The largest trial ever to ask whether eating a low-fat diet reduces your risk of getting a serious disease like cancer or heart disease has found that the diet has no effect.

California's cheese production passed the 2 billion-pound mark for the first time in 2005, reaching a record 2.14 billion pounds.

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Lipid Nutrition, a division of IOI-Loders Croklaan Group B.V., has acquired PharmaNutrients' CLA One® business last month. As a result, Lipid Nutrition reinforces its position as a dominant player in the CLA market.

Saputo Inc. reported a steep drop in its third-quarter earnings last month as lower cheese prices and a high Canadian dollar ate into its U.S. revenue. But CEO Lino Saputo said the entire dairy industry in the United States is stressed by weak markets and high commodity prices.

Bravo! Foods has signed a five-year agreement with a California company for production of its various lines of shelf-stable, single-serve flavored milk beverages. Aseptic Solutions USA, Corona, Calif., expects to receive FDA approval to produce aseptic low acid shelf-stable dairy products in HDPE plastic bottles by the year's end.

California water regulators last month announced a revised tentative settlement agreement with Hilmar Cheese Co. The reconfigured $3 million pact, if approved by members of the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board, will resolve long-standing waste water disposal problems attributed to Hilmar's giant plant.

IDFA last month commended President Bush for what it calls a "pro-growth budget that emphasizes targeted spending."

Arab owned and affiliated grocery stores in the Middle East are boycotting products from Denmark in response to Danish newspapers' publishing of controversial cartoons depicting the Muslim prophet Mohammed.

Groupe Danone, Paris, said last month that its profit almost tripled last year, helped by a gain on the sale of its sauces unit.