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Paris, France (AHN) – McDonald’s in Europe said on Wednesday that beginning October its fish sandwiches sold across the continent will have a blue-eco label.

The label, which will be on the wrapper of the fast food chain’s Filet-o-Fish sandwiches, will be issued by the Marine Stewardship Council. The council, a nonprofit organization, certifies if the fish used is sustainable.

The council was established in 1995 by the World Wildlife Fund and Unilever.

McDonald’s serves about 100 million Filet-o-Fish sandwiches yearly in Europe. The item is made of fried white fish, tartar sauces and cheese on a bun.

Besides it Filet-o-Fish sandwiches, McDonald’s coffee in Europe has a certification from the Rainforest Alliance in response to criticisms from green groups which have accused the fast food giant of destructive practices for the food it serves.

The Marine Stewardship Council upheld early this year an objection from the Scottish government to certify the mackerel fishery industry of the Faroes as sustainable. The objection was based on the Faroes unilateral hike of its catch quota in 2010, although the council said that the mackerel fishery industry was managed well.

Recently, largest U.S. supermarket chain Wal-Mart mandated an MSC certification from all its seafood products suppliers or from an equivalent certifying organization for cultured fish. Other major retailers such as Kroger, Costco and Supervalu also required the MSC blue eco-label on their marine products suppliers.

Europeans are fussier than Americans when it comes to the sources of their meals. They insist that foods available at restaurants are environmentally sustainable, while their American counterparts generally accept genetically modified ingredients, a McDonald’s spokeswoman in London pointed out.

McDonald’s operates about 7,000 outlets in 39 European nations.

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Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (AHN) – In a bid to cut lines at Canadian airports, the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority relaxed some security rules for air passengers.

CATSA allowed travelers to bring in their hand carry bags small manicure scissors and eyeglass screwdrivers. However, the items should not exceed 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) in length, excluding the handle.

The two items were allowed in line with recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization. But the existing ban on liquids, gels, aerosols and Swiss Army knives stays.

Airports will provide new dedicated lanes for families and travelers with special needs.

The gateways would also have security equipment to accommodate larger items such as baby strollers. There would also be new lines for frequent travelers with pre-approval under the Nexus card program.

Transport Minister Chuck Strahl said the changes were made in response to feedback from the traveling public, while ensuring sufficient aviation safety for air passengers, and after a review of CATSA regulations.

View full post on Lifestyle And Leisure Stories

Whistler, BC, Canada (AHN) – Police and animal advocates in British Columbia are investigating the culling of 100 healthy sled dogs last year by a tour operator who is said to have ordered the slaughter after the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said its officers in the resort town of Whistler are assisting a probe led by the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The non-profit group said on Monday it had begun looking into the killing of the dogs by Outdoor Adventures Whistler, which claims to be the largest dogsledding operator in North America.

The SPCA found out about the culling last Friday through a document from the Workers’ Compensation Board, a government agency that provides compensation and rehabilitation to workers in the Canadian province.

The document details the benefits given to an Outdoor Adventures Whistler worker who suffered post-traumatic stress disorder after killing the dogs.

The employee shot and slit the throats of the dogs over a two-day period in April 2010. The animals, some of whom were injured but still alive, were then buried in a mass grave. The culling was done after business slowed following the Olympics.

The non-profit SPCA, the only animal welfare organization in British Columbia authorized to investigate reports of animal cruelty, did not disclose other details of the document.

The Vancouver Sun, however, said the WorkSafeBC document stated that the worker was forced to shoot and slash the throat of the animals in full view of all the other dogs. “The dogs were experiencing anxiety and stress from observing the euthanasia of other members of the pack and were panicking,” the report said.

One sled dog, the mother of the employee’s family pet, had tried to escape by running through the yard even after her eye was hanging out from a gun shot wound.

“The sheer terror and agony these dogs must have suffered is horrifying. This is the most disturbing case I have seen in my six years in cruelty investigations,” Marcie Moriarty, the SPCA’s general manager for cruelty investigations, said in a statement.

Outdoor Adventures Whistler has not released a statement on the probe. The company offers three-hour dogsled tours for $169 for two adults and $89 for a child with two adults. It also provides tours using snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and horses.

Tourism Whistler, the marketing and sales organization representing the resort town, said it cannot comment on the allegations against Outdoor Adventures but that it has suspended the company’s dogsled tours.

News of the slaughter has sparked outrage, and more than 11,000 people have chosen to follow a Facebook page urging the boycott of Outdoor Adventures.

View full post on Lifestyle And Leisure Stories

For many entrepreneurs, starting a restaurant business represents a great way to make a good living while doing something that they love. The restaurant business has a high failure rate though with many people quickly realizing that there is more work involved than they originally anticipated and they find that they are not really suited to the restaurant business. Here are some things to consider before you jump in to this industry and invest your time and capital into opening a restaurant.

1) Qualifications and experience. While these are not absolutely necessary you will be drastically increasing your chances of success if you have or can acquire a qualification from a culinary school or if you have some other kind of food, beverage or hospitality industry experience or training

2) Business management skills. If you don’t have reasonably good skills and knowledge in areas like bookkeeping, marketing and management there are numerous courses in small business administration that you could consider taking before you take the plunge with your own business. (more…)