THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 10, 1996 TAG: 9609100410
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 53 lines
FDA says cream cheese tainted with bacteria
Americans should not eat a type of imported cream cheese that has been linked to one death and at least three cases of botulism in Italy, the Food and Drug Administration said. Imported mascarpone cream cheese, sold under the Giglio, Parmalat and Sol di Valle brand names, may be contaminated with the bacteria that causes botulism. Symptoms include dizziness, difficulty breathing, and difficulty speaking or swallowing. The bacteria can kill, so people experiencing such symptoms should immediately seek medical help. Battaglia & Co. Inc. of New Jersey imported the Italian cheeses and is recalling them. Consumers may call Battaglia at (201) 531-0489. (Associated Press)
Consumer debt rises 8 percent in July
Consumer debt grew at an 8 percent annual rate in July, the biggest increase in three months as credit-card usage offset slower demand for automobiles. The Federal Reserve said the advance, which matched that of April, followed gains of 6.3 percent in May and 7 percent in June. However, the latest increase was considerably smaller than the double-digit gains of the past two years. Consumer credit includes all household debt not secured by real estate. The July advance left total consumer debt at $1.16 trillion, up $7.7 billion from June. It had passed the $1 trillion mark for the first time last year. (AP)
Norfolk Southern rolls on former Conrail line
Norfolk Southern trains began rolling Monday on a 49.8-mile segment of track between Urbana and Bloomington, Ill., which Norfolk Southern acquired from Conrail Aug. 31. The beginning of operations by Norfolk Southern follows a week of track work to upgrade the line and restore a connection to Norfolk Southern's main line at Mansfield, Ill. After Conrail announced its intention to withdraw from this market, Norfolk Southern acquired the line in response to requests from The Andersons, an Ohio-based grain and fertilizer company with a plant near Champaign, and other local customers to maintain rail service by two major carriers in the Champaign-Urbana area. (Staff)
Bell Atlantic, Nynex may close merger January
Nynex Corp. and Bell Atlantic Corp. said Monday they hope to complete their $20.5 billion merger as early as Jan. 1, 1997. The companies said meetings for shareholders to vote on the transaction are scheduled for Nov. 6 for Nynex and Nov. 8 for Bell Atlantic. The combination of Bell Atlantic, based in Philadelphia, and Nynex, based in New York, is expected to create the nation's second-largest telecommunications company after AT&T Corp. When first announced in April, the deal was planned as a merger of equals, with a new corporation acquiring Bell Atlantic and Nynex shares. In June, however, the companies altered the combination to a takeover by Bell Atlantic to reduce the amount of regulatory review. (Dow Jones News) by CNB