Want to look back on some of the top news, trends and other food related goings-on of the last year? After a jam-packed year of posting, there are some topics that keep coming up again and again. From A to Z, here are our top picks from 2006:
Ad mascots made a comeback and even got spinoff merchandise of their own.
Bacon was just about everywhere
Premium and gourmet coffee is everywhere, and there is an increased appreciation for it.
Dark chocolate is more popular than ever
Energy drinks are a big hit with teens. Caffeinated vodkas are taking the trend even further.
Fois gras is banned in Chicago, although you wouldn't know it to eat there.
Gelato is nearing the top spot on the list of cold, sweet treats that people love to indulge in.
High fructose corn syrup is being looked on with a more critical eye by consumers and removed from some drinks.
Food-related illnesses got national headlines.
Junk food ads have been banned from many TV programs in the ongoing battle against obesity.
Kobe beef is expensive, but it's also the best.
Labeling was altered all over the world to make it easier to identify healthy foods when shopping.
Marshmallow Fluff was involved in a lawsuit over the name fluffernutter, while the same sandwiches were vilified in Massachusetts schools.
No-knead bread was a great motivator to get people to bake at home.
Organics really hit the mainstream and have become so prevalent, that some feel that interest is actually beginning to wane.
Phones became dieting tools, as well as recipe resources and wine references.
Quick service restaurants - a.k.a. fast food - alternate between healthy decisions and unhealthy ones.
Rachael Ray is everywhere, including the dictionary.
Sodas, after being forced out of schools, are being reinvented into healthier drinks.
Trans fats are aggressively being pushed out of our diets
Unusual wedding cakes, and specialty cakes for all occasions, are top choices for couples looking for something really special and go a lot further than last year's popular cupcake towers.
Vending machines are being stocked with healthier choices in schools, but more exotic options elsewhere. .
White tea received a lot of attention for its purported health benefits
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Yogurt was everywhere, from cereals to chewing gum. It's one of the best foods you can eat, so why not eat a lot?
Zinfandel almost became California's state historic wine.
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