Beverage
Efforts to curb soda consumption bring results on both coasts
Sugary drinks are now banned from kids menus in Baltimore, and a statewide soda tax could be on California’s ballot in 2020.
Operations
Menu labeling for chain restaurants is finally the law
A surprising quest begun by the industry a decade ago goes into effect Monday, with the focus on compliance rather than catching transgressors.
Unlike many beverages, tea has been less affected by the recent recession. Indeed, as the economic picture brightens, sales of tea products are rising. In 2010, tea imports were up 10 percent over the previous year, to a record 274 million pounds, according to estimates by the Tea Association of the U.S.A.
Do customers really eat the low-fat, low-calorie, low-sodium foods they claim they want restaurants to serve? According to the 2010 Healthy Eating Consumer Trend Report developed by food industry consulting group Technomic, almost 50% of the 1,500 consumers surveyed claim to want healthier foods, but only 25% actually consider nutrition when dining out.
Though many Americans understand the importance of eating healthfully, the majority of consumers expect to pay no more for healthier items than they would for other menu options. Fully 70% of adults over 50 (a group that typically expresses more interest in healthy eating than their younger counterparts) said they would not pay an additional fee for healthier items.