Spin Cycle

News is getting harder to stomach

Diamond in the ruff: Arizona Diamondbacks’ Churro Dog dessert
Diamond in the ruff: Arizona Diamondbacks’ Churro Dog dessert

Let's chew on some of the curious recent developments in food news.

Metal-roni and cheese

After receiving consumer complaints, Kraft recalled some 6.5 million boxes of original-flavored macaroni and cheese (7.25-ounce boxes carrying a "best when used by" dates Sept. 18 through Oct. 11 and a code "C2" below the expiration dates) because they may contain small pieces of metal.

Apparently that's not the ideal way to get more iron in one's diet.

Something to wine about

A class-action lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court lists more than 80 less expensive California wines that allegedly contain unsafe levels of arsenic, according to The Associated Press, which reported, "The industry group Wine Institute dismissed the allegations as 'false and misleading.'"

Considering the suit includes wines like Franzia, perhaps it should be called a no-class-action suit?

That's nuts

Trader Joe's (also included in the wine suit) recently recalled several lots of its brand-name raw walnuts due to potential salmonella contamination, issuing this statement: "Out of an abundance of caution, all lots of these products have been removed from store shelves and their sale has been suspended while the source of the issue is identified."

It's the first time Arkansas foodies are fine with not having a TJ's in our state.

Toast of the town

Bucking the gluten-free trend, restaurants have been adding (giggle) "artisanal toasts" with fancy toppings to their menus. In Melbourne, Australia, Crompton Coffee -- a cafe devoted to toast -- is expected to open next month.

Apparently the best thing since sliced bread is ... sliced bread.

What's shakin'? S'more bacon!

According to ESPN, The Texas Rangers' ballpark is debuting a concession stand called Just Bacon, where fans can enjoy everything from candied bacon and bacon cotton candy to maple bacon ale -- yes, bacon beer. Another new stand called State Fare, a tribute to the state's State Fair cuisine, will cook up chicken-fried corn on the cob and S'mOreos (s'mores of deep-fried Oreos and graham-cracker-encrusted marshmallow on a stick with chocolate drizzle and Cool Whip).

Everything really is bigger in Texas. Especially the heartburn and cholesterol counts.

Doggone!

Not to be outdone, the Arizona Diamondbacks ballpark -- home of the big league 18-inch bacon-and-cheese-stuffed corn dog known as the D-Bat Dog -- has announced another heavy hitter. The Churro Dog is a warm cinnamon churro inside a Long John chocolate-glazed doughnut, topped with frozen yogurt, caramel, chocolate sauce and whipped topping.

Giving a whole new meaning to the expression "ballpark figure."

I eat up your email:

[email protected]

Spin Cycle is a weekly smirk at pop culture.

Style on 03/29/2015

Upcoming Events