a lawsuit by a former employee who claimed the company defrauded and defamed him by denying that he invented Flamin' Hot Cheetos – a story that launched his career as a motivational speaker.
FDA Hires its First Chief AI Officer, Rolling Out the Technology Across the Agency

1 week ago | foodprocessing.com | Dave Fusaro

The FDA is installing some artificial intelligence, as well as its first Chief AI Officer. Jeremy Walsh was hired “a few weeks ago” as the AI chief, according to one FDA official, and will coordinate an agency-wide rollout of the technology, along with Sridhar Mantha, a director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER).
Shane Grant, a Deputy CEO, Is Leaving Danone SA in June

1 week ago | foodprocessing.com | Dave Fusaro

Shane Grant, a Danone group deputy CEO, is leaving the company effective June 13 “to pursue a new opportunity outside of the company,” Danone SA reported. Grant’s titles included CEO Americas and EVP of Dairy, Plant-Based and Global Sales, as well as being a member of Danone’s executive committee. He’s a native of New Zealand but has resided in North America since 2005. Grant has been with Danone since 2020, when he was named CEO of Danone North America.
Skittles: No Titanium Dioxide, but Still a Petroleum-Based Rainbow

1 week ago | foodprocessing.com | Dave Fusaro

Do Skittles seem a little less shiny this year? Can you still taste the rainbow? If you haven’t noticed, Mars Inc. removed at least one controversial ingredient often included in the synthetic colorant debate – titanium dioxide – from the colorful candy, although a handful of synthetic dyes remain. Titanium dioxide was removed from all Skittles production at the end of last year, the company told Bloomberg News. It apparently was used to brighten the colors and make the candy appear shiny.
General Mills ‘Transformation’ Foreshadows Layoffs, Divestitures

1 week ago | foodprocessing.com | Dave Fusaro

With sales down 1% through nine months of its fiscal year and profits down more, General Mills apparently is undertaking a “transformation initiative” to improve results, with media reports indicating there could be divestitures or layoffs looming. A May 27 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, titled “Costs associated with exit or disposal activities,” estimated $130 million in charges by the end of fiscal 2028.
Horizon Organic Names Patricia Stroup Chief Operating Officer

1 week ago | foodprocessing.com | Dave Fusaro

Horizon Organic and Wallaby, both owned by Platinum Equity, said Patricia Stroup has been named chief operating officer (COO). She has an extensive background in dairy, including more than 18 years at Nestle, and she grew up on and ran her own dairy farm. In her past, Stroup worked at Hilmar Cheese Co. and Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative. Most of her time at Nestle was in Switzerland, most recently serving as the global senior vice president and chief procurement officer.