FitSugar

COOL News! Food Labeling Law Goes Into Effect

FitSugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:00:00 PDT

Do you know where your avocado is from? That question is easier to answer now as the new food labeling law goes into effect this week. The so-called COOL law (country of origin label) requires producers of fresh meats, many fruits and vegetables, and assorted other products to state clearly on packages where the food originates.

As part of the Obama administration's efforts to improve food safety, labels on meat products will even state where the animal was born, raised, and slaughtered. However, the law doesn't apply to many foods that are considered "processed," including roasted nuts, bacon, breaded chicken, and bags of veggies containing more than one variety.

Still, the COOL indicator will help us know if produce hails from a place where food safety has come into question, such as when we were told to avoid hot peppers from Mexico and certain states' tomatoes amid last year's salmonella outbreaks. I hope it's just the first step in revamping our faulty food-safety system. Are you looking forward to seeing the new labels?

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New Country of Origin Food Label Law

FitSugar — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:00:00 PDT

I like eating seasonally and locally, but I am a realist too. I know much of the food we all eat comes from outside the US. Remember the tomato and hot pepper salmonella scare? Food regulations vary from country to country and many are not as strict as ones in the US, which can pose some health risks. Now a new food label law comes into effect that will require companies to state where certain products such as meat, produce, and other products came from. Now you'll be able to tell if the foods you buy are imported or not, and from which countries they were produced.

The country of origin labeling requirement has been years in the making, and now that it's here, the law is a little confusing since not all foods are covered under the new regulations. Certain foods that are processed such as roasted peanuts, breaded chicken, and bacon are excluded from this law, as are bags of mixed lettuce. Retailers have six months from now to learn and implement the new labeling rules, so you should begin seeing labels in stores relatively soon. This mandatory labeling could help sell products since many people will appreciate knowing their apples came from a local farm. The food origin labels might also discourage people from buying products from unsafe sources, such as with the recent issues in China. The thing is though, consumers have a right to know where their food was grown or packaged. I'm in full support of this law and look forward to the day when the government requires all food retailers to state where their foods come from. What do you think? Are you happy about this new law or not really phased by it? Will these new labels affect how you shop?

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Have Your Gluten-Free Candy This Halloween and Eat It Too

Heather Dale — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 09:59:55 PDT

If the candy-lined store shelves didn't give it away, the sweetest annual holiday is just about here - no, not Valentine's Day silly . . . Halloween! For those with celiac disease or a gluten allergy/sensitivity, Halloween can be more of a trick than a treat because deciphering which candies contain traces of the gluten protein found in wheat, rye, and barley can be downright tricky.

Good news my friends. Although most cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and doughnuts are filled with gluten, most candy bars and hard candies are gluten-free (but stay away from Twizzlers, because they surprisingly do contain gluten!). Now I'm not saying you can go crazy next Monday, but when a majority of "fun size" bars are only 100 calories, a little indulging once in a while doesn't hurt. Keep reading to see which candies made the cut for being g-free!

Can You Match the Rum to Its Country of Origin?

Susannah Chen — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 04:16:15 PDT

Rum has humble origins: it was sugar plantation slaves who first discovered molasses could be fermented, then distilled, for a pleasant tasting (and feeling) drink. But these days, rum has managed to join the ranks of tequila and gin as a diverse, wide-ranging spirit that's managed to play a role in everything from Caribbean staples to Polynesian tiki drinks.

While the term is used to define alcohol made from sugarcane or its by-products, rum appears in various incarnations, depending on where it's made, although it has a rich history in the Spanish- and French-speaking Caribbean islands, Central America, and South America.

Nearly every country in the Western Hemisphere, it seems, manufactures (and reveres) its own unofficial national brand. To raise your global awareness for rum producers, I thought I'd put your brand recognition to the test. Can you match the rum label to its country of origin? Click through to find out.

Take the Quiz

Shop For Good: Your Guide to Conscious Consumerism

SavvySugar — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 00:15:00 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Trends. They seduce us into buying a hot item, only to leave us a year later with an emptier wallet and a useless widget.

But there’s one trend we at LearnVest can get behind: conscious consumerism.

At its most basic level, buying consciously just means taking a couple of extra seconds to consider each purchase. It’s a way to buy healthier food, keep your home free of clutter and keep your budget intact.

But what we’re talking about in this case is the ethical consumption movement, or buying with an eye toward your fellow (wo)man and the environment.

The Basics of Conscious Consumerism

Often called “voting with your dollar,” conscious consumerism is a way to support your values every time you walk into a store. It can be as simple as using natural toothpaste, as stylish as finding a fair trade purse from a company that employs women in Ghana or as grand as boycotting a misbehaving corporation.

It’s also effective. The rise of brands like Burt’s Bees and Newman’s Own shows that consumers like you are eager to support brands that treat people, animals and the environment with respect. Conscious consumption can even be a fashion statement. Just ask one of the many proud wearers of TOMS shoes. Because of these brands’ successes, large corporations are sitting up and taking notice.

Read on to find out more.

Dirty Secrets of Outlet Shopping

LearnVest — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 00:15:51 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Oh, the outlet mall.

It gleams like an oasis of designer savings in the desert. It’s a day of promised savings, rewarding the dedicated shopper who will find a trove of off-price goods that were sold at luxury retailers - perhaps last season, but who’s counting?

Right?

That is occasionally still true. But over the last few decades, as retailers recognized the profitability of attracting Americans looking for a deal (yes - they will use this great quality about you against you!), they began to build an industry around outlet shopping that is completely separate from their regular business. And it’s working–there are 13,000 outlet stores around the country, and every year outlets draw more tourists than attractions like Washington D.C.’s museums or Philadelphia’s Liberty Bell.

The industry is based on some secret tactics designed to fool the customer - don’t be suckered.

What to know what they are? Check out the outlet mall's dirty secrets after the break!

6 Tips For Scoring a Cheap Wedding Dress

LearnVest — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 00:15:59 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

With wedding season soon upon us, many a bride is looking for a way to create the most special day imaginable…without racking up the biggest debt imaginable.

The dress is no exception.

Wedding gowns can run into the thousands, which can eat into a good portion of any wedding budget. You want to look amazing, but you’d also like to give your guests something to eat, drink, and ideally sit on (even if Uncle Hal is more of the wander-around-inebriated type).

Wedding gowns are one area where you can significantly cut your costs. We don’t believe in compromising on looking absolutely stunning on your wedding day, but we do believe in being smart about looking for the best deal possible.

Here are the best ways to score a cheap wedding dress:

1. Check Out Mass Retailers

Mass retailers are getting into the wedding gown biz. It started with J. Crew, and the rest followed. We found these affordable numbers surprisingly attractive. Here, spend some of your savings on custom tailoring to make your dress uniquely yours - take off cap sleeves or add on embellishments. See our chart below for our favorite mass market lines.

2. Head Online

Nothing replaces the romanticized experience of heading to a bridal salon and trying on dresses with your mom and a few glasses of champagne - but after a few tiring sessions, any bride can tell you it gets old fast. According to Heather Levine, fashion editor at The Knot, the majority of brides still buy their dresses in-store, but more and more are heading online, to overstock or consignment sellers.

Read on for more tips for scoring a cheap wedding dress.