Business Highlights

SAN FRANCISCO — Two cement company owners were charged Thursday with theft, fraud and environmental violations for using recycled concrete in construction projects that included earthquake safety improvements on the Golden Gate Bridge.

Pacific Cement owners Ricardo D. Ramirez, 65, Reynaldo W. Nunez, 55, pleaded not guilty Thursday to grand theft, forgery, unlawful disposal and storage of waste and other crimes, said district attorney spokeswoman Bilen Mesfin. Each was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

The charges allege the company used recycled concrete in cosmetic work on the effort to reinforce the Golden Gate Bridge for an earthquake as well as other regional construction projects, said prosecutor Davina Pujari.

Recycled materials can cause weaker concrete, cracks, uneven appearance or the need for increased maintenance. It’s also much cheaper than freshly quarried materials such as rock and sand.

Mary Currie, a spokeswoman for the Golden Gate Bridge administration, said only a small amount of the concrete in question was used, and only for architectural purposes.

"The recycled concrete that we did receive has not in anyway jeopardized the structural integrity of the bridge,” Currie said. She said that core samples from the recycled concrete still met strength requirements.

The problem first came to light at the city of Burlingame Wastewater Treatment Facility where it was so rocky it plugged a pump and an employee was injured, Pujari said.

Google to serve humane eggs

MOUNTAIN VIEW — Google’s employee cafeterias will no longer serve eggs that come from caged hens.

Google employs roughly 6,000 workers, who eat about 300,000 eggs annually in the cafeterias. Company officials say they want to incorporate social values into food choices.

"We’re happy to do it,” John Dickman, Google’s global food services manager, said Wednesday.<