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The Salt
Budweiser May Seem Watery, But It Tests At Full Strength, Lab Says
February 28, 2013 Class-action lawsuits accuse Anheuser-Busch of watering down Budweiser and other beers and then misleading consumers about their alcohol content. The company denies the claims; in tests commissioned by NPR, samples of Budweiser were found to be in line with their advertised alcohol content.
The Salt
Video: Machine Unlocks The 'Physics' Of Separating Oreos
February 27, 2013 Ad man David Neevel's quest to rid himself of his unwanted crème drives him to create a robotic Oreo separator machine, in this charming satirical video in celebration of the snack cookie.
The Salt
Do Parents Really Know What Their Kids Are Eating?
February 27, 2013 Most parents think that their kids eat healthfully. But in reality, they may not know much about their kids' eating habits, especially as their children get older. Many kids don't talk to their parents about what they eat, and sneak unhealthy snacks after school.
The Salt
Germans Are Drinking Less Beer These Days, But Why?
February 27, 2013 Despite Germany's long association with beer, it looks like its citizens are imbibing less of their celebrated beverage now than they did a generation ago. Some cite the economy as a factor; others, the rise of health consciousness.
On The Run: How Families Struggle To Eat Well And Exercise
Dinnertime Confessional
February 27, 2013 People across the country — and around the world — have been sharing their dinnertime tips and travails. See what everyone's eating, and share your own meal, in our Dinnertime Confessional photo blog.
The Salt
Cheesecake Factory, IBM Team Up To Crack The Code Of Customer Bliss
February 27, 2013 The restaurant chain hopes a new system for analyzing big data sets will help it spot patterns of complaints across its more than 170 outlets in a matter of hours, not weeks. The goal: to spot problems small and big (soggy pickles? foodborne illness?) before they balloon.
Kitchen Window
In Praise Of The Humble Lentil
February 27, 2013 Like many other intrinsically boring foods — say, tofu or grits — lentils shine because they get out of the way. They provide a vehicle and a backdrop for other flavors — whether it's good olive oil and gently gilded onions, or ground spices and lemony pesto.
The Two-Way
Pastagate: Quebec Agency Criticized For Targeting Foreign Words On Menus
February 26, 2013 A government agency in Quebec, Canada, has come under intense criticism after attempting to get pasta stricken from a restaurant's menu. The move had nothing to do with the food: Officials said Italian words such as pasta, calamari, and antipasto should be replaced with French words.
The Salt
Family Dinner: Treasured Tradition Or Bygone Ideal?
February 26, 2013 We'd all like to live the Norman Rockwell scenario, but for some families, the hectic pace of modern life means dinners are often more likely to channel The Simpsons. Studies suggest that regular family meals contribute to healthy eating habits. So what to make of this tradition in transition?
The Salt
To Build An Empire, Hold The Anchovies
February 26, 2013 Civilization cannot live on anchovies alone. The ancient Norte Chico people of Peru were long thought to have built a complex society in South America while dining on a diet based on the tiny fish. But archaeologists now say they ate the food that fueled empires throughout the hemisphere — corn.
The Salt
How The Food Industry Manipulates Taste Buds With 'Salt Sugar Fat'
February 26, 2013 From food scientists who study the human palate to maximize consumer bliss, to marketing campaigns that target teens to hook them for life on a brand, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael Moss' new book goes inside the world of processed, packaged goods.
The Salt
Oxfam Gives Big Food Companies Bad Behavior Grades
February 26, 2013 When it comes to protecting the environment and issues like worker well-being and women's rights, 10 of the world's biggest food producers get failing grades from Oxfam, an activist group for the poor.
The Salt
The Vaportini: A Cocktail Inhaled, Not Stirred
February 25, 2013 Over in Chicago, cocktail connoisseurs are forgoing the liquid state altogether. Instead of drinking their favorite bourbon or infused vodka, they're inhaling it with a simple device, called the Vaportini. But don't expect these gaseous cocktails to replace liquid libations anytime soon.
The Salt
Sandwich Monday: Fish McBites
February 25, 2013 For this week's Sandwich Monday, we try McDonald's new "Fish McBites." They're basically a seafood version of their Chicken McNuggets. Or as McDonald's calls it, "tender pieces of poppable white, flaky Alaskan Pollock."
Shots - Health News
Spanish Test: Mediterranean Diet Shines In Clinical Study
February 25, 2013 People who stuck with diets rich in olive oil and nuts had about a 30 percent lower risk of experiencing a major cardiovascular problem, such as a heart attack or stroke, than people who followed a low-fat diet.
