Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection

FTC and Wisconsin Take Action Against Rhinelander Auto Center for Illegally Discriminating Against American Indian Customers and Charging Unlawful Junk Fees

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 24, 2023

“Working closely with the State of Wisconsin, we are holding these dealerships accountable for discriminating against American Indian customers and sneaking junk fees onto consumers’ bills,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Key Points: 
  • “Working closely with the State of Wisconsin, we are holding these dealerships accountable for discriminating against American Indian customers and sneaking junk fees onto consumers’ bills,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
  • The complaint cites one survey of Rhinelander customers that shows half of the dealer’s customers said they were charged for add-ons without authorization or through deception.
  • Rhinelander and Towne discriminated against American Indian customers in the cost of financing by adding more “markup” to their interest rates, according to the FTC’s complaint.
  • This additional markup cost American Indian customers $401 more on average compared to non-Latino white customers.
  • In addition, the complaint alleges that American Indian customers were charged for unwanted add-ons at a higher rate than non-Latino white customers.

Mercy For Animals drone investigation reveals Wisconsin cheese industry's dirty secret

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 19, 2023

KEWAUNEE COUNTY, Wis., Oct. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mercy For Animals has released a drone video investigation exposing how the Wisconsin cheese industry, despite marketing itself with idyllic imagery, relies heavily on industrial-scale factory farms with hundreds or thousands of cows and millions of gallons of manure. The new aerial drone footage shows how more than a dozen Wisconsin dairy farms store manure in open pits — some of which are located near residential neighborhoods.

Key Points: 
  • The new aerial drone footage shows how more than a dozen Wisconsin dairy farms store manure in open pits — some of which are located near residential neighborhoods.
  • Americans love cheese — U.S. cheese consumption has more than doubled over the past 40 years, according to the USDA .
  • And Wisconsin is the country's top cheese producer, according to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture .
  • Mercy For Animals is a leading international nonprofit working to end industrial animal agriculture by constructing a just and sustainable food system.

USDA Promotes Innovation and Quality of U.S. Pet Foods at Pet Fair Asia 2023

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 21, 2023

SHANGHAI, Sept. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Pet Food Brand Promotional Session was held at the Shanghai New International Expo Center on August 16, 2023, to introduce U.S. pet food industry innovations and premium quality U.S. pet food to interested professional attendees during Pet Fair Asia 2023.

Key Points: 
  • SHANGHAI, Sept. 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Pet Food Brand Promotional Session was held at the Shanghai New International Expo Center on August 16, 2023, to introduce U.S. pet food industry innovations and premium quality U.S. pet food to interested professional attendees during Pet Fair Asia 2023.
  • Lashonda McLeod Harper-Director of the Agricultural Trade Office in Shanghai delivered a welcome speech and a brief overview of the U.S. pet food industry.
  • When explaining the U.S. pet food industry, he outlined the strengths of the U.S. pet food industry in long-term investment on research, companion animal science, pet food manufacturing technologies, availability, and quality of various pet food ingredients and stressed that convenient access to high-quality rendered ruminant ingredients in U.S. pet food industry poses remarkable advantages in ingredient supply to pet foods made by China.
  • Nearly 3,000 pet food professionals attended this U.S. Pet Food Brands Promotional Session on-site and via livestream.

USDA and Cooperators Boost Reduction and Re-utilization of Food Loss and Waste in Asia

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, July 26, 2023

The aim of this forum was to boost reduction of escalating FLW across the globe and potential re-utilization through innovative technologies.

Key Points: 
  • The aim of this forum was to boost reduction of escalating FLW across the globe and potential re-utilization through innovative technologies.
  • USDA's Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) in Guangzhou launched this forum and hopes to hold similar discussions in the future.
  • The last two presentations focused on food waste, where an average of 17% waste in total food supply chain was estimated to occur post-retail.
  • Recycling of nutrients from food waste from selected sources (i.e., food supermarkets) via industrialized husbandry of black soldier fly appears a more viable solution to food waste re-utilization  than general composting and direct animal feeding.

Adams County Solid Waste & Recycling Teams with ERI to Offer Free E-Waste Recycling as Part of 2023 “Clean Sweep” Event

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Electronics will be collected as part of a larger recycling event for the community as part of the annual “Clean Sweep” event sponsored by Adams County and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Key Points: 
  • Electronics will be collected as part of a larger recycling event for the community as part of the annual “Clean Sweep” event sponsored by Adams County and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
  • The electronics recycling portion of the event, managed by ERI, is free to the public.
  • ERI, a certified e-Steward, observes all e-Stewards procedures and guidelines to responsibly recycle and securely destroy personal data on all e-waste.
  • “It is an honor to once again provide an event to benefit the good people of Adams County, Wisconsin,” said John Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of ERI.

China's Pet Food Industry Gathers at CAFIC Suzhou to Discuss Latest Industry Trends and Technologies

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 10, 2022

With China's pet economy continuing to boom which expected to be worth over 240 billion yuan by 2025, the conference gathered professionals from across the country to discuss latest trends and technologies in the pet food industry.

Key Points: 
  • With China's pet economy continuing to boom which expected to be worth over 240 billion yuan by 2025, the conference gathered professionals from across the country to discuss latest trends and technologies in the pet food industry.
  • Dr. Yulong Yin,China's world renowned animal nutritionist, presented the "2022 Hexa-I Award of Chinese Pet Food Industry" to Fuzheng Wang (chairman of Liaoning Oceanking Organic Pet Food), Yingchun Wang (chairman of Full Pet), Yiwu Wang (chairman of Metz Pet Food), Qing Li (chairman of Tai'an Taichong Pet Food), Rongkun Wang (chairman of Ronsy Pet Food), Bin Lv (chairman of Shandong Dehai Biotechnology), Shengbo Ye (co-founder of Alfie & Buddy), Yueyue Wang (commercial director of Mars Pet Food China), Jinfa Chen (Technical director of Gambol Pet Food), Zhongming You (Vice President of Petpal Pet Nutrition Technology), Jianshe Sun (general manager of FISH4PETS Pet Food),and Han Peng (Founder of Gaoyejia Pet Food), for their outstanding work.
  • The Scientific Committee also presented the "2022 Triple I Award for Pet Food Ingredient Industry" to pet food ingredient suppliers who achieved excellence in the supply of pet food ingredients and development of pet food technologies.
  • In total, over 400 professionals from various aspects of the Chinese pet food industry including ingredient suppliers and equipment suppliers, attended CAFIC 2022 and CAFEC 2022.

Four HKTDC August fairs and ICMCM close on a High Note

Retrieved on: 
Monday, August 15, 2022

The Food Expo, Home Delights Expo, Beauty & Wellness Expo and Hong Kong International Tea Fair drew to a close today, attracting more than 430,000 visitors.

Key Points: 
  • The Food Expo, Home Delights Expo, Beauty & Wellness Expo and Hong Kong International Tea Fair drew to a close today, attracting more than 430,000 visitors.
  • The HKTDC also interviewed around 980 visitors during the fairs through random sampling.
  • 48% of respondents spent HK$1,000 or more at the fairs, with the average per capita spending reaching HK$1,400.
  • For more comments from exhibitors and buyers, please visit:
    - HKTDC Home Delights Expo: https://bit.ly/3C3720E
    - HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo: https://bit.ly/3dvJXJP
    - HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair: https://bit.ly/3AouJPU

Tosca acquires Bristol Manufacturing's Cheese Box Division, Expanding its Geographic Reach

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, July 5, 2022

ATLANTA, July 5, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Tosca, a global leader in reusable packaging solutions and pooling, has acquired Bristol Manufacturing's cheese box division. Bristol Manufacturing is a reconditioning and repair company that services the cheese market in the United States. The acquisition includes two facilities in Springfield, MO, and Canton, NY, allowing Tosca to add capacity for future growth, expand its geographic reach, and insource all of its wash and reconditioning services for the Tosca 640 cheese containers.

Key Points: 
  • Bristol Manufacturing is a reconditioning and repair company that services the cheese market in the United States.
  • The acquisition includes two facilities in Springfield, MO, and Canton, NY, allowing Tosca to add capacity for future growth, expand its geographic reach, and insource all of its wash and reconditioning services for the Tosca 640 cheese containers.
  • The acquisition of Bristol's cheese box division enables Tosca to offer its customers enhanced flexibility, greater capacity, and better service.
  • Tosca has an existing relationship with Bristol Manufacturing, having previously used the company to recondition some of its 640 reusable packaging containers for cheese.

Adams County Solid Waste & Recycling Teams with ERI to Offer Free E-Waste Recycling as Part of “Clean Sweep” Event

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Adams County Solid Waste & Recycling has teamed with ERI , the nations leading recycler of electronics and cybersecurity-focused hardware destruction company; to provide Adams County residents with a convenient way to responsibly recycle unwanted consumer electronics as part of the countys Agricultural & Household Hazardous Waste Clean Sweep Event.

Key Points: 
  • Adams County Solid Waste & Recycling has teamed with ERI , the nations leading recycler of electronics and cybersecurity-focused hardware destruction company; to provide Adams County residents with a convenient way to responsibly recycle unwanted consumer electronics as part of the countys Agricultural & Household Hazardous Waste Clean Sweep Event.
  • Electronics will be collected as part of a larger recycling event for the community as part of the annual Clean Sweep event sponsored by Adams County and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
  • The electronics recycling portion of the event, managed by ERI, is free to the public.
  • It is an honor to provide an event to benefit the good people of Adams County, Wisconsin, said John Shegerian, Chairman and CEO of ERI.