As hurricane Earl batters the Caribbean, National Hurricane Center forecasters are not ruling out a direct hit on the US Atlantic Coast.  Evacuations have already been ordered in parts of North Carolina.

Primo Water Corporation urges families in the path of the storm to make sure they include enough fresh water as they start assembling hurricane disaster kits.  Both the National Hurricane Center and the American Red Cross put a fresh water supply at the top of the list of things to gather.  

"The flooding that accompanies a hurricane can contaminate local water systems, so stocking up on three- or five- gallon bottles of water before the storm hits is the responsible thing to do," said Kelly Lockwood-Primus, Primo VP of Marketing.

"Primo has a hurricane plan that allows us to supplement water availability in various parts of the country in the event of a disaster," she said.  Company workers in the Carolinas started moving resources to the Outer Banks earlier this week.  Other Primo crews began redirecting supplies to the Maryland, New Jersey and New York coasts.  Extra Primo resources have also been put on standby for New England.  

The National Hurricane Center recommends families prepare at least one gallon of water per person per day to last for three to seven days.  The Red Cross recommends a three day supply in the case of an evacuation; a two week supply for those who wait out the storm at home.  

Non-perishable food and water may be the obvious basis for any disaster kit, but getting along without electricity can be a critical challenge.  Next to vital family documents, fresh batteries and flashlights are among the items forgotten most, and for those who prepared with three- and five-gallon bottled water, getting access is difficult without a manual pump.  Primo offers that option with its Bottled Water Pump.  It is available through national retailers as well as www.PrimoWater.com.

Learn more about disaster preparedness and how to build a disaster kit from:

The National Hurricane Center:  http://www.nhc.noaa.gov

The American Red Cross: http://www.redcross.org

Primo Water Corporation is the responsible choice for consumers who want to drink great tasting water. A leading nationwide provider of water and Energy Star rated home water dispensers; Primo chooses not to sell water in single-use water bottles and instead promotes the reduction of plastic in landfills by offering zero waste three- and five-gallon bottles. Primo's patent pending recycle/exchange program encourages consumers to return the empty bottle. Primo then refreshes and re-uses the bottles an average of 40 times before recycling the plastic. The majority of Primo water is bottled at locations within 100 miles of its point of sale minimizing its transportation carbon footprint. In nationwide blind taste tests, 3 out of 4 consumers preferred Primo over the nation's top selling spring waters.

Learn more about Primo Water at www.primowater.com.

SOURCE Primo Water Corporation

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Tasty Catering has been recognized as one of America's fastest-growing private companies on Inc. magazine's fourth annual Inc. 5000, an exclusive ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The list represents the most comprehensive look at the most important segment of the economy—America's independent-minded entrepreneurs. Tasty Catering is in good company with Illinois based companies including Radio Flyer, Enjoy Life Foods and Windy City Fieldhouse. Other prominent brands on this year's list include music website Pandora, convenience store chain 7-Eleven, and Brooklyn Brewery.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100817/INC5000LOGO)

(Logo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100817/INC5000LOGO)

"Tasty Catering's three-year sales growth of 9 percent was made possible because of the unwavering commitment and innovative thinking of each and every one of our team members," said Tom Walter, CEO and founding partner, Tasty Catering. "As our leadership team upholds our commitment to investing in our people, I expect Tasty Catering to continue to grow with great quality and customer service."

"The leaders of the companies on this year's Inc. 5000 have figured out how to grow their businesses during the longest recession since the Great Depression," said Inc. president Bob LaPointe. "The 2010 Inc. 5000 showcases a particularly hardy group of entrepreneurs."

Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found on www.inc.com/5000.

About Tasty Catering

Tasty Catering, a suburban-Chicago based corporate catering and event planning services company, has been exceeding the catering needs of Chicago area corporations and organizations for more than 20 years. Known for its commitment to excellence and attention to detail, Tasty Catering is built upon the single premise of providing its customers with exceptional service and quality. Tasty Catering customers include Cushman & Wakefield, Hamilton Partners, Sherman Hospital, University of Chicago, Comcast, RSM McGladrey, Cummins-Allison and Harris Bank.

Tasty Catering, 2010 Achievement in Catering Excellence (ACE) award winner, 2009 Better Business Bureau Torch Award Winner for Marketplace Ethics and 2008 Caterer of the Year, is the "go-to" caterer for Chicago business. Tasty Catering is WINNER! 2010 NICE Awards -- Best Catered Event Off Premise under $10,000, Best Catered Event Off Premise over $25,000, Best Picnic, Most Creative Planned Menu, Best fundraiser/Non-Profit Event and Best NICE Team Event. The company has also been recognized as a 2010 Exceptional Workplace by Inc. magazine and Winning Workplaces, a Best Place to Work in Illinois for three consecutive years (2010, 2009 & 2008), is a 2009 Best and Brightest Winning Company, and a 2008 DePaul University Entrepreneurial Quest Award Winner.

Visit www.TastyCatering.com

SOURCE Tasty Catering

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The Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog is one of L.A.'s most-beloved culinary icons and now Angelenos can make it official.  Local food company Farmer John has teamed up with Los Angeles Dodger and self-proclaimed foodie Andre Ethier to launch a campaign to make the Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog the Official Hot Dog of Los Angeles.  Beginning today, Ethier will kick off a whistle stop tour to rally the people to sign the petition at www.votelahotdog.org, and in return, for every signature collected in support of the Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog, Farmer John will make a donation -- up to 25,000 pounds -- to local food banks.

"As a long-standing part of the Southern California community Farmer John has been dedicated to providing delicious products to the residents of Los Angeles for nearly 80 years, and we are thrilled to partner with a food lover like Andre to make the pairing of two great foods, hot dogs and bacon, an official part of Los Angeles history," said Ian Lavallee, senior product manager of Farmer John. "We think this is a campaign that all Angelenos can stand behind."

Ethier, a 2010 MLB All-Star and avid philanthropist, was drawn to the campaign, not only for the opportunity to make a local fan favorite hot dog the Official Hot Dog of Los Angeles, but also for the charitable aspect.  For every vote received, Farmer John has committed to donate one pound of food(1) to various Los Angeles-based food banks, including Union Rescue Mission, in an effort to give back to those in need.

"From the amazing people to world-class food, I love everything about the great city of Los Angeles," said Ethier. "That is why I chose to partner with Farmer John on its campaign to make the Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog an official part of our city's history, while at the same time, providing food to people who need it the most."

The campaign begins today, and the petition will be open through November 2nd, Election Day, when the official results will be announced and Los Angeles will learn if its beloved Bacon Wrapped Hot Dog will take its rightful place in city history.  Fans should go to www.votelahotdog.org to make their vote heard.

About Farmer John

Farmer John, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), is headquartered in Los Angeles. Farmer John produces more than 1,200 items for the retail and foodservice channels in the western United States. Offering an array of fresh and value-added protein products, the Farmer John® Brand holds leadership positions in many categories. The world-famous Dodger Dogs® are one of the many products marketed under the Farmer John® Brand. The company employs more than 1,500 people in Southern California. For additional information, please visit www.farmerjohn.com.

About Andre Ethier

Andre Ethier made his Major League debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006 and quickly established himself as a major contributor to the Dodger lineup. He has since become a key offensive spark for the Dodgers and in 2009, was awarded the NL Silver Slugger and was voted MLB's Pepsi Clutch Player of the year. In 2010, Ethier was voted in as a starter in his first MLB All-Star game. Andre's enormous popularity off the field stems from his many charitable activities as well as his wildly popular MLB blog called 'Dining with Dre,' where he reviews many of the restaurants he discovers during his travels.

(1) Up to 25,000 pounds

SOURCE Farmer John

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http://www.farmerjohn.com

AEP Industries Inc. (Nasdaq: AEPI), a manufacturer, marketer and distributor of an extensive range of plastic packaging products for the food/beverage, industrial and agricultural markets, invites shareholders and investors to listen to a broadcast review of the Company's third quarter results.

The call will be held on Friday, September 10, 2010, at 10:00 AM ET.  Domestic participants can access the conference call by dialing 888-802-8577.  International participants should dial 404-665-9928.  Callers should reference the passcode 95923034, or ask to be connected to AEP's third quarter 2010 earnings teleconference.  The call will also be broadcast live over the internet and can be accessed by visiting the Company's investor information page at www.aepinc.com.  Brendan Barba, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Paul Feeney, Executive Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, will host the call.  

For those unable to participate during the call, a replay will be available until 11:59 PM ET on September 17, 2010.  Domestic participants can access the replay by dialing 800-642-1687. International participants should dial 706-645-9291.  The replay will also be available over the internet and can be accessed by visiting the Company's investor information page at www.aepinc.com.

AEP Industries Inc. manufactures, markets, and distributes an extensive range of plastic packaging products for the food/beverage, industrial and agricultural markets.  The Company has operations throughout North America.

SOURCE AEP Industries Inc.

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School children who consume foods purchased in vending machines are more likely to develop poor diet quality – and that may be associated with being overweight, obese or at risk for chronic health problems such as diabetes and coronary artery disease, according to research from the University of Michigan Medical School.

The study also looked at foods sold in school stores, snack bars and other related sales that compete with USDA lunch program offerings and found that these pose the same health and diet risks in school-aged children.

"The foods that children are exposed to early on in life influence the pattern for their eating habits as adults," says lead study author Madhuri Kakarala, M.D., Ph.D., clinical lecturer of internal medicine at the U-M Medical School.

Previous studies assessing the nutritional value of school lunches and the impact they have on children's overall health have found similar results, but this study is the first to look specifically at competitive foods and beverages – those sold at snack bars or vending machines, rather than through the USDA lunch program.

Researchers analyzed data from 2,309 children in grades 1 through 12 from schools across the country. Interviewers administered questionnaires to obtain 24-hour food intake data on a given school day. Second-day food intake data was obtained from a group of students to account for day-to-day usual intakes.

Among those surveyed, 22 percent of school children consumed competitive or vended food items in a school day. Usage was highest in high school, where 88 percent of schools had vending machines, compared to 52 percent of middle schools and 16 percent of elementary schools. Competitive food and beverage consumers had significantly higher sugar intakes and lower dietary fiber, vitamin B levels and iron intakes than non-consumers.

Soft drinks accounted for more than two-thirds of beverages offered in school vending machines and stores. Desserts and fried snacks were the most commonly consumed vended items among elementary school children and beverages other than milk and fruit juice were the most commonly consumed items among middle and high school students. Other frequently consumed vended foods included candy, snack chips, crackers, cookies, cakes and ice cream.

The results did not show a significant difference in students' consumption of these items based on family income or race and ethnicity.

Findings of this study appear in the September issue of the Journal of School Health.

"Consumption of vended foods and beverages currently offered in U.S. schools is detrimental to children's diet quality," says Kakarala. "Childhood obesity, resulting from poor dietary choices, such as those found in this study, greatly increases the risk for many chronic diseases. A healthy school food environment can reduce these dietary risks."

Based on their findings, the study authors recommend school administrators design guidelines restricting vended and competitive foods and beverages to those that are rich with nutrients and not energy-dense. Additionally, school foodservice personnel can prepare point-of-service materials and displays to promote more healthful foods such as fresh fruit, yogurt, low-fat milk, juice and sandwiches.

"Targeted nutrition education to promote the importance of healthful snacks is further stressed by the Child Nutrition Act — the major federal legislation that determines school food policy and resources," Kakarala says. "These and other types of school-enforced policies can be very helpful for children in making smarter eating choices throughout the school day."

If more healthful snack options are not available in vending machines or school stores, children are at risk for poor nutrition by choosing these items over a USDA-choice lunch or a meal packed from home, Kakarala says.

Additional authors: Debra R. Keast, Ph.D., of the Food & Nutrition Database Research, Inc. and Sharon Hoerr, Ph.D., R.D., of the Michigan State University Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition

Reference: Journal of School Health, Vol. 80, No. 9, September 2010

Resources:

University of Michigan Department of Internal Medicine

http://www.med.umich.edu/intmed/

SOURCE University of Michigan Health System

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