Avidity Bio Climbs on Report of Novartis Takeover
The Swiss drugmaker has expressed interest in Avidity in recent weeks, the FT said, citing people familiar with the situation who weren't named. There's no guarantee a deal will be reached, they said.
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Associated Press
a minute ago
- Associated Press
Federal officials to take over inspections when troubled Boar's Head plant reopens
Federal inspectors will assume direct oversight of a troubled Boar's Head deli meat plant when it reopens after last year's deadly listeria outbreak, U.S. Agriculture Department officials said. The Jarratt, Virginia, factory is set to resume operations in the coming months. It will face at least 90 days of heightened monitoring and inspections by federal Food Safety and Inspection Service officials. Previously, inspections were conducted by state officials who operated on behalf of the agency. The change aims to 'ensure the establishment consistently and effectively implements its corrected food safety plans,' USDA officials said in a statement. It calls for stricter enforcement if lapses occur. The plant was shuttered nearly a year ago when listeria-tainted liverwurst caused the outbreak that killed 10 people, sickened dozens and forced a recall of more than 7 million pounds of deli products. USDA officials lifted the plant's suspension in July. In the years before the outbreak, state inspectors documented numerous problems at the plant, including mold, insects, liquid dripping from ceilings and meat and fat residue on walls, floors and equipment, records showed. They were operating under a cooperative agreement, the Talmadge-Aiken program, that allows state inspectors to conduct federal inspections. The shift to direct federal oversight underscores the severity of the problems at the Boar's Head plant, said Sandra Eskin, a former USDA official who now heads STOP Foodborne Illness, a consumer advocacy group. It raises concerns about communication between state and federal officials when problems occur, she added. 'Given its history, it's particularly important that there be robust oversight of that plant,' Eskin said. Boar's Head officials said in a statement that they have worked with state and federal regulators 'to ensure the successful and safe reopening of the Jarratt facility.' The company said it has boosted food safety practices in Jarratt and other sites aimed at reducing or eliminating listeria in finished products. The company has declined to comment on documents obtained by The Associated Press that showed that sanitation problems persist at other Boar's Head sites in three states. Between January and July, inspectors in Arkansas, Indiana and a second site in Virginia reported problems that include instances of meat and fat residue left on equipment and walls, drains blocked with meat products, beaded condensation on ceilings and floors, overflowing trash cans and staff who didn't wear protective hairnets and plastic aprons or wash their hands. Officials at the 120-year-old company based in Sarasota, Florida, hired a chief food safety officer in May. It also brought in a panel of experts, including Mindy Brashears, a food safety expert nominated by President Donald Trump for a second term as the USDA's undersecretary for food safety. Brashears, who now directs a food safety center at Texas Tech University, did not respond to requests for comment about Boar's Head. An automatic email reply said she was traveling out of the country until next week. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cracker Barrel unveils a new logo as part of wider rebrand efforts, sparking ire among some online
NEW YORK (AP) — Cracker Barrel is marching forward with an ongoing makeover. And to the dismay of some fans, the chain's new logo now ditches the barrel itself. Or rather, the drawing many have associated with Cracker Barrel over the years. The man leaning on that barrel is also gone, as are the words 'Old Country Store.' Instead, the new emblem features a simpler design with just 'Cracker Barrel' written on a gold background, which also has a semi-updated shape. 'Anchored in Cracker Barrel's signature gold and brown tones, the updated visuals will appear across menus and marketing collateral," the Tennessee-based company wrote in a Tuesday announcement. Cracker Barrel added that its logo is "now rooted even more closely to the iconic barrel shape and word mark that started it all.' According to Cracker Barrel, this latest look marks the brand's 'fifth evolution' of its logo to date. It was unveiled as part of a campaign from the company called 'All the More,' which also advertises some new fall menu items. Cracker Barrel has been working on a wider rebrand for some time. Beyond a new logo, that's included remodeling its country-style restaurants and retail stores. The company began ramping up this overhaul last year by swapping out older, more antique-filled designs with lighter paint and modern furniture. Founded in 1969, Cracker Barrel operates nearly 660 locations across the U.S. today. Those attached to the chain's previous look have been quick to express ire about both the new logo and restaurant remodels online. 'Our values haven't changed, and the heart and soul of Cracker Barrel haven't changed,' Cracker Barrel said in a statement sent to The Associated Press on Thursday. The company added that the man on its former logo, known as Uncle Herschel, 'remains front and center in our restaurants and on our menu," as he represents 'The Herschel Way,' which is 'the foundation of how our 70,000 plus employees provide the country hospitality for which we are known.' Shares of Cracker Barrel Old Country Store were down 8% Thursday afternoon. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Germany to ease burden on electricity consumers from 2026
German electricity consumer prices are set to ease next year due to a €6.5 billion ($7.55 billion) government subsidy to finance transmission costs, sources in the Economics Ministry said on Thursday. The aim is to soften the impact of network charges on electricity consumers, the sources said, adding that the ministry has introduced a draft bill for internal government consultation. Structurally high electricity prices are a significant challenge for Germany's embattled economy and a burden on consumers. The subsidy is to be financed from a special government fund for climate and energy transformation. The subsidy for transmission network costs will now be implemented for the year 2026, with further relief in future years to be funded to the tune of €6.5 billion from the government pot, according to the ministerial sources. Details of how the relief will be passed on to consumers are still to be discussed by the conservative-led government coalition under Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The coalition agreement states that the goal is to permanently cap network charges. The reduction of network charges is part of a package of government measures. The Cabinet has already set plans in motion to relieve gas customers. Specifically, companies and consumers are to be exempted from the cost of building up gas reservoirs, the so-called gas storage levy. There are also proposals to make an electricity tax reduction for the manufacturing industry, agreed earlier this year, permanent from 2026. However, a reduction in electricity taxes for all, as pledged in the new government's coalition agreement, is not to come for now. The decision to limit the tax reduction to industry, due to budgetary constraints, sparked widespread criticism. Network charges, which help finance the costly expansion of electricity networks, have risen significantly as a component of the electricity price. The charges are incurred for the use of the electricity transmission network. They are then passed on to consumers by energy suppliers. The subsidy for transmission network costs is intended to dampen the increase in network charges related to the transition to green energy sources, according to the draft bill. "The relief must be passed on to customers through the network operators," Economic Affairs Minister Katherina Reiche told dpa last month of the planned measure. "My clear expectation of the industry is: The relief must reach the customer." Solve the daily Crossword
