FoodStuff March 1, 2026

Welcome to the FoodStuff March 1. On the menu this month, tariffs, Roundup, fake colors, eels, smuggled garlic, but no soda to wash it down. Enjoy!

Macro

• Tariffs 15% across the board. For now. 

• Policy by oppositional defiance: The HHs has released guidelines that recategorizes alcohol as not actually a health hazard but something that is reasonable if ‘moderate’. The ability to claim no artificial colors loosened, causing surprise and anger. It may have something to do with the FDA/USDA brain drain. And MAHA? Ha Ha - Trump administration approves expanded use of Glyphosate.

• Flat growth ahead in 2026 for food, save for inflation. And what is what is affordability anyway?

• Is breakfast still a thing?

Retail and Consumer:

• Trader Joes continues to grow, to add 20 more stores in 2026: 9 bottles of good wine for under $200. And the chain is being sued again, this time by Smuckers, for knocking off products.

• What is the impact of GLP-1 drugs on food brands?

• Dear marketers, please stop it with the word simply.

• Russians bomb Oreo factory in Ukraine.

• Actually Costco is cheaper than Walmart.

• Almost 2 million fewer people receiving SNAP under Trump administration. New SNAP restrictions will impact manufacturers of soda and candy. The question is the scale.

Nutrition and health:

• The benefits of Creatine.

• Combining fiber and kefir is an anti-inflammation hack.

• Do sugary drinks cause anxiety?

• Managing cortisol may be more important than managing calories

• Buying plant based can actually be cheaper than traditional diet.

• Describing ultra-processed food takes you to some traditional and nutritious foods. 

Restaurant and Foodservice

• Restaurant meal design in a GLP-1 world.

• The expensive burger era is dead and gone. So McDonald’s is launching a ne premium concept, the Big Arch.

• Restaurant employment holds its own in a pre-recessionary economy.

• Sweetgreen is in big trouble, like other bowl concepts.

• AI is wonderful for publicity stunts, impact on cuisine yet to be seen.

• You probably never heard of Bjorn Frantzen but he has three different 3 Michelin star restaurants.

Food Supply Chain

• Top coffee growing regions are becoming too hot.

• Eggs, at least at wholesale, fall through the floor; in some markets falling almost 90% since last January. Here are some of the reasons. 

• New dietary guidelines are great for the meat industry.  However the loss of pasture lands due to climate change are not

• Faster line speeds proposed by USDA. Tired workers working with very sharp knives- what could go wrong?

• US farmers trying to normalize soybean sales to China while others are betting on corn.

Drinks

• The great drying out: 

  • Breweries try to adapt as both the diminishment of drinking culture and the end of the craft beer boom.

  • Napa giants laying off workers. A bloodbath..

  • Diageo cuts sales and profit outlook.

• Hemp based drinks are doomed.

• Extending the life of your citric cocktail mixers 

• The classic Daiquiri; The Airmail; Satan’s Whisker's; the Alaska; the Pink Elephant

Lagniappe March 1

• Garlic smuggling? Tariffs have funny effects.

• Boy kibble. Boy kibble?

• Preserving historical Black recipes.

• Costco always has large sizes but a 10lb. Chocolate Easter bunny?

• The best non-toxic, non-stick pans. 8 other kitchen implements that can be toxic

• Eels are fascinating and not just because the whole world eats them except th US.

• Octagon battle for best all purpose butter: Trader Joe’s brand surprise winner.