Happy Midwinter – the groundhog… died. Food Week found more grocery delivery, more buffets and higher prices. We are hoping for less salmonella, industry consolidation and open jobs. And we learned about Bsissa, the crazy nutritious North African breakfast. Enjoy.
MACRO
Your Super Bowl spread is going to be more expensive this year. Inflation hit a four-decade high of 7% in December, per the Consumer Price Index.
A restaurant owner describes successes and failures of the restaurant rescue plan (RRF).
Half a million workers in the QSR industry in CA alone. Labor shortage is helping with their political leverage.
I always thought buffets were a sign of economic recession but the nearly-extinct restaurant concept is coming back. Maybe inflation was the driver – they were big in the 80’s too.
FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN
The gulf in general is in peril and the bayous and tidal waters are most at risk. A Cajun Chef on the threat to seafood.
Meat, dairy and eggs account for 25% of food waste. Yet creating these products require huge amounts of energy and water inputs. Billions of animals are slaughtered every year for nothing.
A story in Food Week January 31 about much meat and dairy hurt the climate. Yeah but this is marketing posing as a scientific study. Qui bono? Impossible Foods.
It is counter-intuitive that with the food selection we have that bio-diversity is in steep decline. But it is.
FOOD WEEK LAGNIAPPE
Nuts, pulses, honey, ancient grains all in one. Bsissa: North Africa’s ancient convenience food.
Speaking of Hershey’s: Hershey’s Chocolate and Hershey’s Ice Cream are not the same company. And it’s a problem for both.
More than 40% of Americans live in poverty. While most are white, food insecurity is worse for Blacks (21%) & Hispanics (17%), overrepresented in many low wage jobs in retail and wholesale. Up to 8 of the top 10 lowest paid jobs are in the food industry.
8 tips to help you keep eating less meat in 2022: 84% of vegetarians go back to eating meat – maybe reduction is better than posturing.
