The American Bakers Association (ABA) was joined last month by several industry organizations in Washington, D.C. for a“Band of Bakers and Allied Forces March.” The march was designed to alert Congress, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Bush administration to the severity of the commodity crisis involving wheat. To begin the event, ABA and its allies held a press conference at the National Press Club.

More than 80 bakers, representing various-size businesses, visited with 45 members of Congress, the Secretary of Agriculture and his senior staff, and key White House policy officials to press for immediate action on ABA's Three Point Plan. The plan includes the early release of non-environmentally sensitive CRP acreage; elimination of the ethanol import tariff and temporary waiving of ethanol production limits; and a USDA review of wheat export policies in light of new market demands.

Uncle Wally's, Shirley, N.Y., a privately-held gourmet and wholesale muffin company acquired SKU Foods, a Missouri-based manufacturer of “slice and bake” muffins. In 2007, Uncle Wally's and SKU Foods formed an alliance to produce Uncle Wally's Oven Luv'n Muffins, ready-to-bake refrigerated muffin dough.

“The acquisition of SKU Foods will allow us to expand the refrigerated dough category, coming one step closer to making Uncle Wally's a household name,” said Lou Avignone, president and C.E.O.

Cargill's barley betafiber received a Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) health claim after the Wayzata, Minn.-based company petitioned the adminstration. The FDA issued an interim final rule to include barley betafiber as an authorized source of soluble fiber in the existing health claim regarding soluble fiber and reduced risk of heart disease. Cargill's petition was based largely on its proprietary clinical research with Barliv^™ barley betafiber. Barliv barley betafiber is a concentrated glucan soluble fiber derived from whole grain barley. At present, Barliv is the only barley beta concentrate that qualifies for the health claim because of its high concentration and low molecular weight.

A health claim could be worded: “Diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that include 3 g of beta-glucan soluble fiber from betafiber may reduce the risk of heart disease,” according to Cargill.

Sara Lee Corp. C.E.O. Brenda Barnes, Downers Grove, Ill., is reportedly looking for acquisitions and one potential target may be Interstate's bread and snack-cake brands, according to Chicagobusiness.com by Crain Communications Inc. Interstate, currently attempting to reorganize in Bankruptcy Court, is seeking a buyer for all or part of its business. Acquisition of Interstate's bread and snack-cake brands would give Sara Lee broader distribution throughout the country, thereby boosting its bread sales. In addition, acquisition of Interstate would allow Sara Lee to gain bakeries in the Northeast where it has no bread sales at present.