SACRAMENTO, Calif.-Diabetes, which leads to other health risks and complications, is twice as common among Hispanic Americans as among Caucasian Americans, according to the American Diabetes Association.

CHELSEA, Mass.-What would the state of New Hampshire taste like if it were transformed into a frozen dessert? According to HP Hood, like a mix of vanilla malt ice cream swirled with chocolate malt and crunchy malt balls.

DCI Cheese Co., which acquired Green Bay Cheese Co. earlier this year, plans to consolidate its cheese processing operations, closing a plant in Mayville, Wis., and expanding another in Suamico, Wis.

New England grocery chain Hannaford Brothers has developed a system called Guiding Stars that rates the nutritional value of nearly all the food and drinks at its stores from zero to three stars.

Utah-based Gossner Foods is among the latest dairy processors going rBST-free. Beginning Jan. 1, the company’s Logan, Utah plant will no longer accept milk from treated cows, and its Heyburn, Idaho plant will follow in April. Gossner’s California plant has never accepted milk from cows treated with the synthetic hormone.

Wells’ Dairy Inc. has moved into its new offices in Le Mars, Iowa, and company officials held a ribbon cutting ceremony in late October. The $30 million facility features 35 meeting rooms with names relevant to the history of Wells’ Dairy and the Le Mars, Iowa community it has called home for 93 years.

Dean Foods saw third-quarter profit that fell short of analysts’ estimates because of higher costs at its Horizon unit, the biggest U.S. organic milk processor. Profits did rise to 54 cents from 40 cents, analysts had expected 56 cents.

Never say never when it comes to melding together foods and flavors. In fact, at this time next year, some consumers may be singing: ‘Tis the season to eat a pine.

Cold Stone Creamery has inked a multi-year agreement making Pepsi its exclusive beverage supplier. The custom-made ice cream treat chain will carry a variety of Pepsi products in 20 oz. bottles format, including Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Mountain Dew and Aquafina.

Russia's largest dairy product and fruit juice manufacturer Wimm-Bill-Dann Foods (WBD) plans to buy several dairy plants in Russia in the near future, the company's chairman said recently.