3M is sticking itself to a couple of French adhesive companies. The Maplewood firm said it's acquiring the companies EMFI S.A. and SAPO S.A. for an undisclosed amount. The companies make adhesives for wood floors, building construction, vehicle uses and rail assembly applications. Once the deal is completed, the companies will become part of 3M's Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division.

Just how healthy are those "whole grain" Coco Puffs? As the "whole grain" fad takes over grocery store shelves, there's growing criticism of some of the products' claims, BusinessWeek reports. One nutritionist says small changes in recipes often lead to big changes in promotional claims. When General Mills switched its cereals to whole grain in 2004, another nutritionist notes, Coco Puffs went from zero to 1 gram of fiber per serving.

A $1.21 billion fuel tab from April through June grounded any chances of Northwest Airlines turning a profit during its second quarter. The airline today reported a $377 million loss for the period, blaming fuel costs for hurting profits. CNN Money reports that the loss is actually much better than the same period last year, when Northwest reported a loss of $2.1 billion.

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