These days, it’s difficult to read anything about Keurig Company or the now-ubiquitous single-serve coffee pods without a reminder of the waste they produce. The pods are often made with a mixture of aluminum and plastic which, combined with the organic matter left inside after use, makes them nearly impossible to recycle and an increasing burden to strained landfills. Still, in Western Europe the pods make up one third of the coffee market, for a total of €18 billion.
Now the city of Hamburg has taken a stand against the pods and the machines which exclusively brew them (known as “Kaffeekapselmaschine” in German), by banning the purchase of these machine’s with taxpayer money. This means that they will no longer be found in any municipal buildings, and government employees will return to other brewing methods for the time being. This may not make a huge dent in that €18 billion market, but it is further indication of backlash against the pods, and further motivation for companies looking to find eco-friendly versions that are biodegradable or easily recyclable.
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Although it seems unlikely that airline food will overcome it’s reputation any time soon, the partnership between Delta and Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group has at least shifted the conversation. In 2013, Delta began serving food from USHG’s Blue Smoke on a select few flights, and although there were a few hurdles along the way the feedback was mostly positive. Beginning March 1st, all customers on international flights in the Delta One cabin will now be able to enjoy an updated menu from Carmen Quagliata, which tosses out some of the airline food standbys like reheated, textureless pasta and instead aims to work within the limitations imposed by small spaces and packaging. This means no more chunky soups or fried garnishes, but plenty of purees and roasted vegetables.
The FDA warns that Parmesan fraud has become a serious issue for American consumers. Tests show that products deemed as “100 percent Parmesan” have substitutes like wood pulp, and cheaper cheeses like cheddar, Swiss and mozzarella. The FDA has been prosecuting industry offenders who are guilty of this proclamation.
Olive oil may be found in almost every American kitchen, but it’s long been the purview of the old world – an assumed-to-be-necessary import from Mediterranean farms that have been producing it for generations. Increasingly, however, California farms are taking a bigger stake of the market, with claims that they offer superior quality without the premium.
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