H.J. Heinz has said quarterly earnings fell nearly 10%, as expected by Wall Street, after the ketchup maker lost income from underperforming units it spun off late last year.

THE growing popularity of low-carbohydrate diets such as Atkins has hit sales of Heinz frozen foods.

Around 4,000 ex-banana plantation workers in Nicaragua are suing several transnational companies for damages, claiming that long-term exposure to pesticides has caused infertility and other illnesses.