Welcome to Food Week November 8, 2024. It was an…unsettling week. So while writing my update I found myself contemplating what happens next. Many if not most of the things I found this week -and have been following – are contingent with the changes in Washington. So rather than writing ‘However’ at the end of many of these items, I will just put a (U) after them. Enjoy(?)
MACRO
- Predictably the Fed lowers interest rates. Unemployment stable but labor costs up. Which may be why the rate cut was only a quarter and not a half point.
- The prices of commodities has driven global food prices to their highest level in 18 months. (U)
- Control of the House of Representatives is still uncertain, which will impact the direction and extent of the changes we see in government and policy.
RETAIL AND CONSUMER
- The final legal arguments in the Kroger Albertson’s merger. (U)
- Are grocers still charging predatory prices? Legislators call for investigation from the Federal Trade Commission. (U)
- Toss your black kitchen spatula – it is full of carcinogens
- 5 drinks that will help you live to 100 – for some reason this isn’t in the Drinks section.
- Robert Kennedy Jr. spooks food brands. (U)
Questionable
RESTAURANTS AND FOODSERVICE
- Sweetgreens testing french fries because… salads remain salads..
- A lot of pro-worker ballot initiatives including tip and wage improvements for restaurants passed. (U)
- I do not enjoy cruises or buffets, but apparently buffets on cruises are the worst.
- TGI Fridays files for bankruptcy, the latest in a long lime of restaurant chains driven into the ground by private equity firms.
- Celery salt and the Chicago style hot dog.
FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN
- Slowing exports and falling prices are hurting farmers. (U) Tariffs of any kind would make that worse. 60% tariffs sound like a recipe for disaster. Yet farmers are somehow optimistic. (U)
- FDA confirms it will allow some limited use of phthalates. (U)
- An app starts life as a way to reduce pesticide use. Now it helps companies sell pesticides.
- The natural sweetener allulose – described as the closest to sugar – is catching on East Asia but lacks regulatory approval in the West
- Even modest reductions in beef production could have profound effects on climate change. (U)
DRINKS
- Review of the penicillin, which appropriately enough is a great drink hot whne you are feeling poorly. Or if you want something merely refreshing, try the Perroquet.
- Speaking of hot, is Pisco about to become the next hot spirit?
- The COVID alcohol boom is officially over with the whole industry experiencing declining sales. (U)
- Whiskey pairings for your Thanksgiving dinner.
- Restaurateurs try to draw in younger drinkers with cheaper classic cocktails.
- When to use which beer glass.
FOOD WEEK November 8 LAGNIAPPE
- About the Poison Squad, a group of 19th century young men who were willing to try different substances found in food and test their toxicity, leading to the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906.
- An interview with the man who wrote the book on the history of sandwiches. TLDR: waffling your left over thanksgiving stuffing sounds awesome; the yeast sandwich, less so.
- Is Manuka honey a super food?
- More studies demonstrate link between gut inflammation and Alzheimer’s. On eating once per day.
- Twix is belligerently sticking to its right Twix/left Twix nonsense.