Food Institute News

The Who, What and Where of Consumer Spending

The Food Institute's Demographics of Consumer Food Spending 2013 provides in-depth information and insightful analysis on U.S. consumer food spending patterns.

Designed for easy use, this annual study provides an easy-to-read breakdown of spending on food overall, food at-home, food away-from-home, and alcoholic beverages. Topics covered include age, income, career, education, race, gender and region of the U.S. For more information, click here.


Our Mission Statement

The Food Institute:

   * Strives to be the best "single source" for current, timely and relevant information about the food industry from "farm to fork."
   * Serves as a trusted source of information, providing balanced coverage of the issues.
   * Delivers information through multiple media so that industry professionals worldwide can tap in when and how they choose.

Industry News

PepsiCo is tweaking its drink-pricing strategy in some parts of the U.S. as it aims to wean consumers off the habit of buying soda only when it is on sale. The strategy, which PepsiCo refers to as "hybrid everyday value," involves narrowing the gap between soda prices on holidays and regular days. It aims to lessen the discounts on holidays and lower prices throughout the rest of the year. The strategy has been tested with a few retailers in several markets and is rolling out a little more broadly this summer, reported Reuters.

International News

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is recalling some bags of shelled hazelnuts and other mixed nuts because they may be contaminated with Salmonella. The recall is part of an ongoing investigation of a shipment of bulk hazelnuts that came from the U.S, reported Montreal Gazette.

Health News

People will choose larger portions of food if they are labeled as being "healthier," even if they have the same number of calories, according to a new study. The researchers asked 186 adults to assess the appropriate portion sizes of foods. Given a bowl of coleslaw, the participants served themselves more of the coleslaw labeled "healthier" than the coleslaw labeled "standard," reported Reuters.

Washington News

FDA will halt imports of dairy products and produce from the area of Japan where a nuclear reactor is leaking radiation. The FDA stated those foods will be detained at entry and will not be sold to the public. The agency previously stated it would just step up screening of those foods. Other foods imported from Japan, including seafood, still will be sold to the public but screened first for radiation, reported MSNBC.

Market News

While the rest of India is reeling under a heat wave, tea planters in Assam and North Bengal are fearing adverse impact on the premium second flush crop due to lack of sunshine. Typically, the second flush arrives in the market by May-end and it is considered to be of the best quality fetching higher value. The second flush Darjeeling crop is also estimated to be almost flat this year, reported The Hindu Business Line.