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WASHINGTON - A new report conducted for the Institute of Food Technologists suggests America's food supply will be threatened by dangerous bacteria for a long time as new germs arrive in imported products and microbes already here develop in new forms, The Associated Press reports.

MILWAUKEE - Customer satisfaction with the quality of goods and services available to American consumers in the retail, finance and e-commerce sectors rose during the final quarter of 2001, offsetting a drop that began in late 2000, according to the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).

NEW YORK - Fleming Companies reported improved fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday, but the distributor said in a conference call that the impact of Kmart's restructuring won't be fully known until the company announces plans for store closings on March 20.

TROY, Mich. - Kmart Corp. is seeking an emergency order from a bankruptcy judge so it can pay companies that supply its stores with alcohol, The Associated Press reports.

SAN FRANCISCO - PETA and San Francisco-based Food and Social Justice Project recently launched a boycott against Safeway and its subsidiary stores, saying the company has refused to match minimum animal welfare standards adhered to by McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's.

LIVERMORE, Calif. - iTradeNetwork, a firm that provides collaborative workflow solutions to the perishables industry, has signed an agreement to acquire Provision X, a Web-based private network, which was built by six leading companies.

MEXICO CITY - A director at Mexico's second-largest retailer, Controladora Comercial Mexicana (Comerci), says the company needs a buyer or investor to help it compete against Wal-Mart de Mexico, Reuters reports.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Wal-Mart Puerto Rico announced today that it has acquired Supermercados Amigo, the number one supermarket chain in Puerto Rico.