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September 25, 2021

9/25/2021

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Americans are using alcohol to cope with pandemic stress: Nearly 1 in 5 report 'heavy drinking'
More than 18 months into the COVID-19 outbreak in the U.S., nearly 1 in 5 Americans is consuming an unhealthy amount of alcohol, a new survey suggests.
About 17% of respondents reported "heavy drinking" in the past 30 days, according to the survey conducted by analytics firm The Harris Poll and commissioned by Alkermes, an Ireland-based biopharmaceutical company.
The survey was conducted online from March 30 to April 7 among 6,006 U.S. adults ages 21 and older. Of those, 1,003 adults reported "heavy drinking."
"Heavy drinking" was defined as having had two heavy drinking days in a single week at least twice in the previous 30 days. A "heavy drinking day" was defined as four or more drinks containing alcohol for women and five or more drinks containing alcohol for men.
Dr. Neeraj Gandotra, chief medical officer at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, said the study's findings were "not surprising." Almost 90% of individuals with substance use disorder are not in treatment, and alcohol and drug use typically worsen with isolation, Gandotra said.
Several studies have suggested Americans are buying more alcohol and drinking more frequently during the coronavirus pandemic.
A study by the Rand Corp. last fall found the frequency of alcohol consumption in the U.S. rose 14% compared with before the pandemic. Women, in particular, increased heavy drinking days by 41%, according to the study.
Another study by researchers at the University of Arizona found "dramatic increases in harmful alcohol consumption" over the first six months of the pandemic. Greater alcohol consumption was most associated with job loss because of COVID-19, according to the study.
According to the new Harris Poll survey, many respondents who reported heavy drinking said that, over the past 12 months, they experienced negative mental, physical and psychosocial impacts.
Three in 10 said they continued to drink despite it making them feel depressed or anxious or adding to another health problem. About 1 in 4 reported they continued to drink after experiencing a memory blackout. More than 1 in 5 experienced withdrawal symptoms when the effects of alcohol were wearing off. And 23% gave up or cut back on activities that were important or interesting to them in order to drink.
 
 
 Why Liquor Shortages Caused By The COVID-19 Pandemic Persist In Some States A fair warning for your next trip to the liquor store: Several states across the U.S. are still experiencing booze shortages related to COVID-19, and it's unclear when supply will be able to meet demand.
Early in the pandemic, it was common to find libations low in stock after some liquor stores briefly closed amid statewide lockdowns and skyrocketing consumer demand for alcohol.
But continued reports of shortages from Vermont to New Jersey to Ohio persist more than a year later, and some states are rationing their liquor supply amid ongoing supply chain issues.
The Pennsylvania state board in charge of consumer liquor sales announced last week that it was limiting customers to two bottles of certain alcoholic beverages per day. The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board said the purchase limit on select items — including Hennessy Cognac, Buffalo Trace bourbon and Patrón tequila — will be in place for the "foreseeable future."
Liquor store customers in North Carolina are encountering "out of stock" signs instead of their favorite spirits, local TV station WTVD reported, amid an ongoing supply shortage there, too.
"I don't think anybody saw the kind of demand that we're seeing right now — particularly in those high-end and super-premium products — coming," said David Ozgo, chief economist of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.
Why liquor is running low in many states
According to Ozgo and others, there are problems at nearly every step of the alcohol beverage supply chain.
Some producers are struggling to source glass bottles. The cost to import liquor from overseas has shot up because of price increases in international shipping. And actually delivering booze to bars, restaurants and other vendors has been hampered by a shortage of truck drivers.
"So all along the line, you almost have a compounding effect," Ozgo said, adding that some of these problems existed before the pandemic but grew worse over the past year.
Shawn Kelly, the spokesperson for the Pennsylvania liquor board, said some businesses are also having staffing issues.
But there is another big problem, one that occurs before any alcohol even touches the bottle.
Many liquors simply take a long time to make. Producers have to grow or buy the ingredients, distill the spirit, then let it age. That means producers must anticipate demand years in advance. They can't simply turn on the spigot when demand rises.
"You can't go back five years and retroactively plant more agave," Ozgo said of the plant used to make tequila. "It doesn't work that way."
The distiller Buffalo Trace, whose bourbon is currently limited to two bottles per day for customers in Pennsylvania, is undertaking a $1.2 billion expansion but says it will still be "a few years" before it can fully meet consumer demand.
"Buffalo Trace recognizes this is not the news its fans want to hear for the next few years but making great whiskey does take time and the Distillery is not prepared to cut quality corners to increase short term supply," the company said in a press release.
What it means for drinkers
The statewide policy change in Pennsylvania, which stems from the fact that its government controls the sale of spirits and operates all of the commonwealth's retail stores, affects millions of residents.
"[W]e believe the shortages are out of their control," Chuck Moran, executive director of the Pennsylvania Licensed Beverage and Tavern Association, said of the state board's decision.
The association represents small-business taverns and licensed restaurants. Moran says that while he understands there are supply chain issues, it's small businesses and customers who pay the price.
"Unfortunately, since taverns and licensed restaurants — as well as the general consumer who walks into a state liquor store — are at the tail end of the chain, it does have a negative impact."
In Virginia, another state where the government is in charge of alcohol sales, customers are only allowed to buy one bottle of certain liquors per day. Part of that is to make special edition booze available to more people, but state officials say it is also the result of skyrocketing demand during the pandemic.
Ozgo, with the Distilled Spirits Council, said that outside of so-called "control states," it would be up to individual liquor stores to determine whether to limit the sale of certain products. From NPR
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Wake up and smell the coffee ... made in the United States
NEW YORK, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Farmer David Armstrong recently finished planting what is likely the most challenging crop his family has ever cultivated since his ancestors started farming in 1865 - 20,000 coffee trees.
Except Armstrong is not in the tropics of Central America - he is in Ventura, California, just 60 miles (97 km) away from downtown Los Angeles.
"I guess now I can say I am a coffee farmer!" he said, after planting the last seedlings of high-quality varieties of arabica coffee long cultivated in sweltering equatorial climates.
Coffee is largely produced in the Coffee Belt, located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, where countries such as Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia and Vietnam have provided the best climate for coffee trees, which need constant heat to survive.
Climate change is altering temperatures around the globe. That is harming crops in numerous locales, but opening up possibilities in other regions. That includes California and Florida, where farmers and researchers are looking at growing coffee.
Armstrong recently joined a group of farmers taking part in the largest-ever coffee growing endeavor in the United States. The nation is the world's largest consumer of the beverage but produces just 0.01% of the global coffee crop - and that was all in Hawaii, one of only two U.S. states with a tropical climate, along with southern Florida.
Traditional producers of coffee such as Colombia, Brazil and Vietnam have suffered from the impact of extreme heat and changing rain patterns. Botanists and researchers are looking to plant hardier crop varieties for some of those nations' coffee growing regions. read more
Top producer Brazil is going through the worst drought in over 90 years. That was compounded by a series of unexpected frosts, which damaged about 10% of the trees, hurting coffee production this year and next. 
FLORIDA HOPES
As the climate warms in the southern United States, researchers at the University of Florida (UF) are working with a pilot plantation to see if trees will survive in that state.
Scientists have just moved seedlings of arabica coffee trees grown in a greenhouse to the open, where they will be exposed to the elements, creating the risk that plants could be killed by the cold when the winter comes.
"It is going to be the first time they will be tested," said Diane Rowland, a lead researcher on the project.
Rowland said researchers are planting coffee trees close to citrus, an intercropping technique used in other parts of the world as larger trees help hold winds and provide shade to coffee trees.
The project, however, is about more than just coffee cultivation. Alina Zare, an artificial intelligence researcher at UF's College of Engineering, said scientists are also trying to improve how to study plants' root systems. That, in turn, could help in the selection of optimal coffee varieties for the region in the future.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. weather agency, annual mean temperatures were at least 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius) above average for more than half the time in the long-term measuring stations across the United States' southeastern region in 2020.
Florida experienced record heat last year, with average temperatures of 28.3 C (83 F) in July, and 16.4 C (61.6 F) in January. That is hotter than Brazil's Varginha area in Minas Gerais state, the largest coffee-producing region in the world, which averages 22.1 C (71.8 F) in its hottest month and 16.6 C (61.9 F) in the coldest.
"With climate change, we know many areas in the world will have difficulties growing coffee because it is going to be too hot, so Florida could be an option," Rowland said.
 
UK meat industry warns of imminent supply threat from CO2 crisis
LONDON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Britain's meat processors will start running out of carbon dioxide (CO2) within five days, forcing them to halt production and impacting supplies to retailers, the industry's lobby group warned on Monday.
A jump in gas prices has forced several domestic energy suppliers out of business and has shut fertiliser plants that also make CO2 as a by-product of their production process. read more
The CO2 gas is used to stun animals before slaughter, in the vacuum packing of food products to extend their shelf life, and to put the fizz into beer, cider and soft drinks. CO2's solid form is dry ice, which is used in food deliveries.
The CO2 crisis has compounded an acute shortage of truck drivers in the UK, which has been blamed on the impact of COVID-19 and Brexit.
"My members are saying anything between five, 10 and 15 days supply (remain)," Nick Allen of the British Meat Processors Association told Sky News.
With no CO2, a meat processor cannot operate, he said.
"The animals have to stay on farm. They'll cause farmers on the farm huge animal welfare problems and British pork and British poultry will disappear off the shelves," Allen said.
"We're two weeks away from seeing some real impacts on the shelves," he said, adding that poultry could start disappearing from shops even sooner.
 
Samuel Adams' new beer is illegal in 28 states. Here's why.
 The brand just released its 12th batch of Utopias beer, according to a press release from the company. Utopias, which is barrel-aged and released every two years, is described by the company as “a spirited blend of multiple batches of our extreme beers.” This particular batch was finished with 2,000 pounds of cherries and offers “subtle notes of honeyed apricot and caramel to the rich layers of flavor.”
The reason it’s illegal in 28 states, however, has to do with its alcohol by volume (ABV), which stands at 28%. By comparison, a typical beer is only 5% ABV, while spirits like vodka, rum, and tequila hover around 40% ABV.
Many states, such as Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont and West Virginia, still have laws on the books, dating back to the Prohibition era, that caps beer at 5% ABV. However, many have argued that the laws are arbitrary and are limiting craft beer makers.
For those who want to get their hands on a bottle (legally, of course) you’ll have to pay a bit more than your average six pack. A bottle of the latest batch of Utopias retails for a suggested price of $240.
 
Vaccines in your salad? Scientists growing medicine-filled plants to replace injections
Thanks to a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, researchers are now looking accomplish three goals. First, the team will try to successfully deliver DNA containing mRNA vaccines into plant cells, where they can replicate. Next, the study authors want to show that plants can actually produce enough mRNA to replace a traditional injection. Finally, the team will need to determine the right dosage people will need to eat to properly replace vaccinations.
“Ideally, a single plant would produce enough mRNA to vaccinate a single person,” says Juan Pablo Giraldo, an associate professor in UCR’s Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, in a university release.
“We are testing this approach with spinach and lettuce and have long-term goals of people growing it in their own gardens,” Giraldo adds. “Farmers could also eventually grow entire fields of it.”
In the new study, Giraldo teamed with UC-San Diego’s Professor Nicole Steinmetz to use nanotechnology to deliver more genetic material into chloroplasts.
“Our idea is to repurpose naturally occurring nanoparticles, namely plant viruses, for gene delivery to plants,” Steinmetz says. “Some engineering goes into this to make the nanoparticles go to the chloroplasts and also to render them non-infectious toward the plants.”
“One of the reasons I started working in nanotechnology was so I could apply it to plants and create new technology solutions. Not just for food, but for high-value products as well, like pharmaceuticals,” Giraldo adds.

McDonald's will transition all of its Happy Meal toys to products made from renewable, recycled or certified materials by 2025. This could have a deep impact given that the company sells about one billion Happy Meals every year, reported Forbes.
 
A record 73 ships were awaiting a berth in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as of Sept. 19, according to the Marine Exchange of Southern California. Big vessels continue to join the bottleneck, and experts say other West Coast ports like Oakland and Seattle simply aren't large enough to handle the surplus, reported The Wall Street Journal.
 
Missing out on the recommended seven or more hours of sleep per night could lead to more opportunities to make poorer snacking choices than those made by people who meet shut-eye guidelines, a new study suggests. The analysis of data on almost 20,000 American adults showed a link between not meeting sleep recommendations and eating more snack-related carbohydrates, added sugar, fats and caffeine. The research also revealed what appears to be a popular American habit not influenced by how much we sleep: snacking at night.
"At night, we're drinking our calories and eating a lot of convenience foods," said Christopher Taylor, professor of medical dietetics in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The Ohio State University and senior author of the study.
"Not only are we not sleeping when we stay up late, but we're doing all these obesity-related behaviors: lack of physical activity, increased screen time, food choices that we're consuming as snacks and not as meals. So it creates this bigger impact of meeting or not meeting sleep recommendations."

Dave Portnoy, founder of the pop culture site Barstool Sports, is jumping in on the virtual “ghost kitchen” trend, partnering with Planet Hollywood founder Robert Earl to launch a virtual restaurant concept built around the Barstool brand, reported Bloomberg.
 
According to a new survey by Alignable, 85% of small U.S. restaurants say it’s still very difficult to find staff. The company polled small and medium-sized business owners between August 15 and September 13 and found 803 restaurant owners said it was very difficult to find employees, up slightly from the month prior, reported Business Insider. 
 
One million people from around the world applied for jobs at Amazon during a September 15 recruiting event held by the online retailer. The hiring push follows the company's recent announcement that it plans to hire 125,000 warehouse and transportation workers in the U.S., with those roles offering average starting wages of $18 an hour, reported CBS News.
 
Fruit and vegetable consumption and exercise can increase levels of happiness, according to research by the University of Kent and University of Reading, reported MedicalXPress.
 
Stocks for Oregon-based coffee chain Dutch Bros. surged 70% after opening on Wednesday in its first session as a public company. The chain boasts more than 480 locations in 11 states and has said it aspires to eventually rival global coffee giant Starbucks, reported Fast Company.

Georgia restaurant forced to close after entire staff quits
A burrito chain restaurant in Georgia was forced to close after the entire staff quit, citing they all worked seven days a week for the past month.
 
Scientists Are Potty Training Cows with the New 'MooLoo' to Protect the Environment
A study by the Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology in Germany revealed that cows — whose urine causes environmental harm — can be successfully toilet trained
According to a study published Monday by the Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN) in Germany, scientists have taught cows to urinate in a designated area, dubbed a "MooLoo."  
The study revealed that, over the course of 15 training sessions, researchers were able to direct cows into the barn's "MooLoo" to urinate. Scientists rewarded the cows with a treat when they successfully used the "MooLoo" and learned to control their urinary reflexes.
"Within one or two urinations, most of the animals were walking down the alleyway, pushing open the door and going into the toilet," said Lindsay Matthews, a New Zealand-based animal behavioral expert and the lead author of the study, The Washington Post reports.
According to researchers, 11 of the 16 calves were successfully trained within a few weeks, comparing the performance level to that of young children.
"Normally, it is assumed that cattle are not able to control their defecation or urination," Dr. Jan Langbein, an FBN scientist, said in a release. "Cattle, like many other animals or farm animals, are quite intelligent and capable of learning. Why shouldn't they also be able to learn how to use a toilet?"
Cow urine contains high amounts of nitrate, which can contaminate waterways or create airborne nitrous oxide once it enters the soil if not appropriately managed. By toilet training cows — who urinate frequently — researchers believe greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced significantly, according to the study.
Now, outdoor farms are starting to adopt the methods used in the research in hopes of improving cleanliness and reducing environmental harm with the same technique.
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September 18, 2021

9/19/2021

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Restaurants are attempting to score points with football-themed menus at the season’s outset. After a pandemic pause last year, operators are stepping up food and drink promotions to lure fans onsite as the NFL and college football seasons kick off, despite any Delta variant concerns, reported Restaurant Business.
 
Meanwhile, Denny’s signed Name, Image, and Likeness deals with four college football offensive linemen. 
 
 Eating a half cup of walnuts every day for two years modestly lowered levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, known as "bad cholesterol," and reduced the number of total LDL particles and small LDL particles in healthy, older adults, according to new research published in Circulation, reported MedicalXPress.
 
U.S. farmers’ net income is projected to jump 19.5% this year to an eight-year high of $113 billion, according to the USDA. The announcement is a sharp reversal from a February projection of declining profits and is largely due to a surge in corn and soybean prices this spring, reported Reuters.
 
Walmart opened its first Ghost Kitchen Brands “virtual food court” at its Rochester, New York, store. The companies plan to expand the program to dozens of Walmart stores in Canada and the U.S., with sites planned in Texas, California, Illinois and Georgia over the coming months, reported Nation’s Restaurant News. 
 
Over the last 18 months, QR code downloads have increased 750%, signaling they’re likely to replace paper restaurant menus for good, reported CNBC.
 
An Oregon-based McDonald's location is looking to a younger labor pool to offset worker shortages during the pandemic, while an Ohio-based Burger King did the same earlier this year. While the fast food industry has typically relied on teen workers over the age of 16, some franchisees are looking to 14- and 15-year-old workers to help bolster their employees rolls, reported USA Today.
 
A study led by a researcher at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that food insecurity among college students is associated with lower college graduation rates and lower chances of obtaining a bachelor's or advanced degree, reported MedicalXPress.
Food insecurity is a household's lack of consistent access to adequate food resources. The researchers found that students in the food-insecure group were more than 40 percent less likely to graduate from college and more than 60 percent less likely to achieve a graduate or professional degree.
 
Whole Foods owner Amazon said Wednesday that it will bring its cashierless technology to two of the grocery stores next year, letting shoppers grab what they need and leave without having to open their wallets. Cameras and sensors track what’s taken off shelves; items are charged to an Amazon account after customers leave the store.
 
New consumer research shows that consumers are sticking to some familiar habits while exploring others when shopping for groceries. According to a survey conducted by digital payment software and solutions provider ACI Worldwide and PYMNTS.com, an overwhelming majority of consumers – 94% – say they shop at physical stores at least some of the time and 34% report buying at least some of their groceries online.
 
 
Food technology company Chinova Bioworks has launched a major research initiative that could help eliminate animal products from the beer-making industry. Chinova recently teamed up with New Brunswick post-secondary institution Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) to develop a rapid fining agent for breweries using Chinova’s proprietary white button mushroom fiber, called “Chiber.”
The four main ingredients used to make beer are water, a grain like barley or wheat, yeast, and hops (a flower that provides beer’s distinctive taste). However, some breweries add animal-derived ingredients throughout the production and filtering process to make beer appear clearer and brighter, such as pepsin (pigs’ stomach enzymes), carmine (derived from crushed cochineal insects), and isinglass (obtained from fish bladders). Certain types of beer also include honey or cream for flavor, such as honey beers, meads, and milk stouts. Chinova’s technology would provide brewers with a vegan alternative to animal-based fining agents such as isinglass and synthetic polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) that has long been used in the beverage industry. VegNews
 
 
What are farmers doing besides feeding the rest of us? A NASA satellite found some odd readings over the United States. Global warming proponents thought they were onto something. They were surprised to find that the image was a manifestation of the force of farming in the United States.The satellite image shows the photosynthesis of America's 100 million acre Corn crop. Further research found the US corn crop, at it's peak, produces 40% more oxygen than the Amazon rain forest. Thank you farmers.
 
 
Fast food restaurants like McDonald's and Chick-fil-A might be planning to speed up orders with some newly introduced tech, but it would come at a personal cost. ZDNet reports that a technology company called AdvanTech has created the Fly-Thru Drive-Thru, a "simple new solution" that is "enhancing the drive-thru without adding operational complexity." ZDNet describes the Fly-Thru Drive-Thru by comparing it to a toll booth, explaining that the AdvanTech-designed Zebra RFID technology can remember orders by recognizing customers as they approach their vehicles.
The tech does not scan your face but rather uses a system wherein "a customer's order is programmed into a branded decal that is placed on their windshield or dashboard." The company also claims that its tech does not store "sensitive customer information." The big issue for customers, it seems, is that if you frequent multiple fast-food restaurants, then you would have to have decals for each of those stores if you want the convenience of having your order remembered at each of those places. This could potentially cause your windshield to be a bit cluttered. It is also unclear if customers would be expected to pay for the decal or if it would be provided at a charge by the restaurant. From Pop Culture
 
A man urinated on the counter of a Dairy Queen restaurant in Canada after being asked to wear a mask, reports say

CTV News first reported the story. The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday night at a branch on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. A video of the incident was posted to Facebook. 
In the video, the man can be heard arguing with staff over the restaurant's mask policy. "You do not have a brain" the man, who has not yet been identified, shouted at workers behind the counter.
A worker asked him to follow the rules, telling him he couldn't be served unless he wore a mask.
 
A Missouri restaurant worker used the labor shortage to get a new job at Domino's, win a quick promotion, and buy a 2nd vehicle, a report says
The tight labor market in the US is helping some workers secure better-paying jobs and win quick promotions. Keith Lane appears to be among them.
Lane told the Missouri newspaper the Springfield News-Leader that he was laid off from his job at a McAlister's Deli at Springfield-Branson National Airport early in the coronavirus pandemic and was out of work for four months. He later returned to McAlister's, briefly, but then secured what he said was a better job at a Domino's location in Springfield.
According to the Springfield News-Leader, Domino's promoted Lane to assistant manager within six months. Lane said this helped him buy a second vehicle, using the cash he pulled in from working the extra hours that were on offer.
Lane and others have taken advantage of the tight labor market by switching out of lower-paying or less desirable jobs. Some are even rage-quitting in anticipation that plenty more job opportunities exist.
 
This Beloved Lunch Staple Is Disappearing From Grocery Store Shelves
SALES OF THIS FOOD HAVE GROWN BY DOUBLE DIGITS, LEADING TO A PERVASIVE SHORTAGE.
 
There is currently a shortage of Lunchables, the lunchtime variety snack pack popular with children and adults alike. From the brand's kid-friendly charcuterie board meal of turkey, cheese, and crackers to its make-your-own pizza pack, grocery stores have been wiped clean, shoppers on Reddit report. A spokesperson from Kraft Heinz, which owns Lunchables, told Best Life that there is record demand for the product right now. The spokesperson said the company has seen Lunchables' sales grow by double digits for the first time in five years.
"Compared to 2019, nearly two million more households bought Kraft Heinz brands in the second quarter of 2021," the spokesperson said. They added that the company is "thrilled to see incredible demand." To address this growth, the company is working to invest in its supply chains. Additionally, the spokesperson said Kraft Heinz has "teams working fast and furiously so our retailers and consumers can get more of the Kraft Heinz products they love, wherever they like to shop."
Lunchables are the latest shortage in a series of disappearing products. The WSJ reports that other kid favorites, including frozen waffles and Gatorade, are experiencing a shortage. Additionally, resin, aluminum, and other raw materials used for most packaging are running low.  BestLife\
 
A growing number of cattle producers want to end one of the nation’s most iconic marketing campaigns. Ranchers argue that the mandatory “Beef. It’s what’s for dinner” fee of $1 per head of cattle sold isn’t specifically promoting American beef at a time when imports are flooding the market and plant-based alternative protein products are proliferating in grocery stores, reported Associated Press.

Some restaurants' plans to reopen indoor dining are slowing or halting altogether as the Delta variant continues to drive new infections. McDonald's Corp. and Chick-fil-A Inc. are among the restaurants slowing reopening efforts in dining rooms, while others are trying to capitalize on outdoor dining while they still can, reported The Wall Street Journal.
 
Aluminum, bleached flour, and sorbic acid are among the 120 ingredients that Burger King has blacklisted from its food menus nationwide. The purge is part of the chain’s new commitment to deliver on “the promise of real food,” reported MarketWatch.
 
Kids menus appear to be getting an upgrade at many restaurants. According to Technomic’s Ignite Menu data, kids’ menu staples like chicken nuggets and mac and cheese are less popular now compared to prior to the pandemic, while mentions of vegetables like broccolini have increased 28%, reported Restaurant Business.
 
Amazon plans to add 125,000 employees throughout its U.S. warehouse operations in advance of the holiday shopping period. Additionally, it plans to open 100 facilities across the nation in September and has upped its minimum wage in certain locations to as high as $22.50 per hour, reported The Wall Street Journal. 
 
Cultured meat startup, Meatable, is partnering with Royal DSM to make cultured meat products more affordable and scalable. The companies will focus on reducing development costs for growth media, the liquid that contains the essential nutrients required to grow the cells from hair or tissue of livestock, reported Meat + Poultry.
 
A new study found that eating one avocado a day for 12 weeks led to women seeing reduced levels of visceral fat, the kind that encases internal organs and is linked to higher chances of heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes, according to research from the University of Illinois.
 
KFC pulled advertising for its chicken tenders due to supply shortages. KFC U.S. President Kevin Hochman noted the chain had enough supply to meet current demand, but aggressive advertising for the product would likely stretch supplies too thin, reported Fortune. 
 
Pumpkin-spice drinks paid significant dividends for Starbucks when they returned to menus recently. The weekend after Starbucks brought back its pumpkin spice latte in late August, the chain’s visits spiked 20.8% and 19.3% on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, reported Placer.ai.

DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats are suing New York City over its law permanently capping the amount of commissions the apps can charge restaurants to use their services. The companies claim the limit on fees has cost them hundreds of millions of dollars combined through July and constitutes government overreach, reported MarketWatch. 
 
McPlant Burger- The McPlant burger, developed with Beyond Meat, features a plant-based patty on a vegan sesame bun with vegan cheese, vegan sauce and other toppings. Both the patty and cheese are made with pea protein.
The McPlant will be cooked separately from other McDonald’s sandwiches with dedicated utensils. It will go on sale in 10 restaurants this month before being rolled out to 250 more later this fall. The McPlant will be sold in all McDonald's in the U.K. and Ireland in 2022.
 
A new report indicates health-focused restaurant chains are growing fast. Concepts selling smoothies, salads and nutritionally balanced bowls are enjoying swift growth, mainly because they can operate with limited square footage, their dishes are designed to be portable, and most have fairly limited labor needs, reported Restaurant Business.
 
High Meat Prices Are Helping Fuel Inflation, And A Few Big Companies Are Being Blamed Prices for beef, pork and chicken have surged during the pandemic, and the Biden administration believes it knows who's partly behind it: a handful of big meatpacking companies that control most of the country's supply.
Beef prices alone jumped 12.2% over the last year, according to new consumer inflation data on Tuesday, making it one of the costliest items in the surging bills that consumers face today at the grocery store.
"It's just outrageous. I can't even understand how people are supposed to be able to pay that kind of money for basic stuff like ground beef," says Adam Jones, who raises Angus cattle in northwest Kansas. "We're not talking about filet mignon. We're just talking about being able to make spaghetti or being able to make tacos."
The surge in meat prices is contributing to high inflation. The Labor Department reported Tuesday that consumer price index rose 5.3% in the 12 months ending in August. That's down slightly from June and July when inflation was running at 5.4% — but it's still near the highest level in nearly 13 years. Pork prices jumped 9.8% in the last year while chicken prices jumped 7.2%.
The White House is responding by shining a spotlight on "Big Meat," as part of a larger campaign against what the Biden administration calls "anti-competitive" behavior by big business — even as meatpackers insist they are not to blame.
More than 80% of the beef in the U.S. is slaughtered and processed by just four big companies, including Tyson Foods and JBS USA. A similar handful of companies also controls processing of more than half the chicken in the country and two-thirds of the pork.
The administration says industry giants like Tyson and Smithfield have such a stranglehold on processing operations that they can command higher prices at the supermarket, while also putting the squeeze on farmers, who in some cases can't even cover their costs.
The administration is setting aside $500 million to help bankroll new meat processors to compete with the big four.
But meatpackers reject the idea that industry consolidation is hurting ranchers or consumers.
"The present spread between live cattle and beef prices has everything to do with the law of supply and demand," says Shane Miller, group president for fresh meats at Tyson, the nation's largest beef and chicken processor.
Miller told a Senate committee this summer that the pandemic and other shocks have forced processors to slow down their slaughtering operations, so there are fewer cattle coming in and fewer steaks going out.
"This led to an oversupply of live cattle and an undersupply of beef, all while demand for beef products is at an all-time high," Miller said. "So it should not surprise any of us that as a result, the price for cattle fell while the price for beef rose."
 
Snyder's Pretzel-Flavored Beer With Captain Lawrence Brewing
 
 Taco Bell tests 30-day taco subscription to drive more frequent visits Customers with the Taco Lover's Pass can order one crunchy taco, soft taco, spicy potato soft taco or Doritos Locos taco per day for 30 days straight on the chain's app. The cost of the pass ranges from $5 to $10 a month, depending on the location. The Yum Brands chain is testing the program across 17 locations in Tucson, Arizona from Sept. 9 to Nov. 24. The pass could encourage more consumers to download and use Taco Bell's app as well. The chain launched a loyalty program through its app more than a year ago. Executives on Yum's latest earnings call said that Taco Bell loyalty members spend 35% more on their visits compared with their spending habits before joining the program.

A Dreaded Moment Has Seemingly Arrived For Fans Of Arby's Potato Cakes The death knell has finally sounded for Arby's beloved potato cakes and fans of the starchy comfort food are devastated. According to The Takeout, Arby's has confirmed it themselves — potato cakes are out and crinkle fries are permanently in. How the company could think that crinkle fries, a sometimes soggy and pale potato product, could in any way compete with the crispy on the outside, soft on the inside goodness of a potato cake is a mystery. We get that the chain must have its reasons, and it did warn us back in May, but the substitution of crinkle fries just makes the whole thing worse. 
 
The 'Old Farmer's Almanac' Just Released the Forecast for Winter 2021-2022
They're calling it the "season of shivers." 
 
 
Taco Bell Is Launching Its Sauce Packet Recycling Program Nationwide
The fast food chain is partnering with TerraCycle to reduce its carbon footprint.
 Taco Bell wants to expand that love into helping the planet. According to the company, 8.2 billion single-use film packets are thrown away in the US each year. The fast food chain is partnering with TerraCycle, an international recycling company that specializes in collecting items that aren't recyclable and using them to make new items. This is an extension of an earlier program from April to make the sauce packets recyclable.
Customers will be able to turn their sauce packets into TerraCycle with four steps. First, sign up for a TerraCycle account online, then collect your sauce packets in a cardboard box or other recyclable container, and when the box is full, log into your TerraCycle and print a shipping label. You can take the labeled box to any UPS drop-off in your area. Voíla! You have just diverted waste. 
 
Boston Beer once again lowers expectations for sales of hard seltzer
 
Boston Beer Co. has lowered its full-year sales expectations for its Truly hard seltzer brands for the second time in less than two months, saying demand for the canned drinks are well below what it predicted earlier in the year.

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September 4, 2021

9/4/2021

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New York City has voted to make delivery fee caps permanent. Delivery fees for third-party food delivery companies are capped at 15% per order for delivery. The cap will be reviewed by the City Council every two years, reported Bloomberg.

Chicago officials accused both DoorDash and Grubhub of harming city restaurants and customers through high fees and other deceptive practices. According to lawsuits, both companies advertise delivery services for restaurants without their agreement, charge higher prices for items than restaurants, and charge more in total fees than initially disclosed to customers. Representatives for both companies pushed back on the suits, reported CBS News.
 
Restaurant rent delinquencies are on the rise. Alignable’s August Rent Poll Report showed 45% of restaurants were unable to pay their August rents, representing a five-point jump from the month prior. The survey of 5,349 small businesses also showed that 88% of restaurants said they fear the Delta variant will slow economic recovery, reported alignable.com.
 
A pandemic record of 44 ships were awaiting entry into the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach as of Aug. 28, up from 37 ships in mid-August, according to the Marine Exchange of Southern California. The backlog is the result of many factors, including a labor shortage, pandemic-related disruptions, and holiday-buying surges, reported Fresh Fruit Portal. 
 
Consuming sucrose, “the more natural form” of sugar, may be as bad for your health as consuming high fructose corn syrup, according to a University of California, Davis, study, reported MedicalXPress.
 
A new study indicates that folate – a B-vitamin naturally found in food – is directly linked to the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, reported Well+Good.
 
The top 5 folate foods
  1. Edamame
 “One-half cup cooked edamame has 241 mcg folate, or 60 percent of the daily requirement. It makes a delicious snack or appetizer that provides a prolonged energy boost thanks to the combination of fiber and protein, which help to keep blood sugar stable. You can toss edamame beans on salads, too.”
2. Lentils
“One-half cup of cooked lentils has 179 mcg of folate—almost half of the daily requirement. Lentils are a great source of protein and fiber and are a super satisfying source of plant protein. They’re wonderful to add to the diet as their fiber helps to keep you regular and improve gut health. They’re also a great source of iron, which is particularly good for vegetarians who often struggle to get enough. They make a great substitution for meat in tacos, salads, and soups.”
3. Asparagus
“One-half cup asparagus has 164 mcg, or 40 percent of the daily requirement. It's also rich in fiber, and is a great source of anthocyanins—these antioxidants help protect the body from the damage caused by free radicals, which can lead to chronic disease. Another fun reason to add it to the diet: asparagus contain the amino acid asparagine, which acts as a natural diuretic, helping to flush excess fluid and salt from your body.”
4. Spinach
“A half cup of steamed spinach provides 131 mcg of folate, which is around one third of the daily 400 mcg requirement. It promotes immune and skin health since it’s rich in vitamin C. Spinach is also great for vegetarians and vegans since it’s a rich source of iron and calcium, two nutrients that most people associate with animal products.”
5. Black Beans
“One half cup serving of black beans contains 128 mcg of folate, roughly a third of the daily requirement. Add beans to your salad, make bean soup, chili, burrito, bean salsa, or a casserole and you’ll also get a hefty dose of fiber, antioxidants, plus protein.”

 
Wendy’s Co. is combatting soggy French fries by retooling their design with drive-thru and delivery orders in mind. The new “Hot & Crispy” fries are coated with a “whisper” of batter to hold up for a 20-30-minute delay before eating, reported MarketWatch.
 
With test digs showing yields down 20% to 30%, Idaho potato farmers are bracing for a poor crop caused by drought and heat. Meanwhile, major processors, including Lamb Weston, McCain Foods and Cavendish Farms have offered growers an extra $1.50 per hundredweight for additional spuds, reported The Wichita Eagle.
 
The U.S. cattle backlog has “finally cleared,” according to Rabobank. New analysis offers a bright outlook for near-term U.S. beef market dynamics, noting that the backlog of cattle both inside and outside feedyards has cleared the market. Current fed steer prices are 25% above 2020, reported Meatingplace.
 
Cutting 20% of sugar from packaged foods and 40% from beverages could prevent 2.48 million cardiovascular disease events, 490,000 cardiovascular deaths, and 750,000 diabetes cases in the U.S. over the lifetime of the adult population, according to a study published in Circulation, reported MedicalXPress.
 
Some U.S. fast-food restaurants are closing indoor seating areas or limiting hours of operation because of the spread of the Delta variant, according to franchisees. Last week, McDonald's instructed its franchisees on steps they should take to re-close their dining rooms in areas where the Delta variant is rapidly spreading, reported Reuters.
 
Leading coffee roasters have been dealt a blow as a strict lockdown in Vietnam has led to higher bean prices. Vietnam is the leading exporter of robusta coffee, the bitter tasting bean used for instant coffee as well as for some espresso blends, reported The Financial Times. 
 
Warning of a new COVID-19 crisis, restaurants are pressing Congress for more aid. In a letter to Congressional leadership, the National Restaurant Association implored lawmakers to take action, noting that 19% of customers have already stopped going to restaurants due to fear of the Delta variant, reported Restaurant Business.
 
Replacing table salt with a reduced-sodium, added-potassium 'salt substitute' significantly reduces rates of stroke, heart attack and death, according to the results of one of the largest dietary intervention studies ever conducted, reported MedicalXPress.
 
Taco Bell is launching the Chicken Sandwich Taco for a limited time. The item, which will ask fans to answer whether it's a sandwich or taco, will incorporate marinated chicken with tortilla chips and flatbread, reported MarketWatch.
 
Fifty-four percent of Americans have tried alternative meat items available at popular fast food chains, with 70% enjoying the experience, according to Piplsay research.
 
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