April 30th, 2019 – Augusta, ME – Governor Mills Signs Nation’s First Polystyrene Food Containers Ban. Beginning January 1, 2021, a ‘covered establishment’ including a food establishments, an eating establishment, (excluding hospitals and meals on wheels programs of DHHS), agricultural fairs, farmers’ markets, food pantries/churches, boarding/retirement/and independent living homes, may not process, prepare or sell or provide food or beverages in or on disposable food service containers that are composed in whole or in part of polystyrene foam.

Click to read the Chaptered Law.

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Maine Department of Health and Human Services: February SNAP Benefits to be Paid January 17.
Message from Governor Mills.

SNAP Early Issuance Messaging for Retailers: Customers who use SNAP EBT should keep in mind that February food dollars will be added in the middle of January this year. This means that you may have two months’ worth of food dollars on your account this month. No food dollars will be added in February. The early food dollars are meant to help with next month’s food. We encourage our SNAP-participating customers to plan their purchases carefully so that they have money available to meet their food needs.

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Holiday sales are just one bellwether for Maine’s grocery stores and supermarkets going into 2019, according to Christine Cummings. “I’m hopeful that momentum from a strong holiday season will continue into 2019,” said the executive director of the Maine Grocers & Food Producers Association, a trade group representing nearly 200 of the state’s grocers, supermarkets, food and beverage producers and related vendors.

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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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