LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Yum Brand Inc’s Taco Bell chain has been linked to a Salmonella outbreak that sickened 68 people in 10 states late last year.

Taco Bell said in a statement on Wednesday that investigators found that some of the people who became ill ate at Taco Bell, while others did not.

Jan 31 (Reuters) – A group of Capital Grille workers
sued Darden Restaurants Inc (DRI.N: Quote, Profile, Research) in federal court in Chicago
on Tuesday, accusing the restaurant operator’s high-end
steakhouse chain of racial discrimination and violations of
state and federal labor laws.

The lawsuit seeks class-action status and was brought by
current and former employees in New York, Illinois and Maryland,
most of whom are members of Restaurant Opportunities Centers
United (ROC). The action pits that vocal advocate on industry
wages and working conditions against one of the largest U.S.
restaurant companies.

Jan 30 (Reuters) – A restaurant workers group said it
will sue Darden Restaurants Inc in federal court in
Chicago on Tuesday, accusing the company’s high-end Capital
Grille steakhouse chain of racial discrimination and violations
of state and federal labor laws.

The action will pit Restaurant Opportunities Centers United
(ROC), a vocal advocate on industry wages and working
conditions, against one of the largest and most respected U.S.
restaurant companies.

By Lisa Baertlein and Dhanya Skariachan

(Reuters) – RadioShack Corp (RSH.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) issued a disappointing fourth-quarter earnings forecast on “significant declines” in its Sprint wireless business and shares in the struggling electronics retailer tumbled more than 18 percent.

The chain sees forecast fourth-quarter earnings of just 11 cents to 13 cents a share. Wall Street had expected 37 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

CHICAGO/SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 25 (Reuters) – Option
investors appear to have worries about Yum Brands Inc
, taking out protection against a share price decline
ahead of the fast-food chain’s quarterly report early next
month, analysts say.

Prospects of slowing Chinese growth and unfavorable exchange
rates, the same headwinds that threaten rival McDonald’s Corp
, are worrying investors in the fast food purveyor.

WASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – U.S. school children, accustomed to a steady diet of pizza and French fries, will find more fruits, vegetables and whole grains on their trays under new government rules announced on Wednesday.

The new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rules aim to boost the nutritional quality of the federally funded meals consumed by roughly 32 million U.S. school children.

By Lisa Baertlein

(Reuters) – McDonald’s Corp’s (MCD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) strong December sales and fourth-quarter earnings failed to allay fears that exchange rates and increased spending will weaken profits in 2012.

Those worries sent shares of the world’s biggest hamburger chain down 2.3 percent to $98.61 in midday trading.

By Lisa Baertlein

(Reuters) – McDonald’s Corp (MCD.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) reported stronger-than-expected December sales, but its shares fell on investor concerns that quarterly profit may have beat expectations only because of income that was not related to its operations.

Shares of the world’s biggest hamburger chain, which hit an all-time high of $102.22 on January 12, were down 1.7 percent to $99.25 in early trading on Tuesday.

By Lisa Baertlein

(Reuters) – Starbucks Corp (SBUX.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), which sells the coffee that helps many Americans get wound up for their day, is offering more of their customers a way to wind down.

The world’s biggest coffee chain plans to sell beer and wine in as many as 12 cafes in Atlanta and Southern California by the end of the year, as it expands beyond its well-known coffee.

IRVINE, Calif (Reuters) – America’s No. 1 Mexican fast-food chain is ringing in 2012 with what may become its biggest menu refresh in years.

Yum Brands Inc’s (YUM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Taco Bell will begin testing an expanded, more upmarket menu that focuses on fresh ingredients — think Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on a budget — on January 26 in Louisville, Kentucky, and Bakersfield, California.