To help assist, inform and educate its members and the food and beverage industry in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Madison, Wis.-based International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA) said it is releasing weekly updates with a specific focus on the bakery, dairy, deli meat, deli cheese and deli-prepared sectors.

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 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.

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.

Maple Hill Creamery, a Kinderhook, N.Y.-based producer of grass-fed organic dairy products, said it partnered with New York State's Department of Agriculture and Markets, on behalf of Governor Cuomo and nonprofit Feeding America, to distribute 200,000 cartons of its grass-fed organic milk and grass-fed yogurt to residents in need.

As of March 26, 22 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.

The closure of workplaces and schools nationwide in the last several weeks is leading to increasing food insecurity for many Americans, including low-income families, housebound individuals and children unable to access free school breakfast and lunch.

Today’s dairy leaders are redefining what it means to be sustainable businesses by elevating good business practices, developing and implementing transportation and logistics solutions, ensuring the highest standards for animal welfare, and committing to and achieving environmental stewardship throughout their supply chains.