Belgium : the first European Union country to approve insects in food

A Belgian supermarket Delhaize has officially started selling a range of products that contain insects, mainly mealworms. The country is the first EU state to approve insects in food.

Delhaize will this week become the first supermarket chain in Belgium to launch a range of products based on insect protein. The chain will offer two sorts of savoury spread, branded Green Bugs, both containing mealworms.

The spreads, despite clearly stating their origin on the label, contain no identifiable insect parts. They come in two flavours – tomato and carrot (pictured) – and look more like jars of baby food than anything creepy-crawly. The spreads cost €3.45 for 125 grams. The tomato spread contains about 6% of ground mealworm, while the carrot version contains only 4%.

“Products made from insects are trending at the moment, and Delhaize wants to reaffirm its role as a pioneer in the field of food retailing,” said spokesperson Roel Dekelver. The move also fits in, he said, with the company’s strategy of seeking nutritional and sustainable alternatives.

€3.45 for 125 grams

The announcement puts Delhaize narrowly ahead of Damhert, a company based in Limburg province, which yesterday announced that it would be selling three new insect products from October in Belgian supermarkets. The Damhert range consists of nuggets, burgers and schnitzels made from buffalo worms.

The buffalo worm was one of 10 insect species approved for human consumption last year by the federal food safety agency. Both buffalo worms and mealworms are beetle larvae.

“There’s nothing you can see to suggest there are insects in the product,” assured Lisa Lamorgese of Damhert. “The worms are first freeze-dried and then ground up. The rest of the process is identical to the use of other meat substitutes.”

USA : Starbucks tests Frappuccino Mini

Starbucks has begun to test what it's calling the Frappuccino Mini, a 10-ounce Frappuccino that's a tad lower in price and calories than the conventional 12-ounce version. The test, which is taking place in Denver and Houston, will determine if the mini version expands to other markets, says Lisa Passe, a Starbucks spokeswoman.

"It's about customers looking for choices," says Passe. "We're learning and listening to what customers are saying." The 10-ounce version costs about 30-cents less than the conventional 12-ounce beverage.

The move -- first reported by the blog StarbucksMelody -- comes as smaller desserts and mini-indulgences continue to be white hot at restaurants nationally. It's hard to find a casual dining chain that hasn't rolled out some sort of mini-desert lineup. The small servings appeal to Millennials, to customers who are concerned about calories and to parents who feel better about purchasing smaller sizes for kids.

At roughly $2 billion in annual sales, the Frappuccino -- a blend of of coffee, milk and ice that now has many flavors and forms -- remains one of the coffee giant's most profitable offerings.

The new beverage is really a "kids-sized" Frappuccino, says Melody Overton, creator of the StarbucksMelody blog, "but if they market it as kids-sized, it might have less appeal for adults." At the same time, she notes, Starbucks also has been prodded by customers to roll out a "Trenta" (32-ounce) Frappuccino.

That's not going to happen, says Passe. "That (size is) only for iced tea and Refreshers," she says.

A few years ago, when the recession slowed Frappuccino sales, Starbucks added customizable options to boost its sales -- including non-fat milk and sugar-free toppings. The company says there are more than 36,000 potential combinations of Frappuccinos worldwide.

With Frappuccinos, it seems to always be about extremes. Last spring, Starbucks Japan rolled out the Chunky Cookie Frappuccino -- blended with an entire chocolate chunk cookie inside.

No plans for that one in the U.S. says Passe.

USA : Pizza Hut testing 'skinny slice'

(AP) — Pizza Hut is testing out a lighter pizza in two U.S. markets as it seeks to freshen up its menu and regain its footing against competitors.

The tests of the "Skinny Slice" pies began this week at several dozen restaurants in Toledo, Ohio, and West Palm Beach, Florida. 

The pies simply use less of the same dough used for regular pies and are lighter on the toppings, said Doug Terfehr, a Pizza Hut spokesman.

Several fast-food and restaurant chains have turned to lighter offerings over the years as a way to update their images, with varying degrees of success. Burger King, for instance, recently said the majority of its U.S. restaurants would stop offering lower-calorie french fries less than a year after the so-called "Satisfries" were introduced.

The test by Pizza Hut comes as the chain fights to win back market share. Last year, Pizza Hut sales fell 2 percent at U.S. locations open at least a year. Domino's, by contrast, saw the figure rise 5.4 percent while Papa John's saw sales rise 4 percent in North America.

Darren Tristano, a restaurant analyst with industry tracker Technomic, noted that Pizza Hut may be suffering in part because it's the biggest player and has the most to lose at a time when the pizza business overall is seeing moderate growth of about 2 percent to 3 percent a year.

But he also noted that the chain has failed to "evolve its product," while Papa John's has played up its quality and Domino's improved its pizza. Pizza Hut is owned by Yum Brands Inc., which also owns Taco Bell and KFC.

Pizza Hut's test varies in the two markets. In Toledo, customers can create their own Skinny Slice pies with up to five toppings, with each slice having 300 calories or less. In West Palm Beach, customers can pick from one of six pre-determined pies, with each slice having 250 calories or less.

The Skinny Slice pies are intended as a lighter version of Pizza Hut's hand-tossed crusts; a plain slice of the regular hand-tossed pie has 300 calories, according to the chain's website. A slice of the pan pizza has 350 calories and a slice of the "Thin 'N Crispy" has 260 calories.

Pizza Hut also rolled out "Fit n' Delicious" pies more than a decade ago that had even fewer calories than the new Skinny Slice pies by going lighter on toppings. If the test proves successful, the Skinny Slice pies would replace the Fit N' Delicious pies, which are still available on request, Terfehr said in an email.

Other pizza chains have tinkered with alternative crusts as well. Domino's introduced a gluten-free crust in 2012 that is still on the menu. During the Atkins craze, Domino's also tested a whole wheat crust but ultimately abandoned the idea.

"It did not take us very long to learn that people did not want that from Domino's," said Chris Brandon, a Domino's spokesman.

Scottish Independence Cupcake Poll

• The opinion poll cakes are raspberry and white chocolate flavored and cost £2.50 to take away or £3 to eat in.
• 'No' camp win cupcake poll

Customers at Cuckoo's bakery in the Scottish capital Edinburgh have been invited to cast their vote through their choice of cupcake. Voters can decide between a Saltire-topped cake for 'Yes', a Union-flagged treat for 'No' or a question mark if they are yet to make up their minds.

Cuckoo’s revealed today that the No cake has outsold its rival in the run-up to the historic vote.

The bakery said that of the thousands of its opinion poll cupcakes consumed, 47.7% were No cakes and 43.5% were Yes.

The undecideds - who opted for a cake with an iced question mark - made up the remaining 8.8%.

Co-founder Graham Savage said: “We have seen an increase in sales generally and some big orders have come in from both sides.

“Our poll has been conducted professionally throughout the campaign and we are delighted that the results have shown to be so similar to the official results.

“We have calculated that since the campaign was launched, we have sold 80,000 cupcakes from our full range, including the Opinion Poll cupcake.”

Official polls released at the weekend put the Yes and No camps neck and neck.

Three put the No campaign in the lead while one put the independence movement ahead.

The opinion poll cakes are raspberry and white chocolate flavoured and cost £2.50 to take away or £3 to eat in.

McDonald's trademarks the word "McBrunch"

McDonald's has filed a federal trademark registration for the term "McBrunch," confirms company spokeswoman Lisa McComb. The filing, which took place in July, was first reported by the fast-food industry blog BurgerBusiness.

Is a new McBrunch program being seriously considered? "That sort of speculation is highly premature," says an e-mail from McComb.

"We routinely file intent to use trademark applications as a regular course of business," says McComb. "We can't share details at this time as to how the trademarks may or may not be used."

In fact, McDonald's previously applied for the McBrunch trademark back in 2001, but abandoned the application, says Scott Hume, editor of BurgerBusiness.

McDonald's is not currently testing any sort of McBrunch concept, says McComb.

But will it?

Hume certainly thinks so. "There's no reason to file for it if you don't plan to use it," he says. "Their declining sales show they have to do something."

McMozzarella sticks were intorudced last month. McDonald's have been branching out with new items in the hopes of attracting new customers over the past year-and-a-half

For McDonald's, just about any action may be better than no action. On Tuesday, the fast-food giant reported its worst global monthly same-store sales in a decade — down 3.7% for the month of August. Even CEO Don Thompson has said that the company needs to create new offerings that bring more excitement to the market.

In the fast-food business, among the most common — and least expensive — ways to grow sales is to create new so-called "day parts" to lure customers during times of the day that they don't usually stop by. That's why some chains have been pushing late-afternoon smoothies and late-night snacks.

Any McBrunch program at McDonald's — at least in the U.S. — likely would be limited to weekends and holidays, says Hume. It likely would extend the breakfast hour to noon or even 1 p.m., and include items not currently on the breakfast menu, says Hume.

USA : New Mile High Bacon Thickburger from Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s

New at Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, the new Mile High Bacon Cheese Thickburger. 

The new burger features premium, thick-cut Applewood-smoked bacon “piled sky high” on a charbroiled, 100 percent Black Angus beef Thickburger patty, with American cheese, red onion, tomato, lettuce and mayonnaise, served on a Fresh Baked Bun. Available on a 1/3-lb. or 1/2-lb. 100 percent Black Angus beef patty starting at $5.59.

Model and actress Bar Paly ("Pain & Gain," "Million Dollar Arm") will star in a new national TV advertising campaign to promote the Mile High Bacon Cheese Thickburger that will begin airing next week. Titled "Propositioning," the spot is set aboard an airplane mid-flight, where Paly asks her on-set husband to join her in the Mile High Club. 

Japan : Burger King invents black cheese for its black burger

Japan is a nation known for its love of culinary oddities, and starting Sept. 19, Burger King  plans to indulge that love with black cheese.

That’s right, Burger King Japan has announced the latest iteration of its “Kuro” burger (“kuro” meaning “black” in Japanese), first introduced last year. The buns are black, the sauce is black, and this year, the cheese will be black as well.

According to the gaming site Kotaku.com, the buns and the new cheese addition get their coloring from bamboo charcoal, while the accompanying onion and garlic sauce is prepared with squid ink, and the hamburger patties are made with black pepper, just for good measure.

There are two versions of the burger. The Kuro Pearl has a black pattie, cheese and sauce, while the more substantial Kuro Diamond, also has lettuce, tomato and onion.

The creation is available in two forms: The simple Kuro Pearl will sell for 480 yen ($4.49), while the fancier Kuro Diamond — which includes regular-colored tomatoes and lettuce — will run you 690 yen.

USA : McDonald's new chorizo burrito

(Bloomberg) — McDonald's Corp. is trying to appeal to fans of chorizo sausage with a new burrito. There's one catch: It's made from chicken.

About 2,000 McDonald's restaurants in Texas, Hawaii and the Midwest started selling chorizo breakfast burritos last month, Terri Hickey, a spokeswoman for the Oak Brook-based fast-food giant, said in an e-mail. The wraps are made with dark-meat chicken, instead of the traditional pork, and include scrambled eggs, roma tomatoes, green chilies, onions and white cheddar cheese. The chicken is flavored with chorizo seasoning that includes paprika, chili and chipotle pepper.

“They're just trying to have some new news to get people to come back into the stores — they're really struggling,” said Bob Goldin, executive vice president at food industry research firm Technomic Inc. in Chicago. “Some of the the younger consumers like a bolder flavor.”

McDonald's chorizo burritos, available for a limited time, are two-for-$3.

Fast-food chains are trying to introduce items that can stem the flow of millennials to fast-casual chains, such as Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. They've recently added more spicy fare and pork items as fancier restaurants have hyped the other white meat — labeling it coppa and lardon, as well as tossing it into trendy ramen-noodle soups under names such as porchetta.

Wendy's Co. is introducing barbecue pulled-pork sandwiches and burgers across the U.S. McDonald's also recently added jalapeno burgers to its menu, while Burger King Worldwide Inc. has a bacon burger topped with A.1. sauce.

MORE PORK
While beef consumption per capita is expected to decline 3.3 percent next year, Americans are chowing down on more pork, data from the USDA show. In 2015, people in the U.S. may eat 46.1 pounds of pork, on average, 1.1 percent more than this year. Chicken consumption also is forecast to rise next year.

McDonald's, the world's biggest restaurant chain, has struggled recently to boost revenue. Sales at U.S. locations open at least 13 months dropped 2.8 percent in August, the fourth straight monthly decline. Burritos may help McDonald's better compete with Taco Bell's new breakfast foods. The chain, owned by Yum! Brands Inc., earlier this year began selling morning fare, including bacon-and-cheese burritos, waffle tacos and hash browns nationwide.

McDonald's chorizo burritos, available for a limited time, are two-for-$3. A Wendy's pulled-pork cheeseburger, topped with slaw, is $4.99, while a regular pulled-pork sandwich has 410 calories and costs $4.49. Dublin, Ohio-based Wendy's also is selling cheese fries topped with barbecue pulled pork and onions. All of its pulled-pork items are limited-time offers.

Wendy's : BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich, BBQ Pulled Pork Cheeseburger and BBQ Pulled Pork Cheese Fries.

McDonald’s Japan : tofu nuggets

McDonald’s Japan started serving its new chicken-less nuggets featuring tofu, fish and vegetables. The Tofu Shinjo Nuggets are served with ginger sauce and priced at ¥249 ($2.44) for four pieces.

Less than a week after announcing it would halt sales of all chicken products imported from China following a scandal at chicken-nugget supplier Shanghai Husi Food Co., Japan’ largest restaurant chain by revenue said it would start serving Tofu Shinjo Nuggets. They are made mainly from tofu and vegetables.

“The new nuggets do not include any chicken” but are made from ingredients that include onions, soybeans, carrots and minced fish, a spokeswoman at McDonald’s Japan said. The nuggets, to be manufactured in domestic factories, will be available beginning Wednesday for ¥249 ($2.44) for four pieces.

This is first nugget product to feature tofu as the main ingredient, the spokeswoman said, adding that McDonald’s Japan had planned to introduce the product before the scandal in China came to light. Shinjo is a kind of Japanese food made of fish paste, starch and other ingredients.

The new tofu nuggets will be served with a ginger-flavored sauce. “Because it isn’t meat, it tastes a bit different. It’s a bit softer,” the spokeswoman said. “Calorie-wise, it is a bit lower than chicken as well.” Tofu Shinjo Nuggets will be available until late September.

Following Chinese media reports earlier this month that Shanghai Husi Food was using expired meat in its products, McDonalds Japan said it would cut ties with the supplier.

“I would like to extend my sincere apology to our valued customers,” said Sarah Casanova, chief executive of McDonald’s Japan, at a news conference Tuesday. She said the company was committed to safety and described the issue as “restricted to one supplier in one city.”

Starbucks : the battle for breakfast

Starbucks gets 26% of its revenue from products other than beverages. And even in the beverage department, a substantial chunk of sales comes from drinks other than coffee. The chain dropped the word “coffee” from its logo in 2011, and its acquisitions since that year include tea maker Teavana, juice company Evolution Fresh and the La Boulange Cafe & Bakery brand. And that’s on top of forays over the years into everything from music to soda.

In many ways, Starbucks is like a McDonald’s without a Burger King—that is, the chain doesn’t have an archrival when it comes to high-end java. But that could be changing. In recent years, a “third wave” of artisan-minded coffee houses has opened up, emphasizing everything from single-origin beans (“harvested like wine grapes,” according to one report) to refined roasting techniques. Players in this market include Intelligentsia Coffee (based in Chicago), Stumptown Coffee Roasters (Portland, Ore.) and Blue Bottle Coffee (Oakland, Calif.).

To some extent, Starbucks is joining this bandwagon in that it plans to open at least 100 “reserve” stores, emphasizing even higher-end java, over the next five years. The chain is also testing an “express” store concept, which seems to be tied to the competitive threat from fast-food chains—like McDonald’s—that have moved increasingly into coffee.

For now, Starbucks may have one advantage over its third-wave competitors: it generally charges less—in some cases, easily 25% less—for a cup of drip coffee. (In New York, a 12-ounce “tall” Starbucks serving runs around $2.) And that’s despite the fact that Starbucks has itself been faulted for high prices, leading some critics to dub the chain “Fourbucks.”

It’s like a Big Mac, with more caffeine.

Many Frappuccinos have more than 400 calories in a 20-ounce “venti” serving; the Double Chocolaty Chip Frappuccino even hits the 500-calorie mark. Add a slice of Iced Lemon Pound Cake (470 calories) and a coffee-break drink and snack could be close to 1,000 calories.

To put that in perspective: A Big Mac and large Coca-Cola at McDonald’s clock in at 810 calories. (Keep in mind the Agriculture Department says an adult between the ages of 31 and 50 should typically need between 1,800 and 2,200 calories a day.

In 2012, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, an advocacy group focusing on nutrition, examined caffeine levels in medium-size cups of coffee from various chains and found that Starbucks—specifically, a grande (16-ounce) serving of the company’s popular Pike Place roast—had the most, with 330 milligrams per cup. By contrast, java from Dunkin’ Donuts had 178 milligrams of caffeine (unless, of course, you added a “turbo shot”) and McDonald’s 133 milligrams.