Welcome to Food Week July 12, 2024. I know it is summer and it is supposed to be hot but come on…So I am irritable. Among the annoying things this week: food shortages, inflight meals, antibiotics in farms animals, Dilbert, PFAs, food packaging, the Kroger Albertson’s merger and finding a human toe in a cocktail. And good information for you to enjoy as well.

MACRO

• Prices fell for the first time since the pandemic.

• It’s hot almost everywhere but nowhere is as hot as Death Valley, which is of course near the California Central Valley wher so much food come from.

• Small investments could make the world a smarter place.

RETAIL AND CONSUMER

• Latest proposal by Kroger Albertson’s has the number of stores they would spin off up to 579 including the entire Mariano’s brand. And most of the Safeways.

• Costco making a slight increase in fees but it all drops to the bottom line.

• Yes, there are more food shortages at supermarkets and they are often caused by climate change. But they are also caused by consolidation. If there are only a couple of suppliers of any one thing and their supply chain is disrupted, there are fewer options.

• The solution to food waste from packaging is… more packaging. Hellman’s adding a liner to its squeeze bottle to help get the last bit of mayo out calling this ‘food waste reduction.’ Nice try but why not stick to glass bottles wherein on can put a spoon in and re-use the bottle?

• The advent of the hybrid meat category – not meat but not free of meat ingredients. Quorn, a legacy brand in meat-free products, has jumped in.

• Project 2025 would cut SNAP as well as remove regulations and supports for farmers and reduce regulations on other food producers.

RESTAURANTS AND FOODSERVICE

• Taco Bell’s outreach to the retiree demographic. Thisis after the McDonald’s Grandma McFlurry.

• Was Airplane! a documentary? Delta plane diverts after the in-flight meals are all tainted.

• Effort to raise the wage for restaurant workers in Ohio is, um, not well managed. Other states also struggling with rasing wages while adjusting for tips.

• The price gap between CSR and Fast Casual has narrowed, leadin got opportunities for the latter.

• Just wash your hands. Especially if you are a fast food worker.

FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN

• Proposed FDA change would allow meat producers to keep animals on antibiotics longer, adding to increased risk of drug-resistant bacteria.

• Sugar yields have decreased, causing asteady rise in prices. Can a gene modification reverse this trend.

• Greening isn’t the only problem facing Florida’s orange crop.

• USDA throwing $110 million to increase independent meat production.

• Using universities to protect and promote the meat industry.

DRINK CORNER

• When you hear the name Sour Toe cocktail, you assume that the drink has a cute back story. Then you find out the drink has a human toe in it…

• There are probably limits to the food inspirations for cocktails. But we haven’t gotten there yet. And adding texture as a key element for high end cocktails.

• Ready to drink cocktails that are better for you. Ceybon AF.

• The Colorado Aspen Crud, a drink invented by a bartender and not a marketer.

• The Widow Clicquot and the rise of a champagne leader.

FOOD WEEK JULY 12 LAGNIAPPE

• Have you ever heard of haskap berries? Apparently better for you and hardy too. And don’t forget to eat your carrots, too.

• How to limit PFAs (‘forever chemicals’) in your drinking water. Short answer: reduce packaging and plastics. While you are at it get rid of your non-stick cook ware

• The world’s best ice cream scoop. Because you need a good ice cream scoop.

• When Dilbert go into the burrito business. It didn’t go well. It may have even been worse than Pumpkin spiced Spam.

• When sauerkraut became liberty cabbage.

• Steps for cleaning produce in your kitchen.