Business Bites: Study uncovers toxic trade-offs in rice farming techniques

Another day passes, another scientist finds something horrible in our food.

Researchers at the University of Delaware have discovered that the more water is used to irrigate rice fields, the more arsenic ends up in the finished product. Use less water, you say? No, that increases cadmium levels instead. We clearly need to use a medium amount of water. That way, the toxic metals will cancel each other out. Right?

In related news, a new traceability rule for high-risk products is reshaping the ways we harvest and handle foods, especially with several industry organizations joining forces to find solutions. Also, General Mills sells its yogurt business, and Campbell Soup Co. ramps up for a major rebrand. All that and more in this week’s Business Bites.

Researchers discover arsenic, cadmium in spinach, rice

In a new paper published in Environmental Geochemistry and Health, researchers at the University of Delaware found that flooding rice fields — a common irrigation method — can lead to higher levels of arsenic but also lower levels of cadmium. The reverse is also true; drier fields result in more cadmium but less arsenic due to changes in the microorganisms in the soil.

Spinach was also found to have problems with lead and cadmium, albeit not the same problems as rice, necessitating different solutions for different soils. The study suggests specific strategies to reduce these contaminants, including soil management and crop washing techniques.

These insights may prove pivotal as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) prepares new safety standards for arsenic, cadmium and mercury in baby foods as part of its Closer to Zero Action Plan.

Industry giants rally for food traceability ahead of 2026 deadline

Due to Section 204(d) of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which enforces a new Food Traceability Rule for the high-risk foods listed in FDA’s Food Traceability List (FTL), several large food industry organizations have formed a group called the “Food Industry FSMA 204 Collaboration.” And with that sentence alone, I have reached my quota on initialisms for this article.

Members of this consortium include the Association of Food and Drug Officials and the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), among others. Their goal is to establish traceability recordkeeping for critical tracking events such as harvesting, shipping and more, which could accelerate the identification and removal of contaminated foods, thus reducing foodborne illnesses — a good thing for everyone.

With a compliance deadline of Jan. 20, 2026, this cross-industry challenge underscores the importance of investing in recordkeeping and data management to meet regulatory demands.

General Mills offloads yogurt business for $2.1 billion

Go-Gurt is ready to go, according to General Mills, which recently announced the sale of its North American yogurt business to French dairy companies Lactalis and Sodiaal for $2.1 billion. This move was part of an effort to reshape the company’s portfolio on faster-growing sectors such as pet food.

The deal, which involves yogurt operations in the U.S. and Canada along with several manufacturing facilities, should close next year. It strengthens Lactalis’ dairy presence in the U.S., adding significant scalability and expanding its product portfolio to better serve American consumers.

Avocado shortages squeeze out record profits

Millennials are at it again with their avocado toast. Reportedly, U.S. demand for this popular fruit (yes, it’s a fruit) has continued to grow, leading to record profits for distributors like Mission Produce and Limoneira despite rising prices in grocery stores. In the third quarter, Mission Produce reported revenue of $324 million, a 24% increase from last year, while Limoneira anticipates record avocado sales.

Supply is tight thanks to drought conditions and high temperatures in major exporting countries like Mexico, although a robust harvest in California provided some relief. Limoneira plans to expand avocado production by 1,000 acres over the next three years. I wonder if anyone at these companies is at all concerned that demand for avocados is driving deforestation and water shortages.

Campbell Soup Co. plans major rebrand, potential business split

Campbell Soup Co. is about to drop the “soup,” proposing a name change to “The Campbell’s Company” to reflect its evolving business focus, which includes snacks, beverages and more. Campbell’s shareholders will vote on the name change in November.

The company also hopes to continue diversifying its product portfolio. Although soup does account for more than $1 billion in sales annually, it now represents only 25% of total sales, a decrease from 40% in 2017. The snacks category, including brands like Goldfish and Pepperidge Farm, now makes up nearly half of Campbell’s sales.

Moreover, CEO Mark Clouse hinted at a possible future separation of the company’s snacks business from its meals and beverages division, though such a move is probably not imminent. This strategy would align with trends seen at other food companies like Kellogg’s, which have successfully spun off divisions to capitalize on growth opportunities.