Food Roundup: Wal-Mart to Settle Wage Suit for $54M, Banana Prices Up, Coffee Deficit Predicted, and More

Wal-Mart offers $54 million in wage suit -- The retail giant said it will pay up to $54.25 million to settle a class-action lawsuit in Minnesota over break times and alleged wage violations. The settlement is still subject to court approval. At $1000 per violation, the company could have owed more than $2 billion in fines. [Source: Reuters]

Banana prices up -- Chiquita Brands said the price of bananas has been going up in all markets for the last couple of months. Prices in North America rose 35 percent. [Source: AP]

Coffee deficit predicted for 2009-10 -- A smaller crop in Brazil may mean coffee consumption will exceed coffee production by as much as 8 million bags next year. But a 4.5 million bag surplus is expected for 2008-09. [Source: Bloomberg News]

Jack in the Box burger rated 'most unhealthful' -- The Cancer Project ranked the Jack in the Box junior bacon cheeseburger as number one on its list of unhealthy fast-food choices. Items from Taco Bell, Burger King, McDonald's and Wendy's also turned up in the top five. [Source: Los Angeles Times]