Citing people familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sara Lee Corp. is moving ahead with plans to split its meat and coffee businesses into two separate companies. Sara Lee's meat brands include Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm and Ballpark. Its beverage brands include Senseo, Pickwick and many others.

The company rejected a takeover offer from JBS SA, and the Journal reports that the company may have difficulties securing financing to improve its offer. No other potential buyers have come forth.

Sara Lee has been selling off its other assets while focusing on its meat and coffee businesses, most recently selling its shoe care line to SC Johnson last week for $328 million. Neither Sara Lee nor JBS commented on the Journal article.

Source: BusinessWeek

Mislabled tamales recalled

Homestead Pasta Company, a San Francisco, Calif., establishment is recalling approximately 144,633 pounds of frozen meat and poultry tamale products because they contain an undeclared allergen, whey, which is not noted on the label. Whey is a known dairy allergen.

The products subject to recall include packages of beef, turkey and chicken tamales under the Garibaldi, Golden West and Caspar brands. Individual packages bear the establishment number “P-4994” or “EST. 4994” inside the USDA mark of inspection. The products were produced from April 2010 until January 2011 and shipped for retail sales in California, Oregon and Washington and institutional use in California.

The problem was discovered by FSIS during a label review at the establishment. FSIS and the company have received no reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products.

Source: FSIS

Illinois company recalls 200 pounds of ground beef

A Chicago food company has recalled approximately 200 pounds of ground beef patties that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the Illinois Department of Agriculture (IDOA) announced.

The ground beef patties were produced by Columbus Meat Market Inc. and shipped to food-handling establishments in the Chicagoland area.  Each package label on the suspect patties bears the establishment number "EST. 755" and an identifying pack date of "12/27/10." The contamination was discovered through IDOA microbiological sampling, which confirmed a positive result for E. coli O157:H7.

IDOA and the company have received no reports of illnesses associated with consumption of these products.

Source: IDOA