Chinese crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun, known for his headline-grabbing antics, recently made waves after consuming a $6.2 million banana in an art stunt. Not long after, Sun invested $30 million into World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency firm with ties to former President Donald Trump.

The investment proved transformative for the struggling company, pushing it past the threshold needed for Trump to begin profiting from the venture. Trump and his family are now positioned to collect around $20 million, with the potential for more.

Sun, currently facing fraud charges in the U.S. over his own crypto operations, did not elaborate on why he backed the untradable token initiative. However, the move has raised concerns among ethics experts, who view it as an example of how Trump’s vast business interests could create avenues for influence.

Richard Painter, former White House ethics lawyer under George W. Bush, noted the heightened risk:
“The conflicts have grown substantially with the scope of his business empire.”

Trump’s spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, dismissed concerns, highlighting that Trump had distanced himself from his real estate empire during his presidency and donated his salary:
“Unlike most politicians, President Trump didn’t get into politics for profit – he’s fighting because he loves this country.”

Critics argue that Trump has not adequately addressed the potential for corruption as his business dealings expand ahead of a possible return to the White House.

Constellation Brands announced Tuesday that it will sell its Svedka vodka brand to New Orleans-based Sazerac, as part of a strategic move to optimize its wine and spirits portfolio amid declining performance in the segment.

• The deal is anticipated to close within the coming months, though the financial terms were not disclosed.
• Bill Newlands, Constellation’s CEO, described the transaction as aligning with efforts to reshape the portfolio for growth, adding, “This transaction is another step forward in seeking to ensure that our wine and spirits portfolio is optimized to succeed.”
• Constellation’s wine and spirits business has struggled compared to its thriving beer portfolio, which includes bestsellers Modelo and Corona.
  • Shipments for the segment fell by 9.8% year-over-year in Q2.
  • Net sales and operating income dropped 12% and 13%, respectively.
• CEO Newlands cited headwinds in the lower-priced wine and spirits category as a persistent challenge during the company’s October earnings call.
• Despite accounting for only 5% of Constellation’s total volumes in 2023, wine and spirits contributed 17% of net sales, with wine taking the lion’s share at 86% compared to 14% from spirits.
• Sazerac will integrate Svedka into its diverse portfolio, which already includes global brands such as:
• Buffalo Trace bourbon
• Fireball Cinnamon Whisky
• Southern Comfort
• Constellation will retain key spirits labels, including:
• High West Whiskey
• Mi Campo Tequila
• Casa Noble Tequila

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Tuesday that the E. coli outbreak linked to slivered onions served at McDonald’s has officially ended, concluding an investigation that began over a month ago.

• The outbreak affected 104 people across 14 states, leading to 27 hospitalizations and one death—a Colorado resident.
• Fresh slivered onions, used in Quarter Pounders and other menu items, were identified as the likely culprit.

During the outbreak, McDonald’s temporarily removed Quarter Pounders from select locations to mitigate risks. The burgers have since returned to the menu, but the incident has left its mark on the company’s reputation and operations.

• McDonald’s U.S. restaurant visits dropped 6.6% year-over-year on November 18, recovering slightly from an earlier peak decline of 11% in late October.
• States initially linked to the outbreak saw sharper declines, with traffic falling by 9.5% collectively on November 18.
• McDonald’s is investing over $100 million in marketing efforts and targeted financial assistance for impacted franchisees.
• Despite a “farewell tour” last year, the McRib has returned as a limited-time offering. A new value menu will debut in January to attract cost-conscious diners.

In an internal memo, Michael Gonda, North American Chief Impact Officer, and Cesar Pina, Chief Supply Chain Officer, emphasized the company’s commitment to regaining consumer trust and rebuilding brand loyalty.

“Looking ahead, we must remain laser-focused on regaining our customers’ hard-earned trust and reigniting their brand affinity,” the executives stated.