Controversy

I've had more thoughts in the past week about the sustainablity of seafood than I have about the Super Bowl. Chalk it up to lots of conflicting information. The one question in my head is this: should we be eating more fish in our diets or less?

According to Parents, the USDA's new dietary guidelines mean we should be increasing our seafood intake in order to reduce consumption of other animal products. According to USDA secretary Tom Vilsack, upping fish in our diets means lowered risk of heart health, cardiovascular disease, and stroke.

Not so fast, cautions environmental economist: according to an article in the Guardian this week, what we (people in the UK, at least) should be doing is eating less fish. "Responsible customers can reduce the amount of fish they eat — by far the safest option when it comes to . . . the sustainability of stocks." Where do you stand: should we be eating more fish, or less of it?

Eating out with a big group isn't just an adjustment for the establishment; it's also a rather different experience for diners. Two recent incidents have left me pondering: How should a restaurant accommodate large parties? The first scenario involved planning a birthday dinner. After contemplating venues and checking for online reservations, I scored a four-top at a recently sprouted eatery that's opened to great fanfare.

When I called to add a seat, it wasn't a problem. But later, when the guest of honor asked me to change the table for a party of five to seat six, the restaurant wouldn't accommodate the request. Thus, we were forced to seek a reservation (and take our business) elsewhere at the last minute.Another experience involved dining in a party of 11 at a restaurant where the service was severely lacking, but we were slapped with a 20 percent gratuity charge. The hospitality errors (such as multiple requests for an item that never came out) were egregious, yet the restaurant had the gall to impose a tip, and an unreasonable one at that.

Big parties can add strain to restaurants, but a huge group is also more likely to order appetizers, drinks, and desserts at a large scale, thereby increasing revenue for an establishment. Why doesn't a restaurant take more steps to accommodate big groups, in an effort to encourage return business? I'd love for you to weigh in and share your take.

It's only the beginning of January, and one restaurant chain's already embroiled in the biggest poultry fast food controversy since Oprah offered millions free KFC. In Pennsylvania, Chick-fil-A has been under fire for supporting an anti-gay group.

The controversy surrounds the chicken chain's cosponsoring of an event with the Pennsylvania Family Institute, a leading opponent of same-sex marriage that's said to have affiliations with conversion therapy proponents. In response, tens of thousands of Americans have petitioned against the sponsorship.The conservative chain, which is known for keeping its doors shut on Sundays, has removed its name from any event materials and has issued a short statement as well on its Facebook page saying that it's determined "one of our independent restaurant operators in Pennsylvania was asked to provide sandwiches to two Art of Marriage video seminars . . . we do our best to serve local communities."

Where do you stand on the issue? Is it right for restaurants and food establishments to take an active stance on touchy social issues?

Source: Flickr User j.reed

If you think all craft beer is small-production, then think again. Brewers Association, the trade group that represents the majority of beer companies, just announced they've broadened their definition of a "craft" brewer from a brewery that produces two million to six million barrels of beer.

This comes at a time when small-scale breweries have begun expanding to an unprecedented size. Samuel Adams, which has historically been considered a craft brewer, now produces 1.3 million barrels a year; likewise, Widmer Brothers Brewing has surpassed the 200,000 barrel mark.

Over the years, I've asked everyone — from Kurt and Rob Widmer to the brewmasters at Speakeasy Ales and Lagers — what their definition of a "craft beer" is. "That's a hard question," is the general reply. Seems like this new designation will make the situation even more complicated, as production grows larger, and small-production items become more popular. What is your definition of craft beer?

To promote its new Amazing Glazes line, baking brand Duncan Hines hoped to generate buzz with a new website and commercial-quality YouTube videos. But it probably didn't plan on attracting this level of attention.

The food company is under public scrutiny for the first of its YouTube commercials, titled "Hip Hop Cupcakes." The ad, directed by Josh Binder, feature seven plain cupcakes that promptly grow lips and eyes that bust into beat-box and dance after being drizzled with Duncan Hines's new glaze — the chocolate flavor, that is.

A number of viewers are up in arms over what's being referred to as "black-face cupcakes" — including, among others, members of the hip hop community, since the ad doesn't actually include any hip-hop.

It's true: the racial undertones of this commercial can't, and shouldn't be, ignored. As Morgan put it: "The only okay part was that it was a cupcake, and cupcakes are good." Apparently, Duncan Hines has recognized its mea culpa: the company's already taken down the video.

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Every generation might mistakenly think it invented sex, but people who have gone to college over the last decade have actually contributed to the rise of something new: campus sex columns. Speaking with USA Today about his new book, Sex and the University: Celebrity, Controversy, and a Student Journalism Revolution, author Daniel Reimold explains that sex advice columns have become mainstream in college newspapers and how they have helped young people navigate the current dating landscape. Here are three things we can learn from his work reading more than 2,500 campus sex columns.

1. Dating rules are dead: "Chivalry is gone, dating is passé, gender roles reversed. There's no blueprint for how students are supposed to act with each other. The columnists are asking, 'Is this really good for us?'"
2. Abstinence gets love : "We all have sex in common, even those who remain chaste. And the columns deal as much with the abstinence side of things."
3. The Internet makes kids cautious: "As for the columnists, a growing camp seems to be using pseudonyms. In my interviews with columnists, the first wave never expressed regret over the writing but at times had moments of regret that their names are so easily searchable — by graduate schools, by potential employers, even first dates."

Did your campus's sex column teach you anything?

In an era when eco reigns supreme, Frito-Lay plans to cut back on what may be its most famous green effort — the SunChips 100 percent compostable bag.

A year and a half ago, the chip brand made noise when, rather than using conventional, landfill-bound, petroleum-based plastic bags, it switched to a bag made of biodegradable polymers that decompose within 12-16 weeks. But effective immediately, Frito-Lay will switch five out of six SunChips flavors back to the original bag.

The reason? Backlash over the bag's loud noise, especially from secret snackers. Although Frito-Lay is trying to develop a quieter, next-generation chip bag, for now, the only eco-friendly flavor will be the Original variety.

Are you as disappointed as I am over the fact that consumers can't get past a little noise?

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