Once again, we chew on the latest freaky food news.
FIZZ BIZZ
New fizzy in da hizzy! At age 35, Diet Coke, in an effort to invigorate sagging sales and attract millennial admirers, is getting a makeover.
By month's end, grocery shelves nationwide will feature the new version of the zero-calorie, zero-sugar bubbly available in five varieties. They are: Original (unlike with the New Coke fail fiasco of 1985, they're not changing the recipe); Ginger Lime, Feisty Cherry, Zesty Blood Orange and Twisted Mango.
And the beverage will come in sleeker 12-ounce vessels. Diet Coke might not make our cans slimmer, but theirs are.
CANDY CRUSH
Olympic sponsor The Hershey Company is going for the gold with its new Hersey's Gold -- chocolate-free bars of sweet caramelized creme with bits of peanuts and pretzels being marketed as part of the Winter Games ("Look for a post to get a Hershey's Gold Bar when Team USA wins Gold").
Morgan Stanley last week downgraded the company's stock. Explains CNBC: "Chocolatier Hershey is 'falling out of the sweet spot' as people continue to shift toward healthier snacks."
Hershey needs Gold to bring in the green.
CAFE AU LIGHT
Hershey isn't the only one going gold. Starbucks is too, recently introducing a new, paler espresso.
Says Starbucks in a news release, "Starbucks Blonde Espresso a light roast that's smooth and subtly sweet -- is a permanent menu item complementing the boldness of Starbucks Signature Espresso Roast originally introduced more than 40 years ago."
Why did it take four decades for the company to introduce a newer, more subdued bean brew?
It had been procaffeinating.
DON'T GO WITH THE TIDE
On social media, people have been popping pods. Not the pea kind. The laundry variety.
Videos of teens trying the ill-advised #TidePodChallenge are not putting the detergent pods in the washer, but rather their mouths (usually spitting out the cleanser ... usually).
Procter & Gamble released a statement: "Our laundry pacs are a highly concentrated detergent meant to clean clothes and they're used safely in millions of households every day. They should be only used to clean clothes and kept up, closed and away from children. They should not be played with, whatever the circumstance is, even if it is meant as a joke."
This is not what was meant by "clean eating."
JACK HACKS
Jack in the Box (which has no Arkansas locations, but we encounter it when traveling) is discussing replacing cashiers with automated kiosks, due to minimum wage increases.
According to Business Insider, it's not the only fast-food outlet moving in that direction: "Wendy's announced plans to install self-ordering kiosks within a year. McDonald's is adding kiosks to 2,500 stores, though it pledged not to replace cashiers with kiosks."
We think Jack in the Box ought to change its name accordingly.
To Jack in the Bot.
FA$T FOOD FIND$
Just in time to ruin your New Year's diet: drive-through deals.
McDonald's has introduced a $1 $2 $3 Dollar Menu (with $1 sausage burritos, cheeseburgers, soft drinks and McChicken sandwiches; $2 McGriddles, Buttermilk Crispy Tenders, BaconMcDoubles and small McCafe drinks; and $3 triple cheeseburgers, Sausage McMuffins, Happy Meals and a new fried Classic Chicken Sandwich).
Wendy's has upgraded its 4 for $4 menu with eight choices (Jr. Cheeseburger, Jr. Cheeseburger Deluxe, Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, Double Stack, Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Crispy Chicken BLT, Grilled Chicken Wrap or Spicy Chicken Wrap) that come with with nuggets, fries and a drink.
And Taco Bell announced it's not only revamping its Dollar Cravings menu to have 20 $1 items. It's introducing a brand new buzzworthy item: "From the menu brand who brought you the Naked Chicken Chalupa and Crunchwrap Supreme, comes Nacho Fries, set to make their debut in restaurants nationwide for just $1. The most-anticipated menu item release of the year will be available crisped to perfection with bold Mexican seasoning and served with a dippable side of warm Nacho Cheese, beginning Jan. 25."
Franco-Mexican fries with cheese on the cheap?
Our nutritional year is certainly getting off to a bad starch.
Serve up an email:
jchristman@arkansasonline.com
What's in a Dame is a weekly report from the woman 'hood.
Style on 01/16/2018