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Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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Thursday, March 28

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News Tue Nov 18 2008

Soup Wars: It's On

Stephen Colbert last night reported on the brewing advertising battle between Progresso and Campbell's soups. Both have had full-page ads in the New York Times recently claiming to have fewer soups with MSG. Colbert would make a good commentator on this subject, given his love of MSG (he says his favorite soup is Campbell's MSG with Stars). But, it turns out he's "heavily and proudly invested in Campell's soup stock," he admits in the broadcast. He holds some beef stock, as well as some chicken stock.

Meanwhile, the Glutamate Association is also weighing in on the battle. The GA says that these ads might cause consumers to assume there's some reason for them to avoid MSG, a flavor enhancer that's been in use for 100 years. The FDA says MSG is a safe additive, and I believe that. But I was a bit horrified to learn from this article from Food Product Design that, surprise: like so many other foods ingested by Americans, MSG (a once natural product derived from seaweed) is made from corn glucose.

Stick with Colbert. He promises to follow this battle as it simmers.

 
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Feature Thu Dec 31 2015

The State of Food Writing

By Brandy Gonsoulin

In 2009, food blogging, social media and Yelp were gaining popularity, and America's revered gastronomic magazine Gourmet shuttered after 68 years in business. Former Cook's Illustrated editor-in-chief Chris Kimball followed with an editorial, stating that "The shuttering of Gourmet reminds...
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About Drive-Thru

Drive-Thru is the food and drink section of Gapers Block, covering the city's vibrant dining, drinking and cooking scene. More...
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Editor: Robyn Nisi, rn@gapersblock.com
Drive-Thru staff inbox: drivethru@gapersblock.com

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