USDA: Half of consumers' food budgets spent on convenience

Changes in prices, income levels and increasingly busy schedules are leading Americans to consume more convenience food than ever, according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Between 1999 and 2010, ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat foods accounted for more than a quarter of the average household's food budget. Read more at FoodDive...

Much of the world drinks yogurt to stay cool. We should join in.

The yogurt market is booming, and not just with the thick, creamy kind of yogurt. Companies like Dahlicious Lassi and Dash of Masala are bringing globally inspired, sippable  products to curious American consumers. Chobani just launched a line of yogurt drinks, too. Chefs are also helping widen the market. Read more at The Washington Post...

Happier Meal? McDonald's nixing some unpalatable ingredients

Artificial preservatives will be removed from the Chicken McNuggets recipe, and high-fructose corn syrup will no longer be an ingredient in hamburger buns, the fast food chain says. The move might help its appearance, but McDonald's has a long way to go to address bigger issues with fast food. Read more at The Seattle Times...

FSMA guidance 'tantalizingly close' to release, FDA's Scott says

The agency will roll out guidance to help companies comply with FSMA a little at a time, a senior advisor at the FDA says. That will include discussion on preventive controls, food allergens and more. Read at Food Chemical News...

Editorial: Local agriculture needs The New York Times to dig deeper

Donna Williams, the founder of produce delivery company Field Good, responds to a piece in The New York Times that suggests community-supported agriculture has strayed from its origins of connecting farmers directly to customers. "By narrow reporting and disparaging alternatives to CSAs, this article hurts both small farms and small entrepreneurs who are truly making a difference," she writes. Read more at Modern Farmer...