Food – Page 4 – Michmutters
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Business

Cost of Living crisis: WA wholesaler New West Foods warns of ‘perfect storm’ with food, pub prices set to rise

WA’s biggest independent food distributor has warned consumers to expect further hikes at their favorite pubs and restaurants – and eventually supermarkets – as supply chain pressures and skyrocketing input costs continue to drive up prices.

The price of vegetable oil supplied by New West Foods to hundreds of eateries across WA has almost doubled since August 2020, with eggs up 75 per cent over the same two-year period.

Salmon has jumped 50 per cent while cheese and bacon are both up around 35 per cent.

Even the humble frozen chip – a staple of takeaway menus everywhere – has climbed 25 per cent.

The scale of price rises over the past two years.
Camera IconThe scale of price rises over the past two years. Credit: The West Australian

The majority of those price rises have come in the last 12 months as myriad factors combined to create what New West Foods managing director Damon Venoutsos said was the “perfect storm” for food costs.

Mr Venoutsos described distribution businesses like his own as the “canary in the coal mine” for price increases because – unlike supermarkets and fast-food chains – they did not enter into long-term agreements with suppliers.

“Most of the time we get 30 days’ notice from our suppliers that prices are going up whereas your big retailers (such as Coles and Woolworths) and quick service restaurants (such as KFC) can lock in their prices for anything up to six months ,” he said.

“Often we’re using the exact same supplier so while I don’t know when (the supermarkets) are going to catch up, it’s inevitable they will have to.”

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Categories
Entertainment

How to quickly say an onion without tears: Melbourne foodie Melanie Lionello shares her simple hack

This is the RIGHT way to chop an onion: Why this simple yet ‘life-saving’ trick for saying the veggie super fine has taken the internet by storm

  • A Melbourne nutritionist has shared a handy hack for finely saying an onion
  • Melanie Lionello demonstrated the trick in a video that amassed 11million views
  • She said the hack is ‘life-changing’ and won’t make your eyes water
  • Melanie makes slices from the root to the stem all the way around the onion
  • She then turns the onion on the side and makes a series of thin vertical cuts

A foodie has shared her simple, fuss-free hack for saying an onion in under 30 seconds.

Cookbook author and nutritionist Melanie Lionello demonstrated the ‘literally life-changing’ trick she said will ‘save so many tears’ in a now-viral clip.

The Melbourne cook, who heads From My Little Kitchen, chopped the stem off a whole onion and placed in on a chopping board with the root facing upwards.

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Melbourne foodie and nutritionist Melanie Lionello has gone mega viral with her simple way to chop and onion in under 30 seconds that won't make your eyes water

Melbourne foodie and nutritionist Melanie Lionello has gone mega viral with her simple way to chop and onion in under 30 seconds that won’t make your eyes water

After taking the onion skin off, she makes multiple slices the whole way around the onion from the root to the stem with each cut meeting in the centre.

Melanie then turns the onion on its side and makes a series of thin vertical cuts starting at the stem and making her way up to the root.

She was left with finely diced pieces of onion perfect for cooking and dry eyes.

‘I was today years-old when I learned that I could say an onion like this. Please tell me that I’m not the only one,’ she said in an Instagram video.

The cookbook author chopped the stem off a whole onion, placed in on a chopping board with the root facing upwards and made multiple slices the whole way around the vegetable

The cookbook author chopped the stem off a whole onion, placed in on a chopping board with the root facing upwards and made multiple slices the whole way around the vegetable

Melanie then turns the onion on its side and makes a series of thin vertical cuts starting at the stem and making her way up to the root

Melanie then turns the onion on its side and makes a series of thin vertical cuts starting at the stem and making her way up to the root

The video has racked up more than 11.4 million views on the platform as well as hundreds of thankful comments.

‘THIS IS A GAME CHANGER,’ one viewer exclaimed.

‘Wow I’m trying this, never cut an onion like this but it looks so easy!’ wrote another.

‘I like chopping onions like this. It saves my eyes from tearing up,’ said a third.

‘Cut it in half first so you have it firmly on a flat surface will make it safer to do, you may cut yourself doing it whole,’ a fourth recommended.

Why do onions make you cry?

Onions contain a chemical compound and an enzyme that mix to release an irritating gas when the onion is cut.

This helps keep the bulb from getting eaten by animals as it grows in the ground.

Onions make your eyes burn for the same reason they make you cry: thanks to the combination of that chemical compound and the enzyme that synthesize when an onion is cut.

This creates syn-propanethial-S-oxide, a volatile gas that makes your eyes burn and fill with tears.

Here’s how the process works:

  1. The onion contains both the chemical precursor to the gas and an activating enzyme that floats in onion cells in little walled-off areas (vacuoles).
  2. An onion gets sliced, diced or bitten into.
  3. The precursor and enzyme mix, creating an unstable chemical irritant.
  4. At room temperature, this irritant quickly becomes a gas that spreads through the air.
  5. The gas triggers pain receptors in the eyes and nose designed to protect you from chemicals, smoke and other dangers.
  6. The tear glands (lacrimal glands) in the eyes then make tears to wash away the irritant.

Source: allaboutvision.com

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Categories
Australia

Cost of living pressures lead to food insecurity and fears of chronic health conditions

More Australians are now experiencing mild to moderate food insecurity due to the cost and unavailability of fruit and vegetables leading to ill health and pressures on charities, experts warn.

The skyrocketing cost of living has been particularly difficult for mum of three Jane Winters.

Her family of five, who live in Redcliffe, north of Brisbane, have seen their weekly grocery bill more than double from between $100 and $150 to nearly $300.

“We are going standard, home brand, whatever we can just to try and save some money because it’s a bit ridiculous,” she said.

A grocery list that was once full of fresh produce and healthy ingredients has now been replaced with cheaper alternatives and processed food.

“Fast food is fast becoming cheaper than healthy food which is awful,” Ms Winter said.

“It’s going to become a really big problem and I think childhood obesity is going to get so much bigger because of that.”

‘Unable to send kids to school with lunch’

Melissa Peters works in an affordable food shop west of Brisbane known as Restore, run by a not-for-profit organization Ipswich Assist.

Melissa smiles with glasses on.
Melissa Peters says the number of shoppers in Ipswich Assist’s charity grocery store has tripled, some of whom are from middle class backgrounds.(ABC News: Baz Ruddick)

She said the charity has seen a marked increase in families, some on dual incomes, seeking help to feed their families.

“Prior to this increase in the cost of living, we were seeing around maybe 30 to 40 people come through each week and now we’re cracking upwards of 100 people, 100 families coming through each week,” Ms Peters said.

“People tell us that they’re no longer able to afford just basic groceries, fruit and veggies, they’re unable to send their kids to school with lunches because the cost of living is just getting higher and higher each week.”

Cans of baked beans at the Ipswich Assist Restore charity grocery store
Cans of baked beans at Ipswich Assist’s charity grocery store.(ABC News: Baz Ruddick)

The store receives food from OzHarvest and Foodbank, as well as donations from mainstream supermarkets, with all items sold for $1 each.

“We’re seeing more and more families come through that have never needed to seek assistance before because they’ve never experienced any sort of financial hardship or crisis in the past,” she said.

“It’s a sense of vulnerability that they don’t want to have to show to the world… [but] we often remind them that seeking assistance is not weak.”

‘A big domino effect’

With the rising cost of food, fuel and rent showing no sign of abating, Ms Peters said the situation was only expected to worsen.

“At what point does it end? At what point does something happen that stops it from affecting every day Aussies?” she said.

“If people dig themselves into debt and get more and more into financial crisis, they have to then rely on more and more places to provide assistance.

“And those assistance places don’t have enough funding and it just becomes this big domino effect on people not being able to support themselves.”

Pru smiles next to a rack of clothes.
Pru Burke’s second-hand clothing store now features a free community pantry.(ABC News: Baz Ruddick)

Redcliffe woman Pru Burke has also opened a free community pantry with stacks of free, donated pantry items destined for Queenslanders doing it tough.

“I see the mums every day come and tell me their stories and it is heartbreaking,” she said.

“It’s those small drops in the ocean that are going to save them a lot more money in the end.

“If you’ve got the ability, try doing something like this. Open a food pantry, talk to members of your community and find ways to help each other.”

Fears of rising obesity, chronic illness

Dr Ward sits in a hospital ward looking stern.
Food security expert Dr Aletha Ward says there is a clear link between nutrient deficient diets and chronic disease.

University of Southern Queensland food security expert Aletha Ward said Australia was now experiencing mild to moderate food insecurity due to a lack of fruit and vegetable consumption.

“The problem with mild to moderate food insecurity is that it drives obesity, so we are having food, it is just not the right type of food,” Dr Ward said.

“Most families would not purchase an iceberg lettuce for $10.”

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Categories
Business

Maltesers sharing packs are now seven chocolates lighter due to inflation

Maltesers are now the latest victims of the curse of shrinkflation.

Sharing packs – in the UK at least – are now seven lighter chocolates, in a trend which sees manufacturers reduce sizes while keeping prices the same.

The tactic has been used on everything from teabags to toilet rolls.

The packs have shrunk from 189g to 175g – a fall of seven per cent, or seven chocolates – but still cost £2 in most UK supermarkets.

A spokesman for brand owner Mars Wrigley said: “We have been absorbing the rising costs of raw materials and operations for some time, but the growing pressures we are facing mean that more needs to be done.”

Last month, the company reduced its Twix bars by one per cent, to just a third of its original size.

Meanwhile Cadburys slashed the size of Dairy Milk bars by 10 per cent in March.

A spokesman for its owner Mondelez said: “Our products are much more expensive to make.”

Mars Wrigley media representatives in Australia have been contacted for comment.

Last month Aussies were rocked by the news that the price of a snag and bread at Bunnings was set to increase for the first time in 15 years.

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Categories
Business

Woolworths supermarket confirms major trading hour changes to every store across Australia

Woolworths has announced major changes to its national trading hours and the way it operates its deli, seafood and meat departments.

The supermarket giant has confirmed to 7NEWS.com.au that store opening and closing hours will be adjusted to make them more consistent across Australia.

Learn more about the major Woolworths changes in the video above

For more Food related news and videos check out Food >>

This means selected stores will open an hour later or close an hour earlier to align with stores in other states (see full details below).

In addition to this, Woolworths has shortened the trading hours of its fresh service counters.

From August 1, the supermarket’s deli, meat and seafood department will close at either 7pm or 8pm – regardless of the store’s trading hours (see full details below).

Woolworths has confirmed that opening and closing hours will be adjusted to make them more uniform across Australia. Credit: Getty

A Woolworths spokesperson said that changes were made after careful consideration.

“We’ve made a change to the trading hours of our fresh service counters nationwide, due to a shift in customer shopping behaviour. This includes our meat, seafood and deli counters,” the spokesperson told 7NEWS.com.au.

“Customers can still purchase similar products, such as chicken breast fillets and salmon, within our packed Fresh Convenience range located in-store.

“We’ve also moved to standardize our overall operating hours so we can offer a consistent customer experience across our store network.

“Select stores across the country will open one hour later or close one hour earlier to align with other stores and better match customer shopping patterns.

“We’ll closely monitor customer and team member feedback over the next few months.”

Woolworths seafood counters will now close at 7pm. Credit: Supplied

New fresh service trading hours

From August 1, Woolworths deli, seafood and meat counters will have the following trading hours:

  • The fresh service deli will trade from 7am to 8pm (7 days).
  • The seafood and meat counters will trade from 9:30am to 7pm (weekdays) and 9am to 7pm (weekends).
  • 7NEWS.com.au understands that only a handful of stores will operate longer fresh service counter hours as there’s still high customer demand in those stores.
  • In-store signage has been placed at the fresh service counters and at the front of stores to inform customers of the altered trading hours.
  • It’s understood the new initiative was trialled in a handful of NSW stores in May 2022.

New store trading hours

Woolworths has announced the following changes to trading hours.

  • Select stores across Australia will open one hour later or close one hour earlier to align with other stores across the Woolworths network.
  • 7NEWS.com.au understands that the change means that if your local store typically opens at 6am, it will now open at 7am. And instead of closing at 10pm, it will now close at 9pm.
  • The change means that if a customer travels from state to state, trading hours will be roughly the same across the country.
  • Customers are encouraged to head here to see how the trading hours of their local Woolworths store have been affected by the change.
  • At the front of each Woolworths, signage will notify customers of the store’s new trading hours.
Woolworths deli counters will now close at 7pm. Credit: Dallas Kilponen/Woolworths

News of the change to Woolworths deli, meat and seafood trading hours has already attracted mixed reviews on social media.

One Woolies customer criticized the decision, saying all of the supermarket’s services should be available during opening hours.

“If Woolworths proceeds to limit services within their stores from 7pm onwards, we will no longer be using their services,” said the Adelaide-based customer.

“Shoppers need to remember that Woolworths openly asked and endorsed extended grocery store trading hours for 9pm.

“Now that they have these they don’t want to provide you with that service.”

Mixed reviews

He added: “As someone who works irregular hours, I typically do my shopping after 8pm at night – and now I can no longer get access to the service deli.”

But many other Facebook users felt it was a good move for Woolworths employees.

“It makes absolutely no sense to keep the deli open until the store closes given how long it takes to clean,” said one.

Added suggested “they have made this decision because the sales in the last hour just aren’t there”.

“They are running a business not a public service.”

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Categories
Australia

Bacteria-killing sachets a world-first agtech tackling food loss in transit and reducing landfill

A South Australian agtech company is using innovative new technology in an attempt to stop the rot and make food loss a worry of the past.

In 2005, rural New South Wales restaurant operator Merrill Erickson asked her husband, retired scientist Dr Gary Erickson, to come up with a solution to make her fresh produce last longer.

He developed a prototype which would go on to become ChillSafe, a hand-sized sachet that releases a low dose hydrogen peroxide vapor into shipping containers, reducing bacteria and extending the shelf-life of produce.

Food retailer and marketing consultant Tom DeMasi stumbled across the product at an international food expo and could see the value of Dr Erickson’s invention across the supply chain.

In 2010 they co-founded Coolsan Australia, and now they are tackling food waste one truck at a time.

More food into more mouths

Two bright orange mandarins.
Mr DeMasi says the technology has already saved truckloads of produce from going into landfill.(ABC Riverland: Sophie Landau)

It is a strenuous and labor intensive process to get produce from the farm to the plate with hours spent picking, washing, spraying, waxing, imaging, sorting, packing, storing, and then finally shipping.

Mr DeMasi, who is based in the Riverland town of Morgan, said bacteria can decimate a whole shipload of produce in a very small period of time if it makes its way into the container.

“Everything gets wasted — from the fertilizers to grow it, the time it took for the farmer, the petrol, the tractor. Anything it costs to create it is gone,” he said.

“What we’re trying to do is get as much product into more markets, more mouths, and less into landfill.”

Major horticultural company Costa Group first trialled the technology to solve an issue with overripe lemons coming out of storage.

After seeing the results, the group began using the sachets in its shipping containers to prevent food from spoiling during export.

Three men in high vis smiling inside a warehouse
Tom DeMasi’s (centre) product reduces food loss and is now sharing the bacteria-stopping technology with the agricultural world.(ABC Riverland: Sophie Landau)

Riverland packing operations manager Mick Trussell said the transit process is increasingly unpredictable due to the impacts of the pandemic, so protecting food from bacteria is more important than ever.

“With delays in shipping and transit times, and containers getting held out in the middle of the ocean before they can get into ports, it certainly helps,” he said.

Top of the food chain

Coolsan Australia took out one of nine AgTech Growth grants from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA in June, and will use the $100,000 in funding to develop a smaller version of the technology.

In its current form ChillSafe can be used in a shipping container for produce in partially open boxes, like citrus.

a packing and shipping shed
Mr DeMasi says orders for the new in-box technology are on a timeline of 6-12 months from now.(ABC Riverland: Sophie Landau)

Mr DeMasi said the newer technology will go inside boxes of produce that are enclosed such as blueberries, rockmelon, and table grapes.

“We have interest from EE Muir & Sons and other organizations like Costa to partner with us on a bigger scale moving forward,” he said.

“So maybe we’ll be making it here in Renmark, who knows.”

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Categories
Business

Woolworths supermarket shoppers’ disturbing act with Quilton toilet paper captured in new TikTok video

Two Woolworths customers have created controversy over their treatment of a toilet paper display at one store.

Posting on TikTok, the two shoppers shared footage that showed one of them crashing through a neatly stacked pile of Quilton Toilet Paper.

Watch the controversial Woolworth toilet paper video above

For more Food related news and videos check out Food >>

The video shows one of the customers setting up his phone – which was recording the incident – inside a Woolworths freezer, situated opposite the toilet paper section.

While he held the freezer door open, the camera shows his friend emerging from behind the row of toilet paper packs.

The video starts with the camera pointed at the toilet paper display at one Woolworths store. Credit: TikTok

Crashing through the display, the shopper’s actions sent the stack of toilet paper falling to the ground.

The shoppers can then be seen smiling and dancing for the camera, as the packs of Quilton lie in disarray.

With toilet paper still in limited supply for some supermarket shoppers around Australia, a video showing packs being mistreated is sure to infuriate many.

Customers have taken to social media in recent weeks to complain of ongoing shortages.

“Can someone please explain why there is no toilet paper yet again?” said one Woolworths customer on Facebook.

One prankster can then be seen emerging from behind the rows of toilet paper packs. Credit: TikTok

“I have been trying for four weeks now to get toilet paper, going into the store twice a week. This is getting ridiculous!”

The incident is reminiscent of a similar incident in June 2021 which saw a female Woolworths shopper jump onto a pallet of toilet paper packs.

“She needs to be thrown out of the store,” said one TikTok user at the time.

“Pathetic,” added another.

Write a third: “Do you feel cool now?”

The shoppers then smile and dance for the camera, as the toilet paper packs lie in disarray. Credit: TikTok

Woolworths truck driver’s ‘amateur’ act.

Woolworths truck driver’s ‘amateur’ act.

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Categories
Business

Prices at fast-food giants Hungry Jack’s, McDonald’s and KFC surge as inflation and production costs rise

If you thought your last fast-food order was a little more expensive than usual, you’re right.

A large chunk of the menu at fast food giants including Hungry Jack’s, McDonald’s and KFC have surged over the past year as inflation and production costs rise.

Even the cost of the humble soft-serve cone has increased as franchise owners admit they’re grappling with how to adjust prices.

There’s been uproar this week in the UK after McDonald’s, citing inflation, ended its 99p cheeseburger deal and lifted the price to £1.19.

Back home, a McDonald’s Double Quarter Pounder has increased 95¢ since last year from $7.65 to $8.60, while small and large soft drinks are up 40¢ each.

Hungry families or uni students looking to fill the fridge for the week are going to have to stretch a bit further at KFC this year for a bucket of 21 pieces of chicken — up $3.50 to $38.45, while a pack of six wicked wings is up $1 .

And at Hungry Jack’s, a Whopper is up to a whopping 60¢ and cheeseburger meals are up between $1 and $1.30.

Soft serve cones are now 70¢ at Hungry Jack’s, up from 60¢, and 75¢ at McDonald’s, up from 70¢.

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Categories
Business

ALDI supermarket fans going wild over $1.99 easy dinner hack

It’s the very simple meal hack that’s hitting dinner tables across Australia, thanks to a new “cult” $1.99 ALDI ingredient.

ALDI shoppers say stir-fries using the supermarket’s Chicken & Cashew Sauce is the “closest to takeaway” they’ve had – and is a hit with even the fussiest of eaters.

Watch above: ALDI shopper’s ‘genius’ checkout hack

For more Food related news and videos check out Food >>

To create the dinner, fans simply add the sauce to cooked chicken and veggies and then top with cashews – also available at ALDI – and serve with rice or noodles.

After scores of rave reviews on various Facebook groups, hundreds of ALDI shoppers are “jumping on the bandwagon” and trying the meal out on their families.

“Confirming husband and fussy kids loved it – great midweek dinner,” said one shopper on the Aldi Mums Facebook page.

ALDI’s $1.99 stir-fry sauce is a hit with many shoppers. Credit: Aldi Mums/Facebook

Added another: “So yummy, made this last night.”

Said a third: “Love this, regular at our house.”

One more responded: “Tried it last week and it’s awesome.”

Write another: “This is very yummy. We love it.”

Others commented that it was like visiting the local Chinese restaurant.

“It’s really authentic, like ordering takeaway,” said one.

‘It’s really authentic, like ordering takeaway,’ said one ALDI fan. Credit: Aldi Mums/Facebook

Another responded: “That sauce is excellent…closest to take away I have had.”

One more said: “I usually hate jar sauces. But absolutely loved this one! Delicious.”

On the back of the jar, it’s suggested that you serve the sauce with capsicum, onion, chicken, mushroom, cashews and Singapore noodles.

However, others say it also works with a few other variations – and can be easily doubled to create more serves.

“My kids loved it. I used a kilo of chicken and heaps of vegetables, with a whole jar, soy sauce, ginger and garlic paste,” said one ALDI fan.

Another ALDI shopper showed the ingredients she used to create the meal. Credit: Aldi Mums/Facebook

Said another: “I top mine with heaps of chilli, it’s so good. Cuts through the sweetness a bit.”

One more wrote: “Made this tonight for the fam bam. I used one kilo [of] chicken breast, one whole packet of cashews and capsicum and two jars of sauce and two packets of noodles.

“Fed family of four adults, two kids and two servings for lunch tomorrow.”

Shocking moment beachgoer is attacked by a seal.

Shocking moment beachgoer is attacked by a seal.

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