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NATIONAL WINE AND CHEESE DAY On July 25, we celebrate the ultimate pairing of wine and cheese. National Wine and Cheese Day provides an opportunity to enjoy some of our favorites or sample something new. #NationalWineAndCheeseDay The pairing of wines and cheese has been a regionalized tradition. Across wine-producing cultures, many pair their regional wines with local cheeses. For example, the French Brie region is noted for its tannic wine varietals. Their Beaujolais goes well with the Brie produced in the area. However, that doesn't stop a sommelier or cheesemonger from making other recommendations to their clientele. Although regional preferences...

Agricultural officials in Southern California are battling an active infestation of red imported fire ants that are "highly aggressive in nature," and pose a risk to California's agricultural economy. The infestation occurred at a private property in Montecito, in Santa Barbara County, according to a recent press release from the Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office. Located over 90 miles north of Los Angeles, Montecito is best known as a celebrity enclave with Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle among the town's residents. Officials did not name the owners of the private property. Venom released from the...

Research on the gut microbiome has triggered a 'revolution' in nutritional science, and in the last few years, dietary fiber has become the "new protein" – added to foods in abundance to feed our gut and boost our health. A recent study on mice, however, suggests not all fiber supplements are equally beneficial. A form that is readily found in oats and barley, called beta-glucan, can control blood sugar and assist in weight loss among mice fed a high-fat diet. Researchers at the University of Arizona (UA) and the University of Vienna say it is the only type of fiber...

Agricultural officials in Southern California are battling an active infestation of red imported fire ants that are "highly aggressive in nature," and pose a risk to California's agricultural economy. The infestation occurred at a private property in Montecito, in Santa Barbara County, according to a recent press release from the Santa Barbara County Agricultural Commissioner’s Office. Located over 90 miles north of Los Angeles, Montecito is best known as a celebrity enclave with Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle among the town's residents. Officials did not name the owners of the private property.

Findings from a new mouse study indicate that elenolic acid, a natural compound found in olives, can significantly lower blood sugar levels and promote weight loss. This research suggests the potential for developing safe, inexpensive natural products for managing obesity and type 2 diabetes. Obese diabetic mice treated with elenolic acid showed improved blood sugar regulation and weight loss comparable to, or better than, current diabetic medications. The study highlights the compound’s ability to induce metabolic hormone release in the gut, promoting satiety and reducing food intake. Researchers are now investigating the compound’s absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion to ensure...

Data from the United Nations shows that China has surpassed the US in the amount of daily dietary protein available to its population – an important indicator of a modern quality of life, and one that some commentators and politicians in the West thought would be impossible to achieve. According to the latest data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), China overtook the US in 2021, reaching a daily supply of 124.61 grams (4.39oz) of protein per capita. In the same year, Americans had access to 124.33 grams (4.38oz). For comparison, Japan’s daily protein supply per capita...

July 17 (UPI) -- It was a not-so-sweet, not-so-savory situation Wednesday morning on an Interstate 440 ramp in Raleigh, N.C., when an overturned truck spilled thousands of gallons of steak sauce. Police said the tractor-trailer overturned about 1:45 a.m. on the ramp from Wade Avenue to I-440 and lost its load of steak sauce and teriyaki marinade gallon bottles into the roadway. The driver was not injured, but the spilled cargo left a sticky mess that required several hours to clean up, officials said. Morning commute drivers were advised to find alternate routes while crews worked to clear the truck...

NATIONAL CORN FRITTERS DAY National Corn Fritters Day on July 16 encourages us to fry up a batch of these crispy, flavorful bites of corn and batter! Make them with fresh corn and the celebration will be even better! #NationalCornFrittersDay These bright crispy morsels make great additions to summer barbecues and backyard gatherings. The main ingredients include corn, meal, egg, milk, and butter. While they may have originated in the south, corn fritters can easily be changed up with peppers, onions, or herbs to give them regional and seasonal flair. When paired with other vegetables and a pan-fried fish filet,...

NATIONAL PECAN PIE DAY Grab a slice on July 12 and celebrate National Pecan Pie Day! Mix up the ingredients using primarily corn syrup, pecan nuts, salt, and vanilla. Occasionally, recipes vary by including sugar syrup and molasses or maple syrup. Other additions include chocolate and bourbon whiskey in some regions of the country. Top it all off with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream. #NationalPecanPieDay Pecan pie is considered a specialty of Southern U.S. cuisine. Many attempts to trace the origins of the pecan pie have not been successful. The earliest dated recipes come from 1897. However, claims of...

After five decades of inaction, the Food and Drug Administration revoked the authorization of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food on July 3, 2024. The additive bromine, used to stabilize fruit flavorings in beverages and sodas, has toxic effects and has already been banned in many places, including California, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. What was the agency’s excuse for its 50 years in limbo? The FDA insisted it was “waiting for more safety data.” Right. Consumer advocates called the FDA’s ban on brominated vegetable oil in food “a victory for public health.” Still, digging deeper, it is indisputable...

P. maluti. (Cullen Clark) Planet Earth is home to possibly hundreds of species of magic mushroom that contain the hallucinogen, psilocybin. Systematic fieldwork surveys of the genus, Psilocybe, however, are "entirely lacking" for many regions of the world. Now, a new paper describes two species of magic mushroom in southern Africa that are wholly new to science. That brings the total number of reported Psilocybe mushrooms on the continent from just four to six. One of the species, called Psilocybe maluti, is the first scientifically documented magic mushroom with traditional, spiritual uses in Africa. P. maluti was originally photographed in...

July 10 (UPI) -- Transit officials in California said a stretch of highway was closed for several hours when a truck overturned and spilled its load of tomatoes into the roadway. The California Highway Patrol said the truck overturned onto its side on Interstate 5 in Patterson about 8:05 a.m. Tuesday and lost its load of tomatoes onto the roadway and shoulder. Caltrans District 10 said crews cleared the tomatoes from the center divide to give northbound traffic a chance to ketchup. The cause of the crash was unclear, and the road was fully reopened by 12:30 p.m.

Farm animals born with abnormalities often have a bleak future. This chicken’s unique traits ensured its survival. In 1995, a chicken was born with four legs near Fort Calhoun, Nebraska. It was aptly named 4Runner. 4Runner was owned by two brothers who ran a chicken processing operation. His extra legs bought him some extra time. “He was spared the ax,” his owner said. The persistent bird didn’t waste that time. True to his name, he often dashed around his home in an endearing shuffle, becoming a local curiosity and a family favorite. If you liked this story, here are a...

Bill Gates has thrown his weight – and his money – behind a Californian startup that believes it can make a rich, fatty spread akin to butter, using just carbon dioxide and hydrogen. And 'butter' is just the start, with milk, ice-cream, cheese, meat and tropical oils also in development. The San Jose company, Savor, uses a thermochemical process to create its animal-like fat, which is free of the environmental footprint of both the dairy industry and plant-based alternatives. "They started with the fact that all fats are made of varying chains of carbon and hydrogen atoms," Gates wrote in...

Sucralose, an artificial sweetener, cannot be broken down by humans or many microorganisms, leading to its presence in water systems. A study found that sucralose alters the behavior of cyanobacteria and diatoms, potentially disrupting ecosystems. More research is needed to understand its full environmental impact. New research explores the environmental implications of sucralose, showing its potential to disrupt aquatic microbial populations and stressing the need for further research to assess its full impact. Scientific research has well established that the human body cannot break down sucralose, an artificial sweetener present in numerous zero-calorie foods and beverages. Due to its stability,...

The Singapore Food Agency said ‘these insects and insect products can be used for human consumption or as animal feed for food-producing animals’ A young girl eating a fried grasshopper. Singapore on Monday approved grasshoppers, and 15 other insects as food. Photo: Shutterstock =================================================================== Sixteen species of insects, including crickets, locusts and silkworms, have been approved as food in Singapore, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said on Monday. “With immediate effect, [the] SFA will allow the import of insects and insect products belonging to species that have been assessed to be of low regulatory concern,” the agency said in a...

Italian pasta, anyone? ================================================================== Some of the more obscure headlines from around the world can be the most informative. Let’s face it—what happens in some other nation may already be happening in our own. So, when the above headline caught my eye, it felt like time to dig a little deeper. Sixteen species of insects, including crickets, locusts and silkworms, have been approved as food in Singapore, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said on Monday. “With immediate effect, [the] SFA will allow the import of insects and insect products belonging to species that have been assessed to be of low...

COW APPRECIATION DAY Have you herd? Things go udderly awry in the middle of July each year during Cow Appreciation Day. People dress like bovines for free food. It's a moo-ving experience to witness designed to save the lives of cows everywhere for just one day. How? By eating chicken instead, that's how. #CowAppreciationDay Across the country, for one day only, adults and children alike herd into their local Chick-fil-A for their favorite cow meal. And it's not hay. Spotted cowls of black and white hoof it across town. Between baseball and soccer, they steer themselves toward the nearest grazing....

NATIONAL CHOCOLATE WITH ALMONDS DAY National Chocolate with Almonds Day on July 8th each year offers a combo deal to celebrate. What a great way to wrap up chocolate and almonds in one package. Celebrate it by giving some to a friend or neighbor. #ChocolateWithAlmondsDay When it comes to adding almonds to chocolate, the options are plentiful. From cakes to chocolate bars, puddings and cookies we can celebrate this National Day with snacks and desserts galore! Whether you pick up a chocolate bar or make something from scratch, this holiday will surely hit the spot. This timeless combination brings smooth...

The Fourth of July is the premier American summer holiday, and the day is filled with family, friends, fun, food, and fireworks. Of course, every great party needs a fabulous drink or two, and these patriotic cocktails and mocktails are sure to impress. Loaded with the summer's freshest fruits, lots of flavorful spirit, and brilliant shades of red, white, and blue, the recipes are simple to mix up and an absolute delight to drink. American Collins Independence Day Mojito Kentucky Kiss Broad Stripes and Bright Stars Red, White & Blue Shooter UV Liberty Lady Liberty Sapphire Alpine Cocktail Virgin Miami...