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/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/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 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 ESTIs Roadkill Safe to Eat?http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/19/is-roadkill-safe-to-eat/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/19/is-roadkill-safe-to-eat/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/19/is-roadkill-safe-to-eat/#commentsFiled under: ,

roadkillPhoto: Pen Waggener, Flickr


Several news sources have recently pondered, is roadkill safe to eat?

The answer? Well, sort of.

On the pro-roadkill eating side:
If an animal was recently killed but otherwise healthy, the meat is actually much fresher than what you might find in a grocery store, explained Steve Rinella of the Travel Channel's "The Wild Within" on HuffPost Food recently (see his video of finding and preparing raccoon roadkill, after the jump). Daniel Klein of "The Perennial Palate" has a similar philosophy in this video, in which he prepares venison tartare from a deer collected from the side of the road that was "still steaming."

Even PETA basically agrees with both men. The animal-rights group advises, "If people must eat animal carcasses, roadkill is a superior option to the neatly shrink-wrapped plastic packages of meat in the supermarket."

Most recently, Food Safety News interviewed several roadkill-eating enthusiasts and gathered that there are a few good general rules of thumb to follow, such as the fact that eating roadkill in the winter may be safer since the animal is essentially refrigerated upon its death. Rinella adds that for raccoons, when the blood has not yet coagulated and the hair is not oily, those are both good signs that the animal was recently killed and therefore okay to eat.

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]]>animal rightsroadkillRoadkill CookingSlashfood EditorTue, 19 Apr 2011 16:00:00 ESTDukan Diet Book, A Celeb Smash, Hits U.S. Stores Todayhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/19/dukan-diet-book-a-celeb-smash-hits-u-s-stores-today/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/19/dukan-diet-book-a-celeb-smash-hits-u-s-stores-today/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/19/dukan-diet-book-a-celeb-smash-hits-u-s-stores-today/#commentsFiled under: ,

The Dukan DietPhoto: Amazon

The Dukan Diet reportedly has Kate Middleton and J. Lo slenderizing. But is this high-protein, low-carb, four-phase diet really anything new? Calling Atkins and South Beach!

Now you can find out what all the hype is about. The English version of the decade-old French weight-loss bible The Dukan Diet: 2 Steps to Lose the Weight, 2 Steps to Keep It Off Forever, by French physician Pierre Dukan, MD, hits stores today, April 19.

Our friends over at Everyday Health asked nutritionist Kelly MacDonald, RD, to review the Dukan Diet, and lay out the pros and cons. Among them: "Though you may see rapid initial weight loss, it will mostly be from water and, later, from muscle mass. You'll also likely experience fatigue, moodiness, and other symptoms because the diet is so severely lacking in carbohydrates."

Click here for the whole Dukan Diet story from Everyday Health.

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]]>dietsDukan DietKate MiddletonSlashfood EditorTue, 19 Apr 2011 14:00:00 ESTHow to Eat to Beat Seasonal Allergieshttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/18/eat-to-beat-seasonal-allergies/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/18/eat-to-beat-seasonal-allergies/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/18/eat-to-beat-seasonal-allergies/#commentsFiled under:

allergiesPhoto: Getty Images

We're just as sick of spring allergies as the next guy. And we know how much your Claritin, your funky nasal spray, and the supreme gift to all allergy sufferers, antihistamine eye drops, mean to you. But also eliminating a few foods from your diet may make your allergy symptoms a lot less annoying.

Medical News Today offers solutions from Dr. Fred Pescatore, author of The Allergy and Asthma Cure, who says that the key to getting through allergy season is to reduce the inflammation in our bodies. That means, if you have a yeast or mold allergy, cut the aged cheeses and stick to low-yeast foods. Fight congestion during grass season by cutting back on dairy products and grains.

"Refined sugars, flours, and processed food all trigger inflammation, so steer clear of them," Dr. Pescatore says.

Continue reading How to Eat to Beat Seasonal Allergies

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]]>nutritionseasonal allergiesspring allergiesSlashfood EditorMon, 18 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 ESTStrawberries May Fight Cancerhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/07/strawberries-may-fight-cancer/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/07/strawberries-may-fight-cancer/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/07/strawberries-may-fight-cancer/#commentsFiled under: ,

strawberriesPhoto: jdg32373, Flickr


They're delicious in shortcake and make amazing ice cream, but a new study suggests strawberries might also have the power to fight cancer.

Ohio State University researchers found that freeze-dried strawberries slowed the growth of dysplastic, or precancerous, lesions in people who consumed the fruit for six months, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The study was aimed specifically at esophageal cancer, the sixth most frequent cause of cancer death in the world. (There are about 16,000 new cases each year, according to the American Cancer Society.) The research was done in China, where patients consumed 30 grams of freeze-dried strawberries dissolved in a glass of water twice daily for six months, reports the WSJ.

The freeze-dried strawberries are about 10 times as concentrated as fresh, but the study's lead researcher suggested people could still benefit from eating whole strawberries on a daily basis.

So far, no one has been able to pinpoint exactly what it is in the berries that's battling cancer cells. But until they know, you might want to hedge your bets and throw a few extra strawberries into that smoothie.

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]]>cancer treatmentstrawberriesstrawberries fight cancerSlashfood EditorThu, 07 Apr 2011 13:00:00 ESTUSDA Introduces New Regulations for Safer Meathttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/06/usda-introduces-new-regulations-for-safer-meat/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/06/usda-introduces-new-regulations-for-safer-meat/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/06/usda-introduces-new-regulations-for-safer-meat/#commentsFiled under: ,

meat food safetyPhoto: Charlie Neibergall / AP Photo


Hoping to significantly reduce the number of the most serious food-related recalls, the U.S. Department of Agriculture proposed new regulations this week aimed at the nation's meat processors.

As often happens in these sorts of situations, it's not until new regulations are proposed that the rest of us (a.k.a. the happy-go-lucky meat-buying public) start to understand just how unprotected we'd been up until now, kind of like that cartoon character that sleepwalks onto a tightrope, only to wake up and see the Grand Canyon yawning beneath him.

Currently, meat processors large and small are required to test their products for nasty bugs like E. coli, Listeria and Salmonella, but seemingly contrary to common sense, they can go ahead and send their tested meat to market without waiting for the test results.

Huh?

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]]>featuredmeat regulationsUSDAJason BestWed, 06 Apr 2011 14:00:00 ESTSome Food Addictions as Powerful as Drugshttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/05/some-food-addictions-as-powerful-as-drugs/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/05/some-food-addictions-as-powerful-as-drugs/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/05/some-food-addictions-as-powerful-as-drugs/#commentsFiled under: ,

addicted to chocolatePhoto: Wurth_Skidder, Flickr


We toss around the word "addicted" a lot when it comes to food: "I'm addicted to chocolate," or "I'm addicted to cheese fries." So should it really come as a surprise that maybe some of us really are addicted to our favorite foods?

This according to a study published this week in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Researchers took a sample of about 40 women ranging in weight and scanned their brains as they were tempted with the promise of either a tasty chocolate milkshake or a "calorie-free tasteless solution" (which sounds like water to us).

What they found were that parts of the brain that have previously been associated with drug and alcohol addiction were also activated in the women who were anticipating the shake. These areas were even more active in participants who scored high on tests measuring their level of "food addiction."

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]]>food addictionJason BestTue, 05 Apr 2011 13:00:00 ESTRadioactive Iodine-131 Found In U.S. Milk Sampleshttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/01/radioactive-iodine-131-found-in-u-s-milk-samples/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/01/radioactive-iodine-131-found-in-u-s-milk-samples/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/01/radioactive-iodine-131-found-in-u-s-milk-samples/#commentsFiled under: ,

radiation found in milkPhoto: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images


Officials have discovered trace levels of radioactive Iodine-131 in milk samples from Washington state and California, but stress that amounts are still 5,000 times lower than the limit set by the Food and Drug Administration. That should easy worry for consumers concerned that radiation from the damaged Fukushima plant in Japan will affect milk produced in the U.S.

"We don't make light of radiation. People want more information, but it's important to put things in context," Al Lundeen, spokesperson for the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) told Slashfood. "We have had a positive sampling of Iodine-131, but it was minuscule. It's a trace amount compared to other things like watching TV or flying on a plane, where people are also exposed to radiation."

According to the Associated Press, the FDA and EPA announced they had found radiation in milk from Spokane, Wash. on Friday, while the CDPH announced they found similar results from milk obtained at a dairy in San Luis Obispo County on Monday.

"We are going to continue to monitor the situation," said Lundeen. "We test milk because that's the food where radiation can be detected most quickly, but we're testing air samples as well. What we know now is the amount of radiation detected should not force people to hesitate to drink milk or anything else."

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]]>Japanjapan nuclear crisismilkradiationClare Leschin-HoarFri, 01 Apr 2011 11:00:00 ESTFood Packaging Leads to Increased Levels of Harmful Chemicalshttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/31/food-packaging-leads-to-increased-levels-of-harmful-chemicals/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/31/food-packaging-leads-to-increased-levels-of-harmful-chemicals/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/31/food-packaging-leads-to-increased-levels-of-harmful-chemicals/#commentsFiled under: ,

green beansPhotos: Corbis; Jupiterimages


Every time you go to the grocery store, you probably spend some amount of time thinking about whether the food you're buying is good for you, but how much time do you spend pondering whether the food's packaging is good for you?

According to a recent report by ABC News, maybe you should.

At issue is the presence of certain chemical compounds that are used to manufacture plastic and other food packaging. A study by the Breast Cancer Fund and the Silent Spring Institute, an environmental group, found that when participants were restricted to a fresh-food diet for three days (meaning no packaged foods), the amount of these chemicals detected in their urine dropped dramatically, by up to 66 percent.

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]]>BPAbreast cancerpackagingJason BestThu, 31 Mar 2011 15:00:00 ESTMelons: The Repeat Recall Offenders of Fruithttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/29/melons-the-repeat-recall-offenders-of-fruit/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/29/melons-the-repeat-recall-offenders-of-fruit/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/29/melons-the-repeat-recall-offenders-of-fruit/#commentsFiled under: ,

cantaloupePhoto: eddie.welker, Flickr


Melons are not having a good start to the season. A mass recall of 4,992 cartons of Del Monte cantaloupes was issued in seven western states last Tuesday due to potential Salmonella outbreak at their Asunicion Mita farm in Guatemala, according to the company's press release. But this isn't the first time melons have posed a health risk.

The Food and Drug Administration notes that between 1996 and 2008, 13 out of 83 infected types of fresh produce were melons, and 10 were cantaloupe. Ray Costa, a registered sanitarian and food safety education advocate, tries to explain why in Food Safety News.

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]]>cantelope recallfeaturedmelonssalmonellaJessie CacciolaTue, 29 Mar 2011 12:00:00 ESTDo Food Dyes Make Kids Hyperactive? FDA to Weigh Inhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/28/do-food-dyes-make-kids-hyperactive-fda-to-weigh-in/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/28/do-food-dyes-make-kids-hyperactive-fda-to-weigh-in/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/28/do-food-dyes-make-kids-hyperactive-fda-to-weigh-in/#commentsFiled under: ,

artificially colored cerealPhoto: Lou Manna


Is the Food and Drug Administration preparing to change its position on artificial food dyes?

For years the FDA has maintained that the additives that give everything from Gatorade to Cheetos their distinctive hues are perfectly safe. Currently, there are nine synthetically produced food dyes that are on the agency's list of approved "certified colors."

But one public advocacy organization is asking whether the FDA has been looking at the issue of artificial food coloring through rose-tinted glasses.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest argues that there's mounting evidence to show that artificial food dyes cause behavior changes in some children, and FDA staffers have gone so far to prepare a report for one of the agency's advisory committees detailing a possible link between food coloring and children who have attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, as MSNBC reports.

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]]>FDAfood dyehyperactivityJason BestMon, 28 Mar 2011 15:00:00 ESTFeeling Lonely? Mac & Cheese Might Be the Curehttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/28/feeling-lonely-mac-and-cheese-might-be-the-cure/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/28/feeling-lonely-mac-and-cheese-might-be-the-cure/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/28/feeling-lonely-mac-and-cheese-might-be-the-cure/#commentsFiled under: ,

velveeta mac and cheesePhoto: stumptownpanda, Flickr


Sometimes you just have to ask: "How come I knew that already without having to consult a shrink?" Brace yourselves for this shocker: Comfort food is, well, comforting.

That's right, as noted today in UPI.com, two graduate students from the University of Buffalo conducted an experiment in which three control groups were giving an assignment to write about something that made them feel lonely, but the group whose theme revolved around comfort food was able to pull itself out of the dark mood. (The study, published in the magazine Psychological Science, said nothing about weight gain).

"Throughout everyone's daily lives they experience stress, often associated with our connections with others," says Jordan Troisi, lead author of the study. "Comfort food can serve as a ready-made, easy resource for remedying a sense of loneliness." Glad to have it proved by science, but most of us know this just by using coming sense: Eat mac and cheese, meatloaf, and mashed potatoes can make us feel good but isn't going to help us fit into that swimming suit by summer; salads will make you love the way you look, but you'll be too sad to care. Feeling lonely? Might want to just make a new friend instead of looking to food for the answer.

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]]>food and lonelinessfood studiesmashed pototoes and lonelinessBill SertlMon, 28 Mar 2011 13:00:00 ESTWhy Organic Milk is Better For Youhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/18/why-organic-milk-is-better-for-you/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/18/why-organic-milk-is-better-for-you/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/18/why-organic-milk-is-better-for-you/#commentsFiled under: ,

Organic milkPhoto: sassyradish, Flickr


Fans of organic milk now have a compelling argument for their choice: New evidence says it's better for you.

There are more unsaturated fats in organic milk than in conventional milk, according to a research team at Newcastle University in Northern England. In addition to containing omega-3 acids, organic milk's conjugated linoleic acid (also called CLA) has anti-cancer properties and is believed to have many health benefits for the heart. The results of this study were published in the January 2011 issue of The Journal of Dairy Science.

The lead author on the study, Gillian Butler, urges Americans to stand up and pay attention because our most of us don't get nearly enough essential fatty acids. Switching over to organic milk -- which is now available at most supermarkets around the country, whether it's from a local creamery or a larger dairy like Horizon Organic or Organic Valley -- could increase your average CLA intake by as much as 40 percent.

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]]>milkorganic milkorganic milk studyKristine HansenFri, 18 Mar 2011 13:00:00 ESTIs There Hope for Hospital Food?http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/14/is-there-hope-for-hospital-food/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/14/is-there-hope-for-hospital-food/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/14/is-there-hope-for-hospital-food/#commentsFiled under: ,

hospital food Photo: Mike Groll / AP Photo


Who wants to eat in a hospital? We're guessing most of you would rather head for a school cafeteria or an airline, if given the option. Anyone who's ever found themselves in a hospital bed quickly discovers that medical centers and rehabilitation facilities aren't exactly the best places in town to nab nutritious grub. To be fair, hospital kitchens are dealing with the pickiest stomachs on earth because of an endless variety of dietary restrictions. It's enough to make even the most skilled chef quiver. Enter Lynne Eddy, instructor for Food Service Management in Health Care, a first-of-its-kind course at the Culinary Institute of America.

"We're dealing with medications, chewing problems...we could talk for eons about it," says Eddy. She comes to the CIA as a registered dietitian with 25 years' experience in the industry, and this month, she'll send off her first batch of graduates equipped to serve as entry-level managers in health care facilities.

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]]>culinary institute of Americahospital foodJessie CacciolaMon, 14 Mar 2011 16:00:00 ESTSNL's High-Fructose Corn Syrup Spoof Hits a Nervehttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/14/snls-high-fructose-corn-syrup-spoof-hits-a-nerve/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/14/snls-high-fructose-corn-syrup-spoof-hits-a-nerve/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/14/snls-high-fructose-corn-syrup-spoof-hits-a-nerve/#commentsFiled under: ,

Saturday Night Live corn syrup commercialPhoto: Hulu

It's probably debatable which is worse for you-artery clogging trans-fats or fat-producing empty calories from high-fructose corn syrup. But one thing is clear: Both of these toxic ingredients, which are found in almost all mass-produced foods on the market today, are harmful to your health. In a hilarious Saturday Night Live spoof this weekend, we find out why-it makes you fat, fat, fat. But the best part of the fake commercial is the satirizing of the real ad from the Corn Refiners Association.

In the spoof, one mom is surprised to find another mom serving Juicy Drink at a kid's party. After pointing out that's it contains HFCS, she says: "You know the things they say about HFCS." The other mom replies: "Like what? That's it's made with corn, it's natural enough, and, like sugar, it's fine in moderation." Trouble is, that's almost exactly what the real commercial says, and that's all one big corn-fed lie.

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]]>HFCSSaturday Night LiveSNLBill SertlMon, 14 Mar 2011 15:00:00 ESTPotato Chips: The Truth Revealedhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/08/potato-chips-the-truth-revealed/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/08/potato-chips-the-truth-revealed/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/08/potato-chips-the-truth-revealed/#commentsFiled under:

chip nutrition comparisonPhoto: Bill Brady, AOL


Thinking of switching from a classic potato chip or corn chip to one that claims to be healthier? Before you give up the Fritos, have a look at Healthcastle.com's amazingly helpful nutritional comparison of 40 top brands, reports NPR. You may be surprised at what those "better-for-you" chips actually save in the fat and calories departments.

Take Lay's Classic potato chips (ok, I admit it, they're my personal fave, so that's where I looked first) compared with Corazona's Slightly Salted Chips. Corazona's chips have 30 fewer calories for a one-ounce serving (let's just pretend we eat only an ounce), and 4 fewer grams of fat, but both have zero trans fats and sugars. And Corazona's are higher in carbs by 3 grams. So if it's a calories-and-fat battle you're waging, you might as well stick with the Lay's. But sodium? Lay's has double, with 180 mg. to Corazona's 90. (And yes, corazón, means "heart" in Spanish.)

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]]>corn chipsnutrition of potato chipspotato chipsNanette MaximTue, 08 Mar 2011 14:00:00 ESTSpokesman for 'Heart Attack Grill' Dies at Age 29http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/04/spokesman-for-heart-attack-grill-dies-at-age-29/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/04/spokesman-for-heart-attack-grill-dies-at-age-29/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/04/spokesman-for-heart-attack-grill-dies-at-age-29/#commentsFiled under: ,

Heart Attach Grill spokesman Blair RiverPhoto: ABC News

Blair River, the 575-pound spokesman for the Heart Attack Grill, an Arizona restaurant famous for menu items like "triple bypass burgers" and "flatliner lard fries," died Tuesday at the age of 29 following a bout of the flu, reports ABC News.

River was well-known in the community, both for his winning personality and large size. He came down with the flu last week and succumbed to pneumonia after four days in the hospital, Jon Basso, owner of the grill and a friend of River, told ABC News.

Basso said he thought River's obesity contributed to his death, and Keith Ayoob, director of the nutrition clinic at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, agreed that was likely, telling ABC News, "Obesity increases your risk for just about every condition, and it can make nearly every acute health problem worse."

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]]>Blair Riverfeaturedheart attack grillSlashfood EditorFri, 04 Mar 2011 16:00:00 EST