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Get 3 months of free VPN access: https://www.expressvpn.com/internetshaquille This show is available in an audio-only podcast format here: https://shows.acast.com/eaters-digest Show notes are always available here: https://www.patreon.com/collection/464611 Hosted by Victor Nevarez of Internet Shaquille: https://www.instagram.com/internetshaquille Co-Hosted by Willow North: https://www.instagram.com/willowdisgrace/ Edited by Derek Brewer: https://www.instagram.com/derekiscool.psd/

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Summary: 

In a recent study from YouGov, a market research and analytics firm, 7/11 was named the most popular grocery store in the United States. Their list of the top 30 grocery stores was determined based on popularity and overall fame, and 7/11 not only took the top spot but stood out as the only convenience store named among more traditional grocery chains. 

Willow’s Notes: 

Maybe I’m just on one after my “is fast casual still fast food” argument last week, but I can’t help but feel like this is just bad data. 7/11 is not a grocery store, and I will not be convinced by the statistics. If stores like Walmart and Costco were left out of this study for being so categorically different, I don’t see how a convenience store could be included.  

The FDA Wants Nutrition Front and Center  

Summary: 

The FDA has recently proposed a potential change for packaged foods that would require manufacturers to display a smaller, secondary nutrition facts label on the front of the packaging. These labels would offer sodium, sugar, and saturated fat content at a glance in the form of percent daily values, with the aim being to assist shoppers in making quicker, healthier choices.  

Willow’s Notes: 

I was tempted to be cynical about this— everyone knows ice cream is full of sugar, right? However, I do think there’s an undeniable psychological impact of giving front-facing real estate to some of that nutritional information; displaying just the percent daily value is a straightforward way of providing consumers with context for how these foods fit into their day. I don’t know that the impact of this would be massive, but I do know that it’s harder to ignore what’s directly in front of you.  

Starbucks Slams Their Open-Door Policy Shut 

Summary: 

Beginning January 27th, Starbucks will enforce a new policy requiring customers to make a purchase if they wish to use the bathrooms or remain inside the café to work, relax, or use WiFi. This policy change comes as part of an overall effort from the company to improve customer experience at a time when Starbucks is seeing declining sales, falling stock prices, and vocal boycotts.  

Willow’s Notes: 

I understand that this decision isn’t for no reason— I’ve worked for similar companies, and I know firsthand how opening a space up to non-customers can cause problems ranging all the way from rowdy teens to a bathroom overdose. These are real problems and I’m sympathetic to that. However, I am more sympathetic to the average person's bladder. I don’t have all the answers, I don’t know what the middle ground could be if any, but I do know that restricting public bathroom access is a thumbs down for me personally. 

New Products: 

• Lightstrike Hard Refreshers 
• Strawberry Cinnamon Toast Crunch 
• Progresso Soup Drops 

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Summary: 

Finnish company Solar Foods has developed a new protein source called Solein, which they are marketing as “protein out of thin air” made by “feeding” air and electricity to microbes, which are then fermented and dried out to create a yellow powder nutritionally similar to most normal protein powders. Solein is not yet available to the public to try, but between the neutral flavor and the lack of resources needed to produce it, Solein could be a promising venture in creating more sustainable food systems.  

Willow's Notes: 

I think this is a win all around. It’s made of air, kind of, so neither the vegans nor the carnivores have much to complain about here. A flavorless protein that uses minimal resources, and we don’t even have to eat bugs! Hooray! 

A Shocking New Development in Food Science 

Summary: 

An interesting new piece of food technology called the Electric Salt Spoon debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this month in Las Vegas. Invented by Japanese company Kirin, this product aims to help reduce your salt consumption via sending gentle electronic currents through your tongue, causing your brain to perceive the food as saltier than it really is. The Electric Salt Spoon is not available yet in the United States, but the innovative product won multiple CES awards, and attendees who got the opportunity to try it out were overall impressed by the noticeable difference. 

Willow’s Notes: 

I have actually tried a similar product to this! Six or so years ago I backed an Indiegogo campaign for a company called Spoontek that had the similar intentions to create a utensil that made less salty/fatty/sweet food taste better. After months of waiting, it finally came in the mail and... it was a total letdown to be honest. Fortunately, it sounds like the folks over at Kirin made a much more successful product, and if it ever hits the US I could totally see it being a hit with the sodium-conscious crowd, especially if they expanded to create a fork as well. 

This DC Restaurant Wants to See Your ID

Summary: 

Café 8 in Washington, D.C., introduced a policy banning patrons under 30 after 8:30 p.m. to reduce noise and crime, following incidents such as an assault on the owner’s father and a gun-related threat. While federally legal, the policy's legality is a gray area under D.C. law, as the city's Human Rights Act prohibits age discrimination, though exceptions for "business necessity" exist. Despite a handful of disappointed youngsters, the new rule has been well-received by patrons and even local authorities. However, this could still create legal challenges down the line, though the owner has since come out and said that this “rule” is flexible and more of a preference. 

Willow’s Notes: 

As someone approaching 30, I admittedly love this. Even if it wasn’t because of some unfortunate incidents, I would be all about a local spot that doesn’t cater to a younger, louder crowd. However, the real issue here isn't one of public perception, but of legality. I’m no lawyer, but based on the details provided to us in these articles it sounds like the restaurant is loosely enforcing this rule on purpose. By being choosy about which under-30 customers they let in, it makes the rule more about rowdy behavior than it does age, which is what Cafe 8 was really trying to deter in the first place. At the end of the day, given that local law enforcement is aware and in support of the rule, I see this loose rule working just fine for them up until an under-30 with enough time and money to sue them comes along.  

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In a recent study done by Preply, an online language tutoring marketplace, Shake Shack was found to be considered the most overpriced restaurant chain, according to their analysis of nearly 60,000 Google reviews from over 10,000 restaurants nationwide. This study focused on the presence of key words and phrases such as “overpriced”, “rip off”, more. However despite this reputation, and raising menu prices by around 3% in 2024, Shake Shack still saw a 14.7% revenue increase in their last quarter, indicating that their premium pricing is not deterring loyal customers. 

US Surgeon General Pushes For Alcohol Labels To Address Growing Health Concerns 

US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has recently called for alcohol warning labels to include information about increased risk of various types of cancer. This comes at an influential time, as the USDA and HHS departments prepare for their quinquennial updating of the U.S Dietary Guidelines for Americans. For decades now, consuming small amounts of alcohol has actually been considered beneficial to one’s health under the existing guidelines, however more recent studies have linked even occasional, light alcohol consumption to an increased risk of certain forms of cancer and heart disease. 

Fake It ‘Til You Bake It: An Emerging Scandal in the Microbakery Community 

Internet sleuths have recently exposed Jessica Stewart, known online as @microbakerygirl, for allegedly faking her microbakery in order to sell a $500 online course. Stewart appeared online seemingly out of nowhere in November, with the goal of selling an online course to her suspiciously fast-growing follower base, teaching them how to open their own microbakery just like her. The online baking community caught on quickly though, pointing out innumerable inconsistencies in her story and digging up a slew of information about her and her husband’s involvement in Master Resell Rights courses, leading many to believe that Stewart is posing as the owner of a nonexistent business and selling this course without any relevant personal experience.  

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