Australian consumers are buying potatoes for taste and convenience, and are keen to purchase more, according to the Potato Tracker research study. [ + ]

Despite bans on television advertisements of energy dense, nutrient poor (EDNP) food brands to children, many companies are circumventing these laws by promoting their brand through Facebook, University of Sydney researchers say. [ + ]

The results of a survey on the cold chain industry have been released at an industry forum. [ + ]

Apparently, when it comes to rolls, we're turning Japanese. New research from Roy Morgan shows that sushi is gaining popularity while the popularity of spring rolls is waning. The research firm says this is part of an overall preference shift towards fresh, rather than fried, food. [ + ]

A European study has shown that infants fed on fresh, unprocessed milk rather than UHT milk are less prone to infection. [ + ]

A survey by market research company Canadean has found that one in five consumers consider tinned food difficult to open. The researchers see this as an opportunity for the development of new packaging types to meet the growing demand for convenience. [ + ]

Choosing healthy snacks instead of junk food might be more difficult than we realised. Scientists have found that, as we read a menu or scan the shelves at the supermarket, our brains are making decisions based on a food's calorie content. [ + ]

Yet another Chinese food scandal has irreparably eroded consumer trust in the government and food safety regulations, according to research from the University of Illinois. [ + ]

An outbreak of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis has been reported in New Zealand. The Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) have been working to discover the cause of the outbreak but thus far have been unable to pinpoint the source. [ + ]

Grapefruit diets have been around since the 1930s and are often dismissed as fads. But new research from the University of California, Berkeley, suggests that a closer look at grapefruit juice is warranted. [ + ]

What's healthier: a frozen meal or a meal from a quick-service restaurant (QSR)? According to new research, the frozen meal wins out in terms of dietary fibre, potassium, calcium and protein - and it has fewer calories and less saturated fat. [ + ]

Something as small as a food label could help reduce the amount of water used in livestock production, according to Washington State University researchers. [ + ]

Researchers from the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe have warned that increased consumption of energy drinks may pose danger to public health, especially among young people. [ + ]

A University of Sydney researcher has returned to his home town in Italy to help save century-old Italian grapevines currently being ravaged by an aggressive insect-borne disease. His weapon of choice: mathematical modelling. [ + ]

Following the revelation that not a single Victorian business has received fines for breaching country of origin (CoOL) laws, AUSVEG and the Victorian Farmers Federation have levelled criticism at the perceived inaction by authorities. [ + ]