Slashfoodhttp://www.slashfood.comSlashfoodhttp://www.slashfood.com/media/feedlogo.gifSlashfoodhttp://www.slashfood.comen-usCopyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Delivery Man Publicly Shames Bad Tippers On Bloghttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/05/02/delivery-man-publicly-shames-bad-tippers-on-blog/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/05/02/delivery-man-publicly-shames-bad-tippers-on-blog/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/05/02/delivery-man-publicly-shames-bad-tippers-on-blog/#commentsFiled under: ,

delivery guy in NYCPhoto: Ed Yourdon, Flickr


Perhaps to prove that what's goes around really does come around, a Williamsburg, Brooklyn delivery man has taken to the blogosphere to broadcast all the bad tippers he comes in contact with. His blog, 15%, chronicles the tight purse strings tendencies of certain customers, in an effort to publicly shame their stinginess. Customer addresses have now been removed, due to Tumblr's request, reports Gawker.com.

The mastermind behind the blog is Larry Fox, a 20-year-old designer and developer. He told Gothamist that the reason for starting his blog was that he "just got tired of all these big companies, these TV shows and movie sets giving us two or three dollar tips on a $90 order." Fox is not only broadcasting bad tippers, but also answering readers' questions. Some highlights (also submitted by other delivery men):
  • "Went out into a Level Two Snow Emergency (We are not even supposed to be delivering, but dedication wins out over common sense) And got a whopping 0.50 tip from the guy."
  • "Lorimer St. tipped me one dollar to bring him a sandwich during a hail/rain/thunder storm....I hate you."
  • "Manhattan Ave. greenpoint took you 8 minutes exactly to come downstairs after two phonecalls (14 stairs in a standard american stairwell) because you don't have a functional buzzer like everyone else in brooklyn."
  • "corner of meserole ave. end of delivery zone - about 23 blocks from my restaurant for 4 slices of pie during prime dinnertime. two bucks for well over a mile. thanks for the two bucks to bust my ass because you didn't specify your cross-street as meserole ave from street bro. not on deck. i dropped your food a few times. whoops."

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]]>bad tipper blogSlashfood EditorMon, 02 May 2011 15:30:00 ESTFDA Still Struggling to Define "Gluten-Free"http://www.slashfood.com/2011/05/02/fda-still-struggling-to-define-gluten-free/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/05/02/fda-still-struggling-to-define-gluten-free/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/05/02/fda-still-struggling-to-define-gluten-free/#commentsFiled under: ,

gluten free cookiesPhoto: LizLemonCooks, Flickr


In 2004, Congress gave the FDA until 2008 to create a definition for what a gluten-free product actually means. Three years after that deadline, we're still waiting.

The Washington Post reports that as celiac disease rates are rising, the government still has no set definition for gluten-free products.

Although the U.S. gluten-free product industry is booming (revenues were $2.6 billion last year, up from $100 million in 2003), they still have quite a bit of wiggle room. The Washington Post explains that some companies "might fail to test their products or might allow small amounts of gluten but still label their foods as gluten-free."

Other countries including Canada, Brazil and Australia have defined gluten-free foods as containing no more than 0.0007 of an ounce of gluten for every 2.2 pounds of food. Though the FDA has no set definition, it does offer a FAQ page about gluten-free labeling.

On May 4, the world's largest gluten-free cake will be brought to Capitol Hill to call attention to the issue. Currently, at least three million Americans have celiac disease, and 18 million have gluten sensitivity.

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]]>celiac diseaseCeliacDiseasefeaturedgluten free foodGlutenFreeFoodSlashfood EditorMon, 02 May 2011 14:00:00 ESTHow Much Sugar Do Americans Consume Daily? (Hint: Way Too Much)http://www.slashfood.com/2011/05/02/how-much-sugar-do-americans-consume-daily-hint-way-too-much/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/05/02/how-much-sugar-do-americans-consume-daily-hint-way-too-much/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/05/02/how-much-sugar-do-americans-consume-daily-hint-way-too-much/#commentsFiled under: ,

Americans eat way too much sugarPhoto: NYC.gov

In a country where candy displays are perched next to cash registers at every retail outlet imaginable and drinking soda is a birthright, it can hardly be surprising that Americans consume a large amount of sugar. But 22 teaspoons a day? That's hard to swallow.

Yet the statistic is true. U.S. adults consume 22.2 teaspoons of sugar daily -- or 355 calories, reports UPI. That wildly exceeds the daily recommended amount, says Phil Lempert, a food industry analyst. He says average-sized women should be consuming no more than 6.25 teaspoons; men 9.4.

Not only is the sugar bad for your waistline, but diets high in the sweet stuff have been shown to contribute to high blood pressure, increased triglycerides and cardiovascular disease, the American Heart Association says.

As is usually the case with dietary matters, a little moderation goes a long way.

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]]>daily sugar intakesugarSlashfood EditorMon, 02 May 2011 11:00:00 ESTThis Omelet Recipe Is Written On the Egg Itselfhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/29/this-omelet-recipe-is-written-on-the-egg-itself/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/29/this-omelet-recipe-is-written-on-the-egg-itself/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/29/this-omelet-recipe-is-written-on-the-egg-itself/#commentsFiled under: ,

recipe written on an eggshellPhoto: dnewman, Thingiverse.com

Yes, it's a gimmick. But it's a pretty cool one. Who wouldn't like an omelet recipe printed right on their egg? (Never mind that almost everyone knows how to make an omelet.) What's cool here is that artist Dnewman came up with a clever use for the Egg-Bot, a 3D printer that can "draw on spherical or egg-shaped objects from the size of a ping pong ball to that of a small grapefruit." But as one commenter over at Boing Boing points out: "Why print the recipe for two servings on one egg?"

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]]>egg botfeaturedomelet recipe on eggSlashfood EditorFri, 29 Apr 2011 16:00:00 ESTWhy Jewish Food Disappointshttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/29/why-jewish-food-disappoints/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/29/why-jewish-food-disappoints/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/29/why-jewish-food-disappoints/#commentsFiled under: ,

Jewish food, kugelPhoto: Alamy

We'd be too afraid to knock Grandma's matzoh ball soup (and, seriously, it is delicious), but Josh Ozersky has no such qualms. He argues in his TIME magazine piece that Eastern European Jewish food just isn't that tasty.

Dissing on kugel? He should probably watch out for all those bubbes out there--they're fierce when wielding wooden spoons.

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]]>featuredjewish foodSlashfood EditorFri, 29 Apr 2011 14:00:00 ESTGovernment Wants Companies to Limit Marketing to Kidshttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/28/government-wants-companies-to-limit-marketing-to-kids/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/28/government-wants-companies-to-limit-marketing-to-kids/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/28/government-wants-companies-to-limit-marketing-to-kids/#commentsFiled under: ,

Photo: Paul Sakuma / AP Photo


Is the federal government about to put Tony the Tiger out of a job?

In the face of a national epidemic of childhood obesity, a collection of federal agencies has been working for two years now to come up with a set of voluntary guidelines that would restrict what foods can be marketed to kids. Food companies and marketing groups rejected a set of proposed guidelines last year, and the government has repeatedly postponed releasing new ones.

But as the Associated Press reports, the feds may finally pull the trigger as soon as today. Apparently, the AP reporter got a sneak peek at the new guidelines and writes that "companies would be urged to only market foods to children ages 2 through 17 if they are low in fats, sugars and sodium and contain specified healthy ingredients."

Continue reading Government Wants Companies to Limit Marketing to Kids

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]]>advertisingfeaturedmarketing to childrenJason BestThu, 28 Apr 2011 16:00:00 ESTNathan's Hot Dog-Eating Contest Ups Women's Prize Money After Uproarhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/27/nathans-hot-dog-eating-contest-ups-womens-prize-money-after-up/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/27/nathans-hot-dog-eating-contest-ups-womens-prize-money-after-up/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/27/nathans-hot-dog-eating-contest-ups-womens-prize-money-after-up/#commentsFiled under:

Photo: Michael Nagle / Getty Images


Nathan's annual hot dog eating contest is the undisputed brass ring for all competitive eaters, but recently, organizers of the event came under fire. Major League Eating, the arm behind the July 4 contest, decided to split the event into men's and women's brackets. However, the grand prize purse for the women's title was just one-fourth of what was offered to the men: $2,500 for the ladies, $10,000 for men.

After an uproar regarding the prize disparity arose, Nathan's changed their tune, and will now offer $10,000 to both the male and female winner of the contest, reports the New York Daily News.

Not everyone thought the solution was that simple. EatFeats, a competitive eating website, crunched some numbers and discussed the notion of women attempting to qualify for the men's event. Time magazine's NewsFeed blog suggested the prize money be proportional to how many hot dogs are consumed.

Everyone likes to get their fair share, of course, but the most well-known female competitive eater, Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas, had an interesting take on the bruhaha. She spoke with Eater National (before the prize money was adjusted) and said she understood why the purse was smaller for women, who are relatively new to the sport.

"Of course I would like to see a larger purse," she told Eater. But this is the first year of separating genders, and it would be wrong and greedy of me to expect the same payout for the ladies as the men." But, she continued,"Once we women rapidly build on our fan base, the purses should grow accordingly."

In the end, gender equality won out. Nathan's Famous president Wayne Norbitz told the New York Daily News, "We were contacted by numerous fans of Nathan's who pointed out that despite the prize disparity in men's and women's divisions of other professional sports, the Nathan's prizes should be the same. We listened to that input."

Looks like even competitive eating circles understand they'd better pay attention to a Black Widow.

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]]>major league eatingnathans famousnathans hot dog eating contestSlashfood EditorWed, 27 Apr 2011 14:00:00 ESTStarbucks Jumps Burger King & Wendy's To Become No. 3 U.S. Restaurant Chainhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/27/starbucks-jumps-burger-king-and-wendys-to-become-no-3-u-s-resta/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/27/starbucks-jumps-burger-king-and-wendys-to-become-no-3-u-s-resta/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/27/starbucks-jumps-burger-king-and-wendys-to-become-no-3-u-s-resta/#commentsFiled under: ,

StarbucksPhoto: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images


Despite its coffee-centric menu, Starbucks is now the third largest restaurant chain in terms of domestic sales, according to Technomic's listing of America's top 500 restaurant chains in total 2010 U.S. sales. Completing the trifecta is McDonald's in the number one spot, followed by Subway at number two. USA Today explains that Starbucks' rise to the top signifies a shift in the American palate. For decades, McDonald's, Burger King and Wendy's dominated the top three, and all served a similar hamburger-focused menu. Now, within the new top three, only McDonald's serves burgers. Overall, the top 500 chains reported a 1.8% sales growth in 2010, with total estimated sales of $234 billion.

Here's the Top 5 list:
1. McDonald's
2. Subway
3. Starbucks
4. Burger King
5. Wendy's

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]]>burger kingMcdonaldsstarbuckswendysSlashfood EditorWed, 27 Apr 2011 13:00:00 ESTChipotle Facing Natural Chicken Shortagehttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/27/chipotle-facing-major-chicken-shortage/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/27/chipotle-facing-major-chicken-shortage/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/27/chipotle-facing-major-chicken-shortage/#commentsFiled under: ,

Chipotle chicken burritoPhoto: Eric M. Martin, Flickr


Ay, caramba! Chipotle is running low on natural chicken, particularly at its restaurants in Southern California, reports the Orange County Register. This is a pretty big deal. After all, the chain likes to tout that its ingredients are a cut above your average fast-food fare, and let's be honest: to a certain crowd, part of the appeal of Chipotle is the side dish of sanctimony you get to enjoy as you imagine the chicken that's now the star of your burrito clucking around some bucolic barnyard somewhere while its KFC-destined kin were shivering in a cage waiting for their next mega-dose of antibiotics.

A spokesman for Chipotle told the Register that the chain had experienced a "disruption" in its supply of naturally raised chicken but that it's working to resolve the problem. There was no explanation as to why, all of a sudden, naturally raised chickens are in short supply. Alas, apparently the country doesn't keep a strategic reserve of the cluckers like it does for oil.

Continue reading Chipotle Facing Natural Chicken Shortage

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]]>chipotlechipotle chicken shortagechipotle mexican grillchipotle natural chickenJason BestWed, 27 Apr 2011 11:00:00 ESTCan Virtual Reality Make Foods Taste Better?http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/26/can-virtual-reality-make-foods-taste-better/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/26/can-virtual-reality-make-foods-taste-better/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/26/can-virtual-reality-make-foods-taste-better/#commentsFiled under:

Photo: YouTube


Call it the Keebler elf meets Bladerunner.

As MSNBC reports, researchers at the University of Tokyo in Japan have unveiled what is probably the coolest, wackiest and, hands down, most impractical high-tech diet contraption ever: "Meta Cookie."

Here's how it works: Users put on a ridiculously unwieldy virtual reality helmet that's outfitted with a camera, screen and seven pump-driven tubes filled with scented air. Then they reach for what is, in actuality, a dry and relatively tasteless cookie. But that's not what they see or smell. Instead, the helmet shows them, say, a delicious chocolate cookie, and the air-pump system gives them a whiff of cocoa beans.

Researchers say that the system regularly fools users into believing that they are eating a more delectable cookie than they really are, in part because the camera tracks the cookie as it gets closer to the user's mouth, allowing the system to adjust the sensory input.

It's obvious, though, that this is still in the development phase. Imagine peeking over your cubicle only to find your coworker salivating over an ordinary rice cake and outfitted to look like a creature from Aliens. Not only that, but it's clear the outsized gadget hasn't been through the marketing department yet.

"Enjoy augmented gustation with 'Meta Cookie'!" the promo video proclaims.

We'll give it a (virtual), yum!

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]]>featuredvirtual reality cookievirtual reality technologyJason BestTue, 26 Apr 2011 15:00:00 ESTAmericans Confused by Red Wine, Sea Salthttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/26/americans-confused-by-red-wine-sea-salt/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/26/americans-confused-by-red-wine-sea-salt/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/26/americans-confused-by-red-wine-sea-salt/#commentsFiled under:

red wine and sea salt, health mythsPhotos: Daniel Panev, Flickr; Happy Krissy, Flickr


Ignorance is bliss, but it's not very good for your health. U.S. News Health reports that 76% of 1,000 American polled agreed with the statement "wine can be good for your heart." Hey, the good news is: That's true, but only if you consume two glasses per day if you're a man and one glass if you're a woman. Otherwise -- and here comes the really bad news -- excess drinking can lead to all kinds of problems like irregular heartbeat, obesity, cancer, high blood pressure and even heart failure.

Not only that, but Americans are also ill-informed about sodium, believing (56% of those surveyed) that ordinary table salt is the primary source in our diets. (61% believed, incorrectly, that sea salt had less sodium than regular salt.) All you have to do to understand that most of our sodium comes from processed foods-soups, snacks, condiments and canned foods like tomato sauce (why do you think they taste so good?) -- is to pick up a container of seemingly harmless cottage cheese and read the label. It will show that an eight-ounce serving contains about 720 milligrams of sodium, or half your daily recommended intake.

Americans are also famously bad at geography, but there's no word yet on whether young people are having trouble locating Napa and Salt Lake City on maps.



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]]>drinkingfood surveyssea saltsodium intakeBill SertlTue, 26 Apr 2011 14:00:00 ESTIs Your Peanut Butter Carcinogenic?http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/25/is-your-peanut-butter-carcinogenic/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/25/is-your-peanut-butter-carcinogenic/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/25/is-your-peanut-butter-carcinogenic/#commentsFiled under: ,

peanut butter and jelly sandwichesPhoto: Getty Images


Though there's no immediate need to turn your PB&J's into jelly-only sandwiches, there is a chance that peanut butter may contain the carcinogen aflatoxin. The soft and porous shell that encases peanuts can allow fungus with aflatoxin to penetrate into the nut, explains Organic Authority.

Although aflatoxin has yet to be proven to cause cancer in the United States, it has been documented as causing liver cancer in developing countries where corn, peanuts and grains are grown without strict soil quality regulation. Currently, all commercially-produced peanut butters must be tested for aflatoxin, but grind-your-own peanut butter may actually be at a higher risk because the peanuts sit around the longest without refrigeration, allowing more mold to develop, according to Organic Authority. Planet Green also adds that natural peanut butters may be more susceptible since "they are less processed and have a shorter shelf life, therefore the mold is more likely to thrive."

This alarm bell has been sounded before. In an informative write-up, Celeb doc Andrew Weil explains that the Consumers Union found the exact same results about a decade ago, when it was discovered that supermarket brands like Peter Pan, Jif and Skippy contained the less afloxtin than natural brands. Consumer Reports has researched aflatoxins since 1972, but still says peanuts are worth eating for their health benefits.

There's a simple precaution if you're concerned. Refrigerate your peanut butter -- it'll keep out the mold.

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]]>aflatoxinpeanut butter cancerpeanut butter carcinogenSlashfood EditorMon, 25 Apr 2011 16:00:00 EST10 Fattiest Meals at Chain Restaurantshttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/25/10-fattiest-meals-at-chain-restaurants/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/25/10-fattiest-meals-at-chain-restaurants/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/25/10-fattiest-meals-at-chain-restaurants/#commentsFiled under: ,

nachosPhoto: Getty Images

Ok, so it's not exactly a surprise that the huge bacon cheeseburgers and loaded beef burritos at your favorite chain restaurants are packed with fat. But chicken and broccoli pasta? The Daily Meal reveals this healthy-sounding dish from Ruby Tuesdays contains more calories than any other item on their dinner menu. (And a jaw-dropping 96 grams of fat.) Think you're safe opting for an appetizer instead? Reconsider: The innocent-appearing nachos at Houlihan's have 147 grams of fat piled between those delicious golden tortilla chips. And the rest of the list is just as shocking. Makes a Whopper (670 calories, 40 grams of fat) sound downright healthy, doesn't it?

Get the full list of the 10 Fattiest Chain Restaurant Meals at the Daily Meal.

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]]>high-fat restaurant dishhoulihansolive gardenRuby TuesdaysSlashfood EditorMon, 25 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST7-Eleven Slurpee Built for Twohttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/21/7-eleven-slurpee-built-for-two/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/21/7-eleven-slurpee-built-for-two/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/21/7-eleven-slurpee-built-for-two/#commentsFiled under: ,

7-Eleven SlurpeePhoto: 7-Eleven

7-Eleven has a new Slurpee scheme that will let you mix and match your flavors. On June 11, the company's launching a dual-chambered cup and special straw that allows you to sip one flavor at a time, or both at once. Just in case you really need to know how Peach Dragon Fruit tastes with a Mountain Dew White Out. We can only imagine the orders at 3 a.m.

And when is a Slurpee like the hammer of a Norse god? The Blue Lightening Blast Slurpee, says 7-Eleven, is "inspired by Thor," the upcoming movie, that is. You're prompted to "drop the hammer on your tongue... for a thunderous taste." We're still waiting for the Kryptonite Krush Slurpee.

Find out about more great shakes and frozen drinks coming this spring and summer.

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]]>7 elevenfrozen drinksslurpeeSlashfood EditorThu, 21 Apr 2011 11:00:00 ESTCraft Brewers Create 'Royal Virility Performance' Limited-Edition Beerhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/20/craft-brewers-create-royal-virility-performance-limited-editio/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/20/craft-brewers-create-royal-virility-performance-limited-editio/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/20/craft-brewers-create-royal-virility-performance-limited-editio/#commentsFiled under: ,

Royal Wedding 'Royal Virility Performance' BeerPhoto: BrewDog Beer


All the Royal Wedding food-related hoopla is just about at its boiling point (though props to the Papa John's employee that created this "beauty"), but finally, something...more stimulating. The folks at craft beer company BrewDog, known for other beer-related stunts such as the world's strongest beer and beer served in taxidermed animals, have created a limited edition "Royal Virility Performance" beer with "Viagra, chocolate, Horny Goat Weed and 'a healthy dose of sarcasm'." Only 1,000 bottles will be made, and the beer will ship on April 28, the day before the Royal Wedding. BrewDog explains:

With this beer we want to take the wheels off the royal wedding bandwagon being jumped on by dozens of breweries; The Royal Virility Performance is the perfect antidote to all the hype. A beer should be brewed with a purpose, not just because some toffs are getting married, so we created something at our brewery that will undermine those special edition beers and other assorted seaside tat, whilst at the same time actually give the happy couple something extra on their big day...There is more to brewing and tasting beer than putting a royal wedding label on it, so we're showing everyone just how ludicrous it is.


BrewDog claims they have sent Prince William a complimentary bottle.

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]]>BrewDogCraft beerfeaturedroyal virility performance beerroyal weddingSlashfood EditorWed, 20 Apr 2011 15:00:00 ESTGulf Seafood & The Anniversary of the BP Spillhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/20/gulf-seafood-and-the-anniversary-of-the-bp-spill/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/20/gulf-seafood-and-the-anniversary-of-the-bp-spill/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/20/gulf-seafood-and-the-anniversary-of-the-bp-spill/#commentsFiled under:

view of BP oil spill on June, 7, 2010View of BP oil spill on June, 7, 2010. Photo: Charlie Riedel/AP Photo


Today marks the one-year anniversary of the BP oil spill, and caps a very tough year for Gulf fishermen. Many are still struggling to stay in business while being dogged by lingering consumer doubt over the safety of the very seafood they're harvesting.

Images of dead dolphins and sea turtles that washed ashore earlier this month fueled concerns over just where the estimate 200 million gallons of crude oil and 1.8 million gallons of dispersants ended up. In the meantime, plenty of Gulf residents continue to harbor anger over the spill. At BP's annual meeting last week, protesters, including Gulf fishermen, rallied to be heard.

Bryon Encalade, president of the Louisiana Oystermen Association, told The Guardian, "We've not been made whole: our fishing grounds have been depleted, our oysters are dead and we're not receiving the funds we need to support and sustain ourselves. We're seeing money going everywhere but at ground zero."

And, one year later, long-term effects of the oil spill are still unclear.

Continue reading Gulf Seafood & The Anniversary of the BP Spill

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]]>BP oil spillDeepwater HorizonGulf seafoodGulf Wildgulf+seafood+safetygulfseafoodsafetyseafood safetyClare Leschin-HoarWed, 20 Apr 2011 12:30:00 ESTOrganic Valley Accused of Violating Organic Egg Standardshttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/19/organic-valley-eggs-accused-of-violating-organic-standards/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/19/organic-valley-eggs-accused-of-violating-organic-standards/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/19/organic-valley-eggs-accused-of-violating-organic-standards/#commentsFiled under: ,

Photo: Saul Loeb, AFP / Getty Images


Organic Valley, the nation's largest name-brand marketer of organic eggs, is being accused of misleading consumers about the living conditions of its California hens, and for violating federal organic standards, according to a story in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

The bombshell was dropped by the California-based organic watchdog group Cornucopia Institute, which says the hens at the Petaluma Egg Farm were confined in screened "porches" and not allowed to forage naturally in pastures with direct sunlight.

"The federal organic standards clearly state that 'year-round access for all animals to the outdoors' is a requirement," says Mark Kastel, Senior Farm Policy Analyst with the group in a release on their website.

The Cornucopia Institute has filed a legal complaint with the USDA over the matter. The current dust-up may be prompted by the USDA's National Organic Standards Board meeting scheduled for the end of April, where the board is expected to address whether "porches" meet the definition of access to the outdoors.

Continue reading Organic Valley Accused of Violating Organic Egg Standards

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]]>CAFOcage-freeCornucopia InstituteeggsfarmingorganicOrganic ValleyClare Leschin-HoarTue, 19 Apr 2011 13:00:00 ESTBlind Tasters Can't Tell Cheap Wines From Expensivehttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/15/blind-tasters-cant-tell-cheap-wines-from-expensive/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/15/blind-tasters-cant-tell-cheap-wines-from-expensive/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/15/blind-tasters-cant-tell-cheap-wines-from-expensive/#commentsFiled under: ,

wine tastingPhoto: weelibrarian, Flickr


People can't tell the difference between cheap and expensive wine, says psychologist Richard Wiseman after conducting a survey of 578 drinkers at the Edinburgh International Science Festival, reports The Guardian. The participants sampled a variety of red and white wines in a blind taste test with prices ranging from about $6 to $50. The results concluded that people could only tell the difference between cheap and expensive white wines 53% of the time, and 47% of the time for red wines.

In other words, it's about the same percentage as if they merely guessed. The Claret was the hardest to pinpoint, with only 39% getting it right, despite the price tag differences of about $5 for one bottle and $23 for the other. The Journal of Wine Economics backs up Wiseman's findings. Its 2008 study, "Do More Expensive Wines Taste Better?" reported that:
Individuals who are unaware of the price do not derive more enjoyment from more expensive wine. In a sample of more than 6,000 blind tastings, we find that the correlation between price and overall rating is small and negative, suggesting that individuals on average enjoy more expensive wines slightly less.
Maybe it's time to add some swill wine to that expensive Bordeaux collection.

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]]>blind wine tastingcheap winewine tastingSlashfood EditorFri, 15 Apr 2011 17:00:00 ESTStaph Bacteria Found in Half of U.S. Meathttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/15/staph-bacteria-found-in-half-of-u-s-meat/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/15/staph-bacteria-found-in-half-of-u-s-meat/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/15/staph-bacteria-found-in-half-of-u-s-meat/#commentsFiled under: ,

meat at grocery storePhoto: Charlie Neibergall / AP Photo


What's lurking in the meat you're buying for your family? Plenty of bacteria, according to a new study, published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. Almost half of all the beef, chicken, pork, and turkey bought in five U.S. cities and sampled by researchers, was found to contain drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, reports CBS News.

"Staph" bacteria is nothing to fool around with-it can cause everything from a rash to life-threatening sepsis and endocarditis. And because we've consumed so many antibiotics, the staph bacteria isn't easily controllable by drugs. In fact, in the tests done by study researchers at the Translational Genomics Research Institute, 47 percent of the meat contained bacteria resistant to three types of antibiotics.

Sure, you can kill "staph" by cooking the meat, but one contaminated cutting board is all it takes to set the bacteria in motion for many cooks. How many ways can we say it's time to give up the steak tartare?

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]]>bacteria in meatfood-borne illnessesstaphylococcus aureusSlashfood EditorFri, 15 Apr 2011 12:00:00 ESTNYC Hot Dog Institution Papaya King Expanding Nationwidehttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/14/nyc-hot-dog-institution-papaya-king-expanding-nationwide/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/14/nyc-hot-dog-institution-papaya-king-expanding-nationwide/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/14/nyc-hot-dog-institution-papaya-king-expanding-nationwide/#commentsFiled under: ,

Papaya King hot dogsPhoto: Kramchang, Flickr


At last! There's no reason for all those ex-New Yorkers living in Southern California ever to return to the dreary winters and crowded subways on the East Coast. It was really only one thing they missed anyway (aside from cynicism): Papaya King hot dogs-juicy, plump, ever meaty, and never really about papaya anything. (Bah, humbug. You can take all the taco trucks and drive them into the Pacific.)

Eater reports that Papaya King is finally opening in L.A., in the heart of Hollywood, probably by June. Until then, PK will operate a truck (how L.A. is that!) to circulate throughout SoCal, making occasional appearances and distributing free hot dogs. It all sounds good, but will the new Left Coast branch of Papaya King be able to perfect the art of service, New York-style? "Have a nice day" just isn't the same as a barked-out "Next!"

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]]>hot dogslos angeles Papaya Kingpapaya kingBill SertlThu, 14 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST