Food Facts and Information : GroceryGuide.com

Velveeta® by Kraft®

2009-01-06T17:40:30Z

While researching for this post on Velveeta® my memory was drawn back to a period of time many years ago. You see, it turns out that my first introduction to Velveeta® was on fishing trips with my father and grandfather.

Way back before the sophisticated baits of today were developed, my father would just stop at a local store and grab some Velveeta®. Once to the lake the Velveeta® was opened, a small piece pinched off and molded onto the hook where upon it was lowered into the water in hopes of attracting a fish.

Eventually the process was repeated when a fish was caught or when the Velveeta® dissolved and created an exposed hook. Then I would cut a piece to cover the hook and a larger piece for myself. I did not mind a slow fishing day as long as there was plenty of Velveeta® on hand.

Today with 13 different Velveeta® products available you are sure to find something that will fit the taste of young or old and with a little creativity on your part, perhaps a memory too.

The good people at Kraft have provided a broad selection of dinner ideas, recipes, tips and information on Velveeta® which you can find at Velveeta®. My family enjoys the Velveeta® Ultimate Queso Dip and with some big games coming up it's worth trying.

Yoplait® Light Lets You Have Your Cake…And Eat It, Too

2008-07-22T22:06:48Z

Yoplait® Light grants three wishes to dessert lovers this summer by introducing new great tasting yogurts to grocery stores and supermarkets that deliver sweet cake flavors with a better-for-you, fat-free bonus. Classic confections now available in the yogurt aisle include Strawberry Shortcake, Raspberry Cheesecake and Pineapple Upside-Down Cake.

Yoplait is expanding its Yoplait Light offering to feature even more delectable options Americans enjoy – and each new flavor is a healthful alternative to higher-calorie choices. For example, one 6 oz. cup of Yoplait Light Pineapple Upside-Down Cake yogurt contains 110 calories and 0 grams of fat. Compare that to a slice of traditional Pineapple Upside-Down Cake from the bakery or dessert menu, which delivers on average 367 calories and 14 grams of fat*. In addition, each serving of the new Yoplait Light cups contains 20 percent of the recommended daily value of calcium and vitamin D and 110 fat-free calories – the only leading yogurt with calcium and vitamin D in every cup.

“The new flavors from Yoplait Light are the perfect, guilt-free solution to the mid-day munchies,” said Lisa Lillien, author of Hungry Girl: Recipes and Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World and the Hungry Girl daily newsletter.

National research reveals need for “smart snacking” options National dietary research from NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) revealed that traditional meal patterns are rapidly changing. On average, Americans are snacking more than twice a day and are consuming more than 240 calories per snack. Given this fact, consumers would benefit from snacks that can satisfy a craving and provide important nutrients without a lot of calories.

“No matter how you slice it, the rich and creamy flavors of Yoplait Light will help health-conscious consumers enjoy everyday indulgences without the guilt,” said Susanne Prucha, Yoplait Marketing. “Here’s proof that it is possible to have your cake and eat it, too!"

Make sure you visit the Yoplait website for great tips, recipes and other offers.

POM Wonderful announces a legal victory for consumers of pomegranate juice

2008-07-22T14:46:50Z

Grocery shoppers need not worry about the quality of their pomegranate juice when they buy POM Wonderful products and thanks to the industry policing efforts of POM Wonderful, one less deceptive product.

A US District Federal Court in Los Angeles on July 21, found in favor of POM Wonderful in its lawsuit against Purely Juice, Inc. for false advertising and misleading marketing. In 2007, POM Wonderful filed a federal lawsuit against Purely Juice claiming it was deceiving consumers by selling adulterated, imported pomegranate juice. Purely Juice marketed and labeled its product as 100% pomegranate juice, when in fact, seven independent labs verified that Purely Juice’s "100% pomegranate juice" "is not pure pomegranate juice," but rather "consists primarily of cane sugar and corn sweetener, and contains little pomegranate solids." Additional independent lab testing showed evidence of repeated adulteration over a period of several months.

Read more: POM Wonderful

Got it . . . maybe. One jalapeno pepper sample tests positive for Salmonella Saintpaul

2008-07-22T14:09:53Z

The positive sample was obtained during an FDA inspection at a produce distribution center in McAllen, Texas. The pepper was grown on a farm in Mexico, however, that does not mean that the pepper was contaminated in Mexico.

A recall will not immediately remove all potentially contaminated peppers from the food supply, so the FDA is also asking consumers to avoid eating raw jalapeno peppers or foods made from raw jalapeno peppers until further notice in order to prevent additional cases of illness. This recommendation does not include cooked or pickled jalapeno peppers.

Consumers are advised not to wash, peel, or cook these kinds of raw peppers to try to get rid of Salmonella contamination that may be present. These actions by consumers are not likely to get rid of Salmonella, which is very hard to remove by conventional means, and might spread the bacterium to the environment; for example, to hands, sinks, cutting boards, knives, and other foods.

The FDA is continuing to advise that people in high risk populations, such as elderly persons, infants and people with impaired immune systems, avoid eating raw serrano peppers or food made from raw serrano peppers until further notice.

The FDA is continuing to investigate the other parts of the distribution chain to determine if there is any evidence that the contamination occurred on the farm in which the pepper was grown or at some other point in the supply chain before the distribution center in McAllen, TX.

Should consumers avoid fresh jalapeño and serrano peppers or foods that contain them during this outbreak?

At this time, the FDA advises that all consumers avoid raw jalapeño peppers and foods that contain them, such as some types of salsa and pico de gallo. the FDA also advises that consumers who are especially vulnerable to infection, such as infants, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems, avoid raw serrano peppers and foods that contain them at this time.

According to the CDC, 1,251 persons with Salmonella Saintpaul with the same genetic fingerprint have been identified in 43 states, the District of Columbia and Canada since April 2008.

You gotta try Ricotta

2008-05-28T15:08:59Z

Most people when ask about Ricotta would stumble to describe it other than "it's a cheese, right?" And exposure to Ricotta for most has through cheesecakes or classic lasagna recipes.

Actually, Ricotta is a by-product of cheese manufacturing. Ricotta is the is uncooked and unripened curd, which is undrained of its whey. It is fresh (as opposed to ripened or aged), grainy and creamy white in appearance, slightly sweet in taste, and contains around 5% fat. In this form, it is somewhat similar in texture to some cottage cheese though much lighter. Like many fresh cheeses, it is highly perishable.

I ran across this article in The New York Times that must be shared for it's photos and ideas. Read the article, spend a little time poking around AllRecipes.com, RecipeZaar.com, About.com and try a few new dishes on your family. Ricotta is cheap, nutritious and low in fat. Enjoy!