Yearly Archives: 2018

Outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 Linked to Romaine Lettuce

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state authorities, continues to investigate a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections associated with consumption of romaine lettuce in the U.S. As of Nov. 26, 2018, this outbreak has resulted in 43 people becoming ill in 12 states, with the last reported illness onset date being Oct. 31, 2018. An additional 22 people in Canada have become ill, and the FDA and our partners are also coordinating the investigation with Canadian health and food safety authorities.

As we continue to investigate this outbreak, today the FDA is announcing new steps to help consumers better identify where their romaine is grown through voluntary labeling.

To learn more visit the FDA’s website.

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Maine becomes only New England State with Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) Program

Select Maine slaughterhouses & processors to wholesale products nationwide

AUGUSTA-The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry announced today that Maine has signed a new Cooperative Interstate Shipment (CIS) program agreement with U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) which will allow selected Maine slaughterhouses and processors to wholesale their products in every state and in the District of Columbia. Plant applications will be accepted beginning December 1, 2018.

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Maine Grocers & Food Producers Association Awards 2018 Grocer, Producer, and Associate of the Year

AUGUSTA, MAINE  – October 11th, 2018  – The Maine Grocers & Food Producers Association (MGFPA) is proud to announce their respected 2018 award recipients.  Brackett’s Market of Bath is the 2018 Grocer of the Year; Wilbur’s of Maine Chocolate Confections of Freeport is the 2018 Producer of the Year; and Associated Grocers of New England in Pembroke, NH is the 2018 Associate of the Year.

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Maine’s Best Grocery Bagger Wins Trip to San Diego and Chance at $10,000

Congratulations to Amy Taylor of Shaw’s in Rockland! We hosted Maine’s Fifth Annual Best Bagger Championship to honor our state’s “best” grocery checkout bagger. Bagging is a critically important step for many grocery stores as it is the last impression of the store’s attention to detail, emphasizes the employee and store’s dedication to exceptional customer service and helps ensure customers’ food gets home in perfect condition.

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Maine Now Conforms To Most Federal Tax Law Changes Enacted on or Before March 23, 2018

Effective September 12, 2018, Public Law 2017, chapter 474 (“PL 2017, c. 474”) was enacted to generally conform Maine’s income and estate tax laws to the federal Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) as amended through March 23, 2018. This means that, unless otherwise excepted, Maine now conforms to federal tax law changes enacted on or before March 23, 2018, including the federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (December 22, 2017), the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (February 9, 2018), and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (March 23, 2018).

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