Sugar high: Ingredient inflation raises prices at largest Nebraska candy store - KLKN

October 31, 2022 10:50 pm

GREENWOOD, Neb. (KLKN) – Inflation has affected many industries, and Halloween candy is no exception.

Baker’s Candies, Nebraska’s largest candy outlet, has been facing inflation on multiple fronts when it comes to making their products.

Todd Baker, one of the owners, said ingredients like cocoa, milk and sugar have been impacted the most.

Baker said shipping prices for those items have gone up by around 20% in the last year.

“Cocoa only grows within about 10 degrees of the equator, so it has to travel a really long way to get here, and that means lots of fuel,” he said.

Baker said the store is lucky to have loyal customers from around the state.

Despite the support, it’s still had to raise prices along with candy stores across the nation.

“We’ve done our best to try and offset as much of that cost as we can and not have to pass it along, but there’s a certain amount that you don’t have any choice but to pay it forward,” Baker said.

The supply chain for Baker’s ingredients has also been struggling.

Baker said the problems started when COVID-19 began.

U.S. warehouses were stocked with ingredients, which is where many stores, including Baker’s Candies, were buying their supplies.

Soon, the warehouses began to run out of products, and imports haven’t been able to replenish the stock to keep up with demand.

“We’re still digging out 2½ years later from some of the effects of COVID, but really, it was a problem then that we’re just starting to overcome now,” Baker said.

Baker said Halloween candy is usually on the cheaper side since people have to buy large amounts.

Christmas and Valentine’s Day candy is more expensive because customers want quality gifts.

This year, he said you should expect higher prices across the board.

Baker said he doesn’t think the prices will go back to what they were before.

“All of the price increases that have gone into place this year will probably stand and hold,” he said. “We don’t see any immediate relief in the market anytime soon. That being said, we don’t have any anticipation of having to raise prices again.”

Baker said the company has been fortunate enough that it hasn’t had to discontinue any products.

He gives all of the credit to his Nebraska customers.

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My favorite and easy five-ingredient bagel recipe - University of Virginia The Cavalier Daily

Like a lot of University students, I classify bagels as my sixth food group. Whether it’s a freshly-made everything bagel from Bodo’s Bagels or a pumpkin bagel from the bread aisle at Trader Joe’s, I probably eat one each day. Although I will always swear by the classic cinnamon raisin and strawberry cream cheese combination, I love branching out with bagel flavors, spreads and toppings. In fact, I just tried cream cheese and lox on an everything bagel from Bodo’s, and it was life-changing. 

I recently stumbled upon an online recipe for homemade bagels, which sparked my interest since I am currently thriving in my bagel-obsession era. Unlike a lot of more authentic bagel recipes, this one only requires five ingredients — excluding toppings — all of which are easily found in my pantry and fridge. After realizing the simplicity of both the ingredients and the directions, I knew I had to try it out. 

This recipe outlines the steps to essentially prepare a blank canvas of a bagel as the options for toppings are endless. In other words, whether you’re craving a sesame or chocolate chip bagel, this recipe is a must-try. Personally, I decided to make my spin on a French toast bagel by dusting cinnamon-sugar on top and mixing in maple syrup and vanilla extract.

Prep time: 10 minutes

Bake time: 25 minutes

Cool time: 15 minutes

Servings: 4 bagels

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
• 1 egg, beaten
• Optional: maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon-sugar mixture (1:4 ratio), sesame seeds, everything seasoning. 

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray parchment paper with non-stick cooking oil.
2. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt.
3. In the same bowl, add in the Greek yogurt and any other liquid flavorings — I mixed in a tablespoon of maple syrup and a teaspoon of vanilla extract — and mix with a spatula until it has reached a consistency similar to cookie dough. 
4. Sprinkle flour onto a flat surface, remove the dough from the bowl and lay it on the surface.
5. Knead the dough until smooth, and divide it into four equal portions. Roll each portion into a rope, around ¾ inches thick, and connect the ends of each rope to create the bagel shape. 
6. Dust the top and bottom of each bagel with your preferred seasonings — I chose cinnamon-sugar for this french toast bagel — and then brush the bagel tops with the egg.
7. Place bagels on the baking sheet, and bake for 25 minutes. Once taken out of the oven, allow the bagels to cool for 15 minutes before slicing.

While preparing the bagels, my anticipation rose with every stage in the process, and the resulting product did not disappoint. Fresh from the oven — right after cooling — the inside of the bagel is soft, warm and chewy and complements the crispy exterior. Additionally, the cinnamon-sugar topping, vanilla and maple syrup ensure the perfect amount of sweetness. With all of the seasonings and mix-ins, the bagels impeccably encapsulate the flavors of French toast. 

After preparing these French toast bagels, I am excited to make my next batch, possibly the classic everything bagel using the Everything But The Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend. I am also going to try my hand at making cinnamon raisin bagels by mixing cinnamon and raisins into the dough. 

If you’re looking for an evening unwinding activity, I highly recommend spending the night baking bagels and then enjoying the fruits of your labor in the morning — although “labor” does not reflect the minimal effort needed. The recipe requires virtually no baking expertise, making it great for all bagel-loving college students. Simply put, these homemade bagels are delicious, inexpensive and practically bring a little taste of Bodo’s into your own kitchen.

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The Key Ingredient That Sets Shake Shack's Burger Sauce Apart - Tasting Table

Pickles are a classic burger accompaniment, whether they're sliced and placed on top of the patty or made into a relish and mixed into the sauce. Shake Shack agrees, although they use pickles in a unique way to give their classic cheeseburgers a little extra oomph. As stated in their cookbook, "Shake Shack: Recipes & Stories," ShackSauce is made using kosher dill pickle brine, along with mayo, ketchup, Dijon mustard, and cayenne pepper.

Dill pickle brine will give you that same sour, salty taste that comes from eating a real dill pickle, as it's essentially the juice the pickle was made in. According to Southern Living, pickle brine is the liquid in a jar of canned pickles that preserves the cucumbers inside, although it can also be used to pickle carrots, tomatoes, and more. Dill pickle brine is generally made with a combination of water, salt, dill seeds, garlic, and white vinegar, but some recipes may call for extras like mustard seeds or red pepper flakes (via Food.com).

While most burger sauces incorporate the sweetness from sweet pickle relish, or just plain sugar, ShackSauce contains neither. Instead, the dill pickle brine brings saltiness and tanginess, while the cayenne pepper kicks up the heat. Could simple ingredients like these explain how Shake Shack's revenue grew by over $200 million in 2022 (via Zippia)? While the jury's still out on that one, there's no doubt that Shake Shack is an innovative force in the burger sauce arena.

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5 Terrifying Ingredients Hidden in Halloween Candy That Are Scarier Than Zombies - VegNews

Halloween is just around the corner—but many of the those sweet treats handed out to costumed kids turn out to be terrifying tricks. Forget the ghosts and monsters; the real fright lies in the ingredients list of some of the most popular candies around. Once you learn the truth behind those deceptively sweet confections, you may never look at Halloween candy the same way again.

Vegan alternatives to animal ingredients in candy

Not all Halloween candy is vegan, so it’s important to scan ingredient labels for animal ingredients. The five most common animal-based ingredients in candy include carmine, milkfat, confectioner’s glaze, gelatin, and honey. 

Luckily, there are vegan alternatives to these cruelly begotten animal ingredients commonly found in Halloween candy.

• Carmine: Used to color foods red, carmine contains similar coloring properties as beets. Beets and other red-hued foods and spices are often used in healthier, plant-based candies and snacks to provide color without animal ingredients. 
• Milkfat: This ingredient gives chocolate its creamy taste and melt-in-your-mouth texture. Plant or nut milks can help make vegan chocolate creamier. Coconut cream is also known to help get the job done, while oils help give chocolate its smooth and silky texture.
• Confectioner’s glaze: Vegan alternatives for this ingredient are currently hard to come by. That’s not to say that it can’t be avoided altogether. Stray away from candy that includes confectioner’s glaze and you’re on track to enjoy a vegan Halloween.
• Gelatin: Known for giving gummies their chewy bite, gelatin is one of the easiest animal ingredients to replace. Common plant-based alternatives to gelatin include agar agar and cornstarch.
• Honey: Another animal ingredient with an easy vegan swap, honey can sneak into candy as an alternative sweetner. Maple syrup, agave, or organic sugar can provide your desired level of sweetness without animal cruelty.

Keep reading to learn the terrifying truth behind the origins of these animal ingredients. 

5 animal ingredients in Halloween candy

These five animal-based ingredients are lurking in Halloween candy, and the truth behind how they’re made will horrify you. 

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1 Carmine

Crushed insects used in children’s candy sounds more like the terrifying plot of a horror film than a factual report on the state of Halloween treats, but it’s the cruel reality. Hidden behind names on ingredient lists including “carminic acid” and “Natural Red 4,” carmine is the innocuous sounding dye that is actually extracted from little dead bodies.

Found on cacti in South America, Mexico, and the Southwest United States, Cochineal insects may not be as familiar to us as ants or ladybugs, but they are everywhere in our grocery stores (as well as in makeup), crushed and used for a dye. The red coloring that is created as the result of their death is found in many Halloween sweets. So stay safe from these frightful foods, and stick with vegan candies for trick-or-treaters.

Veganize it: Looking for treats in a blood-red shade without the gore of carmine? Try fruity Cherry Twists from Twizzlers.

Canva

2 Milkfat

Found in many traditional chocolate Halloween handouts such as M&Ms and Snickers, milkfat is the end result of a cruel and painful process that includes the slaughtering of young calves and the tortured existence of mother cows who have seen their babies stolen from them over and over and over again.

This is the reality of the dairy industry, and the truly terrifying way that milk, and then milkfat, is made. The seemingly simple ingredient, like the scalpel in horror movie villain Hannibal Lecter’s hand, appears small on that long list of ingredients. But it represents some very big and very real cruelties that impact living, breathing, feeling beings. Even on small farms that hide behind a bucolic facade, terrible treatment is a daily reality in the production of milk.

Veganize it: For the sweetness of chocolate minus the milkfat, try vegan Endangered Species bars instead of the cruel classics.

Canva

3 Confectioner’s glaze

It sounds like the most innocent ingredient, but like the super-sweet scenes that open the most frightening horror films, confectioner’s glaze comes with a terrifying story.

That supposedly tempting topping on candies is actually made from the secretions of an insect known as Kerria lacca. Included in the cruel concoction that is made from the “lac” that the insects produce are parts of the bodies of Kerria lacca who have died. This morbid glaze is found on popular candies including many jelly beans, hard candies, and some chocolates.

Veganize it: For a cruelty-free sweet and sour candy, try the perfectly vegan Halloween classic, Smarties.

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4 Gelatin

If people knew they’ve long been given the bodies of slaughtered cows as Halloween treats, they would likely scream out in horror.

Gelatin is made from the bones, horns, boiled skin, and tendons of dead animals, including pigs and cows. After suffering a cruel death as part of the meat industry, the animals’ bodies are then further decimated … and made into the scariest candy imaginable.

Candy corn, Junior Mints, and most sweets containing marshmallows hide this frightening ingredient that we think should be subject to a warning label.

Veganize it: For a happy Halloween, stick with vegan versions for holiday treats, like Free2b’s Dark Chocolate Mint Cups.

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5 Honey

The classic Halloween go-to, candy corn, may appear to be a fun little bite-sized treat, but those deceptively cute candies contain not only cruel gelatin and confectioner’s glaze, but also honey.

Though the word “honey” is used by many as a term of endearment, the process of producing it is not sweet for bees. Due to the great demand for honey, bees are subjected to terrible cruelties in the interest of cost-effectiveness. The honey that bees require for their survival is taken from them, and frequently replaced with a sugar substitute that does not offer the nutritional value of their natural sustenance. Even in small honey operations, handlers often cruelly cut off the queen bee’s wings. Many bees who are kept for honey are also killed, either in the interest of saving money, or from rough handling.

Veganize it: For bite-sized sweet treats, opt for vegan Swedish Fish instead of the cruelty of candy corn.

There is a lot of candy built on suffering lurking around corners, but don’t let these frightful ingredients scare you out of having a fantastic Halloween. Check out the VegNews 2022 Guide to Vegan Halloween Candy and indulge in cruelty-free candy to your heart’s content.

For vegan candy options, read:

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Consider This 3-Ingredient Homemade Banana Milk God’s Gift to Your Next Bowl of Cereal, Oatmeal, or Smoothie - Well+Good

The Vital Ingredient Your Chicken Parmesan May Be Missing - Tasting Table

Now that you have assembled the components for delicious chicken parmesan, you're ready to get cooking. But, did you use an important ingredient that can help you to achieve the chicken parmesan you've been craving? Adding potato starch to the breading for the chicken will help to make the crust crispy, because after all, who wants to bite into a soggy and limp piece of chicken?

Scott Tacinelli and Angie Rito, chefs and co-owners of Michelin-starred Don Angie in New York City, shared with Food & Wine how they add potato starch to the crust of their chicken parmesan. According to the duo, potato starch helps the chicken stay crispy during the cooking process. The reason potato starch is a great addition to baked goods (not just chicken parmesan, but think cookies and crackers), according to Serious Eats is because it helps to create a crispier baked good. 

However, make sure you don't overuse potato starch. Serious Eats cautions that if too much is added to what you are making then the finished product can be dry and crumbly. Adding potato starch to a breading for an item, such as chicken or fish, according to Medical News Today, can help the crust to not only be crispy, but golden when fried. Next time you are craving some Italian comfort food, don't forget to add potato starch to the breading for your chicken parmesan so you bite into some crunchy, golden goodness.

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The Ingredient You Shouldn't Skip For Thai Curry Paste - Tasting Table

Shrimp paste is made up of shrimp that has been ground up, fermented, and mixed with salt (via The Spruce Eats). It is used in dishes all across Southeast Asia for its concentrated and pungent taste. This ingredient is crucial to add to almost any curry paste because it provides that unique and rich umami flavor that's different from just salting your food. But, as an added bonus, it does still add a pleasant amount of saltiness for balancing flavors. Serious Eats notes that shrimp paste is often a small addition to the many other flavors in curry, so it won't make your dish taste fishy. However, some curries — like gapi's funk — showcase it as one of the main flavors.

Shrimp paste is usually pretty easy to find in supermarkets. The Spruce Eats mentions that, in Southeast Asia, the ingredient is usually sold in very dry and firm blocks, while in North America, jars with a moist or even saucy paste are often sold. Some people may know it better in the North American region as prawn sauce.

As a substitute for shrimp paste, you can use dried shrimp or another fish sauce to create a layered and savory flavor profile. According to Serious Eats, a plant-based shrimp paste alternative called tua nao is often used as a substitute in Northern Thailand. So next time you indulge in some at-home curry, make sure to grab one of these unique ingredients for an authentic taste. Or, just order your favorite takeout! No judgment. 

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The Unique Ingredient That Elevates Taiwanese Popcorn Chicken - Tasting Table

Also known as fermented tofu or tofu cheese, fermented bean curd is a combination of tofu, salt, and rice wine, though other additions may be used to enhance flavors and colors, via The Woks of Life. Serious Eats notes that such flavors can either be spicy, tangy, and/or sweet depending on which country the fermented bean curd is made in, but you'll most certainly find a cream cheese-like consistency throughout most varieties.

So how does this enhance Taiwanese popcorn chicken? Well for starters, a separate Serious Eats source compares fermented tofu to the likes of fish sauce and anchovies. A spoonful to the mouth would likely yield a disgusted face, but when incorporated into other dishes, the flavors become complex and balanced. This is why it's best to add fermented tofu to the popcorn chicken marinade because the resulting fried chicken will take on elements of creaminess and umami notes.

Wok and Kin suggests white fermented bean curd instead of the red stuff, mashing it thoroughly into a paste before adding the rest of the marinade ingredients into it (per Seonk Young Longest). One or two cubes of fermented tofu are ideal, but if you're feeling skeptical, there's no shame in starting with just one. After your marinade is complete, just add in the chicken, and marinate for however long the recipe calls for (the latter source suggests two hours).

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Roelmi HPC showcases healthy-cholesterol ingredient for heart health at SupplySide West - Nutritional Outlook

Roelmi HPC (Milan) will showcase its new healthy-cholesterol ingredient, SelectSIEVE OptiChol, at the SupplySide West trade show, taking place October 31 to November 4, 2022, in Las Vegas (Booth 3432).

SelectSIEVE OptiChol comprises standardized polyphenols from olive (Olea europaea). The company says SelectSIEVE OptiChol has been clinically shown “to modulate the whole lipidemic profile and related dyslipidemia parameters by downregulating total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and non-HDL cholesterol, together with an increase of HDL cholesterol. It also demonstrated activity in reducing other risk factors of cardiometabolic disease by improving systolic blood pressure and pulses, reducing fasting plasma glycaemia, and decreasing serum uric acid.”

It continues: “Derived from a circular economy involving only olive byproducts of the variety Coratina, an Apulian native cultivar, the ingredient is particularly rich in hydroxytyrosol, widely described in literature and recognized by EFSA for reducing oxidative stress, being active in lipid metabolism, and protecting body cells or LDL from oxidative damages.”

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Potent Florida run game main ingredient in Gators' formula to upset No. 1 Georgia - DawgNation

Mike Griffith,

DawgNation Staff

@mikegriffith32

Posted 8 hours ago

GAINESVILLE, Fla. —Florida doesn’t need to dig deep to find the script for upsetting Georgia.

Kirby Smart is 57-1 at UGA when allowing 20 or fewer points and 45-1 when holding the opposition under 100 yards rushing.

Of course, having a plan and executing are two completely different things. As the saying goes, everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.

WATCH: Florida star Brenton Cox primed for revenge matchup with Georgia

There’s a reason why the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs are a 22-point favorite over the Gators in the 3:30 p.m. game on Saturday at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville.

Florida offensive tackle Austin Barber and his linemates have spent the past two weeks cramming for the Gators’ biggest test of the season.

If there’s a Florida position group that’s justified in its confidence, it’s the Gators’ offensive line.

Florida leads the nation in yards-per-carry on its rush attempts as well as the fewest tackles-for-loss allowed.

RELATED: Stetson Bennett, Chris Smith sound off on wanting to play in Gainesville

The Gators figure to get a boost this week with 6-foot-4, 347-pound guard O’Cyrus Torrence returning to the lineup after missing the LSU game.

“This has probably been one of our best weeks of practice, which we need to go against the No. 1 team in the nation,” said Barber, who grew up going to football games in Jacksonville.

“It’s a rivalry game. Anything can happen.”

RELATED: Anthony Richardson recalls dreadful debut against Georgia

Georgia ranks fourth in the nation against the run, but other than Oregon — which out-rushed the Bulldogs 140-132 — UGA hasn’t played a Power 5 team currently ranked in the Top 50 in rushing.

The Bulldogs lost three first-round picks off a defensive line that allowed 161 yards rushing against the Gators in a 34-7 last season. Defensive tackle Jalen Carter, the preseason All-American that returned to the team, has been out with a sprained knee and is questionable to play.

“We don’t have three first-rounders across our defensive line,” Smart said before the season started, “so we can’t ask them or expect them to do what last year’s group did.”

Florida coach Billy Napier, meanwhile, has changed the blueprint for how the Gators’ offensive line is coached.

Napier’s plan to utilize two offensive line coaches -- most all other programs use one -- appears to be working.

“You’re coaching five players; I don’t think there’s anybody in the country that’s coaching five DBs with one guy,” Napier said, explaining his utilization of coaching resources.

“Things happen really fast in there, and it’s a very technical developmental position.”

The Florida backfield has also shown progress, boasting three of the top four rushers in the SEC in conference leader Montrell Johnson (7.2 yards per carry), quarterback Anthony Richardson (7.1) and fourth-place Travis Etienne (6.3).

RELATED: Riled-up Gators have plan to keep Stetson Bennett in ‘bubble’

“We’ve played some good defenses, (and) this is a stellar defense,” Barber said. “But I just feel like if we get our technique right, our fundamentals right, we can run with anybody.

“I feel like it’s going to be us — not them— to see if we can run the ball or not.”

How Florida answers that challenge will mean everything to its chances of pulling off a major upset.

WATCH: Former SEC Coach explains how Georgia-Florida will play out

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Frightful ingredients hiding in Halloween face paint - Environmental Working Group

For Halloween, many kids will use face paint as the perfect finishing touch for their costumes. It’s a popular alternative to costume masks, which can obscure children’s vision on dark streets. But exposure to some ingredients in novelty makeup can result in scary reactions, like skin rashes, itching, swollen eyelids and other irritations, where the paints are applied.

Beware of misleading marketing claims on product packaging. Some paints claim to be “nontoxic,” “gentle” or “hypoallergenic,” despite being made with known skin allergens. These terms mean whatever a company wants them to mean. Manufacturers of cosmetics labeled hypoallergenic aren’t required to submit substantiation of their claims to the Food and Drug Administration.

And FDA tests for heavy metals in face paint show they may contain toxic chemicals. In all 10 samples the agency found lead, a severe neurotoxin with no safe level of exposure. Lead exposure at extremely low doses can impair brain development and irreversibly lower a child’s IQ, cause learning and behavior problems, damage hearing and slow growth.

Each of the 10 face paint samples also contained nickel, cobalt and chromium, all heavy metals that can cause skin allergies. Nine of the 10 contained arsenic. 

In addition to what the FDA tests revealed, we know there are other toxic chemicals that can be found in some makeup. 

So try out seemingly fun face paint before committing to a particular Halloween look: Smear a little on your child’s forearm to test for allergic reactions. If you see redness, swelling or irritation, keep the paint off their face.

Asbestos

In 2020, EWG tested samples of talc-based makeup for the notorious carcinogen asbestos. We found it in  three of 21 samples, including one toy makeup kit marketed to children that contained more than 4 million asbestos fiber structures.

Asbestos is one of the most dangerous substances on Earth, linked to several types of cancer, including mesothelioma and the scarring lung disease asbestosis. Talc-based cosmetics, especially those in powdered form, can be inhaled when applied to the face, but users often aren’t aware of this risk. Depending on the particle size, the powder can lodge in children's nasal passages and even lungs, where it may cause damage. 

Benzene

Almost monthly, the FDA issues a new voluntary recall of aerosolized personal care products contaminated by cancer-causing benzene, for which there’s no safe level of human exposure.

Many colored hairsprays contain toxic chemicals and fragrance. Kids can easily breathe in sprays used for their costumes. So instead of a spray, find a great hat or wig at a secondhand store or create a fun hairdo with ribbons and barrettes. To reduce inhalation risk and benzene exposure, consumers should avoid aerosol-based hair products and other spray cosmetics.

Benzene exposure is linked to a lower number of red blood cell levels and a higher risk of leukemia. A toxicity assessment by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has shown benzene can harm the central nervous system and may affect reproductive organs.

Benzene isn’t intentionally added to products as an ingredient, so you won’t be able to avoid it by looking for it when shopping, because it’s not listed on ingredient labels . 

Fragrance

When shopping for items for your kid’s costume, read product labels and avoid those that list the mystery blend of chemicals simply called “fragrance.” Fragrance mixtures may contain various scent chemicals linked to skin allergies, dermatitis and endocrine disruption.

PFAS

Toxic “forever chemicals” called PFAS are used in and contaminate cosmetics and other personal care products. In 2021, researchers found more than half of 231 cosmetics products tested contained PFAS, but most did not list any PFAS compounds on their ingredient labels.

PFAS are a large family of chemicals linked to harm to the immune system, such as reduced vaccine efficacy; harm to development and the reproductive system, such as reduced birth weight and impacts on fertility; increased risk of certain cancers; and effects on metabolism, such as changes in cholesterol and weight gain.

Skip the face paint and make your own

Be wary of novelty face paint kits, which are often made from cheaply sourced and potentially hazardous ingredients. Instead, why not make face paint in your own kitchen?

In most cases, it's easy enough that kids can help. The internet is rife with recipes that use everyday ingredients – flour, cornstarch, white cold cream or face lotion, vegetable or baby oil, washable paint or food coloring, petroleum jelly, Kool-Aid, unflavored gelatin, and even toothpaste and water.

Here are some ways to make Halloween a little less frightful:

• Avoid powders, especially any that contain talc. Instead, look for cream-based makeup.
• Skip the aerosol-based novelty cosmetics and personal care products.
• Look for the term “fragrance” on product labels and ditch those items.
• Choose lipsticks carefully. Deep red colors can contain lead.
• Some face paint may warn consumers it is not for use near the eyes. Be careful to follow instructions and keep makeup from getting into children’s eyes.
• Remember to wash the makeup off before going to bed. Wearing face paint too long might irritate skin, and bits can flake off or smear and get into eyes.

And find healthier options for your child using EWG’s Skin Deep® database, which scores more than 87,000 personal care products based on whether they contain ingredients of concern.

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Ingredion partners with HowGood to measure ingredient sustainability - Supply Chain Dive

Dive Brief:

• Ingredion is partnering with technology company HowGood to measure the sustainability of 50 ingredients on the Illinois company’s strategic growth platform.
• A scorecard assessing eight sustainability metrics for each ingredient, including greenhouse gas emissions, processing, water usage, soil health, land use and labor risk will be made by the end of this year. Ingredion told Food Dive the partnership will provide transparency for its customers and help the company meet its own sustainability goals.
• CPGs are increasingly incorporating sustainability into their business practices to meet growing demand from consumers who want to know how and where the foods they buy and consume are produced. A key part of reducing a manufacturer’s environmental footprint focuses on the ingredients in their foods and beverages.

Dive Insight:

A major criticism levied against CPGs when it comes to improving their sustainability is that it’s hard to measure the progress they make. Ingredion is taking that head-on by working with HowGood and its database to meet customer demands for sustainable ingredients.

Brian Nash, vice president of corporate sustainability at Ingredion, told Food Dive there is growing demand from regulators and companies that buy their ingredients for more transparency. He said the pandemic has caused companies and investors to “double down on sustainability.”

By partnering with HowGood, Ingredion can provide third-party validation of the sustainability impact of its ingredients. Buyers can then use that information when deciding what ingredients to buy and whom to buy them from.

“We're doing it because it's the right thing to do, but also because we think it's going to be a driver of growth in our business," Nash said.

Each of the 50 ingredients will be given a sustainability score of up to 100. Other attributes will also be listed, like if an ingredient is clean label or minimally processed.

The scorecard will make it easier for buyers of Ingredion's products to understand the impact of each ingredient, enabling them to make an informed decision factoring in both environmental and social impact considerations.

For example, a buyer might identify an ingredient that would improve its sustainability by reducing its carbon footprint. However, it may come from a region with potential human rights challenges or require a lot of water to grow.

“Sustainability decisions are complex,” Nash said. “It’s never just as simple as one question. Even when they focus on one thing, there’s always other considerations.”

In addition to providing transparency to ingredient buyers, Ingredion said the partnership is well aligned with its other sustainability goals. These include having 99% of its global crop supply and 100% of the company’s Tier 1 crops (corn, tapioca, potato, stevia and pulses) sustainably sourced by 2025. Nash said Ingredion will use the scorecard to help it develop new ingredients or look for ways throughout its supply chain to improve existing ones.

He conceded once the scorecard comes out, a customer could learn a particular ingredient doesn’t perform as well as they thought, or isn’t aligned with their vision for the brand, and decide to stop using it. Still, Nash said, the benefits will outweigh any risks.

“Ultimately, I think that will serve our business relationship,” Nash said. “We're hoping that by kind of opening up the store behind the scenes that we're encouraging people to say ‘OK, [Ingredion is] the kind of company we want to partner with. ’ "

HowGood got its start working with grocery retailers, creating shelf tags to indicate which products were most sustainable. More recently, it’s broadened its platform to evaluate more than 33,000 ingredients, chemicals and materials, and now works with CPG and QSR brands as well.

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The Ingredient That Will Change Your Chicken Chili Forever - Tasting Table

According to Rye, this meal, packed with protein from both the chicken and the beans, is the perfect chili choice for folks who want to eat less red meat. "The shredded chicken chunks also add a different texture to the chili than beef mince would do, which makes a nice change," Rye notes. For this version, Rye uses thighs, which are her go-to cuts of chicken. "In my personal opinion I'm not sure how chicken breasts became the prime chicken meat," Rye says. "Chicken thighs have more flavor and they are much more juicy, as well as often being cheaper — especially if they are bought on the bone."

While the chicken lightens up the dish, the addition of dark chocolate is Rye's secret for its rich flavor. "Chocolate and chili spices are a truly classic pairing," Rye explains. "In fact, they were commonly paired together as a drink centuries before we began adding sugar to chocolate."

According to Rye, the ounce of dark chocolate in this recipe "adds both richness and depth, helping to promote the beautiful spices while counteracting any acidity from the tomatoes, adding overall balance and complexity to the dish."

Rye recommends paring the chili with salad, rice, or tortilla chips. It also makes a great bake potato topping, which can be sprinkled with cheese. While it's perfect to feed a large crowd, it also makes a flavorful family dinner. Leftovers last for three days in the fridge.

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Benzene behind latest shampoo recall is a big problem, scientist says - CBS News

Unilever is recalling dry shampoo aerosol products sold nationwide because they may contain elevated levels of benzene, a human carcinogen. The recall is the latest of half a dozen so far this year, with the cancer-causing chemical showing up in products including deodorant, hand sanitizer and sunscreen.

People should take the benzene-related recalls seriously, as they involve a far more dangerous contaminant than most, according to David Light, CEO of Valisure, an independent lab in New Haven, Connecticut, that alerted the Food and Drug Administration to its findings of benzene in sunscreen sprays last year. 

"Benzene is such a bad molecule — it's at the very top of the FDA's list of 70-some solvents not to use," Light told CBS MoneyWatch, adding that unlike with some chemicals, "there's no argument about whether or not it causes cancer in human beings."

That's not to say anyone who has used one of the recalled products will get cancer, emphasized Light, a biotech entrepreneur and scientist. Still, "Benzene should not be confused with a lot of other areas of concern. This is a very problematic compound, and it shouldn't be ignored," he said. 

"Even small amounts constitute big action," added Light, citing the global recall that ensued after benzene was found in bottles of Perrier mineral water more than three decades ago. 

The latest recall includes dry shampoo aerosol products made before October 2021 from brands Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI (Rockaholic and Bed Head), and TRESemmé, the company said in a notice published last week by the FDA. (See here for a complete list of recalled products and UPC codes.)

An internal probe by Unilever identified the propellant as the source, and the company worked with its propellant suppliers to address the issue, it stated. 

People who purchased the affected aerosol dry shampoo products should stop using them and visit UnileverRecall.com for reimbursement instructions. 

Photo of some products recalled by Unilever. U.S. Food and Drug Administration

The recall is the second this year for Unilever involving a product possibly containing benzene. The conglomerate sells roughly 400 products around the globe, from Ben & Jerry's ice cream to Hellmann's mayonnaise.

Exposure to benzene can result in cancers including leukemia and blood cancer of the blood marrow, as well as life-threatening blood disorders. Daily exposure to benzene in the recalled products at the levels detected in testing "would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences," Unilever said.

Commonly found chemical

One of the most commonly made chemicals in the U.S., benzene is present in gasoline and cigarette smoke, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People are most typically exposed by breathing the chemical in the air, but they can also absorb it into their bodies by touching petroleum products, or by eating or drinking contaminated food or beverages. 

Unilever in late March recalled two Suave 24-hour protection aerosol antiperspirants after an internal review found slightly elevated levels of benzene in some samples. 

Four other companies have recalled products this year after finding benzene in samples, and more than half a dozen recalls came for the same reason last year. 

In December, for instance, Procter & Gamble recalled aerosol dry shampoo and conditioner spray products from six brands sold nationwide after finding benzene in some of them. 

But benzene is not the only cancer-causing chemical raising concern for users and makers of personal-care products. 

A lawsuit filed Friday against L'Oreal alleges that chemicals in the French company's hair straighteners caused a woman's uterine cancer. The suit over "phthalates and other endocrine disrupting chemicals" came days after a study linking the use of such products to uterine cancer.

L'Oreal did not offer an immediate response to the suit.

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Kappa Bioscience says its new organic vitamin K2 MK-7 ingredient for the U.S. is a “first” - Nutritional Outlook

Kappa Bioscience (Oslo, Norway) is launching what it calls the “first” organic vitamin K2 MK-7 ingredient in the U.S. market. Called K2Vital MCT Organic, the ingredient is the “first USDA organic–certified, all-trans, all-bioactive vitamin K2 MK-7 for oil-based health applications to the U.S. market,” the company says.

The ingredient is an all-trans vitamin K2 MK-7 ingredient “diluted in organic coconut-based medium chain triglyceride (MCT) oil,” said Monika Summanwar, the company’s senior manager of quality assurance and regulatory affairs, in a press release.

“Offering a shelf life of 36 months, the solution is available in liquid oil form in a number of concentrations and sizes,” the company’s press release states. “Customers can easily switch to the organic grade with no formulation adjustments required as its specifications are identical to Kappa’s existing K2Vital MCT oil-based vitamin K2 MK-7.”

Kappa will debut K2Vital MCT Organic at the SupplySide West trade show, taking place October 31 to November 4, 2022, in Las Vegas (Booth #5845). Quality Assurance International certified K2Vital MCT Organic in accordance with the USDA’s organic standards. The ingredient is free of soy, palm, and allergens, and is certified vegan, Halal, Kosher, and non-GMO, the firm says.

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Step Change Innovations Launches Science-Backed Ingredient Blend Calmology™ - PR Newswire

One-of-a-kind blend supports mood and sleep while promoting digestive and immune health

CLEVELAND, Oct. 25, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With stress and burnout more prevalent than ever, key health and nutrition trends prioritize boosting mood, sleep, stress management, digestive and immune health. These wellness issues are often intertwined and benefit from being resolved holistically. Therefore, Step Change Innovations, in collaboration with FrieslandCampina Ingredients, a global innovator in healthy and functional ingredients, introduces Calmology™, an ingredient blend that combines evidence-based ingredients to address key health concerns and support consumer self-care. 

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Step Change Innovations, in collaboration with FrieslandCampina Ingredients, a global innovator in healthy and functional ingredients, introduces Calmology™, an ingredient blend that combines evidence-based ingredients to address key health concerns and support consumer self-care.

Calmology is a proprietary ingredient blend of dairy-based ingredients, extensively studied in clinical trials, that:

• Maintains mood and emotional well-being
• Promotes a normal response to stress and anxiety
• Encourages sleep and maintains sleep quality
• Helps with digestive health by reinforcing the growth of beneficial gut bacteria
• Supports the immune system

In partnership with Flavor Producers , Calmology will be seen and sampled, for the very first time, in Booth #4177 at the upcoming SupplySide West & Food Ingredients industry show, Oct. 31-Nov. 4 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. A select flavor option has been provided for the ingredient blend, courtesy of Flavor Producers, who craft and inspire new taste experiences with natural, organic and plant-based flavors and extracts.

"Step Change Innovations is honored to collaborate with Flavor Producers, the leader in organic and natural flavors, to showcase Calmology at SupplySide West," said Joseph Bradley, chief executive officer, Step Change Innovations. "We are proud of this revolutionary ingredient blend and are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring it to market."

Medical experts and scientists have made great strides in understanding how intestinal bacteria and digestive health affects mental health and well-being. This connection showcases anything an individual ingests can impact mood and sleep regulation, as well as how closely our immune system is linked to digestive health. FrieslandCampina Ingredients has a vested interest in science, with a large research and development center dedicated to exploring new dairy ingredient ideas like Biotis™ SleepWell and Biotis™ Lactoferrin utilized in Calmology. Their efforts have resulted in an extensive portfolio, entering a new era in ingredient science with published scientific studies and clinical trials, validating the benefits of their products and the components within Calmology.    

"A good night's sleep is crucial to maintaining mental and physical well-being," said Devon Gholam, Ph.D., innovation director, Step Change Innovations. "Calmology is unique in that it contains several ingredients utilizing different mechanisms to support sleep and mood, while also helping to maintain digestive and immune health."

The Calmology ingredient blend can function as a stand-alone product, or packaged, so that consumers may add the blend to the beverage of their choice. It also serves as an ideal base that is easily customizable with the addition of flavors, colors and other active components to maintain health. Along with powdered drink mixes and sachet products, Calmology also is appropriate for ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages and slab-type bars. The supplement blend does contain milk, including lactose, but is free from other major allergens.

To learn more about Calmology and discuss how your organization can take the first step in redefining the future of the food and nutraceutical industry, visit getcalmology.com.

About Step Change Innovations
Step Change Innovations is an ingredient incubator and curator, telling the story of unique ingredients with science, and pairing those ingredients with cutting-edge delivery methods and product formulations. They serve as an independent voice for best-in-class ingredients and technologies and their award-winning team has helped to innovate and launch over 1,000 products in over 70 countries around the globe. From ideation and creation to production and distribution, Step Change has critical expertise and relevant experience in each area of the product development process, along with solid co-manufacturer relationships to make new products at speed while facilitating regulatory compliance. 

About Flavor Producers
Founded in California, Flavor producers is the leader in crafting natural and organic flavors and extracts for over 40 years. The company is inspired by entrepreneurs and new technologies that deliver great taste sustainably and transparently.

About FrieslandCampina Ingredients, part of Royal FrieslandCampina N.V.
FrieslandCampina Ingredients is powered by 1,400 passionate specialists who are focused on adding goodness to the foods, drinks, and businesses that nourish the world, now and for generations to come.  The company is leading in the food sector as an innovation partner in healthy and sustainable ingredients and solutions. FrieslandCampina Ingredients operates globally and has a regional sales office in the United States.

Contact: Rebecca Suhy 
For Step Change Innovations 
[email protected]    
216.401.2253

SOURCE Step Change Innovations, LLC

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Dry shampoo recalled over potential cancer-causing ingredient - CBS News

Unilever says it's recalling dry shampoo aerosol products sold nationwide because they may contain elevated levels of benzene, a human carcinogen. The recall is the latest of half a dozen so far this year, with the cancer-causing chemical showing up in products including deodorant, hand sanitizer and sunscreen.

The latest recall includes dry shampoo aerosol products made before October 2021 from brands Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI (Rockaholic and Bed Head), and TRESemmé, the company said in a notice published on Friday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. A complete list of affected products and UPC codes can be found here.

An internal probe identified the propellant as the source and Unilever worked with its propellant suppliers to address the issue, it stated. 

Those who purchased the affected aerosol dry shampoo products should stop using them and visit UnileverRecall.com for reimbursement instructions. 

Photo of some products recalled by Unilever. U.S. Food and Drug Administration

The recall is the second this year for Unilever involving a product possibly containing benzene. The conglomerate sells roughly 400 products around the globe, from Ben & Jerry's ice cream to Hellmann's mayonnaise.

Exposure to benzene can result in cancers including leukemia and blood cancer of the blood marrow, as well as life-threatening blood disorders. Daily exposure to benzene in the recalled products at the levels detected in testing "would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences," Unilever said.

Commonly found chemical

One of the most commonly made chemicals in the U.S., benzene is present in gasoline and cigarette smoke, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People are most typically exposed by breathing the chemical in the air, but they can also absorb it into their bodies by touching petroleum products, or by eating or drinking contaminated food or beverages. 

Unilever in late March recalled two Suave 24-hour protection aerosol antiperspirants after an internal review found slightly elevated levels of benzene in some samples. 

Four other companies have recalled products this year after finding benzene in samples, and more than half a dozen recalls came for the same reason last year. 

In December, for instance, Procter & Gamble recalled aerosol dry shampoo and conditioner spray products from six brands sold nationwide after finding benzene in some of them. 

But benzene is not the only cancer-causing chemical raising concern for users and makers of personal-care products. 

A lawsuit filed Friday against L'Oreal alleges that chemicals in the French company's hair straighteners caused a woman's uterine cancer. The suit over "phthalates and other endocrine disrupting chemicals" came days after a study linking the use of such products to uterine cancer.

L'Oreal did not offer an immediate response to the suit.

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Athiya Shetty's go-to ingredient for DIY face packs is papaya – here's how to use it in recipes - VOGUE India

Dominating ramps, acing sartorial shoots and effortlessly taking on versatile cinematic characters, Athiya Shetty has often been juggling countless roles whilst looking her best self. However, the secret behind the star’s alluring beauty isn’t too complicated to decipher or heavy on the pockets. Always trusting good ol’ pantry staples and her grandmother’s hand me down traditional recipes, Athiya Shetty knows how to keep her skin flawless and blemish-free along with natural radiance booming. From indulging in classic DIYs of yoghurt, honey and turmeric to reaping the benefits of tropical fruits like papaya, the star has been a constant fan of desi nuskhe. From regulating acne breakouts to diminishing stubborn dark circles, papaya is one super ingredient to experiment with in your masks and natural concoctions. 

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3 simple ways to add papaya in your skincare regime:

Papaya, yoghurt and honey mask for dehydrated dry skin 

As beneficial as the fruit is in consuming, its application in an easy face pack can hold equal beautifying gains. If the slight weather change has made your skin appear itchy and dry then this quick DIY will be your skin saviour. To make the recipe, take 1 tablespoon of mashed papaya with 1 teaspoon of honey and 1 teaspoon of yoghurt. Bring all the ingredients together and slather the pack onto your face, leaving it to rest for 10 minutes before rinsing off with cold water.

Orange and papaya face pack for radiating skin

While the natural astringent in orange successfully controls excess oil and sebum production, papaya grants you with glowing skin. Create the DIY with 1 tablespoon of mashed papaya, 1 teaspoon of orange juice and half teaspoon of gram flour to bind all the components together. Mix the organic concoction in a bowl and apply the pack onto your face and neck area. Keep the mixture on for 5-7 minutes and finally wash off with tepid water. You can also end the routine by applying a gentle serum and moisturiser to further nourish the skin. 

Papaya and fuller’s earth pack for flawless skin

If you are looking for an instant glow for an impromptu get-together then this recipe will have you skin satisfied for good. To make the quick concoction, mix 1 tablespoon of mashed papaya with 1 teaspoon of multani mitti and a few drops of rose water. Whisk up the ingredients well and apply it onto your face. Leave to rest for 15 minutes and lastly wash off with water and you are good to go. 

Disclaimer: With natural ingredients it is advised to patch test before topical application on face.

Also read:

Richa Chadha’s go-to ingredient for all skincare woes is besan, here’s how to use it in your DIYs 

Malaika Arora swears by aloe vera for supple skin and here's 3 ways to add it to your DIYs 

Mira Kapoor swears by this DIY ingredient for flawless skin 

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The Ingredient You Can Use In Place Of Mirin - Tasting Table

According to CookingLight, rice wine vinegar replicates mirin's sweet and tangy flavor well. Both products are fermented and therefore have a layered taste. It works perfectly in place of mirin for certain condiments, like salad dressings or marinades. However, mirin is still sweeter than rice wine vinegar and almost syrupy in consistency, so a bit of sugar should be mixed into the vinegar before adding it as a replacement. The site says to add about a 1/2 teaspoon of sugar per tablespoon of rice wine vinegar for a suitable substitute. 

Verywell Fit notes that rice wine vinegar (even with the added sugar) is a healthier option than mirin. Rice wine vinegar also has no calories or sodium, while 1 tablespoon of mirin has 35 calories (via Nutrifox). There are other options, such as sake, dry sherry, and dry white wine, that can also replace mirin, according to Food52, but as always, it is best to experiment to find what you prefer in your cooking.

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The Ingredient You Can Use In Place Of Mirin - Tasting Table
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The Ingredient You Can Use In Place Of Mirin - Tasting Table

According to CookingLight, rice wine vinegar replicates mirin's sweet and tangy flavor well. Both products are fermented and therefore have a layered taste. It works perfectly in place of mirin for certain condiments, like salad dressings or marinades. However, mirin is still sweeter than rice wine vinegar and almost syrupy in consistency, so a bit of sugar should be mixed into the vinegar before adding it as a replacement. The site says to add about a 1/2 teaspoon of sugar per tablespoon of rice wine vinegar for a suitable substitute. 

Verywell Fit notes that rice wine vinegar (even with the added sugar) is a healthier option than mirin. Rice wine vinegar also has no calories or sodium, while 1 tablespoon of mirin has 35 calories (via Nutrifox). There are other options, such as sake, dry sherry, and dry white wine, that can also replace mirin, according to Food52, but as always, it is best to experiment to find what you prefer in your cooking.

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PLT features ingredients that support powerful consumer messaging - Nutraceutical Business Review

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PLT features ingredients that support powerful consumer messaging  Nutraceutical Business Review
PLT features ingredients that support powerful consumer messaging - Nutraceutical Business Review
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Taste Test: I made homemade butter using a one-ingredient recipe - Insider

You've officially made homemade butter! Use add-ins like salt and garlic to give the butter an extra burst of flavor.

I stored my homemade butter in a glass holder and put it in my fridge.

Lauren Edmonds/Insider

The final steps are to add any extra flavors to the butter and store it away. Personally, I added ¾ tablespoon of salt to give it a slight flavor since it tasted very neutral at first.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this recipe, but I haven't stopped telling everyone I know about it because it's that good. The texture, when at room temperature, is creamy and the taste is light and airy.

It might be in my head, but when I compared my homemade butter to a store-bought version, the homemade butter tasted less processed.

Also, "homemade butter" always made me think of a wooden butter churn and lots of arm work, but the recipe was hands-off and only took 20 minutes.

Overall, I would 1000% make this recipe again, and I have plans to add chives, garlic, and parsley next time.

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