“Spring Cleaning” Our Eating Habits
Spring has officially sprung here in South Carolina. While we are all familiar with the term “spring cleaning” when it comes to our homes, there is another aspect of our lives that could use some...
Category: Food
A Beginners Guide to Fresh vs. Frozen Produce
First off, Happy National Nutrition Month! Every year, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics hosts National Nutrition Month and offers education on nutrition and making better food choices. Each...
Basics of Home Winemaking
“Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been brought to the greatest perfection, and it offers a greater range for enjoyment...
Physical Activity During Pregnancy
For most expecting moms, mild to moderate exercise has many health benefits. It is important to consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise routine while pregnant, as each pregnancy has...
South Carolina’s Home-Based Food Production Law (Cottage Food Law)
The Law Food producers who want to sell food under South Carolina’s Home-Based Food Production Law must follow the guidelines set forth by South Carolina’s Code of Laws 44-1-143. This law is...
Tomato Basics
Getting Ready to Preserve Select only disease-free, preferably vine-ripened, firm tomatoes with a deep red color. For easy peeling, dip tomatoes in boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds until skins...
Sweet Potato Basics
Selecting & Storing Look for firm, well-shaped sweetpotatoes with clean, smooth skins. Avoid any that have soft spots or bruises. Do not refrigerate sweetpotatoes. Refrigeration temperatures can...
Plant-Based Meat Alternatives and Meat Substitutes
Summary: Meat alternatives or meat substitutes are meatless products that are prepared to mimic animal-based meat (red meat, poultry, fish, and seafood) in flavor, texture, and appearance. The first meat alternative sold in the U.S. was a soy burger that went on the market in the late 1930’s. Later in the 1960s, meatless food products were considered to be “hippy” food because a large number of people considered to be “hippies” were vegetarians. Sixty years later, there are so many meat alternatives on the market that it can be hard to keep up with them. Today, the major players in the meat substitute market include companies such as Amy’s Kitchen, Beyond Meat, Boca Food Company (Kraft Foods, Inc), Gardein Proteins International (ConAgra), Impossible Foods, Inc., Maple Leaf Foods, MorningStar (Kellogg’s) and Quron Foods. With so many meat alternatives on the market, it may be difficult to decide what to try. The goal of this factsheet is to provide some background information on some of the plant-based meat alternatives and meat substitutes sold in the U.S.
Walking Off the Munchies
Almost every South Carolina town or community has an annual fair, festival, or carnival. These events feature many high-calorie treats like funnel cakes, cotton candy, caramel apples, and corn dogs....
Product Testing
It is important to test your food product to make sure that it will be safe to eat once it is purchased by your customers. Foods that do not meet certain specifications can encourage the growth of...
Foodborne Illness: Prevention Strategies
What is Foodborne Illness? Foodborne illness often shows itself as flu-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or fever, so many people may not recognize that the illness is caused by...
World Food Safety Day ‘Safer Food Better Health’
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated 600 million people, or 1 out of every 10 people on the planet, contract a foodborne disease each year. June 7, World Food Safety Day,...