Kiko's Food News, 8.30.13

Will burger prices go up if fast food workers' wages are increased? I think they darn well should, as they've been artificially low when you consider the lesser known costs that go into putting food on our plates: (Los Angeles Times)

Walmart will soon offer full benefits to its employees' domestic partners, including those of the same sex, in all 50 states; as they control about 35% of the American grocery market, I say this qualifies as Food News, and even if this is a "business decision", I'll take it! (Forbes)

As cities start banning foam containers, Dunkin Donuts is getting with the program and taking action to replace their horrific styrofoam cups with ones that have a better environmental footprint while, of course, keeping the price cheap: (San Francisco Chronicle) 

Colleges are beginning to offer fitness- and wellness-themed dorms that offer exercise, nutrition and substance-free pledges: (Washington Post)

A look at how five current international food insecurity emergencies have the potential to impact hundreds of millions of people and dramatically escalate complex emergencies: (Devex)

As summer winds down and we look to squeeze the best out of its produce bounty, this article came in with a good dose of inspiration, such as cutting the greens off so they stop drawing moisture from the veggie: (Greatist)

Kiko's Food News, 8.23.13

A recent survey found that 20% of Aussie kids think pasta comes from animals, and 27% think yogurt comes from plants....shocking, but when I stop to think about it, I had no food education in school either! The people behind Jamie Oliver's Foundation and Food Day (Oct. 24) are working to put food education in every school: (Huffington Post)

Whole Foods is shifting its strategy to shed its "whole paycheck" reputation by emulating discount tactics used by traditional supermarkets; will this train customers not to buy on full price? (Wall Street Journal)

Oakland-based Revolution Foods, which supplies school cafeterias with healthier prepared foods, has entered the grocery sector with new Meal Kits that differentiate themselves through ingredients standards; as opposed to Lunchables, their Ham and Cheddar can claim to be made with ham from animals raised without antibiotics, no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or high-fructose corn syrup: (New York Times)

If the goal of food stamps is to eat as well as one can on a low budget, its understandably hard to imagine our tax dollars going towards buying Ho Hos and Ding Dongs; shockingly though, a recent online poll found that more Americans are annoyed by the idea of food stamps being used to buy expensive food than to buy junk food: (Huffington Post)  

Could labeling eggs for what they really are cause way more people to buy cage-free? New proposed legislation would require eggs from caged hens in the U.S. to be labeled just like they are in the E.U., with one of three choices: “eggs from caged hens”; “barn eggs”, or “free-range”: (Take Part) 

Kiko's Food News, 8.16.13

Do you enjoy "tooth-rattlingly crunchy" chips or "chewy" drinks? If so the Big Food companies are on to you, as they're learning that texture is often as important as taste or flavor in consumers' food choices: (Wall Street Journal) 

The first non-profit grocery store, operated by a food bank, has opened in Santa Rosa, CA and hopes to give low-income customers a more "dignified" shopping experience at prices that beat major grocery stores: (Press Democrat)

If you're already on the amaranth train, you're ahead of the curve: this bushy plant, which Science Magazine named "crop of the future" in 1977, has nutritious seeds that can be made into a flour and may help reverse Mexico's trending obesity: (National Geographic)

The Obama administration released long-awaited proposals aimed at ensuring that food imported to the US--up to 15 % of our food supply--meet U.S. safety standards; domestic importers would for the first time have to vouch for the food-safety practices of their overseas suppliers: (Press Telegram)

A juicy deep dive into how San Francisco's Good Eggs runs business, and a preview into a new market that will have roaming cashiers like an Apple store: (SF Weekly)

Kiko's Food News, 8.9.13

Nine years ago Congress asked the FDA to establish a definition for “gluten-free”, and this week they finally detailed the requirements: for a product to be marketed as “gluten-free”, “free of gluten,” “without gluten” or “no gluten” it must contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten: (Washington Post)

A study found that scientists who judge the safety of food additives work for the very additive manufacturers they're supposed to be regulating, and there's no requirement that they notify the FDA when they make a new additive: (USA Today)   

Uber cabs have caught on like wildfire, so what about an “uber” for food delivery? A New York City food co-op startup is scaling up the sharing of homemade food (with no money exchanged) to an entire city; the meal swapping aims to skirt the top-down regulation, processed meals, wasted leftovers, and anonymous relationships of our food system: (The Atlantic)

To see the world through the lens of home cooking, this photographer snapped grandmas in their kitchens alongside the most typical dish they feed to their families (remind me not to go to grandma's house in Iceland or Norway!): (Demilked) 

Picking up a friend at the airport just got a lot more fun: many airports are now allowing food trucks to set up shop in or near their cellphone lots! (USA Today)

Kiko's Food News, 8.2.13

Thousands of fast-food workers across the country have been holding one-day strikes during peak mealtimes to demand much higher wages; none of the nation’s 200,000-plus fast-food restaurants are unionized, and the national campaign is asking for a living wage of $15/hour: (New York Times)

The Chronicle’s restaurant critic of 25+ years reflected on how technology has changed the way diners interact with restaurants and each other to alter the dining scene over the course of his tenure: (San Francisco Chronicle)

The average Frenchman these days eats only half a baguette a day, compared with almost a whole baguette in 1970 and more than three in 1900; to reverse this trend, the bakers’ and millers’ lobby is championing bread as promoting good health, good conversation and French civilization: (New York Times)

Have you noticed limited release ales, house coffee blends, signature oysters and other one-of-a-kind products named and customized for your favorite restaurant? These partnerships with small food makers are the newest way restaurants are brandishing their local chops: (Fox News)

Ever heard of an eggocado? Do avocado pancakes sound as velvety smooth to you as they do to me? Here are ways to get our favorite good-fat laden fruit into places I wouldn’t have guessed: (Huffington Post)

Kiko's Food News, 7.26.13

The yogi in me was struck by a new study which found that performing rituals before eating can enhance the perception of the food being eaten; whether it’s singing “Happy Birthday” or bowing to say a prayer, this can have economic and marketing implications beyond the food world: (Red Orbit)

While visiting Seattle this week (gorgeous!), I learned that their mayor wants to block a non-union Whole Foods from opening because it pays “significantly lower” wages and benefits than other grocery stores, violating the city’s social and economic justice goals: (Grist)

Pepsi’s Naked Juice line has been forced to strip the words "all natural" from its labels after a class-action suit deemed the claim misleading and false; the juices contain Fibersol-2, fructooligosaccharides, and genetically modified soy: (Take Part)

Clearly Pepsi’s feeling the pressure, as they and other industrial food giants are pouring resources into experimenting with ways to make products aimed at children healthier. Ever thought of subbing parsnips for butter and cream in your Alfredo sauce? (New York Times)

Two New York City hospitals have started a new program (developed by Wholesome Wave) whereby doctors will be able to prescribe $2 coupons for fruits and veggies to low-income patients who are overweight or obese to use at 142 farmers' markets throughout the city: (Council & Heal)

Kiko's Food News, 7.19.13

India is in the process of introducing one of the most ambitious school food-aid programs ever attempted, but violent protests have erupted as 22 school children there died from poison by farm pesticides in their school lunch: (Wall Street Journal)

A new book argues that our prehistoric ancestors picked and gathered wild plants that were in many ways far healthier than the stuff we buy today at farmers' markets: (NPR)

McDonalds partnered with Visa to launch a website to help its low-wage workers making an average $8.25 an hour keep a budget, but it's only underscored how hard it is for a low-paid fast food worker to get by: (Think Progress)

The U.S. is the world's largest producer and exporter of corn and soybeans, but domestic farmers growing these crops organically can't keep up with surging demand to sell them as animal feed; this lack of new acres for organic row crops could restrict growth for other organic foods that rely on feed: (Wall Street Journal) 

In the ever evolving debate over what makes a good food city, the latest battle is being waged in our nation's capital; here's my take on how good eats in DC stack up: (Kiko's Food News)  

Kiko's Food News, 7.12.13

 For the first time since 1973, the Farm Bill will not include food stamps: Republicans muscled a pared-back version through the House yesterday, ending the political marriage between urban concerns about nutrition and rural areas who depend on farm subsidies: (New York Times)

A coalition of farm, rural and consumer organizations is trying to thwart a proposed acquisition of Smithfield Foods (the world's largest pork producer), as the gargantuan corporate consolidation would mean lack of markets for independent producers and damaging effects on our rural economies: (Food & Water Watch)

Chinese food imports to the U.S. are continuing to rise, but inspections in both China and the U.S. aren't keeping pace; to keep consumers safe, should American agencies explore the possibility of funding Chinese NGOs that focus on improving food safety in China? (Wall Street Journal)

On a far more trivial--but tastier--note, I tried to resist the absurd cronut craze but this article presents an interesting analysis of the "self-signaling" that may explain hundreds of people lining up daily for a donut-croissant hybrid! (Fast Company)

From Jarritos Mexican sodas to Miso Ginger vinaigrettes, the growing buying power of Latino and Asian consumers means that more exotic fruit flavors, hotter spices, and new grains are being manufactured by big food companies trying to appeal to diverse appetites: (New York Times)

Kiko's Food News, 7.5.13

Will the American Medical Association’s new classification of obesity as a disease derail progress that the food and restaurant industries have made in introducing healthier options? (Forbes)

Similarly, this viewpoint on how we can fight obesity is counter to what we usually hear from Pollan, Bittman and the like: the author argues that wholesome food is responsible for making people fat too, and that the food-industrial complex can make healthy changes to most readily help at-risk American eaters: (The Atlantic)

The USDA approved a label for meat and liquid egg products that indicates the absence of genetically engineered products; it’s the first time that the department has approved a non-G.M.O. label claim: (New York Times)

The California egg industry faces ruin due to the dichotomy between what voters say they want vs. the reality of how they shop: (Modern Farmer)

Yelp is teaming up with public-health officials to make health ratings count: the company will start by making the raw data of San Francisco’s municipal restaurant inspections–already technically public–really public on a visible consumer platform: (The Atlantic)

In an unprecedented governmental move that sets a legal right to food, the Indian cabinet passed a Food Security Bill which will guarantee cheap grain for 67% of India’s population, or about 800 million people: (Sydney Morning Herald)

Kiko's Food News, 6.28.13

How much are the calorie counts that some cities require on menus helping us eat healthier? Perhaps ignorance wasn't as big of an obstacle to healthy choices as appetite, compulsion and ingrained habit still are: (New York Times)

As farming becomes ever trendier, the discrepancy between the reality and the aesthetics of agriculture grows; this photographer and farmer points out how the truly gritty side of farming is  often under-represented: (Modern Farmer)

Multi-year droughts across states that produce most of the country's beef cattle has led to a dearth in available feed, pushed the U.S. cattle herd to its lowest point since the 1950s and driven up beef costs to historic highs this summer: (NPR)

Meanwhile, the USDA  is trying to keep our beef safe with a newly proposed system that would require all cattle to have electronic ear tags, which help track and control tuberculosis, foot-and-mouth, and mad cow disease: (NPR)

The European Union came close to exerting a little control over the quality of olive oil in restaurants by requiring that it be served in original, tamper-proof bottles that state the oil's credentials on the label; that transparency was apparently too much for some to swallow: (Huffington Post)

Kiko's Food News, 6.21.13

 Proud of my home state CT for being the first to pass a bill requiring food manufacturers to label products that contain genetically modified ingredients (with some stipulations): (New York Times)

Yet another reason not to waste food: a new report showed how inside the 1.3 billion tons of food wasted every year worldwide is 45 trillion gallons of water–that’s wasting 24% of all water used for agriculture! (NPR)

Guess what we can Google now: nutrition info for any food in existence! Type your favorite food in the search bar–the return page has it all: (Tech Crunch)

Processed food companies like McDonald’s and Kraft have realized eaters interpret perfect-looking food as artificial, so now they’re mass-manufacturing food to look slightly flawed or asymmetrical to read as homemade: (ABC News)

In San Fran’s footsteps, Bloomberg is rolling out an ambitious plan to begin collecting food scraps; New York City has historically diverted only about 15% of its residential waste away from landfills, but recent pilot programs have shown an unexpectedly high level of participation: (New York Times)

And all you fellow Tamale Lady fans should know that she’s no longer allowed to peddle her steamy wares at Zeitgeist due to city codes; she’s not sure what direction to take her business in next, so we’ll hungrily stand by: (SFist)

Kiko's Food News, 5.31.13

Unapproved genetically modified wheat was discovered in an Oregon field, posing a potential threat to trade with countries that have concerns about GM foods–not to mention that no GM wheat has been approved for U.S. farming: (Washington Post)

 Raw-milk guzzlers celebrated a Wisconsin farmer’s acquittal on three of four counts related to selling unpasteurized milk and cheese, bolstering hopes for legalization beyond the current legislation which for many states allows consumption on the farm, but not sale: (Wall Street Journal)

 I take the ever-changing buzz on foods-to-avoid with a grain of salt, but there seems to be some pretty graphic evidence against soda: (Fast Company)

 Although Wal-Mart has built its success on mastering logistics and supply chain, it’s had trouble keeping stores stocked amidst cutbacks on workers per store; a new program involving shelf audits shines a light on the importance of inventory in retail: (Bloomberg)

I love musing on caffeine’s habit-forming, personal nature–and what caffeine rituals say about our attitudes toward money and routine: (New York Times)

 In the spirit of Friday night, join me on the Amaro train! Here a skeptic starts by describing the stuff as ” bittersweet couplings of cough syrup and weed juice” but comes around to the magic they bring to a cocktail: (New York Times)

Kiko's Food News, 5.24.13

Wonder what it’s like to choose what goes on the shelves at Bi-Rite? This small grocery group also stakes itself on offering fewer options but standing behind every one of those options (and invests the same kind of time to do it!): (San Diego Union Tribune)

 Michael Pollan reconsidered the human body as “an elaborate vessel optimized for the growth and spread of our microbial inhabitants” and wonders whether the time has come to embark on collective “restoration ecology” in the human gut: (New York Times)

 As industrial agriculture and animal feedlots have spread around the globe, dead zones have spread exponentially along with them; can we save our coastal waters before they choke to death? (Food & Environment Reporting Network)

Speaking of dead zones, turns out the acidic whey created as a byproduct of yogurt can’t be dumped, as its decomposition robs oxygen from streams and rivers and can destroy aquatic life (unfortunately Greek and other strained yogurts increasingly in demand create the most whey): (The Atlantic)

A study released Wednesday documented for the first time how fish and other sea life have been moving toward Earth’s poles in search of cooler waters for decades, with broad repercussions for fish harvests worldwide: (Washington Post)

And if you’re wondering whether you’ve been in the Bay Area gastro-bubble long enough to lose perspective, scan through this reality check for food snobs and see how you measure up! (Grub Street)

Kiko's Food News, 5.17.13

No farmers market in San Francisco has created more visibility and demand for Bay Area farmers than the Ferry Building–its 20th anniversary is worth celebrating tomorrow morning! (CUESA)

We may all agree that cooking at home more frequently can solve many a societal health problem, but how can people be enticed to prioritize spending their money and time on it? One solution, first raised 40 years ago, proposes that Americans be paid for cooking and other housework: (New York Times)

This week I was turned on to Cropmobster, a startup that’s dealing with agricultural and food surplus while addressing hunger and allowing farmers to become more viable; give them your email and you’ll get instant alerts whenever a farmer, grocer, or restaurant has enough excess produce to donate or sell at a deep discount: (Cropmobster)

The UN released a report that strongly suggests bug consumption as the way to curb hunger in developing countries and shrink waistlines in the Western world–guess I was testing the waters when I ate a cup of the bugs in this photo a year ago in Seoul! (San Francisco Chronicle)

 But do we actually need to worry about running out of food? With crops yields growing 1% or more a year and half the world’s food currently being wasted anyway, we may not have to resort to insects: (Forbes)

Check out the look on these kids’ faces when they taste a lemon or olive for the first time! This slow motion video reminds us how revolutionary food discovery is: (TEDx)

Kiko's Food News, 5.10.13

 This new photo series captures a week’s worth of groceries around the world to show the dietary habits of people in 20 countries; notice how prevalent American food products are, and which country is the most unhealthy of the bunch (wish I could say I was surprised): (Thought Catalog)

“A modern Walt Whitman with attitude,” Ron Finley is a celebrity urban gardener using his appearances on TEDx, the Russel Brand show and more to spread his message that edible gardens are the antidote to inner-city health issues and poverty with the tagline “if you ain’t a gardener, you ain’t gangsta”: (New York Times)

Seemed like only a matter of time before cooking schools got hip to the online party; now Top Chef, America’s Test Kitchen and a tech startup have launched online culinary programs: (Bloomberg Businessweek)

MyPetChicken.com is one of several multimillion-dollar retailers selling everything from chicken caviar treats to day-old birds to diapers for backyard coop owners: (NPR)

Chicago’s about to roll out a new “Chicago Grown” local food label, which backers believe will be the first label issued by a major city specifically to promote its urban ag culture: (Grist)

Kiko's Food News, 5.3.13

Whether the goal is to connect restaurants with food purveyors or to create on-demand delivery services from local farms, investment money from Silicon Valley has growing potential to transform the food industry ($350 million invested last year vs. $50 million in 2008): (New York Times)

Among the food businesses being invested in is San Francisco startup Hampton Creek, who are engineering a plant-based egg substitute for cookies, mayo, and even cookie dough for people who like to eat the dough but don’t want to worry about salmonella (wonder if they need extra taste testers for that one??): (Fast Company)

A high school science project tracked the effects of organic vs. conventional diets on the health of fruit flies, finding those that were fed organic bananas and potatoes fared better in fertility, stress resistance and longevity; because fruit flies’ short life span allows the tracking of biological effects over a brief period of time, this paves the way for additional studies on the health benefits of organic: (New York Times)

Switching out ciggies for hummus: Sabra Dipping Co., the largest U.S. hummus maker, is incentivizing farmers in the heart of tobacco country to grow chickpeas to reduce its dependence on growing them in the Pacific Northwest and to identify new chickpea varieties: (Wall Street Journal)

More than 100 New York City restaurants, from haute cuisine to chains, have pledged to reduce their food waste by 50% by composting and recycling: (New York Times)

New findings suggest a direct relationship between the routine use of antibiotics in animal production and the increased resistance of bacteria to antibiotics used to treat human illnesses: (Eating Well)

Kiko's Food News, 4.26.13

 I can think of easier ways to get kicked out of a McDonald’s, but gotta love the way these Korean kids took a french fry promotion to a new level (I like to think they were making a statement about what can happen when fast food is priced too low for anyone’s good!): (Eater)

Although sending “untied” food aid (cash instead of commodity crops) strengthens farmers in malnourished areas internationally instead of undercutting them, the US is still tied to sending sacks of grain and legumes from America; now Obama’s proposing a modernization of our aid by upping our untied amount from 15% to 45% and asking US companies to provide not just commodities but also super-nutritious foods: (New York Times)

Time to revamp our health teaching force? A clinical trial found that having teens mentor younger students in nutrition and physical activity resulted in weight loss and other positive lifestyle changes, while the same curriculum taught by adults wasn’t as effective: (Ohio State University)

The Cooperative Food Empowerment Directive, a network and training program for college students starting food co-ops, launched a video on financial management that brings business terms to life for future sustainable food slingers: (Civil Eats)

“Malicious but delicious” foods, a class of invasive animals, fish and plants that throw the earth out of whack, are prized menu items for environmentally-savvy chefs: (New York Times)

Mini-Golf on South Van Ness? Urban Putt will, in true nouveau-Mission style, include a 70-seat restaurant and bar with cocktails by the Bon Vivants: (Tablehopper)

Kiko's Food News, 4.19.13

Fairway, the 12-store grocery chain that started on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, went public and has ambitions of opening 300 stores across the country: (Dealbook)

With the success of companies like Whole Foods, Annie’s and Kashi, there’s now a market for fast-food chains that are not only healthful, vegetarian-friendly and humane, but cheap; Mark Bittman surveyed our country’s “nouveau junk food” scene: (New York Times)

One example is wraps: whether it’s because of the slender shape, lettuce peeking out, or expert marketing by McDonald’s, they’re perceived as a healthier choice than burgers and other carb-sandwiched entrees, but they’re just as caloric: (Bloomberg)

New findings suggest that just the smell of olive oil in our food can make us feel fuller–we don’t even need to eat it! (New York Times)

Grocery delivery may be appealing for a certain demographic, but this article explores the reasons it’s so challenging to both the shopper and the business that offers it: (Silicon Valley Mercury News)

Apparently the agency that sets national policy around GM foods isn’t above politics itself, as revealed by its removal of a member dietitian who pointed out that two other members had ties to Monsanto: (New York Times)

States are trying to restrict undercover operations by animal rights activists that ag industry groups say have led to unfair scrutiny; a proposed bill would make it illegal to covertly videotape livestock farms, or apply for a job at one without disclosing ties to animal rights groups: (New York Times)

Kiko's Food News, 3.29.13

 The news is a little late today as I’m busy readying for opening night of our Food & Farm Film Fest! Check out this teaser and buy your tickets for the movies this weekend–each comes paired with a bite from neighborhood chefs (we’re scooping ice cream at Sunday’s film about dairy farmers).

The Jewish food culture nut in me has loved the innovative ways people are combating the “matzo fatigue” that accompanies Passover; one entrepreneurial Atlanta couple mixed matzo with granola and their Matzolah is now sold across the country: (NPR)

And just like the famous Maxwell House coffee campaign of the 1920′s, marketers are taking advantage of growing interest in kosher foods; a new campaign for Temp Tee stars an American-born Israeli food writer/chef/founder of the Kosher Media Network; she offers video inspiration for kosher dairy dishes made with the whipped cream cheese: (New York Times)

Starbucks announced the purchase of its first farm, a 600-acre plot in Costa Rica, where they plan to grow their own coffee, cultivate new types of beans and test new defenses against crop diseases, with a goal of ethically sourcing all of their coffee beans by 2015: (Huffington Post)

Greenland is no farm country, but peppers, tomatoes, strawberries and other crops are increasingly easy to grow there as the climate warms: (Grist)

The largest Brazilian supermarket group says it will no longer sell meat from cattle raised in the rainforest, in hopes of cutting down on the illegal use of huge swaths of rainforest for pasture: (BBC)

I’m leaving the news desk for two weeks to become a certified yoga teacher–back with headlines 4/19!

Kiko's Food News, 3.22.13

 Eleven scary facts about what might be in your groceries without your knowing it–our job as grocers is to keep this out of your food! (Buzzfeed)

I had no idea that you can plant a clove of garlic, or the eye of a potato, and grow a whole plant–think about the money to be saved by growing veggies from food scraps: (Huffington Post)

Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods and other large grocers have ponied up in a sign of the growing wariness about genetically modified food, announcing that they won’t sell genetically engineered salmon even if it’s approved: (San Jose Mercury News)

Reality check radio: despite the boost in sales and popularity of eating locally, evidence suggests that the U.S.D.A.’s programs to prop up small-scale farmers haven’t done enough: (NPR)

Proposed legislation known as the “Anti-Bloomberg Bill,” passed by an overwhelming margin in the Mississippi House, makes it illegal for local governments to restrict the sale of fatty or sugary foods based on their nutritional value: (Huffington Post)

This roundup of the Bay Area’s best urban farms included our 18 Reasons Farm School as a way to get your hands dirty: (Huffington Post)