Welcome to Food Week July 11, 2025. Robert Kennedy Jr.and Brook Rollins don’t appear to be very good at their jobs, That is all. Although there is a lot more to read here. Enjoy.

MACRO

• Tariffs are back.

• While RFK Jr. says he wants to make America healthy again. the Administration chooses to pull back on regulation of PFAs (‘Forever Chemicals’) in drinking water. The Health Secretary also praised a company called Mom’s Meals, which turns out to a producer of ultra-processed foods. Meanwhile, the FDA is collapsing.

• US Department of Justice sues California over cage free hen regulation, saying that it is what is causing high egg prices. (It isn’t.)

RETAIL AND CONSUMER

• Ferrero to buy what’s left of Kellogg (cereal) for $3.2 billion.

• Globally, consumers are simply buying less.

• The Demoulas Market Basket conflict over control and ownership now extends to store managers

• Walmart recalls bottled water over blinding risk. Yikes!

• Grocers in rural and small town communities depend upon customers having access to SNAP programs. A reduction will put many out of business. Also SNAP clients discuss what works and doesn’t in the program.

• Blueberry pie Oreos return.

RESTAURANTS AND FOODSERVICE

• Fast casual chains offering loyalty programs on steroids.

• FDA bans forcing burger chains to change their menus.

• Soubise is a french technique/sauce mentioned several time on The Bear recently

• Katz’s Deli pop up in Chicago a big hit. Also in Chicago, the Filipino food scene takes off.

• A cheese onion sandwich big in British takeout

FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN

• Sec. of Ag. Brooke Rollins says no amnesty for farm workers; claims Medicaid beneficiaries can pick the crops. This is of course absurd as the vast majority (>90%) of Medicaid recipients are care givers, elderly, disabled or already employed.

• Farmers are substituting Diquat for Glyphosate. Diquat is worse and banned in most of the developed world. Diquat can cause organ damage and destroying gut bacteria.

• Honey bees aren’t the only pollinators and they can make it hard on the others.

• Acidic seas are threatening oyster farming

• Canceled orders leave 128 tons of US wheat to rot.

• US closes border with Mexico over the screwfly worm.

• The search for alternatives to Cocoa.

DRINKS

• A Middle Earth themed speakeasy inside of an Escape room. That’s a lot of intersections necessary to find the audience but still sounds pretty cool.

• The concept of a double bonded whiskey is contrary to the point of bonded whiskey.

• The fastest growing beer brand is Athletic with its non-alcoholic product line.

• Believe it or not, cocktail garnishes have an environmental impact.

• The Prado. The Part Time Lover. The Spiced lemonade Aka Shikanji. The Sharona.

FOOD WEEK July 11 LAGNIAPPE

• Yes, okra can be slimy and sticky but as a result it is effective at removing microplastics in water. But that won’t help the fishermen in the Caribbean where microplastics are present in most of the fish.

• Some species of fig trees convert CO2 into calcium carbonate it stores in its trunk.

• Breakfast foods no one eats any more

• The best 5 foods for antioxidants.

• The favorite french fry in each state.

• Some of the wacky food at the Minnesota State Fair.