This Week in Food News: Summer Solstice Edition
Photo by beautifulcataya
In case you’ve been preoccupied with the recent arrival of summer, chances are you probably missed out on a few of the week’s stories. Here are the highlights:
• A recent study presented at the American Diabetes Association shows that a regular breakfast routine could lessen the risk of becoming obese, developing type 2 diabetes, and developing abdominal obesity. Over 5,000 males and females participated, none of which had type 2 diabetes at the start of the study. The participants, who were followed for an average of 18 years, filled out diet questionnaires seven years into the study. After comparing the responses, researchers found that people who ate breakfast daily — in comparison to people who ate breakfast a few times a week — were 34% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, 43% less likely to become obese, and 40% less likely to develop abdominal obesity. While the researchers weren’t able to pinpoint any particular breakfast foods yielding better results among the participants, the American Diabetes Association recommends “a diet rich in vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nonfat diary products, beans lean meats, poultry, and fish.”
• McDonald’s may be sitting at the top of the ranks in fast food revenue, but a study has found that McDonald’s is in last place for customer satisfaction. The study, which is conducted on a yearly basis by the American Consumer Satisfaction Index, has been examining several limited-service restaurants since 1995. While this year’s report showed an average of 80 percent satisfaction for all of the examined restaurant chains, McDonald’s 73 percent satisfaction rate has actually been considered a “significant improvement … up from 61 percent satisfaction in 2002.” Tell us what you think: Do these findings surprise you?
• London chef Neil Iron has been accused of serving two toddlers chocolate pudding laced with ecstasy at The Red Lion. The incident occurred last October, the day after Iron helped cater a birthday party at the pub. Iron, who has a history of cocaine possession, allegedly served the ecstasy-laced truffles during the party to “liven [things] up,” and the leftovers were stored in the fridge. The next day, a couple took their two toddlers to the pub for a dinner, where the young children shared a chocolate pot. Subsequently, the toddlers were hospitalized, where one of them suffered a severe reaction. Iron was then arrested, and has denied all allegations of tampering with the chocolates. The case has yet to be settled in court.
Stay tuned for next week’s food news installment. Have a great weekend!
