Cooking
Here’s What Food Prices Are Going Up And Down In Grocery Stores
Stay-at-home orders and restaurant closures have caused the demand for groceries to surge significantly, and prices are rising as a result. The overall cost of food has risen 0.7% in June, and rose 1% in May, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While these increases are slight, certain food items have had significant inflations in the month of June. Once again, meat prices are up. Beef and veal prices went up 4.8%, pork prices increased 3.3%, bacon prices increased 8.1%, hot dog prices grew 4.9%, and the cost of frozen fish and seafood prices climbed by 1%. Dessert prices have gone up, too. The cost of cakes, cupcakes, and cookies has gone up 1.8%, fresh cakes and cupcake prices went up 3.5%, and fresh doughnut prices rose 1.8%. Snack prices have soared 2.1%, and carbonated drink prices rose 2.2%. Though prices for many foods have increased, some food prices have remained stable or gone down. Poultry prices haven’t changed much, and the cost of eggs and dairy declined. Egg prices decreased by 2.7%, butter by 1.7%, and milk by 0.6%.
Canned Tuna Sales Soar As Pandemic Continues
As Americans load up their pantries with canned goods, sales of Bumble Bee canned tuna have jumped 100% from mid-March to April. Tuna producers say that sales have remained higher throughout 2020 compared to 2019. Dwindling tuna supplies have left companies and suppliers searching for solutions. Andrew Choe, president and chief executive of tuna brand StarKist, says they’ve wanted to ramp up production, but they have been unable to buy tuna from regular suppliers due to border restrictions and fishing-port closures in the Pacific Islands. Bumble Bee Foods’ facility in Santa Fe Springs, California has also added Saturday shifts to help meet the increased demand for canned tuna.
Trader Joe’s to Eliminate Racist Packaging
The popular grocery chain Trader Joe’s uses other names on its in-house brands, such as Trader Ming’s for Chinese food products and Trader José’s for Mexican foods. After a recent Change.org petition requested revisions to that “racist packaging,” Trader Joe’s has agreed to make changes. The petition, started by 17-year-old Briones Bedell, garnered more than 2,000 signatures and came on the heels of similar changes made by other food brands such as Aunt Jemima, Uncle Ben’s, and Eskimo Pie. Kenya Friend-Daniel, Trader Joe’s national director of public relations said that the California-based grocer had already started to phase out some of these product names before the petition was created and realized that although its quirky approach to naming “may have been rooted in a lighthearted attempt at inclusiveness, we recognize that it may now have the opposite effect.” Friend-Daniel added, “With this in mind, we made the decision several years ago to use only the Trader Joe’s name on our products moving forward.” The products in question will simply be renamed as Trader Joe’s.
Restaurants
“Waygu” Plant-Based Beef Wins Over Japanese Master Chef Hidekazu Tojo
Hidekazu Tojo, Japanese-Canadian chef and inventor of the California Roll, recently compared plant-based “Waygu” beef to real Wagyu beef. “I was unsure about the quality,” said Tojo. “But when I tried it, I could not believe it was made from plants. My first impression was that it was real wagyu beef. I was immediately very impressed.” The plant-based alternative to Japan’s famously rich beef is made with textured soy protein that is layered with fibers of plant protein multiple times and then flavored with rice wine, ginger, garlic paste, and soy sauce. The first samples of Waygu have already shipped to restaurants and food producers around the world, and full-scale production is expected to begin this August, according to Blair Bullus, president of Vancouver’s Top Tier Foods, who made the plant-based alternative. “Wagyu beef has long been recognized as the best beef in the world for its unique succulent texture and marvelous subtle flavors,” say Bullus. “We set about trying to make a plant-based alternative that would live up to this standard for texture, taste and quality so that those who choose not to eat meat can still enjoy a product of wagyu beef’s legendary quality.”
California Rolls Back Restaurant Reopening As Coronavirus Cases Surge
As coronavirus case numbers climbed up to 7,000 and counting in California this past week, Governor Gavin Newsom rolled back state plans for restaurants to resume dine-in service. The order immediately pauses indoor activities at bars, zoos, movie theaters, and museums as well. This past Monday, California reported 8,538 new cases and 23 deaths with daily cases skyrocketing over 20% in the last week. Outdoor dining in Alameda County, California has closed as well, sending many businesses into a hurry to close up again, just weeks after reopening. Restaurants will once again have to resort to takeout, drive-thru, and delivery services only. Thirty-one of the state’s 58 counties are re-closing, affecting roughly 33 million Californians and 85% of the state’s population. Get the full story here at Wall Street Journal and here at Los Angeles Times.
Beverages
Coming In Early 2021: Johnnie Walker Scotch In Paper Bottles
According to alcoholic beverage company Diageo, its Johnnie Walker scotch whisky will be sold in paper bottles early next year. The initiative aims to eliminate plastic waste and comes after years of scrutiny against companies that use plastic packaging. Beverage makers Diaego, PepsiCo, and Unilever have all set goals to reduce plastic use and enhance recycling by 2025 as part of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals program. The new Johnnie Walker scotch whisky bottle, made in a partnership with venture management company Pilot Lite, will consist of wood pulp and will be fully recyclable, according to Diaego.
Aluminum Cans In Short Supply As Canned Drink Demand Accelerates
While restaurants and sports stadiums remained closed, U.S. beer and soda companies have shifted production from kegs to cans, creating a surge in demand for cans. The resulting supply chain bottlenecks have caused some beverage makers to limit sales of niche products like Cherry Coke Zero and Pibb. “The can industry is working 24/7 on meeting the unprecedented demand,” said Robert Budway, president of the Can Manufacturers Institute, the industry’s trade association. To help fulfill beverage company orders, some of the country’s top can manufacturers are building three new factories within the next 18 months. According to the Aluminum Association, demand for cans had already been increasing prior to the pandemic, as consumers moved away from plastic beverage containers toward those sold in aluminum. Rising sales of newer products like canned wines and hard seltzers have also intensified the need for can manufacturers to step up production.
Sudan Allows Alcohol Consumption After 30 Year Prohibition
After 30 years of alcohol prohibition under Islamist rule, Sudan is now allowing non-Muslims to drink alcohol. Muslims are still prohibited from drinking, and if caught drinking with non-Muslims, which make up around 3% of the population, both parties could be liable, according to Justice Minister Nasredeen Abdulbari. The country has also abolished other laws and practices such as an anti-apostasy law (banning the renunciation of one’s religion), public flogging, female genital mutilation, and the requirement that women secure a male relative’s permission to travel with their children. The laws being abolished were enacted more than three decades ago when Omar Hassan al-Bashir was in power. Mr. al-Bashir was deposed last year.
Eonophiles Pick 5 Easygoing, Affordable Summer Wines
“An easygoing wine should be a little bit light and a little bit fruity, and it should taste equally good with or without food,” says wine expert Lettie Teague. “And it should be reasonably priced.” After consulting with other eonophiles (wine lovers), Teague found 5 wines that fit the bill. Her most affordable pick is the 2019 Vinho Verde from Aveleda Fonte for just $7. “It’s for drinking just about anywhere, anytime,” says Teague. Then there’s the 2019 Pino Grigio from renowned Italian winemaker Erste + Neue. At $13, this fresh and somewhat minerally white from the Alto Adige region is a bargain. If you like a bit more acidity in a pale pink wine, Teague recommends the 2019 Mas de Cadenet Côtes de Provence Sainte Victoirie for $17. Or, if prefer melon aromas in a softer white, try the classic Albariño, 2018’s Burgáns Albariño Rias Baixas for just $12. Among reds, Beaujolais is probably the most agreeable summer wine, and the 2018 Pierre-Marie Chermette Poncié Fleurie, at only $24, provides a bit more edge along with the refreshing fruit.
British Royal Family Now Sells Gin With The Queen’s Garden Botanicals
The Royal Collection Trust, founded by Queen Elizabeth II, has begun selling premium London dry gin made with botanicals from the queen’s Buckingham Palace garden. The regal gin is made from 12 botanicals, including lemon verbena, hawthorn berries, bay leaves, and mulberry leaves collected from the garden. “For the perfect thirst-quencher,” said the trust in a statement, “the recommended serving method is to pour a measure of the gin into an ice-filled short tumbler before topping up with tonic and garnishing with a slice of lemon.” The Buckingham Palace gin will be served at official palace events, and 23-ounce bottles currently retail for about $50 online. Get the full story at Fox Newshere, at VinePair here, and at Reuters here.
Supply Chain
Global Coffee Consumption Plummets With Stay-At-Home Orders
Coffee consumption worldwide is set to fall this year for the first time since 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Stay-at-home orders have cratered sales at coffee shops, as 95% of the out-of-home market shuttered, according to industry researcher Marex Spectron. “It will be a slow and staggered comeback for us as a lot of the offices in London are not coming back on until after summer, and some may even open only next year,” said Robert Robinson, co-founder of London coffee chain Notes. In Brazil, low demand at Suplicy Cafes Especiais, one of the country’s largest chains, forced the company to reschedule payments to farmers for shipments already delivered. International coffee giants Dunkin’ and Starbucks have struggled to mitigate the loss of commuter traffic with increased drive-thru and pickup sales, but low demand worldwide is already taking a toll on coffee’s market value. The value of arabica beans is predicted to drop by roughly 10% in the second half of 2020 to about 90 cents a pound, according to Citigroup Inc.
Food Banks Pushed To The Brink As Food Insecurity Rises
The Brooklyn social services provider Camba Inc. served more than 18,000 people last month, almost five times as many as in February. It’s a small example of how the pandemic has caused demand at food banks to skyrocket due to millions of Americans being out of work. According to hunger-relief organization Feeding America, which operates 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs across the country, an additional 17 million people will become unable to meet their family’s food needs this year. To meet rising demand, relief organizations across the country are testing new distribution strategies, employing temporary labor, and scrambling to find larger storage facilities.
According to a June survey by Feeding America, over 82% of U.S. food banks are helping more people now than last year, at an average increase of 50%. Food banks rely on surplus food from grocery stores, manufacturers, farmers, and government agencies. However, due to consumer stockpiling, shelf-stable products have been in low supply since March, straining food-relief efforts that rely on these products. Food banks have been forced to compete with each other for canned goods, in many cases purchasing the items themselves.
Global Meat Consumption To Increase Post-Pandemic, Says United Nations
Global meat consumption will grow by 12% in the coming decade with lower-cost poultry accounting for half the increase, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In “Agricultural Outlook,” a joint report with Organization for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD), the FAO predicts that poultry consumption worldwide will rise by 145 tons by 2029 and that aquaculture will surpass capture fisheries by 2024 as the top source of fish. Low feed costs for poultry and livestock will make these ventures more attractive to farmers, according to the report, and consumers in middle-income countries will continue to supplement traditional diets with more meat as it becomes affordable.
In developing countries, especially in Asia and Africa, meat consumption will rise five times faster than in developed nations, according to the joint report, as consumers in developed nations seek meat alternatives. “Environmental and health concerns in high-income countries are expected to support a transition away from animal-based protein toward alternative sources, as well as more immediate substitution away from red meat, notably beef, toward poultry and fish,” said the report. Although meat consumption is predicted to eventually rise, The OECD-FAO estimates that global meat consumption fell by 2% in 2019 with China experiencing at least a 21% drop in pork consumption due to the outbreak of African swine flu epidemic.
How the Pandemic May Strengthen the U.S. Food System
The pandemic has exposed several weaknesses in the U.S. food supply chain. When restaurants, stadiums, and schools closed, commercial growers could not quickly or easily repackage huge amounts of product for retail sale. At the same time, surging consumer demand at grocery stores outpaced the production capabilities of retail food packagers. The upside has been that smaller regional growers and wholesalers who had already been diversifying their products and sales channels began to fill the gap with direct-to-consumer sales both online and at local and regional farmstands. Farms such as G. Flores Produce and J & L Green Farm in Virginia were well-positioned to bring a variety of produce, meat, and dairy directly to consumers. Tom McDougall, owner of 4P, a food distributor in Virginia, began stepping up his distribution of products from farms such as G. Flores to restaurants, stores, and individual consumers. “Wouldn’t it be amazing,” asks McDougall, “if we came out of the other end of [COVID-19] with a more equitable, distributed, and resilient food system?”
While large-scale commercial farms have an inherent ability to reach more consumers more efficiently, the decentralized nature of more regional agriculture systems allows growers and distributors like G. Flores and 4P to respond more quickly to shifts in supply and demand, which could ultimately strengthen the food system and help eliminate food shortages. Groups such as the Mid-Atlantic Food Resilience and Access Coalition are already matching producers with buyers, creating what they call “community feeding networks” to reach consumers, institutions, and food banks, and to help keep farmers solvent. It remains to be seen how regional food systems and larger commercial agricultural systems will work together to solve potential food shortages, but the pandemic has already created unique alliances that may ultimately decrease food insecurity across the country.
Regulations
Foie Gras Is Legal Again In California
In 2004, California lawmakers banned the state’s farmers from producing and selling foie gras, the rich delicacy of fattened goose or duck liver. Chicago banned foie gras in 2006, however the rule was repealed two years later. New York City also instituted a ban in 2019, ruling that restaurants and grocery stores are not permitted to sell foie gras beginning in 2022. Since the 2004 California ruling, producers, animal rights activists, restaurateurs, and lawmakers have battled over the decision. Animal rights activists applauded the ban, citing the cruelty of the fattening method, which involves force-feeding the birds a corn-based mixture through a tube in their throats. Foie gras producers, on the other hand, claim that the animals are treated humanely and don’t suffer during the fattening process. Restaurateurs say their customers are clamoring for the delicacy. In the latest court case, out-of-state producers challenged the California ban, claiming that foie gras produced outside of the state does not violate the existing law. Last week, U.S. District Judge Stephen V. Wilson agreed, ruling that foie gras can be legally bought by Californians as long as the product and transaction are made out of state and the product is brought into California by a third-party delivery service.
1 In 8 Americans Now Relies On Food Stamps
In the first three months of the pandemic, six million Americans were added to the food stamp program, formally known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program). Prior to the pandemic, this program was under federal scrutiny for possible elimination, but data collected by the New York Times for 42 states shows that caseloads increased in all but one state, bringing the total ratio of Americans currently on food stamps to one in eight. Some of the hardest-hit communities include urban centers such as Detroit and Miami as well as affluent suburbs in cities like Atlanta, Houston, and Florida, which added almost a million people to the program. Economists are concerned that unless Congress extends the $600 weekly unemployment benefit, which currently reaches about 20 million people, millions more Americans will apply for food stamps once the $600 benefit expires at the end of July.
In a recent study by the Urban Institute, 17.7% of adults reported food insecurity, which is much higher than pre-crisis levels. “There’s no question that both food insecurity and hunger have risen,” said Elaine Waxman, a co-author of the study. According to Diane Schanzenbach, an economist at Northwestern University, “SNAP is the universal safety net.” Unlike unemployment compensation benefits, food stamps allow for quick enrollment and relatively fast payments via debit card.
Health
Eating Protein From Plants Linked To Lower Risk Of Death, Study Says
A long-term study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Internal Medicine found that death by heart disease decreased by 10% among people who consumed a protein-heavy, plant-based diet. Researchers studied data from 416,104 men and women in the U.S. National Institutes of Health–AARP study on diet and health that ran from 1995 to 2011. Study participants were asked questions about their demographic, lifestyle, and diet at the start of the study and were questioned again 16 years later. On average, participants consumed 15% of their daily energy intake in the form of protein with 40% coming from plants and 60% from animal proteins (including 19% from dairy products). Overall, eating plant protein was associated with a reduced risk of death, particularly from cardiovascular disease, and especially when dietary protein came from grain foods such as bread, cereal and pasta instead of from animal foods such as meat and eggs. Researchers found that swapping only 3% of total calories in the diet from animal to plant protein was linked to a 10% decrease in risk of death.
Study Finds High Herbicide Levels In Hummus And Chickpeas
In a recent study of chickpea products, including popular hummus brands such as Sabra and Whole Foods, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that more than 80% of non-organic hummus and chickpeas contained glyphosate, the active chemical in the weedkiller Roundup. One-third of all samples tested exceeded 160 parts per billion for glyphosate, EWG’s recommended upper limit, which equates to roughly 0.01 milligrams per day. That amount is significantly lower than tolerances established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In statement, a Whole Food spokesperson said, “All Whole Foods Market products tested by the Environmental Working Group are fully compliant with EPA tolerances for glyphosate. Whole Foods Market requires that suppliers meet all applicable limits for glyphosate through effective raw material control programs that include appropriate testing.”
In 2015, the World Health Organization concluded that glyphosate was “probably carcinogenic,” but in January 2020 the Environmental Protection Agency reapproved the use of the chemical. Read more here at The Hill. Or here at Good Housekeeping.
Science
College Dining Halls Navigate Reopening With Robots, Apps, and Outdoor Tables
On U.S. college campuses, the typical all-you-can-eat, all-day, self-serve buffet will look very different this fall semester. To comply with social distancing guidelines, most colleges are eliminating self-service. Instead, cafeteria workers in masks and gloves protected by plexiglass barriers will serve a limited selection of food. Paper cups and single-serving condiment packets are returning, despite previous attempts to eliminate these items to reduce packaging waste. Some schools have employed robots to prepare and deliver food, while others are using apps to schedule staggered pickup times. At South Carolina’s Furman University, students will not be permitted to enter the dining hall at all. Furman has installed two grab-and-go meal stations and will provide students with insulated, reusable grocery bags that accommodate multiple meals to be consumed elsewhere. The university is also installing a pop-up restaurant outside its main library. At the University of Massachusetts Amherst, most classes will be held virtually, and students returning to campus will have limited food options. Ramen bowls will be premade, and salad bars will have fewer choices in an attempt to accelerate wait times. Garett DiStefano, the university’s director of dining services, also plans to expand food truck options on campus to provide students with more food choices.
White Castle Becomes First Fast Food Chain To Test Robotic Fry Cook
White Castle aims to put Flippy, its new robotic chef, to work this September. Made by Miso Robotics, Flippy can perform duties such as moving itself around workstations, frying food, and flipping burgers. The robot can also assimilate to its location and move more efficiently as it adapts to its surroundings. Flippy is already in use at some restaurants, concert venues, and sports stadiums such as Dodger Stadium. White Castle has been working with Miso Robotics on automation efforts for months, but the decision to implement the robot now was accelerated by the pandemic, according to White Castle vice president Jamie Richardson. If Flippy becomes a fixture in White Castle restaurants, the robot will not eliminate human jobs, emphasized Richardson. Kitchen automation, he says, will make food delivery and customer service easier for staff, letting them concentrate on customers and getting delivery drivers the food they need. According to Miso Robotics CEO James “Buck” Jordan, Flippy can coordinate food production with precision timing so that food will be finished cooking and ready to go just when drivers come to pick it up.
Burger King Tests Beef Burgers From Low-Methane Cattle
Burger King teamed up with two groups of scientists to test a new diet for cattle that reduces the animals’ methane emissions. Methane is a natural digestive byproduct for cattle, but this greenhouse gas attracts heat from the sun, contributing to the planet’s increasing temperatures. According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization, farm animals account for about 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In collaboration with Burger King, various scientists have documented success in reducing the methane output of cattle by adding 100 grams of lemongrass leaves to their diet during the last four months of feeding. Initial study results show that the lemongrass addition reduces daily methane emissions by an average of 33% per day during the last three to four months of the animals’ lives. Burger King’s Whopper sandwich made with the low methane beef is now being offered at restaurants in Miami, New York, Austin, Texas, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon. Thus far, no change in the taste of the burgers has been reported.
Fitbit For Chickens Could Increase Egg Production
Scientists at the University of California have found that a Fitbit-like device worn by farm chickens may help combat insect infestations and eventually increase production of fresh eggs. The tiny device tracks bird behavior rather than steps. Entomologist Amy Murillo and her team of researchers developed an algorithm that allows data from the device’s motion sensor to provide reliable indications of a chicken’s distinct actions, such as biting, pecking and preening. Chickens who engage in more feather cleaning are more likely to have infections, and the data can help farmers track down affected chickens before an infestation spreads to the whole flock. “External parasites, such as mites, can have direct impacts on poultry health and productivity as well as economic effects,” said Denise Heard, director of research for the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association. Ultimately, the device may help farmers keep their chickens healthy and boost egg production.