These are tough times for food companies and marketers. Kellogg Co. will discontinue using an immunity statement, specifically "Now helps support your child's immunity," on Kellogg's Rice Krispies and Cocoa Krispies cereals after a flurry of criticism from the FDA and the media that these cereals are loaded with sugar.

While consumers are focused on saving money at the supermarket in this economy, the same cannot be said of the supposed trend toward more cooking of "comfort foods," reports AdWeek.

Most women should consume no more than 100 calories, or about six teaspoons, of added sugars per day and most men should consume no more than 150 calories, or about nine teaspoons, each day, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association. In contrast, a report from the 2001-04 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) showed the average intake of added sugars for all Americans was about 22 teaspoons per day.

Although economic gloom casting a spell on consumer confidence this year, America's darkest holiday is looking bright for retailers. According to IBISWorld, Halloween sales are expected to reach a record-breaking $6 billion in 2009, up 4.2 percent from the $5.77 billion generated last year.

U.S. consumers say boo to store brand or private label candy for Halloween, filling trick-or-treaters' bags with branded candy, according to an analysis by The Nielsen Co.

On Friday, the Smart Choices Program, an industry-funded labeling program,  "voluntarily" postponed active operations and will not encourage wider use of the logo at this time by either new or currently enrolled companies," reports Reuters. Participating companies include: Kellogg Co., Kraft Foods Inc., General Mills Inc., Unilever PLC, PepsiCo Inc.'s Quaker Foods and ConAgra Foods Inc., among others.

Dr. Margaret Hamburg, commissioner of the FDA, appeared before the Senate's committee on health, education, labor and pensions on Oct. 22 to discuss reforming the food safety system, reports Food Business News. Her appearance was in sync with the House of Representative's "Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009" and the U.S. Senate's "FDA Food Safety Modernization Act" heading to conference.

During a press conference yesterday, October 20, FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg said she sent a letter to industry and Congresswoman Rosa Deloro (D-Conn.), outlining the FDA's guidance on the plethora of front-of-package symbols and nutrition scores being used by food processors and retailers to communicate the nutritional quality of foods and beverages.

The sweet spot in the U.S. beverage market, long dominated by a handful of major brand lines, has shifted to niche products that target a diverse set of consumer needs, occasions, and benefits, according to a Culinary Trend Mapping Report released by the Center for Culinary Development, San Francisco, and Packaged Facts.

Sales of ethnic foods have climbed steadily since 2004, set to reach a record high $2.2 billion in 2009, and a forecast of solid growth of nearly 20 percent from 2010-2014, according to Mintel.