Live from New York

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

The International Restaurant and Foodservice Show, set for the first weekend in March, will include a new Healthy Solutions Pavilion this year.

NRA: Fast casual operators optimistic about 2012 sales gains

Total restaurant industry sales will reach a record high of $632 billion in 2012, a 3.5 percent increase over 2011.

Top 5 2012 food innovation product predictions

A look at what might be the biggest 2012 food innovation trend opportunities.

Jimmy John's drops sprouts from menu

February 20, 2012

The Jimmy John's restaurant chain is permanently dropping sprouts from its menu after a five-state string of e. coli outbreaks. The outbreaks were the fifth…

Gloves! The Controversy Continues – Part 2

by Paul Mcginnis — Vice President, Marketing, Ecolab Food Safety Specialties

There is a general agreement that hand sanitation is a problem, but how that problem is best addressed is not always clear. The arguments to wear gloves and to…

As serious as a heart attack

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

It's a good idea to designate a senior member of the waitstaff or a manager to be the point person when dealing with diners with allergy concerns.

US Foods earns International Food Safety and Quality Certification

January 30, 2012

US Foods has announced that it expects to be the first national foodservice distributor in the country to be certified in food safety and quality according to…

What else can I get you?

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Listen to your customers before -- and after -- tweaking your menu options, and teach your staff how to sell something new.

What’s on your kids’ menu?

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

About 8 percent of all Americans under the age of 18 have some kind of food allergy.

Gloves! The controversy continues – Part 1

by Paul Mcginnis — Vice President, Marketing, Ecolab Food Safety Specialties

To glove, or not to glove, that is the question. It’s a debate that has raged in foodservice circles for years and centers on the question of whether hand…

The most gluten-free meal of the day

by Betsy Craig — pres, menutrinfo.com

Some of the simplest sweets can become gluten-free with simple substitutions, like chocolate chip cookies made with non-wheat flours.

Kitchens with Confidence launches gluten-free, allergy-free webinar

November 29, 2011

Kitchens with Confidence LLC has announced the launch of an online 90-minute interactive webinar focused on gluten- and allergy-free dining. AllerTrain, a…

NRA names Christopher Melchert senior manager for Food Safety and Quality Assurance

October 20, 2011

The National Restaurant Association has announced the addition of Christopher Melchert as senior manager for Food Safety and Quality Assurance, a new position…

NRA hosting CFI Summit in October

September 13, 2011

The National Restaurant Association is partnering with the Center for Food Integrity (CFI) to host the 2011 CFI Food System Summit in Chicago Oct. 25-26.

Philosophically Speaking

by Paul Mcginnis — Vice President, Marketing, Ecolab Food Safety Specialties

On occasion, I enjoy listening to the words of philosophers like Aristotle and Socrates or theologians such as Wesley or Spurgeon. But, hands down, the deep…

NRA announces initiative for National Food Safety Education Month

August 28, 2011

The National Restaurant Association announced a month-long initiative to encourage restaurant and foodservice operators to participate in the 17th Annual…

Technomic study: Burger consumption reaches 2-year high

July 6, 2011

A new study released by Technomic finds burger consumption has increased considerably since 2009, with nearly 50 percent of today's consumers saying they eat a…

A Big Apple surprise – restaurateur shows concern for food allergies

by Paul Mcginnis — Vice President, Marketing, Ecolab Food Safety Specialties

I jumped out of the cab and just stood there taking it all in – the smell of roasted peanuts, the constant honking of taxis and the bright lights of hundreds…

Chipotle to increase use of local ingredients

June 21, 2011

Chipotle Mexican Grill has announced that it expects to use more than 10 million pounds of produce from local farms this year, up from its 2010 goal of about …

California law requires safety training for foodservice employees

Deadline for the state's 900,000 employees to be in compliance is July 1.