Pepsi Is Dropping Out
Health activists have been urging schools to ban the sale of sugary drinks in the hopes of curbing growing rates of childhood obesity. In a voluntary move, PepsiCo just announced that it will remove its high-calorie drinks from all primary schools by 2012 (this includes grade schools, middle schools and high schools). The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) applauds this decision. Coca Cola, meanwhile, has only stopped selling to middle schools.

Sanitation Report Cards Hit New York Restaurants
Every time I’m in Los Angeles, I’m happy to see restaurants displaying their sanitation “grade” in front windows (it’s a state requirement). If a restaurant scores a 90% or higher in an inspection, they get an A; 80 to 89% gets a B; between 70 and 79% receives a C and anything below 70%, well, definitely skip that place. (I only go for the A-level places myself.) Now New York City restaurants must also post their grades. As a food safety instructor and consultant, I know how important it is for restaurants to follow all safety guidelines and, if they aren’t, re-train employees immediately. Let’s hope similar publicly posted grades comes to your area soon.

Arabic Cuisine Invades Marine Camp
For the past nine years, more than two million soldiers have been deployed to the Middle East. Many are sent out to areas where they get to sample local cuisine — foods like shawarma (slow-cooked lamb or chicken) or pita and falafel (fried chickpea balls) — and some miss those dishes when they return to the U.S. In response to high demand, the well-known Camp Pendleton near San Diego now hosts Dede Med’s Shawarma House, a restaurant opened by a local Muslim couple. Let me tell you, nothing beats an old-fashioned shawarma with pita, hummus and lots of pickled veggies on the side!

Woman Sets Goal to Reach 1,000 Pounds
Most people are trying to lose weight, but not this 42-year-old New Jersey woman. Already 604 pounds, she wants to gain a few hundred more pounds to reach a whopping 1,000. To get there, she plans to down 12,000 calories a day (her weekly food bills have been topping $750). She’s already the heaviest woman to give birth — she weighed 532 pounds when she delivered her daughter in 2007. Seems that she missed the reports on obesity and severe health issues — or she just doesn’t care. How do you think this story will end?

Lead Lurking in Spices
Most people think tainted paint when you mention lead poisoning. According to a new study, you might want to think Indian spices, too. After they received reports of lead poisoning in a few Indian children near Boston, researchers took a closer look at Indian spices used in their meals. They visited 15 Indian specialty stores and found that 25% of the powders and spices purchased contained a small amount of lead. If kids are repeatedly exposed to certain levels of lead (via food and other environmental sources), it can lead to cognitive damage and behavioral problems.

Foods of the Future
Want to know what foods you’ll be seeing more of next year? The Canadian Restaurant and Foodservice Association (CRFA) surveyed 400 chefs and asked them to identify the hottest new food trends. Although researchers asked our neighbors to the north, the foods topping the list are similar to ones I’ve spotted at recent New York food shows. What are they? Ancient grains (kamut, spelt and quinoa), gluten-free beer and Middle Eastern cuisine. I’m very excited for that third trend to hit!

Study Finds Soda Taxes Help Shed Pounds
We told you about the big debate on taxing sodas before; now a new study published in The Archives of Internal Medicine shows that taxing soda may be better for our health. Researchers at the University of North Carolina looked at the eating habits of more than 5,000 young adults over the span of 20 years and found that when food costs more, people tend eat fewer calories. Their conclusion: If we paid 18% more for regular soda and other sweetened beverages, we’d consume 56 fewer calories each day and lose around five pounds a year! (Speaking of soda, check out the debate our users struck up in this week’s “Diet Soda: Good or Bad?” post.)

Cheese Made from Breast Milk
Yum, right?! I always assumed breast milk was for feeding a newborn. Well, not anymore. Chef Daniel Angerer decided to make cheese from his wife’s breast milk (don’t worry, he made sure the baby had enough). It took him a little extra effort to make the cheese since human milk doesn’t curdle as well as cows (who knew?)…would any of you try it?

Raw Food Safety
Many folks enjoy following a raw food diet these days. I even got to experience a vegan raw food dinner in New York City a few months ago. But going raw also comes with a few food safety issues. Registered dietitian Keri Gans has some smart tips to make sure the raw food experience is delicious and safe. Some major advice: wash your produce correctly! That is, under cold, running water with a scrub brush; be sure to wash and then toss the outer layer of fruits such as mango and melon. This gets rid of any lingering bacteria that you might normally kill off while cooking food. But remember to only wash fruits just before eating them (storing produce after washing promotes mold growth).

Choosing Your Nutrition Expert
Many of our readers ask us for personalized diet advice and we usually suggest that they see a registered dietitian (like Dana and myself) for one-on-one consultation. When seeking out nutrition experts, you may have heard many titles floating around — nutritionist, health coach or nutrition specialist — and wondered what the heck is the difference? This informative article explains it well. Still confused? Ask us!

Shed Pounds, Open Clogged Arteries
Research shows that gaining weight by eating the wrong foods can clog your arteries and up your chances for a heart attack and stroke. A new study now shows this idea works in reverse, too. If you lose weight, it can help unclog your arteries and stave off heart attacks or stroke. Researchers looked at middle-aged people with heart disease and diabetes and found that those who lost more than 12 pounds over two years lowered their artery-clogging plaque deposits. Conclusion: Maintaining your healthy diet over the long run is what really makes a difference.

Tomatoes Cut From Menus
If you’re dining at Wendy’s anytime soon, you’ll need to request tomatoes on your next burger. The unusually cold weather in Florida this winter destroyed 70% of the state’s tomato crops. Since Florida is the U.S.’s main tomato source this time of year, this means prices are soaring. Some restaurants are holding the tomato topping on sandwiches unless requested, while other places just aren’t buying any. The good news is Florida will harvest their new tomato crop in April, which will bring tomato prices back down.

The Costs of Food Poisoning
Every week, it seems like we have news about a new food recall — something or other is always tainted with a bacteria. But here’s the big picture: All those recalls and illnesses caused by the contaminated food costs the U.S. $152 billion a year (that’s a billion with a “b!”). Each year, there are 76 million cases of food poisoning, including 5,000 deaths, according to Centers for Disease Control estimates. Take a look at this USA Today video and see how scary food poisoning can be — especially for higher-risk folks like children. The U.S. Senate is getting ready to vote on a food safety legislation to help make the foods we eat safer; it’s a step in the right direction.

A Food Blogger Challenge
She’s not a chef or nutritionist, but NourishedKitchen.com blogger Jennifer McGruther loves to write about food. Recently, she challenged her readers to eat real food (i.e. nothing processed) for one month. More than 900 folks signed up for the challenge, and many found it was more difficult than they thought! Jennifer advised her readers to toss processed items such as margarine, processed cheeses, refined salt and dried pastas. The positive here is that you have to eat more fruits and veggies, but you don’t want to take it too far. Milk is processed in order to kill off bacteria that cause illness and many other processed foods such as cereals, canned, and jarred foods can also be part of a healthy diet. Could you eat “real food” for a month?

Boiling Shrimp Helps Cut Allergies
We’ve talked about nut allergies before, but shrimp is another big food allergy, affecting one in 50 Americans. A new study shares good news with affected seafood lovers: Boiling shrimp can help cut the allergic effect. The study tested boiling shrimp extract for 10 minutes and it helped reduce its allergenic properties (meaning it had much less of the stuff that causes problems). We’ll need to see future studies done with humans, but this is the first step in the right direction.

Quest to Cure Peanut Allergy
Peanut allergies are so dangerous that many schools and offices have gone peanut-free. At some schools, kids with the allergy are separated from the rest of the group during lunchtime — a solution many criticize. But there may be a resolution soon. A recent British study examined 23 young peanut allergy sufferers to see if they could build a peanut tolerance. Over time, the test subjects ate increasing amounts of peanut flour a day. Twenty were able to eat more than 30 peanuts safely after the study ended. Now a larger study is going to try the same thing with more than 100 kids ages seven to 17.

Restaurants Offer Lighter Choices
Despite the economy, Americans still love to eat out. In many cities around the country, large chains now have to display their calorie info for each dish; this means more healthy options are popping up on menus. Applebee’s now has a selections of items “Under 550 Calories” and Starbucks has “skinny” drinks under 100 calories. Even Cheesecake Factory has whittled down portions — they’ve recently introduced small plates and snack menus. But will consumers use the information to make healthier choices? Will you?

Push to the End Raw Milk Ban
You won’t find raw milk in most markets — it’s against the law to sell it in 23 states. Supporters of raw milk are asking legislators to call off the ban because they believe pasteurization kills off helpful nutrients and enzymes. Public health officials disagree — raw milk contains potentially dangerous bacteria, which can be deadly to the very young and old (they have weaker immune systems). According to data from the CDC (Center For Disease Control and Prevention), more than 1,500 people got sick from drinking raw milk between 1996 and 2006. As a food safety advocate, I’m not a fan of the widespread sale of raw milk; lifting the ban could potentially be disastrous.

Choke-Proof Hot Dogs?
Most non-fatal choking hazards (60% of them) are related to food. Yikes! The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now wants warning labels on foods that pose a choking hazard — just like the ones on small toys that alert parents with toddlers. But wait, the AAP also wants foods like hot dogs to be “re-designed” so they’re less likely to get lodged in a small throat. The Food and Drug Administration plans to review the recommendations released by the AAP — we’ll keep you updated.

Warning for Food Colorings
Besides adding those fake bright colors to food, synthetic food colorings such as Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Orange B and Red 3 have been linked to hyperactivity and behavioral issues in kids. Maryland officials are actually looking to ban artificial coloring in school foods and to demand that packaged foods with these dyes carry warning labels. The Center for Science in the Public Interest is backing Maryland; they maintain that, although these artificial dyes are cheaper than using real food ingredients, we shouldn’t be taking risks when it comes to our children. What do you think?

Food Fight: Walmart vs. Whole Foods
When you think about healthy grocery stores, I am sure that the popular Whole Foods Market usually comes to mind (and maybe some less pricey stores). But now Walmart is giving Whole Foods a run for its money. Walmart Supercenters now carry fresh produce from local farmers. This produce comes straight from nearby farms, so it doesn’t sit on trucks for days in transit, making the produce fresher and tastier AND at a reasonable price. Sounds like a winning combination!

Detox: Fact or Fiction?
Detox diets are popular these days, and tons of books and supplements supporting this craze are popping up on store shelves. Many of my friends ask me if detoxes or cleanses work and wonder if they’re safe? This excellent Chicago Tribune article really gets into these questions. The bottom line: If you’re turning to supplements and cleansing drinks to clean out your system, save your money. That’s your liver’s job and it doesn’t need any help. If you’re overloading on processed foods and caffeine in your diet or just want to cut back, load up on whole grains, fruits and veggies and your body will cleanse itself.

College Students With High Cholesterol
I’ve seen kids as young as seven years old with high cholesterol, a problem that often stems from unhealthy diets and lack of exercise. It was no surprise that a recent survey conducted by the University of Georgia’s Health Center found 4% of college students had high cholesterol. Other studies have found that up to 10% of students could have this risk factor for heart disease — a scary thought for such a young population. In response to their survey, the university’s health center is offering students free cholesterol screenings. The good news is that you can improve and even prevent high cholesterol by eating a healthy diet and getting your body moving.

FDA Warned Kellogg’s About Tainted Waffles
Another week, another recall — frozen waffles! But this time the FDA warned Kellogg’s that their food safety measures weren’t enough! The agency sent a letter to Kellogg’s in January after the health department found Listeria bacteria (which can be fatal) in their Eggo Buttermilk Waffles during an August inspection. Although Kellogg’s stated that they took corrective measures, the FDA says it wasn’t enough. Listeria is typically found in hot dogs and meats. It affects pregnant women, young children and the elderly.

Hershey’s Introduces Smaller-Sized Candies
Hershey’s has responded to the recent calorie-counting craze by creating smaller-sized candies. Aside from the traditional Reese’s Pieces candies, you can now purchase Almond Joy Pieces, York Pieces and Hershey’s Dark Pieces. Although the Hershey’s spokeswoman says, “Consumers needed something that was easy to snack on when on the go,” don’t be fooled into thinking that this is the best alternative for great snack; chocolate is still not a healthy choice for snacking. If you are craving that sweetness, though, you could toss in a few tablespoons of chocolate pieces into a nut and dried fruit mixture for a delicious snack mix. For more information on shopping for candy and chocolate, check out our helpful tips.

First Lady Unveils Anti-Obesity Campaign
This week, the first lady launched the Let’s Move campaign, which is aimed at fighting childhood obesity. They campaign includes many key players taking action to help. The American Beverage Association has agreed to clearly post calories on the front labels. School cafeteria vendors are promising to cut sugar, salt and fat and increase whole grains, fruits and veggies on menus. Even mega media companies such as Walt Disney, NBC, Universal and Viacom have agreed to run public service announcements. Do you feel these efforts will be effective in helping our kids be healthier?

Revamping Serving Sizes
We’ve told you how some food manufacturers have started displaying the calories per serving on the front of their food labels. Even though this is an important step forward, the FDA is now urging food manufacturers to increase the serving sizes and make them more realistic (who eats seven chips or a ½ cup of cereal anyway?!). The agency feels both these steps together will be most effective in allowing folks to make the best decisions — especially if they’re trying to watch their calories.

Jillian Michaels Misleading Supplement
If you’re buying weight-loss supplements because a big star is promoting it, you may want to reconsider. A California woman filed a lawsuit against “The Biggest Loser” hardcore trainer Jillian Michaels over her promotion of the weight-loss supplement Jillian Michaels Maximum Strength Calorie Control. The product’s marketing claims if you pop two supplements before your main meals, you’ll lose weight (and as we all know, there is no magic pill!). The woman suing says she bought the products because Michaels was endorsing it. The woman is also taking the diet and weight-loss manufacturer Basic Research and ThinCare International, who produce other products endorsed by the reality show star, to court.

Dessert from the Sky
With snow blanketing much of the country lately, what better way to use the white stuff than by making dessert? Snow cream is a combination of freshly fallen snow, milk, cream (or condensed milk), sugar and vanilla. If you’ve got some fresh snow in your backyard, give Paula Deen’s Snow Ice Cream a try!

What Was on Abe Lincoln’s Menu?
I’m fascinated with the history and culture of food — I’ve even taught a course on the subject. In honor of Lincoln’s birthday (it’s today!), I did a little digging to see what was on our 16th president’s menu. Abe Lincoln was from a poor family living in the prairie, where corn was a staple — corncakes was one of his favorites. While in the White House, Lincoln’s daily meals consisted of an egg and coffee for breakfast, biscuit, seasonal fruit and milk for lunch, and then a small dinner. It’s no wonder he was so thin!

Super Bowl: A Heart-Wrenching Game
You might be pumped for Super Bowl Sunday, but did you know the game could be stressful on your heart? A study published in the American Journal of Cardiology found that the number of heart attacks went up when the Rams lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers during the highly charged 1980 game. However, when the Raiders easily beat the Washington Redskins in 1984, the level of heart attacks dropped. In addition to a stressful game, poor food choices and lots of alcohol may contribute to heart trouble come game time. Think about adding some healthier options to your Super Bowl spread — here are our favorite nibblers.

Top States for Heart Attacks
Speaking of heart attacks, if you live in the southeast, you’re living in the “Heart Attack Belt.” Studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that folks living in this region have the highest risk for heart attacks — Mississippi came in at the top. Southern states often show up on lists ranking American obesity and other unhealthy habits. Considering a high-fat diet, being overweight, high cholesterol and/or smoking increases your risk for heart attack, no doubt diet and poor choices are playing a part here. Find out where your state ranks.

Understanding Heart-Healthy Fats
We often use the term “heart-healthy fats” but do you know what that means exactly? It’s the unsaturated fats (mono- and polyunsaturated) — from olive oil, canola oil, nuts, fish and more — that studies have found to be best for your heart. Here’s a good explanation of what foods to pick up at the market so you get your fill.This month make a resolution to incorporate more of these foods into your diet.

Michael Pollan’s New Food Rules
The author of The Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food is back with a new book — Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual. Oprah recently interviewed Pollan and he give tips on how to reduce processed foods and add more fresh foods to your diet. Pollan’s motto in this quick read is “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.” I’ll be picking up a copy on my next trip to the bookstore.

Packaged Greens Loaded With Bacteria
New tests released from Consumer Reports show that packaged leafy greens (like spinach and lettuce) may contain certain harmful bacteria. How’d it get there? Courtesy of poor personal hygiene and sanitation practices (we won’t go into the icky details). A few tips to keep in mind if you opt for the bagged stuff: Buy packages that have a use-by date furthest in the future, wash the greens even if they’re “pre-washed” or “triple-washed” and make sure raw meat and poultry juices don’t get on your greens (a form of cross-contamination).

The Downside of Fortified Foods
These days many food manufacturers claim they’re adding vitamins to improve our health. If someone downs a few of these products (especially energy juices and bars), they can take in up to 20 times the recommended amounts of a vitamin. This isn’t necessarily a good thing. Too much of any vitamin can produce signs of toxicity — for example, too much vitamin C can lead to an upset stomach. Get too much vitamin A and you’ll have more serious symptoms like nausea, vomiting, blurry vision and eventually liver damage. If you’re trying these fortified products, read the labels and stay away from the super-boosted ones just in case.

Perfect for the Weekend: Bloody Mary, Lightened Up
Sunday brunch wouldn’t be the same without a Bloody Mary. We came across this lighter version at Fitsugar.com. Instead of vodka, they use shochu, a Japanese distilled beverage that’s made from rice, sweet potato or barley. It’s weaker than vodka (with only 25% alcohol by volume), which means it contains fewer calories.

Goat Meat, Anyone?
A new restaurant called Girl and the Goat opens this spring in Chicago and guess what’s on the menu? No, not a girl. Goat, a lean meat that’s gaining popularity, has become a popular choice in several Chicago restaurants. Goat is a common ingredient in various cuisines in Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. But at Chicago’s Girl and the Goat, Chef Stephanie Izard will be flavoring hers up with seasonings such as garlic, brown sugar, black peppercorns and fresh herbs. Have you tried goat meat before?

New Mexican Cooking Show on Food Network
This past weekend I dined at the eclectic Mexican restaurant La Esquina in New York City. My mouth was watering as the plantains, spicy mini tacos and cheesy corn hit my table. Mexican fare is big these days, and Food Network is jumping on the Mexican food trend with a new show, Mexican Made Easy. The show, which stars cookbook author Marcela Valladolid, debuted last week. It’ll be fun to see what flavor combos Marcela comes up with.

Obese Dogs = Obese Owners
Pet owners take note of this new Dutch study. Researchers found that more commonly overweight people owned overweight dogs; cats and cat owners, however, don’t have the same kind of link. The study’s authors hypothesized that thinner pooch owners had healthy dogs because they’re out walking (both their dogs and themselves) more. Since kitties aren’t walked, the same hypothesis doesn’t apply to that group. The takeaway: For the sake of your health and your furry kin, go for walks!

Warning on Fake Alli
Although the trend for ordering medications online is growing, here’s a good reason to stick to the old-fashioned pharmacy. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put out a warning that fake versions of Alli, an over-the-counter, weight-loss drug, are being distributed online. The FDA examined the counterfeit pills and found none of Alli’s active ingredients; instead the active ingredient matches the weight-loss drug sibutramine, a medication that should only be taken with medical supervision. Sibutramine also has a tendency to interact with other medications. Scary!

The FDA Is Concerned About BPA
We’ve told you about the FDA’s plan to investigate BPA (bisphenol-A) in our food supply — now the federal agency is voicing concerns about its possible health risks. Fetuses, infants and children are at highest risk because the chemical may effect the brain, behavior and prostate gland. BPA has been used since the 1960s in baby bottles, sippy cups and the can linings of some baby formulas and soft drinks. The agency wants everyone to rely on BPA-free items and toss plastics that have the #7 (look for it stamped on the bottom).

Another Huge Beef Recall
Another week, another recall. If you plan on dining out in California, you may want to skip the burger or pasta bolognese. A Southern California meat-packing company recalled a whopping 864,000 pounds of ground beef that may be contaminated with the bacteria E. Coli. The meat was sold to distribution centers, restaurants and hotels in the area. Although the Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) hasn’t had any documented cases of illness, Southern Californians better to steer clear of dishes containing ground beef for the time being.

Did You Celebrate National Popcorn Day?
January 19th was National Popcorn Day! Popcorn can be light-weight snack, but buckets of movie theater-style popcorn aren’t the smartest choice. A recent CSPI report revealed the these theater popcorns serve up unbelievably high amount of calories and fat. Instead, try making your own. Freshly popped with no fat added (that would be butter), a cup of popcorn has around 30 calories!

Calorie Counts Aren’t Always What They Seem
Researchers set out to determine if the calories in fast food restaurants and frozen meals are actually what the labels say. Turns out not always! They checked their lab analysis (the most precise way to determine calorie counts) against the published nutrition facts and the results showed some foods listed lower tallies and some food manufacturers over estimated. The FDA does allow a 20% wiggle room for nutrition data, but researchers had some results that were really frightening. For example, Denny’s grits were marketed as 80 calories but tested at 258 calories! Although the study only took one sample from the places they tested, it shows that there are still errors that need to be ironed out.

Weight Loss Wagers
A new weight loss site called Lose It Or Lose It has you forking over money as an incentive to lose weight. You sign up and set your goals, and if you have not reached them in 10 weeks, you’re out the cash. If you reach your goal, the money is returned to you. In order to discourage rapid weight loss and unhealthy techniques, the maximum goal you can set is three pounds per week. You can put up between $5 and $100 per pound (so the cash can really add up). Would you risk money as an incentive to lose weight?

Hot New Sugar: Maple Syrup
Although most folks think of it as a pancake topper, there are so many more ways to enjoy maple syrup. Don’t get confused by those imitation syrups containing high-fructose corn syrup — you want 100% pure maple syrup. This Fox News article talks to Chef Kathleen Daelemans, who provides tips on how to use maple syrup on things like Pan-Seared Salmon with a Maple Glaze.

Watching TV Shortens Your Life
Okay, that’s a scary statement, I know. A new study, published in an American Heart Association journal, examined the association between hours spent watching TV and the risk of death. The study looked at nearly 9,000 men and women who were divided based on how many hours of boob tube they sit through a day. The results showed that those who watched more than four hours of TV per day had an 80% greater risk of death from heart disease compared with those who watched fewer than two hours per day. Overall, the study concluded that for each hour a day spent watching TV, there’s an 18% greater risk of dying from heart disease and a 9% increased risk of dying from cancer.

Which Nation Feels the Pressure to Lose Weight?
The desire to be thin isn’t just an American thing. Reader’s Digest recently conducted a poll around the world and found that Brazilians are under the most pressure to lose weight. Among the 16,000 participants, 83% of Brazilians said they felt compelled to be thin while only 62% felt the same way in the U.S. The poll asked how folks lost weight and 18% of Russian women said they turned to smoking while Mexicans preferred to follow a healthy diet and exercise regimen. Additionally, the French blame all the American fast food fare for their growing waistlines (and Americans agreed!).

Tiger’s Unfaithful Label
I couldn’t resist adding this article about peculiarly labeled Gatorade bottles to this week’s Reading List. The bottles’ labels contain the word “unfaithful” with a picture of Tiger Woods and his wife. The drinks showed up in a Denver Safeway, where they were later taken off store shelves. Seems the FDA is investigating the situation.