Food

Water facts of life
[Oct. 10, 2006] There is the same amount of water on Earth as there was when the Earth was formed. The water from your faucet could contain molecules that dinosaurs drank.

Winning the grocery game: How to shop smarter, cheaper, faster
[Sep. 26, 2006] The Consumer Reports National Research Center surveyed 24,000 readers about their grocery shopping experiences and found that while respondents were generally happy with the supermarket they used most often, they still had complaints.

Food safety: Avoiding food poisoning
[Aug. 29, 2006] To avoid food poisoning, people need to prepare, cook, and store foods properly.

Consumer Reports reveals that farm-raised salmon is often sold as "wild"
[Jul. 5, 2006] Salmon that is labeled “wild” may actually be farmed-raised. Consumer Reports bought 23 supposedly “wild” salmon filets last November, December and March—during the off-season for wild-caught salmon—and found that only 10 of the 23 were definitely caught in the wild. The rest of the fish was farm-raised salmon.

Great grilling secrets for summer
[Jun. 27, 2006] Grilling season is upon us. Fire up the grill and enjoy outdoor meals -- everything from dinner on the backyard patio to a picnic in the park. Grilling is great because it is a delicious way to cook a variety of recipes, involves fairly easy clean up and doesn’t heat up the kitchen.
Also: Famous Dave’s BBQ

Consumer Reports ’ survey of chain restaurants finds best values
[Jun. 6, 2006] Consumer Reports’ latest survey of restaurant chains shows that readers were especially happy with meals at some of the newer chains—and that casual restaurants usually offered the best bang for the buck. Readers told Consumer Reports that they found the especially good value-$15 to $19 for a very good meal—at seven casual-dinner chains: Claim Jumper, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, Johnny Carino’s Abuelo’s Mexican Food Embassy, Texas Roadhouse, Red Hot & Blue, and Famous Dave’s.

Welcome to spring . . . a great time for eggs!
[Apr. 6, 2006] It's spring — the season to enjoy the great outdoors and celebrate special occasions, like Easter, Passover, and graduation! While eggs are used all year 'round, they are especially important for many spring and summertime activities. They are used for cooking festive delights and for decorating and hiding just before the big Easter egg hunt.

Barbecue food safety
[Apr. 5, 2006] Cooking outdoors was once only a summer activity shared with family and friends. Now more than half of Americans say they are cooking outdoors year round. So whether the snow is blowing or the sun is shining brightly, it's important to follow food safety guidelines to prevent harmful bacteria from multiplying and causing foodborne illness.

New Coke BlaK fizzles with Consumer Reports taste-testers
[Apr. 2, 2006] Consumers looking for more coffee with their cola may be disappointed with the new American version of Coke BlaK, according to Consumer Reports taste tests. Consumer Reports bought a bottle of the new American version of Coke BlaK and taste-tested it against both the French version and regular Coca-Cola Classic. Testers found the U.S. Coke BlaK sweeter, with a more caramel-like flavoring, similar to Coca-Cola Classic. The coffee flavor is a bare whiff. And Coke BlaK is a lot pricier than a regular can of Coke.
Also: Cojnsumer Reports

Hosting a wee bit of a party on St. Patrick’s Day
[Mar. 14, 2006] This St. Patrick’s Day, whether you’re hosting a traditional Irish celebration or a modern-day party complete with green beer, be sure to encourage guests to designate a driver before toasting the patron saint of Ireland. To help promote responsible holiday revelry among adults, here are some simple tips to keep in mind.

Food safety: The top five mistakes people make in the kitchen
[Jan. 10, 2006] Most people think of food safety in the summer when grilling and picnics are at their peak. However, food safety is important year-round and no matter what the season, preventing foodborne illness should be top of mind. Whether you’re cooking a five-course meal or preparing food for a tailgating party, it’s crucial to know how to keep your food safe, especially when cooking for family and friends.

Don't wing it with chicken cooking tips
[Aug. 4, 2005] Like all fresh meats, chicken is perishable and should be handled with care. Proper handling and cooking of chicken completely eliminates the risk of bacterial infection.

Six steps to grill the perfect steak
[Jun. 22, 2005] There's nothing better than a nicely grilled juicy steak. But how come I can't duplicate that restaurant, expensive, juicy, melt-in-your mouth, perfectly grilled steak? Well, I found out how to grill steak perfectly - and here's how you can too. By Laura Folse

Winn-Dixie closes hundreds of stores
[Jun. 21, 2005] Winn-Dixie, in order to focus on profitability, announced plans to shrink the store base by 35 percent and reduce the workforce by 28 percent.