CARROTS RECALLED

Baby carrots sold at Ralphs, Trader Joe’s and other stores have been recalled because they may be contaminated with a bacteria, shigella, that could cause diarrhea, fever, nausea and vomiting, particularly in infants and the elderly, according to the L.A. Times. The carrots, processed by Los Angeles Salad Co., in the City of Industry, were the cause of four cases of illness in Canada in early August, though none were hospitalized.

Ralphs: 7 and 8-ounce packages; Genuine Sweet Baby Carrots; sell-by dates through August 15.

Trader Joe’s: 7-ounce packages; Trader Joe’s Genuine Sweet Baby Carrots; sell-by dates through August 8.

The FDA advised consumers to return them to the store for a refund.

KEEPING THE MAIN IN CHOW MEIN

Many Chinese-Americans disregard the warnings on foods from China

In spite of FDA warnings and recent news stories on all of the contaminated foods coming from China, many Chinese-Americans living in Southern California are not changing their shopping habits, which includes lots of Chinese food.

According to a recent L.A. Times article, many of them regard the controversy as political and economic rather than health. Others claim that it’s not nearly as bad as it is in China, where the native population eats food, only 80 percent of which meets health standards (as opposed to the supposed 99 percent of exports).

So, they continue to indulge in Chinese pet food, catfish, shrimp, eel, ginger, toothpaste, tires and toys, all of which have been found contaminated or have been recalled by their American distributors.

WHAT IT’S REALLY COSTING YOU

Fast-food receipts feature nutritional information.

Several Southern California fast-food restaurants are trying out a new idea that could actually help in fighting obesity, according to Investors Daily. Now, your receipt will feature more than the price; it will display the calorie count of your meal as well as nutritional information.

It also works for customized orders. So, rather than some meaningless calorie count on a menu board, the receipt will actually feature the exact calories of your particular version of a double cheeseburger extra tomatoes hold the onions and ketchup.

The receipts will also feature advice on what you could order to cut down on calories as well as general nutritional information and multiple-choice questions.

So, even though it’s too late for that super double cheeseburger you just ordered, maybe you’ll order smarter next time.

CEREAL SERIAL

The Cereal Bowl restaurant chain has announced its expansion to 16 restaurants opening soon and 30 restaurants to open by the end of the year, according to QSR magazine.

Customers can choose from over 35 cereals, 40 toppings and a variety of milks. The chain also features special smoothies and other “bowls” like Freeze ‘n’ Flakes and Give Me S’More.

AYY CARAMBA!

Mexican chains serve up handsome bonuses to keep their managers.

According to a recent article in the Rocky Mountain News, Denver-based fast-food Mexican restaurants Qdoba and Chipotle both have dramatically improved their employee turnover rates just by imitating practices at fancier restaurants.

Since it costs on average $20,000 to replace a manager and $2500 to replace an hourly employee, turnover is a big deal in the industry.

Chipotle provides incentives such as a ten-thousand dollar bonuses to managers who turn their crew members into managers, too. They also give them bonuses for exceeding sales plans, to the tune of ten percent of the amount exceeded.

Important, too, they get the title of “Restaurateur,” the recognition that is coveted among the chain’s 640 stores.

Chipotle’s turnover rate is down significantly after a year of these measures. It is below thirty percent for managers, while the industry average is thirty-nine percent.

E. COLI UPDATE

The USDA announced yesterday that it is spending $5.5 million over the next three years to study ways to prevent future outbreaks of E. coli.

Much of the money will be going to University of California professor Rob Mandrell, who is already studying the bacteria in the Central Valley, where last year’s spinach poisoning originated.

Mandrell and his collaborators will try to determine how the bacteria originates and how it spreads from animals to plants, and how it survives on the plants. The project will also feature workshops and publications to educate processors, animal operators and the public about how animal waste can contaminate water, and practices that will improve safety.

STEMMING THE TIDE

Restaurant chain discontinues the sale of bottled water.

The highly innovative restaurant holding company, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, is leading the way again in a little bit different area. One of its chains, Big Bowl, announced recently in Nation’s Restaurant News that it would discontinue the sale of bottled water at all of its eight units.

The move flies directly in the face of the growing consumption of the stuff by Americans, to the tune of 38 billion water bottles that are not being recycled and thus end up in landfills. The profits that the chain is giving up amount to $25,000 yearly. They are still giving tap water away, though, to consumers who are smart enough to know that there isn’t any difference.

Hopefully, we’ll be seeing other chains following their lead, especially the others that belong to Lettuce Entertain You.

CHICAGO DOGS

An ordinance allowing canines at outdoor cafes is being considered by the City Council.

A committee of the Chicago City Council is reviewing a proposal to allow customers at outside cafes to bring their dogs, a practice that some restaurants have allowed, literally under the table, for quite awhile.

The new ordinance would give restaurants the option of applying for a special license, which would allow it. A few extra rules come with it, too. Dogs can’t sit at the table or at a countertop; employees can’t handle the dogs; and towels and hand sanitizers would have to be available at the tables.

A statement was issued by one pack of dogs claiming to be unmoved by the pending ordinance. “Big deal!” it said. “They don’t allow us to smoke or eat foie gras. Who needs ‘em!”

NEW SITE FOR QUESTIONS ON HEALTH INSPECTIONS

The USDA announced a new website today designed to help businesses with their questions on health inspections and regulations. The easiest way to reach it is to go on the Food Safety and Inspection Service website (fsis.usda.gov) and click on Help.

Targeted to owners of small plants, the tool is designed to answer questions on exporting, labeling, inspection-related policies, programs and procedures, though any USDA question is appropriate.

TGIF — THANK GOODNESS I’M FULL!

Casual dining chain tries big new idea — smaller portions.

Sales at casual dining chains have been decreasing for a few years. So, the folks at T.G.I.F. were looking for something to set themselves apart from the fiercer and fiercer competition.

Maybe they had just seen the Hummer commercial where the little guy pipes up with the big idea: why not make it smaller. However they arrived at the idea of offering smaller portions for smaller prices, under the tagline “Right Portion, Right Price,” it seems to be working.

Though sales plunged four percent in the first few weeks, after twelve weeks, according to Investor’s Business Daily, sales went back up, AND new people started showing up at the restaurant, too.

T.G.I.F. is too smart to label it a “healthy alternative,” knowing that, like Mikey in days of old, the consumer wouldn’t go near it. Besides, what’s boosting sales doesn’t quite live up to that mantra. Consumers reward themselves for eating smaller portions by ordering another drink or, in most cases, splurging on dessert.

T.G.I.F. didn’t say if the desserts are smaller, too.