Business news in brief
By The Associated Press
U.S. ambassador looks to expedite Mexican avocado inspections
MORELIA, Mexico | United States Ambassador Ken Salazar has praised Mexico’s effort protect American agricultural inspectors in the conflict-ridden state of Michoacan on Monday, a week after the U.S. suspended avocado and mango inspections following an attack on inspectors.
Salazar traveled to the state, plagued by violence linked to organized crime, to meet with state and federal officials. Earlier this month, two employees of the U.S. Agriculture Department were assaulted and temporarily held by assailants, prompting the U.S. government to suspend inspections.
The diplomat told the press that last Friday that Michoacan authorities had agreed to a security plan to restart avocado exports.
GM brings in new CEO to steer troubled Cruise robotaxi service
General Motors has named a veteran technology executive with roots in the video game industry to steer its troubled robotaxi service Cruise. The announcement comes as Cruise tries to recover from a gruesome collision that triggered the suspension of its California license.
Marc Whitten will take over as Cruise’s chief executive nearly nine months after one of the service’s robotaxis dragged a jaywalking pedestrian — who had just been struck by a vehicle driven by a human — across a darkened street in San Francisco. He was one of the key engineers behind the Xbox video game console.
Meanwhile, rival robotaxi service Waymo says its driverless vehicles are ready to give rides to anyone who wants one in San Francisco after limited service to a waiting list.
FDA warns bakery not to falsely claim foods contain allergens
Federal food safety regulators are warning Bimbo Bakeries USA to stop using misleading labels that say products contain potentially dangerous allergens when they don’t. Bimbo is the company behind major baked goods brands such as Sara Lee, Thomas’, Oroweat and Entenmann’s.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration inspectors found that the company listed ingredients such as sesame or tree nuts on labels when they weren’t in the foods. FDA officials said Tuesday that food labels must be truthful. They also say labeling is not a substitute for preventing cross-contamination.
Bimbo says it’s working with FDA to resolve the issue.
—From AP reports
