The New Shortage: Ketchup Can’t Catch Up – WSJ

The pandemic turned restaurants into takeout specialists, boosting demand for the condiment; ‘Everyone out there is grabbing for ketchup’

Supply chain problems are reaching into a far corner of the business universe: Ketchup packets.

After enduring a year of closures, employee safety fears and start-stop openings, many American restaurants are now facing a nationwide ketchup shortage. Restaurants are trying to secure the tabletop staple after Covid-19 upended the condiment world order. Managers are using generic versions, pouring out bulk ketchup into individual cups and hitting the aisles of Costco for substitutes.

“We’ve been hunting high and low,” said Chris Fuselier, owner of Denver-based Blake Street Tavern, who has struggled to keep ketchup in stock for much of this year.

The pandemic turned many sit-down restaurants into takeout specialists, making individual ketchup packets the primary condiment currency for both national chains and mom-and-pop restaurants. Packet prices are up 13% since January 2020, and their market share has exploded at the expense of tabletop bottles, according to restaurant-business platform Plate IQ.

Source: The New Shortage: Ketchup Can’t Catch Up – WSJ

Dog Food Recall 2021: Midwestern Pet Foods Recalls Dog Food Over Salmonella – Thrillist

Midwestern Pet Foods, the same company that issued a big recall in January due to aflatoxin, has recalled products from 10 dog and cat food brands due to the potential for salmonella contamination. The brands involved include CanineX, Earthborn Holistic, Venture, Unrefined, Sportmix Wholesomes, Pro Pac, Pro Pac Ultimates, Sportstrail, Sportmix, and Meridian. The full list of recalled bags is very long.

The recall is specifically for food produced at the company’s Monmouth, Illinois facility. Though, those products were distributed nationwide and to online retailers. You’re looking for an “M” in the date code on the bag that designates it as having been produced at the facility where salmonella was detected, per the company’s recall. The lot code information is printed on the back of the bag and looks like this: “EXP AUG/02/22/M1/L#.

Source: Dog Food Recall 2021: Midwestern Pet Foods Recalls Dog Food Over Salmonella – Thrillist

Somerset County’s Maple Weekend Taste & Tour has ‘busiest day we’ve ever had’ | News | tribdem.com

Maple Weekend Taste & Tour in Somerset County was a hit with many on its opening day Saturday.

Laura Hileman, 18, said the weekend offers a special glimpse into how one of Somerset’s biggest products is made: “You get to see how maple syrup producers run their show – how the trees are tapped, the sap filtered, boiled down – and then you get to taste it.”

The event continues Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For a list of participating camps, visit somersetcountymaple.org.

Source: Somerset County’s Maple Weekend Taste & Tour has ‘busiest day we’ve ever had’ | News | tribdem.com

Featured Business: Henry’s Hoagies adds new lunch option to downtown Greensburg | TribLIVE.com

There’s a new grab-and-go lunch option in downtown Greensburg.

Henry’s Hoagies opened March 2 in the downstairs space at 16 W. Second St.

For now, the food service is all takeout, offering eight sandwich options, four varieties of pepperoni rolls, two daily soups, snacks, fresh fruit, yogurt and bottled drinks.

Owners Henry Johnson and Holly Hull hope to add indoor dining when pandemic restrictions ease.

The Greensburg couple is new to the restaurant business, but not strangers to preparing food for others to enjoy.

They honed their hoagie-making skills by supplying party eats to their friends and families. They also cook for family holiday dinners.

Current hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, although the couple is considering adding Saturday hours due to interest expressed by customers.

Details: 724-221-6999 or Facebook.

Source: Henry’s Hoagies adds new lunch option to downtown Greensburg | TribLIVE.com

Doughbar, a new pizza destination, to open on South Side | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

There are few foods that evoke as much passion as pizza: Ask a dozen people their favorite and you might get a dozen answers, and everyone has a fierce loyalty for their neighborhood pizza shop.

Matt Porco, Donnie Amman and Chris Clark can rattle off theirs without batting an eye — Casa Del Sole in Aspinwall, Don Campiti’s in Dormont and Napoli in Bridgeville, respectively. It’s a combination of that neighborhood nostalgia along with a career’s worth of experience at top restaurants in Pittsburgh and New York that they’ll bring to Doughbar Pizzeria & Rotisserie, slated to open March 17 at 1831 E. Carson St. on the South Side.

Though whole- or half-bird rotisserie chicken and wings will be on the menu, pizza is the star.

“When you look at Pittsburgh’s pizza historically, we have a neighborhood pizza culture. We are bridging the gap between that and a full-service restaurant with the experience we have, the ideas that we can present, and creating an environment that is a destination,” said Porco, executive chef and co-owner.

“We’re hoping that you can get a little bit of nostalgia,” Clark said. “We’re incorporating ideas from the pizzas we liked when we were young.”

“Our menu is going to be a riff on a neighborhood pizzeria,” Mr. Porco said.

The new pizza restaurant from Matt Porco, Donnie Amman and Chris Clark will open on March 17.

Source: Doughbar, a new pizza destination, to open on South Side | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Quaker Oats Company Issues Voluntary Recall of Quaker Rice Crisps Sweet Barbecue Flavor Due to Undeclared Soy Issue

Photo Package Front:  QUAKER SWEET BARBECUE RICE CRISPSThe Quaker Oats recall is specific to the brand’s 3.03-oz. bags of Quaker Rice Crisps in Sweet Barbecue Flavor, which may have undeclared soy in them. According to the recall notice, individuals with soy sensitivities or allergies “run the risk of a serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the product contained inside the recalled bags.”

In total, 4,550 bags of the potentially contaminated chips are being recalled, each bearing UPC number 0 30000 31984 0 and a best before date of May 29, 2021, written as “MAY29213M21” on the packaging. The affected products may have been sold in the following 21 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Washington.

While no illnesses associated with the consumption of the aforementioned Quaker Oats product have been reported, the FDA says that anyone with the recalled snacks at home should return them to their point of purchase to receive a refund or contact Quaker Consumer Relations at 800-367-6287.

Source: This Quaker Oats Product Has Been Recalled Over Safety Concerns

Doughbar Pizzeria & Rotisserie to open on Pittsburgh’s South Side | TribLIVE.com

A shuttered Mexican restaurant on the South Side will soon be home to pizza and rotisserie chicken.

Doughbar Pizzeria & Rotisserie restaurant has taken over the space on East Carson Street, with a planned opening ona March 10.

The menu will feature 14- and 12-inch pizzas in New York style and pan options, rotisserie chicken served as whole or half bird with options for wings or tenders, stone-baked hoagies and a selection of starters, salads, sides and sauces.

It’s owned by former chefs at Downtown Pittsburgh’s Sienna Mercato and Emporio: A Meatball Joint, Matthew Porco of Franklin Park and Donnie Amman of Dormont. They teamed up with Chris Clark, general manager of Superior Motors in Braddock.

 

Source: Doughbar Pizzeria & Rotisserie to open on Pittsburgh’s South Side | TribLIVE.com

Singapore vending machines now dispense salmon, crab and even cacti – BBC News

The city state has a dizzying array of vending machines, dispensing everything from cacti to pizza.

The reasons vending entrepreneurs are trying out new products are as varied as the businesses themselves.

Manish Kumar, the managing director of Norwegian Salmon, says machines offer him his own retail space. That means his frozen products aren’t placed next to fresh salmon, which is more popular here.

Mervin Tham, one of the three founders of EasyMeat, whose machines sell the Wagyu beef, thinks the variety is expanding because the barriers to entry are fairly low.

“It’s a low effort way of testing a product, especially if you’re starting a business of your own. And generally there’s some interest towards the automated retail culture that you see overseas, like in Japan,” he says.

Source: Singapore vending machines now dispense salmon, crab and even cacti – BBC News

Bill Gates Calls for US to Move to ‘100% Synthetic Beef’

An estimated one billion people worldwide suffer from protein deficiency, according to the Cornell Alliance for Science.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said rich countries like the United States should move to “synthetic beef” to address the global protein problem.

The co-chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and chair of the investment fund Breakthrough Energy Ventures made the comment during a discussion about his new book “How To Avoid a Climate Disaster,” Technology Review reported.

The book discusses how technology can be used to slash emissions in “hard to solve” sectors like agriculture.

Source: Bill Gates Calls for US to Move to ‘100% Synthetic Beef’

Pennsylvania cocktails for the novice home bartender | Drink | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper

Pittsburgh has a really vibrant and underrated cocktail scene. Bartenders across the Steel City sling inventive and delicious drinks for fairly affordable prices. While Pittsburgh’s legacy is a “shot and beer” town, that narrative is evolving rather quickly.

Read Source For Recipes: Eight perfect two-ingredient Pennsylvania cocktails for the novice home bartender | Drink | Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh City Paper

Allegheny County Health Department Shuts Down Shadyside Boston Market – CBS Pittsburgh

By: KDKA-TV News Staff

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The Allegheny County Health Department ordered the Boston Market in Shadyside to close after it was deemed an imminent health hazard.

An inspector found standing water at the front cook line, employees were walking on cardboard to pass through areas and the restaurant was cited for sanitation and pest issues.

The health department’s website will be updated when the closure is removed.

Source: Allegheny County Health Department Shuts Down Boston Market – CBS Pittsburgh

National Pizza Day 2021: Who Makes Pittsburgh’s Best Pie? | Pittsburgh, PA Patch

It’s a debate with no clear-cut answer: Which Pittsburgh pizzeria rises above the rest?

Patch is celebrating National Pizza Day on Feb. 9 by asking people where they go for their favorite pie. What follows is a list of some of the more popular pizzerias in
town, but it isn’t meant to be inclusive. Feel free to mention your favorite place in the comments section even if it isn’t mentioned here.

Source: National Pizza Day 2021: Who Makes Pittsburgh’s Best Pie? | Pittsburgh, PA Patch

Allegheny County Health Department Shuts Down 2 Businesses – CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The Allegheny County Health Department shut down two businesses this week.

Donnadieu’s on Fallowfield Avenue in Beechview was ordered to close for being open and operating without a valid health permit.

Catie’s Cakes in Munhall was also ordered to close for the same reason.

The health department will update its website whenever the closure orders are removed.

Source: Allegheny County Health Department Shuts Down 2 Businesses – CBS Pittsburgh

No tuna in Subway’s tuna sandwiches and wraps, lawsuit claims

Two California residents contend the restaurant chain’s tuna is actually a “mixture of various concoctions.”

What Subway bills as tuna is a “mixture of various concoctions that do not constitute tuna, yet have been blended together by defendants to imitate the appearance of tuna,” according to the complaint.

Filed last week in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on behalf of two California residents, Karen Dhanowa and Nilima Amin, the lawsuit contends the two “were tricked into buying food items that wholly lacked the ingredients they reasonably thought they were purchasing,” based on its labeling.

Source: No tuna in Subway’s tuna sandwiches and wraps, lawsuit claims

More than 100 pets died, over 200 sickened from recalled pet food, FDA says | Fox Business

Hundreds of pets have died and others have been sickened after eating recalled pet food manufactured by Midwestern Pet Foods, according to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) updated recall notice.

As of Jan. 21, the FDA became aware that more than 110 dogs died and over 210 others fell ill after consuming food from the company’s Oklahoma plant “that may contain potentially fatal levels of aflatoxins.”

However, as new information becomes available, “case counts and the scope of this recall may expand,” the FDA said.

Earlier this month, the company expanded its recall “out of an abundance of caution” to include pet food products containing corn that were manufactured in the company’s Oklahoma manufacturing plant and have an expiration date on or before July 9, 2022.

Source: More than 100 pets died, over 200 sickened from recalled pet food, FDA says | Fox Business

Bickel’s Snack Foods’ 8-oz. Butter Flavored Popcorn Is Subject to a New Recall, FDA Says

Thinking of preparing a snack for movie night? You might want to check the label first, now that there’s been a major popcorn recall reported by the FDA.

The recalled popcorn, which was sold exclusively at Publix stores in Georgia and North Carolina, is printed with UPC code 70175 06021 and has a use by date of March 29, 2021, as well as bearing the letters Z1 E1. If you have the affected popcorn at home, the FDA recommends either throwing it away or returning it to Publix to receive a refund of your purchase.

Source: This Popular Brand of Popcorn Is Subject to a New Recall, FDA Says

Chick-fil-A releases new version of its spicy sandwich – pennlive.com

Chick-fil-A says it is “kicking off the year by offering a grilled version of a spicy favorite.”

Starting on Monday, Jan. 25, 2021, fans get a Grilled Spicy Chicken Deluxe sandwich for a limited time.

The grilled version of the sandwich “features grilled chicken marinated in a spicy seasoning served on a toasted multigrain brioche bun with Colby-Jack cheese, lettuce and tomato.” A creamy Cilantro Lime Sauce was “created specifically for the new sandwich.”

Source: Chick-fil-A releases new version of its spicy sandwich – pennlive.com

Pet food recall expanded after more than 70 dogs die

FDA investigates potentially fatal levels of aflatoxins, poisons produced by mold that’s not necessarily visible.

Midwestern Pet Food is expanding its recall of dog and cat food sold online by retailers nationwide as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigates potentially fatal levels of aflatoxins.

Midwestern, based in Evansville, Indiana, is broadening a prior recall to include all pet foods manufactured in the company’s Oklahoma plant containing corn and having an expiration date on or before July 9, 2022.

Source: Pet food recall expanded after more than 70 dogs die

Ugly Side Effects of Drinking Coffee Every Day, According to the Mayo Clinic | Eat This Not That

If you’re a coffee lover, you already know that drinking a fourth or fifth cup of coffee can leave you feeling jittery, restless, and wildly alert. But did you also know that doing so routinely over time can promote prolonged feelings of acute nervousness and anxiety? Or that you could partially lose control of your muscles? Or that it’s possible you’ll lose control over your ability to urinate? These are all very real side effects of drinking more than four cups of coffee (or 400 mg of caffeine, which you shouldn’t exceed if you’re following the recommendations of the U.S. Dietary Guidelines) per day, according to the health specialists at the Mayo Clinic. For all of the side effects of drinking too much coffee cited by the Mayo Clinic, read on, because we’ve listed them right here. If any of these symptoms sound familiar, know that it may be time to cut back on caffeine. And, to keep your health on track this year, make sure you avoid these 108 Most Popular Sodas Ranked By How Toxic They Are.

Source: Ugly Side Effects of Drinking Coffee Every Day, According to the Mayo Clinic | Eat This Not That

This Garlic Powder Is Facing a Recall, According to the FDA | Best Life

You may be able to keep most of your spices in your pantry for a long time, but not this garlic powder, which is facing a recall for an undeclared allergen.

Kitchen spices can last years in the pantry, so you probably don’t tend to give your shakers of salt and sugar a second thought. Unfortunately though, due to a new recall, you may need to toss one out before its expiration date. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just announced that if you have garlic powder in your pantry, you should check your bottle due to possible contamination. Keep reading to find out if your spice may be affected, and for more things to check in your kitchen, find out why The FDA Says “Please Do Not Eat” This Beloved Dessert Right Now.

According to the FDA announcement on Dec. 23, B&G Foods is voluntarily recalling the 5.37 oz. bottles of its Food Club Garlic Powder due to a packaging error. Instead of the product promised, the bottle of garlic powder may actually contain bacon-flavored bits. These bacon bits contain soy, an allergen that is not typically in garlic powder and is not declared on the label. “People who have an allergy or severe sensitivity to soy run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reaction if they consume the bacon-flavored bits contained in the recalled containers,” the FDA announcement warns. “There is no health risk associated with this product for individuals without an allergy to soy.”

Fortunately, it should be very clear that you’ve purchased an incorrect product. The FDA says it should be “readily apparent to consumers” if their garlic powder container is filled with bacon bits instead. According to the announcement, 1,301 cases of the product were mistakenly labeled, but the recall only affects garlic powder containers with “best by” dates of Nov. 19, 2022 and Nov. 20, 2022.

Source: This Garlic Powder Is Facing a Recall, According to the FDA | Best Life

Somerset County Diner stays open for indoor dining, despite state’s COVID-19 restrictions | WJAC

Despite the state’s restrictions on indoor dining until January 4th, one diner in Somerset County has been letting customers dine-in anyway. The new, limited-time mitigation orders took effect at 12:01 a.m. on December 12, and remain in effect until 8 a.m. on January 4, 2021.

Cars filled the parking lot of the Summit Diner in Somerset Saturday morning as customers flowed in and out of the dining room.

The diner shut down the weekend after those restrictions were announced, but then made the decision to stay open for indoor dining.

Manager Chloe Foy says their customers have been supportive of their decision.

Source: Somerset County Diner stays open for indoor dining, despite state’s COVID-19 restrictions | WJAC

Pittsburgh Christmas Hours 2020: Giant Eagle, Whole Foods & More | Pittsburgh, PA Patch

Will any Pittsburgh supermarkets be open on Christmas Day? How late will they be open on Christmas Eve? Find out here.

  • Giant Eagle: Closing at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day.
  • Market District: Closing at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day..
  • Get-Go: Normal hours (gas-only locations will be closed on Christmas).
  • Shop’n Save: Check individual stores for closing hours on Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day.
  • Aldi: Hours will vary by store on Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day.
  • Kuhn’s: Check individual stores for closing hours on Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day.
  • Whole Foods: Closing at 7 p.m. on Christmas Eve; Closed Christmas Day.
  • Trader Joe’s: Closing at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day.
  • Costco: Closing at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day.
  • Walmart: Closing at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day.
  • Target: Closing at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Closed Christmas Day.

Convenience stores open on Christmas:

  • 7-Eleven: Open around the clock.
  • CVS: Hours will vary by location.
  • Rite Aid: Most locations are open around the clock.
  • Sheetz: Open around the clock.
  • Speedway: Open around the clock.
  • Walgreens: Select locations are open from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m.

Source: Pittsburgh Christmas Hours 2020: Giant Eagle, Whole Foods & More | Pittsburgh, PA Patch

Video From Inside Allegheny County Jail Raises Concerns Among Elected Officials Over Food Service – CBS Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A video gaining attention on social media is raising concerns about the quality of food at the Allegheny County Jail.
Teresa Brown says she was video chatting with her nephew, an inmate at the jail, Saturday. He showed her what was on his tray for dinner and asked her to record it.
“This is the dinner that they’re serving us in the jail tonight,” the man says in the video. “Bologna with applesauce in it and Teddy Grahams. That’s the only thing that’s on our tray for dinner tonight.
”The man also asks his aunt to “make this go viral.
”Brown posted the video on social media where it has received attention from the public and local leaders.
“Animals eat better than the way my nephew was eating yesterday,” Brown said.
Someone sent the video to At-Large Allegheny County Councilwoman Bethany Hallam who also sits on the county’s jail oversight board.
Hallam says she’s heard from several inmates’ relatives about conditions inside the jail and received more complaints than usual on Saturday.

Source: Video From Inside Allegheny County Jail Raises Concerns Among Elected Officials Over Food Service – CBS Pittsburgh

Shoplifting has increased during pandemic, experts say – The Washington Post

Early in the pandemic, Joo Park noticed a worrisome shift at the market he manages near downtown Washington: At least once a day, he’d spot someone slipping a package of meat, a bag of rice or other food into a shirt or under a jacket. Diapers, shampoo and laundry detergent began disappearing in bigger numbers, too.

Since then, he said, thefts have more than doubled at Capitol Supermarket — even though he now stations more employees at the entrance, asks shoppers to leave backpacks up front and displays high-theft items like hand sanitizer and baking yeast in more conspicuous areas. Park doesn’t usually call the police, choosing instead to bar offenders from coming back.

“It’s become much harder during the pandemic,” he said. “People will say, ‘I was just hungry.’ And then what do you do?”

The coronavirus recession has been a relentless churn of high unemployment and economic uncertainty. The government stimulus that kept millions of Americans from falling into poverty earlier in the pandemic is long gone, and new aid is still a dot on the horizon after months of congressional inaction. Hunger is chronic, at levels not seen in decades.

Source: Shoplifting has increased during pandemic, experts say – The Washington Post

McDonald’s McRib sandwich to make its annual appearance | TribLIVE.com

McDonald’s is bringing the cult favorite sandwich back to restaurants on Wednesday. This will be the first time since 2012 that it will be available at all of the fast food chain’s 14,400 outlets nationwide.

McDonald’s brings back the McRib once a year as a limited-time offering.

Source: McDonald’s McRib sandwich to make its annual appearance | TribLIVE.com

Spinach Recall: New Recalls on Spinach, Basil & Mixed Vegetables – Thrillist

Thanksgiving week brought a deluge of food recalls. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced four of them at the end of the day on Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving. Three of those involve produce that could be sitting in your kitchen.

Those included a recall on baby spinach in six states and eastern Canada, one from Hy-Vee on mixed vegetable packs sold in eight states, and one on organic basil distributed in ten states. It’s a bit of a pile-up that would have been easy to miss if you were focused on the holiday late last week.

Vegpro issued a recall on Fresh Attitude baby spinach due to Salmonella contamination. That’s specifically on five-ounce and 11-ounce packages. That spinach carries best before dates of December 4 on the 11-ounce and December 4 and 5 on the five-ounce packages.

The recalled spinach was distributed throughout eastern Canada, as well as Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The announcement, shared by the FDA, notes that Fresh Attitude products in other US states are produced at a separate facility from the one believed to be the source of Salmonella. Fresh Attitude basil in other states should be unaffected.

Check the kitchen for all 3 recalled items.

Source: Spinach Recall: New Recalls on Spinach, Basil & Mixed Vegetables – Thrillist

The best ways to give your Thanksgiving leftovers a lift – New York Daily News

Long live the Moist Maker

It goes without saying that Thanksgiving is the holiday of gratitude, and nothing says thankful like making sure not a bit of your delicious feast goes to waste. This holiday season, try to repurpose some of your leftover turkey and trimmings with one of these ideas.
(Jorie Goins/TCA)

Read Source: The best ways to give your Thanksgiving leftovers a lift – New York Daily News

Greensburg restaurant adapting, plans indoor farmers market

GREENSBURG, Pa. —A Greensburg restaurant owner is continuing her mission to adapt to changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.Lisa Hegedus has owned Caffe Barista for 23 years. This year, she was forced to adapt quickly when the coronavirus pandemic hit in March.

“We developed a box meal program, we delivered to all essential workers and offered curbside pickup,” Hegedus said.

The business is located across the street from the Westmoreland County Courthouse and has always relied on foot traffic. With her catering business taking a hit, Hegedus focused more on getting individual meals to customers.

“You have to pivot your business,” Hegedus said. “If you don’t look at the way things are happening around you and adapt to them, you’re not going to stay open.”

Now, Hegedus is planning to pivot again with an indoor farmers market in her store, starting early next year. The goal is for customers to be able to pick up fresh produce and dairy products, while still offering the food and beverages customers are used to.

“We’re just adding a new dimension to what we already offer. It brings more people into town shopping at all the other businesses,” Hegedus said. “We’re very thankful for everything, for all of our customers the 23 years we’ve been here, and hopefully another 23 more.”

Hegedus said work on the new setup is set to get underway soon, with the goal of having the farmers market open in the early months of 2021.

Source: Greensburg restaurant adapting, plans indoor farmers market

Source: Caffe Barista

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