food news stories on Newser

Buying Organic Turns You Into a Jerk

Neal Colgrass — Sat, 19 May 2012 16:31:17 CDT

Ever encountered a snotty attitude at an organic food stand? It makes sense psychologically, according to a new study that analyzed how people reacted after looking at different kinds of foods, MSNBC reports. "There's something about being exposed to organic food that made them feel better about themselves," says study...

Why Food Must Be Regulated Like Tobacco

Matt Cantor — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:21:05 CDT

The obesity news just keeps getting worse, the latest example being the study warning that 4 in 10 American adults could be obese in less than 20 years. "Americans eat too damn much," writes David Lazarus in the Los Angeles Times . And though it may be distasteful to get government...

Is Australia Sick of Vegemite?

Matt Cantor — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:31:29 CDT

Say it ain't so: Australians seem to be tiring of a national culinary icon. Vegemite, a spread made from yeast extract, has been beloved since 1923. But lately, owner Kraft has had trouble getting young people hooked on the stuff, the Wall Street Journal reports. The company has tried mixing...

Mad Cow Disease Shows Up in California

Matt Cantor — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:56:15 CDT

For the first time since 2006, US officials have confirmed a new case of mad cow disease, this time in California. The dairy cow's illness was detected during routine testing at a rendering plant by the USDA. None of the affected cow's meat got into human food, the agency says,...

Foodies Squeal Over Burger King Bacon Sundae

Mary Papenfuss — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 00:27:23 CDT

Just when you thought Burger King might be getting a smidgeon health conscious comes its new ... bacon sundae. Soft-serve vanilla ice cream, caramel and chocolate syrups, and a strip of bacon aim to please ham hogs, notes ABC News . The sizzling new dessert has been spotted by foodies in a...

Burger King Tries to Sell Healthier Image

Dustin Lushing — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 12:20:05 CDT

Burger King overhauled its menu this week and is selling smoothies, wraps, and new salads as part of a push to woo women and families. The makeover comes after Burger King dropped to third place in the fast-food rivalry last year, trailing McDonald's and—for the first time ever—Wendy's,...

Pre-Chewing Baby's Food Looks to Be A-OK

Matt Cantor — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:47:00 CDT

Alicia Silverstone's video of herself chewing her baby's food last week prompted disgusted comments, but she may actually be doing little Bear Blu a favor. Our ancestors did the same, and plenty of non-Western cultures still do it, Life's Little Mysteries notes. Like breast-feeding, "pre-mastication" offers benefits to a baby....

15 American Foods That Freak Out the World

Evann Gastaldo — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 16:51:05 CDT

So you can't stomach the idea of drinking civet poop with your coffee ? Well, just imagine coming to America for the first time and encountering … mayonnaise. Houston Press writer Katharine Shilcutt took a survey of her foreign-born friends and came up with 15 examples of Western food and...

Families Waste Up to $2K Per Year on Uneaten Food

Evann Gastaldo — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:09:05 CDT

If you want to save money, a good way to start is by not buying food you won't eat. It sounds like a no-brainer, but in the US, the average family of four spends between $500 to $2,000 per year on food that gets thrown away, the Wall Street...