Private label food sales continue to grow

U.S. private label food sales rose $9 billion to a total of $271 billion in 2024, reports the Private Label Manufacturers’ Association, a processors’ trade group. Interestingly, some of the biggest expansion in the category is coming from nontraditional food retailers like Walmart and Target, reports The Food Institute, a food news site.

Walmart recently introduced Bettergoods, a premium private label line offering plant-based alternatives and specialty items, for example, the Institute reports.

“Dollar General revealed plans to bolster its arsenal of more than 3,200 consumable private label products with roughly 100 new offerings under its Clover Valley brand. Additions include honey mustard, blue cheese, and Thousand Island salad dressings; apple cinnamon fruit and grain bars; and eight flavors of ice creams,” the Food Institute story also relates.

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January 31, 2025 0

Even Christmas treats get downsized

Christmas 2024 seems long way away these cold January days. But before my neighbors (finally) take down their outside decorations, I wanted to write about how even Christmas candy is getting downsized in the face of rising ingredient costs these days.

My wife (or was it Santa?) gave me these marshmallow Snowmen in my Christmas stocking this year. They’re a regular item at our local Dollar Tree store.

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January 29, 2025 0

Shame on you Boar’s Head

*My dad loved Boar’s Head cold cuts. Glad he can’t see what’s happened to the brand lately.*

Boar’s Head cold cuts were always my dad’s favorite. He was old-school when it came to food — he believed in the promise major brands made in those days, namely that they sold superior products. He would tell anyone who would listen at family parties that Boar’s Head was the best.

So I’m glad he’s not around today to see how the mighty have fallen. Not only did Boar’s Head have a major recall last year after a listeria outbreak was linked to products from a factory it runs in Virginia. But now a new report details sanitation issues at several other Boar’s Head plants, reports The Patch and other sources.

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January 22, 2025 0

5 Tips for Picking Weight Loss Supplements

Many Americans have resolved to lose weight in 2025, often turning to weight loss supplements for support. While certain botanical ingredients may aid appetite control, metabolism, and health goals, experts advise caution when choosing supplements.

Here, Dr. Leena Pradhan-Nabzdyk, assistant professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School and CEO and co-founder of Canomiks, shares key tips to help consumers make informed choices.

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January 21, 2025 0

Weight loss & food choices, really?

LoseIt has been pumping out a lot of diet info as the new year begins. This one particularly caught my eye because it seems kind of guffy, Most-Logged Foods in 2024 by Those Who’ve Lost 50 Pounds or More.

Banks are something I have daily.
Photo by Couleur on Pexels.com

Does eating these foods regularly lead to weight loss? That’s the implication. But our nutrition and eating habits are much more complex than that, I’d contend.

LoseIt looks at it this way, “Food choices play a crucial role in losing weight, and our Lose It! members understand this well. From breakfast to dinner, they carefully log their meals to maintain consistency and stay on track with their weight loss goals. These 11 foods were the most popular in 2024 among members who achieved an impressive weight loss of 50 pounds or more.”

You decide. The food are eggs, bananas, blueberries, chicken breast, white rice, bacon and 2% milk.

Bacon and white rice are on my heart-patient do-not-eat list, so I’m not so sure if they would help me use weight. I’m lactose-intolerant, so milk is also out. Egg prices have gone so high recently because of bird flu that I’m stopped buying them. And I don’t like blueberries. I do eat bananas every day to maintain my potassium levels.

January 15, 2025 0

New year, new diet troubles, hello 2025

A new year usually starts with new diet resolutions. This is the year you’re going to eat right, and drop some pounds in the process. But then…reality hits. Most of us fall off the food wagon pretty quickly. Lose It, the diet tracking app, recently wrote about the seven main reasons why and what to do about them

*The new year is normally new diet time. Read here how to do it right.*

The first tip, set realistic calorie goals.

“If your calorie budget is unrealistically low, it won’t be long before you blow it. “Eating too few calories when trying to lose weight can be counterproductive and harmful,” says Theresa Gentile, RDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics who is based in New York City,” Lose It writes.

“Gentile says that extreme calorie restriction can slow your metabolism and alter hormones related to hunger and appetite, making it harder to lose weight.”

The piece goes on to talk about emotional eating as well as sleep habits and water consumption, among other tips. Give it a read and get back on that diet today.

January 14, 2025 0

Up for a wellness challenge? Check out NYT

The New York Times started the year with a five-day wellness challenge, a series to help you shop for healthier foods.

Fiber One ultraprocessed? Yes, according to the *Times*.

Day one defines ultra processed foods and gives you a digital game to see how much of what you buy can fit the definition.

Some of the results may surprise you, as I’m sure they were picked to do.

I found out, for example, that Fiber One cereal, my fallback buy when I can’t find Trader Joe’s High Fiber Cereal, is considered ultra processed because of thickening agents and Sucrolose it contains.

How does the series define ultraprocessed?

“Ultraprocessed foods, or UPFs, are commonly defined as products you couldn’t typically make in your own kitchen. They contain ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, protein isolates, emulsifiers and artificial flavors, colors and sweeteners. Think chicken nuggets, hot dogs, flavored yogurts, sodas and many breakfast cereals, packaged breads and snack foods,” it states.

January 11, 2025 0

We’re stepping it up in 2025

The No Salt, No Fat, No Sugar Journal (the blog you’re reading right now) drew 69,185 views in 2024, a jump of slightly more than 9,000 from 2023. Not bad for a year in which our attention was mainly focused elsewhere, producing what will likely be our last show for the Evanston 2nd Act Players.

This year, we’re returning this blog back to center stage, so to speak. Expect to see a lot more posts on relevant food topics, along with a lot more on the recipe page everyone loves here.

Our recipe page was the second most visited, after our home page, last year.

We’ll be writing about diet trends, food trends, new food products and more. If there are topics you’d like to see covered, just drop us a line by writing johnnfrank@gmail.com.

Happy New Year and happy eating in 2025!

January 10, 2025 0

Sad news for low-salt eating — Mrs. Dash marinades are no more

A sharp-eyed reader left me a comment recently that broke my heart, and more importantly will impact my heart-health — Mrs Dash sodium-free marinades are no longer being made.

Preparing salmon with Mrs. Dash no-salt marinades. — *Mrs Dash salt-free marinades are no longer being made. A sad day for healthy eating.*

A quick check of the Mrs Dash site confirms the sad news but offers no explanation.

Mrs. Dash’s teriyaki marinade had provided a way for me to still enjoy some Asian dishes without overloading on salt. I’ve used it in recipes in place of soy sauce because even reduced sodium soy sauce is too high in salt for me.

Healthy Heart Market lists a low-sodium soy with 180 msg of sodium per tablespoon. How many tablespoons would go into a stir fry?

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September 6, 2024 0

Listeria outbreak kills two, sends 33 to hospital

Subway's spicy Italian, avoid it like a salt plague! — *A fan of cold cuts? Check what you bought, Boar’s Head has a major recall underway.*

A major recall of deli meats has accounted for two deaths and put 33 people in hospitals, reports Patch.com. Products involved are from the Boar’s Head brand, with cases of people being sickened by the products reported in 13 states as of late July.

“The true number of sick people in this outbreak is likely higher than the number reported, and the outbreak may not be limited to the states with known illnesses,” health officials said in a news release. “This is because some people recover without medical care and are not tested for Listeria. In addition, recent illnesses may not yet be reported, as it usually takes 3 to 4 weeks to determine if a sick person is part of an outbreak,” Patch reports.

Boar’s Head already is facing at least one lawsuit. The recalled meats are thought o be causing listeria in people who eat them.

“The company last week announced a recall of several types of deli meats, including all liverwurst products, as well as some types of ham, salami and bologna.

“The recall includes 207,528 pounds of products that were shipped to retail locations nationwide. See the full list of recalled products,” Patch reports.

July 30, 2024 0

The No Salt, No Fat, No Sugar Journal

Private label food sales continue to grow

Even Christmas treats get downsized

Shame on you Boar’s Head

5 Tips for Picking Weight Loss Supplements

Weight loss & food choices, really?

New year, new diet troubles, hello 2025

Up for a wellness challenge? Check out NYT

We’re stepping it up in 2025

Sad news for low-salt eating — Mrs. Dash marinades are no more

Listeria outbreak kills two, sends 33 to hospital

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