Food Safety Shock: FDA upgraded the Taylor Farms iceberg/shredded lettuce cyclospora recall to a Class I event as case counts climb to about 11,500 in 20 states, with hundreds hospitalized and reports of more cases since May. School Nutrition Push: HHS launched DEPEND, a $32.5M program to fund schools testing ways to increase nutrient-dense foods, with first awards expected in October. Food Insecurity Alarm: Second Harvest Foodbank (SW Wisconsin) says food insecurity jumped 92% over four years, calling for Hunger Action Month action as 1 in 8 residents face hunger. Aid Funding Cuts: The World Food Programme will halve assistance in the occupied West Bank (400,000 to 200,000 people) and reduce Gaza cash support amid funding shortfalls. Beverage Expansion: HTeaO named a new CEO and secured fresh investment to accelerate growth of the iced tea chain. Halal Business Link: Thailand’s SNPS is seeking Malaysian partners to co-develop halal-certified products aimed at Middle East markets. Retail & Ordering Tech: Square and Google teamed up with Ask Maps to let customers discover menus and order via conversational AI, feeding directly into Square POS. Local Food Culture: Fayetteville’s Greek Festival returns Sept. 12-13 with traditional dishes like gyros, souvlaki, spanakopita and sweets.