The coronavirus pandemic has food and beverage companies rethinking some everyday efforts.

Kansas City, Kan.-based Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) said Dean Foods Co., Dallas, accepted a revised bid from DFA on March 31 for a “large portion” of Dean Foods’ assets.

In a March 31 letter shared with the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association’s (IDDBA) community, IDDBA President and CEO Michael J. Eardley announced the cancelation of the IDDBA 2020 show due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hart Dairy, the largest single-source producer of 100% free-range, grass-fed milk in America, announced a new partnership with Island Ventures, a supplier of specialty eggs.

The Institute of Food Technologists announced that it will transition the IFT20 Annual Event and Food Expo, slated for July 12-15 at McCormick Place in Chicago, to a virtual event experience.

In their March 26 “COVID-19 Impact, Consumer Spending Tracker for MULOC Retailers US, UK, France, Italy, NZ” report — the latest in a series of weekly reports — Chicago-based market research firm IRI and partner Boston Consulting Group show that U.S. retail dairy purchases were up 57.8% during the week ending March 15, 2020, in comparison to the same time period in 2019.

As of March 30, at least 27 U.S. states had issued stay-at-home orders, and many “nonessential” businesses had closed. But food and beverage manufacturers, including dairy processors, continue to operate as part of a subset of industries deemed essential to continued critical infrastructure viability.

As the coronavirus, or COVID-19, continues to spread, the Novi, Mich.-based Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) said it remains steadfast in its mission to market members’ milk to the greatest advantage possible while taking actions to protect the health and safety of its communities.

To facilitate the distribution of food during the COVID-19 pandemic, FDA released a guidance document on March 26 to provide restaurants and food manufacturers with flexibility regarding nutrition labeling of certain packaged food.