Black Velvet Canadian Whisky has launched a new premium lineup, and the brand tied it to a familiar face from its past. On October 26, 2026, Black Velvet announced the Velvet Collection and a new campaign featuring Christie Brinkley, who first appeared in the brand’s advertising in 1978.

What Black Velvet announced

According to Black Velvet’s announcement, the Velvet Collection is a new four-expression lineup of aged Canadian whiskies. The release is part of the brand’s 75-year story and arrives alongside fresh campaign images with Brinkley that mix new photography with visuals connected to her earlier Black Velvet ads.

Black Velvet said Brinkley’s return is meant to connect the brand’s past with its current portfolio update, rather than introduce a first-time spokesperson. In the announcement, Aaron Wilke, AVP at Black Velvet Whisky, said the campaign is meant to honor the brand’s history while introducing the new collection.

The lineup includes four bottles:

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  Black Velvet Velvet Collection 12-Year-Old Signature, 80 proof (40% ABV)

  
  
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  Black Velvet Velvet Collection 12-Year-Old Tawny Port Finish, 80 proof (40% ABV)

  
  
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  Black Velvet Velvet Collection 15-Year-Old Select Rye Recipe, 80 proof (40% ABV)

  
  
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  Black Velvet Velvet Collection 20-Year-Old Legacy, 90 proof (45% ABV)

  
  

For shoppers, the practical takeaway is straightforward. This is a broader shelf expansion, not a one-off bottle, and it adds age statements and a cask-finished option to a brand that many buyers already know from lower-priced whisky shelves.

What is in the new lineup

Black Velvet described the 12-Year-Old Signature as a blended Canadian whisky with notes including caramel, honey, rye spice, apple, pear, vanilla, pepper, and baking spice. The brand said it finishes smooth, clean, and dry, which positions it as the most classic expression in the set.

The 12-Year-Old Tawny Port Finish adds a cask finish that Black Velvet said brings aromas of toffee, mocha, tropical fruit, nuttiness, allspice, and clove. On paper, that makes it the bottle in the lineup most likely to appeal to drinkers looking for a sweeter or more dessert-leaning profile.

For the older releases, the 15-Year-Old Select Rye Recipe is described by the brand as featuring intense rye spice, brown sugar, stone fruit, lavender, herbal notes, caramel, honey, and cedarwood. The 20-Year-Old Legacy, bottled at 90 proof, is described with honey, raisin, floral notes, vanilla, flaxseed, and baking spice.

That flavor detail may matter most to people planning pours for the holiday season. A port-finished whisky or an older rye-forward blend can shape cocktail choices, cheese boards, and dessert pairings, even though Black Velvet’s announcement did not include serving suggestions.

When it arrives and what it costs

Black Velvet said each expression in the Velvet Collection will be sold in 700 mL bottles. The company said availability begins nationwide in November, with suggested retail prices ranging from $19.99 to $49.99 depending on the expression.

The announcement did not provide a bottle-by-bottle pricing breakdown, so shoppers may need to wait for retailers to post listings or shelf tags. It also did not name specific chains or markets beyond saying the collection will be available nationwide.

Bar and beverage trade coverage published after the announcement repeated the same core launch details, including the four-bottle lineup, Brinkley’s return, the 700 mL bottle size, and the November timing. That makes the release look less like a limited nostalgia campaign and more like a formal portfolio extension for the brand.

For anyone browsing store shelves this fall, the key facts are the date, the four expressions, and the price range. Black Velvet is adding older Canadian whisky expressions to its lineup, and Christie Brinkley is the face helping introduce them.

A Food & Wine article published October 25 put Aldi’s freezer aisle in the spotlight with seven picks recommended by dietitians Marina Pezzella, Taylor Renko, and Stacey Woodson. The choices center on quick meals, freezer produce, seafood, and ready-to-cook proteins that can help stretch a grocery budget without leaning only on shelf-stable foods.

What Food & Wine says made the list

According to Food & Wine, the seven Aldi freezer products highlighted by the three dietitians were the Whole & Simple Mediterranean Style Chicken Quinoa Bowl, Fusia Asian Inspirations Frozen Sushi, Kirkwood Red Bag Chicken Breast Chunks, Maple Dijon Cauliflower, Fremont Fish Market Wild Caught Salmon, the Whole & Simple Southwestern Style Chicken Quinoa Bowl, and the Enchilada Veggie Blend.

The article attached several specific nutrition and price details to those items. Food & Wine reported that the Mediterranean Style Chicken Quinoa Bowl has 17g of protein and 8g of fiber, and costs about $4.25. The Southwestern Style Chicken Quinoa Bowl was listed at 16g of protein and 7g of fiber, also at about $4.25.

Food & Wine also said the Fusia frozen sushi package contains 15 pieces for just under $6. The Kirkwood Red Bag Chicken Breast Chunks were described as offering 14g of protein per serving and costing under $8 per bag. For produce and seafood, the article said Maple Dijon Cauliflower costs about $3.50, while Fremont Fish Market Wild Caught Salmon provides about 24g of protein per serving and sells for under $13 for a two-pound pack.

Why these freezer items stand out for home cooks

Taken together, the list reflects a simple weeknight strategy. Some picks are full meals, some are side dishes, and others work as a protein base you can build around with pantry staples or fresh produce. That mix matters because shoppers do not always need a freezer stocked with only one type of convenience food.

The quinoa bowls stand out because they combine grain, chicken, and vegetables in one package, which can cut down on prep when dinner needs to happen fast. The chicken breast chunks and salmon, meanwhile, give home cooks flexible proteins that can be paired with rice, salad kits, roasted vegetables, or pasta depending on what is already in the kitchen.

Even the less typical picks fit that same use-at-home logic. A bagged cauliflower side can round out a meal without chopping and washing, while the enchilada vegetable blend can be folded into tacos, grain bowls, or soups. The frozen sushi is more of a ready-to-eat convenience item, but its inclusion shows the list was not limited to traditional dinner shortcuts.

The broader budget shopping takeaway

Outside this single Aldi roundup, the general advice lines up with guidance from the American Diabetes Association’s Nutrition & Wellness Team. In its recent discount-store shopping guide, the group recommends looking at frozen vegetables, frozen fruit, frozen or canned chicken breast, canned fish, and beans as practical lower-cost staples, while also checking labels for added sugars, sodium, and saturated fat.

That does not make the Food & Wine list a medical recommendation, and it does not mean every Aldi freezer item fits every shopper’s needs. It does suggest that dietitians are not treating frozen foods as a backup plan. They are using them as a routine way to keep produce, proteins, and prepared meals on hand for nights when time, energy, or money is tight.

One detail shoppers should keep in mind is that Aldi prices and availability can vary by store and region. The figures in the Food & Wine article were presented as approximate prices, which makes the list more useful as a guide to the kind of products dietitians are choosing than as a strict shopping guarantee for every location.

Domino’s gave customers a reason to stare twice at the checkout screen this month, but the eye-popping $1 price was never the standard cost. The chain’s new personal pizza, The Domino, is real, nationwide, and still being sold, but the $1 deal that sparked chatter was a limited promotion that has now expired.

What Domino’s actually launched

Domino’s introduced The Domino on August 31, 2026, according to the company’s press materials. It is a personal Detroit-style pizza made on buttery-flavored pan dough with real Parmesan cheese baked onto the crust. The company says it is cut into two slices and finished with two layers of cheese, a choice of sauce, up to three toppings, and a drizzle of garlic seasoning.

That product description matters because early social posts and deal threads made the item sound almost too odd to be official. It is shaped to echo the brand’s domino logo, which helps explain why it looks different from the round personal pizzas many customers expect. Domino’s presented it as a new nationwide menu launch, not as a short regional test.

For anyone deciding whether it is worth ordering, the key kitchen level takeaway is size and format. This is a compact, rectangular pan pizza meant for one person, not a small traditional pie cut into several wedges. If the shape, crust, and topping balance are what caught your attention in customer photos, those details do match the official product description.

Why people were seeing a $1 price

The buzzier part of the story came from a promotional code, DOLLARDOMINO, that surfaced in deal coverage and customer posts earlier this month. Deal listings and customer discussions tied that offer to one personal Domino with up to three toppings for $1, with an advertised window of October 12 through October 18, 2026. Several customer posts also suggested redemption could vary by account or store participation.

That timing is the part that changes the story most on October 30, 2026. The promotion is over, so it should not be described as a current nationwide bargain. Some shoppers also reported that the code did not work for them even during the stated promo period, while others said they were able to get the discount in cart.

Because the original NewsBreak reference could not be directly opened for full vetting, the safest reading is narrow and factual. Customers did report getting The Domino for $1 with the promo code, but the offer was temporary and not a standing menu price. That distinction matters if you’re planning dinner based on an old screenshot or a reposted social claim.

What the current pricing picture looks like

The current official Domino’s coupon page shows the chain’s Mix & Match deal at $6.99 each when customers buy at least two eligible items. The same page also notes that local stores may have their own offers, and prices and participation vary by location. Domino’s main ordering site also prominently shows a $7.99 carryout offer, again subject to store eligibility.

What could not be firmly confirmed from official current materials on October 30 is a nationwide $5.99 one-topping Domino offer. Some secondary deal coverage referenced pricing in that range earlier in the fall, but the accessible official coupons page reviewed for this article did not clearly verify it as a current national promotion. That is why the cleaner comparison is between the expired $1 special and the currently visible $6.99 and $7.99 official offers.

For home cooks and takeout regulars, the practical point is simple. The viral $1 price was a short-lived coupon moment, not the baseline cost of Domino’s newest pizza. If you’re ordering now, check your local Domino’s deals page before assuming a social post still applies, especially with a limited-time item that can look much cheaper in a screenshot than it does at checkout.

Kansas may not have to wait as long as expected for its first Buc-ee’s. New hiring details from the company suggest the Kansas City, Kansas, travel center is now targeting spring 2027, even though the public project timeline had allowed opening as late as October 2027.

What Buc-ee’s is signaling now

The clearest new timing clue comes from Buc-ee’s own hiring system. On its careers page, the company says management positions for new stores are posted eight months before opening, and outside job listings tied to the Kansas City, Kansas, site say the location is coming in spring 2027. That does not amount to a grand opening announcement, but it is a more specific window than the broad 2027 timing previously attached to the project.

The Kansas location is planned for 601 Village West Parkway in Kansas City, Kansas. Local reporting from KSHB and KCUR has tied that address to the Buc-ee’s development approved by the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. Those reports also said construction was expected to begin in 2025 and finish in 2027, which matches the company’s own contact page listing for “Kansas City, Kansas 2027.”

For travelers, the food angle is part of the draw. Buc-ee’s new stores are built to handle heavy traffic with large teams running prepared food counters, snack displays, bakery items, and grab-and-go areas, so management hiring is one of the more practical signs that an opening window is getting closer.

Why the earlier timeline matters

The big change is the difference between a development deadline and a likely opening target. Earlier public documents and local coverage pointed to October 2027 as the date the store had to be open under the development agreement. That functioned as an outside deadline, not a promise that customers would have to wait until fall.

Now the hiring language points to spring 2027, which would move the debut ahead by several months if construction and staffing stay on track. Buc-ee’s has not published a ribbon-cutting date, so anyone planning a special stop should still wait for an official opening announcement before setting a trip around it.

The scale of the project helps explain why hiring starts early. Local coverage has described the Kansas City, Kansas, travel center as a roughly 74,000 square foot store with 120 fueling positions and 12 electric vehicle charging stations. A site that large needs months of lead time for supervisors, food-service managers, and front-line staff before the doors open.

What Kansas drivers should watch next

Construction and road access remain part of the story. KSHB reported that work around Village West Parkway and the North 110th Street ramps has affected traffic near the Buc-ee’s site, with temporary reopening around a Kansas Speedway race weekend and additional closures expected to continue past late September and into the Thanksgiving period.

That matters because this location sits beside the Legends area and near Kansas Speedway, just off Interstate 70. It is meant to serve both everyday traffic and event crowds, so access improvements are not a side note. They are part of what will determine how smoothly the store can launch once staffing and inspections are complete.

For now, the most accurate way to read the moment is this: Kansas’ first Buc-ee’s is under construction, the company is hiring ahead of opening, and spring 2027 is the strongest current target based on publicly visible recruiting language. It is sooner than the outside October 2027 deadline, but still not a dated opening notice. For anyone waiting on brisket sandwiches, bakery snacks, jerky, and a much shorter drive than Springfield, Missouri, the countdown finally looks more concrete.

McDonald’s says its FIFA World Cup sponsorship is coming to an end after more than three decades with the tournament. For people who follow restaurant marketing, that is a notable shift because these global sports deals often shape limited-time meals, packaging, and fan promotions that land in restaurants.

What McDonald’s said about the FIFA exit

McDonald’s said its global FIFA World Cup sponsorship will conclude when the current agreement ends with this summer’s Men’s World Cup, according to a statement reported by Nation’s Restaurant News and echoed by other trade outlets. The company said the move is part of a broader effort to sharpen how it connects with customers through sports and culture, rather than a retreat from sports marketing altogether.

The chain has been tied to the event since 1994, giving the Golden Arches one of the longer relationships in major sports sponsorship. Nation’s Restaurant News reported that McDonald’s described its most recent World Cup effort as the largest global marketing push in its history, spanning about 100 markets. That matters in food retail terms because a campaign at that scale can reach menus, app offers, restaurant signage, and collectible packaging across many countries at once.

McDonald’s also said the decision is not tied to recent headlines around FIFA. Instead, the company pointed to a changing marketing strategy. Trade coverage cited Morgan Flatley, McDonald’s global chief marketing officer and head of new business ventures, saying the brand wants to be more selective with what executives call borrowed intellectual property, rather than making it a frequent part of the calendar.

Why the change matters for a food brand

For a restaurant chain, a World Cup sponsorship is not only a logo placement exercise. It can drive themed meals, tie-in packaging, app promotions, sweepstakes, and in-store traffic campaigns. McDonald’s own corporate site showed how central the 2026 tournament was to its recent food marketing, with a FIFA World Cup 26 meal, collectible items, and matchday activations promoted as part of a worldwide campaign.

That context makes the exit more striking. Nation’s Restaurant News reported that McDonald’s had seen underwhelming results from the broader push, even after pairing the World Cup with other promotions. The publication said U.S. same-store sales rose 0.8% in the second quarter and that executives had been disappointed given the number of marketing programs running during that period.

McDonald’s is not stepping away from sports altogether, based on the company’s public comments and recent partnership announcements. Its corporate site has recently promoted a FIFA World Cup 26 meal campaign, while FIFA had earlier announced a renewed partnership covering the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 and FIFA World Cup 2026. Taken together, those records show the company stayed deeply involved through the current cycle, even as it now says that relationship is ending after this agreement.

What customers may notice next

Shoppers and diners should not read this as an immediate change to the food on the counter this week. Sponsorship exits usually matter over time, especially when a company is deciding which future events deserve a branded meal, a giveaway, or a packaging program. What may change most is where McDonald’s puts its promotional energy after the current FIFA agreement runs out.

The company has already signaled that sports will still be part of the mix. Nation’s Restaurant News reported that McDonald’s said sport and culture will remain important ways to connect with fans. The same report noted other sports ties that remain in place, including McDonald’s Park in Chicago, Formula 1 work in Latin America, Ligue 1 McDonald’s in France, and the long-running McDonald’s All-American Games.

For home cooks and everyday customers, the practical takeaway is simple. Big restaurant sponsorships often shape the limited-time items and collectible promotions that spill into the food conversation. If McDonald’s is moving toward more brand-owned campaigns and fewer borrowed properties, future tie-ins may look less like a global soccer event and more like promotions built around McDonald’s own menu, characters, packaging, and loyalty channels.

Krispy Kreme is leaning hard into Halloween this year, and the headline offer is a pass that could keep doughnuts coming after the holiday. According to the company, 10,000 randomly selected guests at participating U.S. shops will receive a Jack’s Treat Dozen Pass on October 30 and October 31.

The pass is a coupon redeemable for a free dozen Original Glazed doughnuts with any purchase from November 1 through November 14. Krispy Kreme announced the promotion on October 26, and Nation’s Restaurant News separately reported the giveaway on October 27, citing the same details.

How the Jack’s Treat Dozen Pass works

Krispy Kreme says the Jack’s Treat Dozen Pass will be handed out to 10,000 randomly selected guests at participating U.S. shops over two days, October 30 and October 31. The chain has not described an advance sign-up process in its announcement. Instead, the passes are being distributed as surprise giveaways in stores.

For shoppers, the key detail is the redemption window. According to Krispy Kreme, the coupon can be used from November 1 through November 14 for a free dozen Original Glazed doughnuts with any purchase. That means the reward is not for immediate same-day use, but for a follow-up visit or order during the first half of November.

The offer is tied to participating U.S. shops, so availability depends on location. Krispy Kreme’s Halloween promotion page also shows the seasonal dozen is available in-shop, via drive-thru, and online for pickup and delivery, giving customers several ways to buy into the broader promotion even if they do not receive one of the passes.

What else Krispy Kreme is offering for Halloween

The Treat Dozen Pass is only one part of Krispy Kreme’s Halloween push. The company says guests who visit participating shops in costume on October 30 and October 31 can get one free Original Glazed doughnut or one free Classic Ring Doughnut, with no purchase necessary.

Krispy Kreme is also turning its signature Original Glazed doughnuts orange for the occasion. The limited-time All Jacked Up Dozen includes three decorated doughnuts and nine Jack’s Original Glazed doughnuts, which are tinted orange and finished with an icing drizzle, according to the company’s Halloween promotion materials.

The three themed doughnuts are listed as the Mummy Jack Doughnut, the Jack O’ Doughnut, and the Monster Jack Doughnut. Krispy Kreme says the dozen is available in-shop and through drive-thru, online pickup, and delivery. QSR Magazine reported the dozen is priced at $13 and available through Thursday, matching the timing around Halloween week.

Why chains are crowding Halloween with limited-time offers

Halloween has become one of the busier calendar moments for restaurant promotions, and Krispy Kreme is not alone in chasing attention with themed treats. Nation’s Restaurant News cited Black Box Intelligence data showing Halloween is regularly one of the top three business days for the restaurant industry.

The same report cited Technomic data showing Halloween-themed limited-time offers rose 12% year over year in September. That helps explain why chains are pushing seasonal color changes, costume freebies, and short-run menu bundles that are easy to photograph and easy to understand at the counter.

For home cooks and shoppers, the practical takeaway is simple. If you want the costume freebie or a shot at the pass, the dates to watch are October 30 and October 31, and the redemption period for any Jack’s Treat Dozen Pass runs from November 1 through November 14. Because the promotion is limited to participating U.S. shops, checking local store participation before making a trip could save time.

McDonald’s is starting its holiday drink season on November 3, and the timing is earlier than many customers might expect. According to McDonald’s U.S. Menu Spotter and trade coverage from Nation’s Restaurant News and QSR, the limited-time lineup is headed to participating restaurants nationwide with cranberry, cookie butter, cold foam, and Red Bull in the mix.

What McDonald’s is adding to the holiday menu

The new menu centers on five seasonal beverages, though McDonald’s presents them as three drink builds with multiple formats. McDonald’s says the Frosted Cranberry Splash with Sprite blends Sprite with bright orange and cranberry flavors, then tops it with cold foam and cranberry sprinkles.

The second holiday option is the Red Bull Frosted Cranberry Energizer. McDonald’s says it combines the frosted cranberry flavor profile, cold foam, and sprinkles with Red Bull, and Nation’s Restaurant News reports it will be offered with both classic Red Bull and Red Bull Zero.

The rest of the lineup leans into coffee-shop flavors rather than soda. McDonald’s says its Cookie Butter Frappé, Latte, and Iced Coffee are made with cookie butter flavor and finished with caramel cookie crumbs and sweet vanilla whip, giving the chain a dessert-style holiday play without relying on peppermint or gingerbread.

Why the launch feels early this year

The calendar matters here. McDonald’s is launching these drinks on November 3, 2026, which puts the chain into holiday mode before Thanksgiving week and while pumpkin spice drinks are still common on fall menus. That early timing is part of what makes the release stand out.

McDonald’s itself frames the release as a head start on the holidays. In its U.S. Menu Spotter post, the company says the drinks are arriving at participating restaurants nationwide on November 3 and positions the lineup as an “official holiday kick off,” signaling that it wants seasonal beverage traffic well before the middle of the month.

The launch also fits a broader beverage push at the chain. Nation’s Restaurant News reports that McDonald’s has been expanding drinks across its nearly 14,000 U.S. locations this year, including refreshers, dirty sodas, and energy drinks introduced in May, along with a beverage specialist role aimed at consistency in stores.

What it means for customers ordering this month

For customers, the practical takeaway is simple: if a regular McDonald’s run usually means burgers, fries, or coffee, the drink menu may look more crowded starting November 3. The new lineup is limited time only, and McDonald’s says it will be available at participating restaurants nationwide, so selection can vary by location.

There are still a few things McDonald’s has not spelled out in the source material. The company announcement and trade coverage reviewed here do not provide national pricing, and McDonald’s has not listed an end date for the drinks in the sources available. Because of that, shoppers will likely need to check the app or local restaurant menu boards for exact availability and cost.

For home cooks and families, the release is another sign that holiday flavors are showing up earlier on fast-food menus, and not only in coffee. Cranberry-orange soda, cookie butter coffee, and a cranberry Red Bull drink give the season a different flavor profile than the usual peppermint-heavy rollout, which may appeal to households already thinking ahead to November gatherings and winter treats.

Runners and other snackers who keep frozen fruit on hand may want to check the freezer. The FDA says a recall tied to frozen organic blueberries has expanded again, this time covering additional Great Value products and one Trader Joe’s mixed berry blend lot.

Which frozen fruit products are included

According to the FDA, Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. of San Carlos, Chile expanded its recall on October 2, 2026, after earlier recall actions on July 3 and September 2. The company said the products may be contaminated with Escherichia coli O145:H28, also called E. coli O145. FDA’s outbreak page says the outbreak itself was declared over on September 21, 2026, but additional recalled products were later identified. The agency says recalled products should no longer be sold, though packages may still be in home freezers because the best-by dates run into 2028.

The October 2 expansion includes these products:

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  Great Value Organic Triple Berry Blend 10 OZ, UPC 7874211226, lot codes 6 031 01 and 6 041 01, best if used by January 31, 2028 and February 10, 2028

  
  
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  Great Value Organic Blueberries 10 OZ, UPC 7874211213, lot codes 6 019 01, 6 040 01, and 6 163 01, best if used by January 19, 2028, February 9, 2028, and June 12, 2028

  
  
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  Trader Joe’s Organic Mixed Berry Blend 12 OZ, UPC 00977654, lot code 6 051 01, best before February 20, 2028

  
  

FDA and the company say shoppers who have those specific products should not consume them. The stated guidance is to discard them or return them to Walmart or Trader Joe’s for a full refund. The FDA recall posting does not show an official recall number on the public page, so no recall number was available in the source material reviewed.

Where the recalled products were shipped

The October 2 FDA notice says the recalled Great Value products were shipped to select Walmart stores in 30 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin, and West Virginia, plus Puerto Rico.

The same notice says the recalled Trader Joe’s product was shipped to select Trader Joe’s stores in 26 states and the District of Columbia. Those states are Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin.

This expanded action follows earlier recall steps connected to the same supplier. On July 3, 2026, the company recalled one lot of GreenWise Organic IQF Frozen Blueberries, 10 oz, lot code 60401, best by February 9, 2028, that had been shipped to Publix stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Publix later broadened its own recall on July 29 to all lots of certain GreenWise frozen blueberries and mixed berries sold in those same eight states.

Why the recall grew after the outbreak ended

The FDA says the outbreak involved E. coli O145:H28 infections linked to organic frozen blueberries from Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. CDC says Publix tested a sample of its GreenWise frozen blueberries and found the same strain that made people sick. FDA also says traceback identified Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. as the supplier in the outbreak investigation.

FDA’s outbreak page says 17 people in two states were identified in the outbreak, with illnesses beginning between May 11, 2026, and August 2, 2026. The agency says six people were hospitalized and no deaths were reported. Earlier, the initial July 3 company recall notice had referenced 12 confirmed illnesses linked with the GreenWise product lot.

The FDA says the October 2 expansion followed new information obtained during an onsite foreign inspection. The agency also says products from Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. were added to Import Alert 99-35, meaning frozen blueberries from the firm offered for entry into the United States may be detained without physical examination. For shoppers, the practical step is simple: check frozen berry bags by brand, size, UPC, lot code, and date, then discard or return any matching product instead of using it in smoothies, oatmeal, or trail snacks.

A new study is putting a familiar kitchen herb in the spotlight for something beyond roast potatoes and chicken. Researchers reported that a rosemary-containing drink was linked with higher alertness and contentedness in healthy adults after a lab task, adding a fresh data point to a small but growing body of research on rosemary and mood.

What the new rosemary study found

The study was published January 17, 2026, in the journal NeuroSci by researchers at Northumbria University. According to the paper, 48 healthy adults completed a cognitive task after consuming either a rosemary-containing drink or a control drink. The researchers also measured eye blink activity and brain responses to explore whether rosemary’s effects might vary from person to person.

The mood results were modest but notable. The paper says the rosemary drink led to increased alertness and contentedness following the task. The authors also reported changes in a brain response called P3a amplitude, which they said could point to a dopaminergic contribution, alongside mechanisms that earlier rosemary research has linked to cholinergic activity.

That does not mean rosemary suddenly belongs in the category of proven mood treatments. This was a controlled lab study, not a real-world test of daily eating habits, and the sample size was small. The paper also focused on a rosemary-containing drink rather than the typical amount of chopped fresh rosemary someone might use in dinner.

Why this matters, and what it does not mean

For food readers, the practical takeaway is mostly about perspective. Rosemary is a common culinary herb, and research interest in it has often centered on cognition, attention, and psychological wellbeing. This new paper adds evidence that rosemary may have short term effects on how alert or content people feel under specific test conditions.

It is also a reminder that food research can be more nuanced than a headline suggests. In this case, the researchers were not simply asking whether rosemary boosts mood for everyone in the same way. They were testing whether individual blink patterns, used as proxies tied to attention and dopaminergic function, might help explain why some people respond differently.

Other recent and past research has looked at rosemary extracts, essential oils, or rosemary delivered in beverages, but those forms are not interchangeable with home cooking. That matters because the dose, preparation, and testing conditions can all change the outcome. A study on a formulated rosemary drink is not the same as proof that adding extra rosemary to soup or roasted vegetables will produce the same effect.

How rosemary fits into a home kitchen

Rosemary still earns its place in the kitchen on flavor alone. Its piney, savory profile works especially well with roasted potatoes, chicken, pork, white beans, mushrooms, and focaccia. If you buy it fresh, wrap the sprigs loosely and keep them refrigerated, or strip and freeze the leaves for later cooking.

Dried rosemary can also be useful, especially in long-cooked dishes. Because the needles are firm, it often helps to crush dried rosemary between your fingers before adding it to marinades, dressings, or bread dough. That releases more aroma and helps distribute the herb more evenly.

The new study is interesting because it looks at a familiar food plant through a mood and cognition lens. Still, the safest read for shoppers and home cooks is a simple one: rosemary remains a versatile herb, and the latest research suggests there may be more to learn about it, but the findings are still early and specific to the study’s rosemary-containing drink.

Halloween menus tend to chase spectacle. Mediterranean cooking, by contrast, wins with color, warmth, and ingredients that already peak in late October.

That is exactly why the pairing works. A Mediterranean Halloween table feels seasonal without trying too hard, and it lands somewhere between cozy dinner party and festive spread.

Why Mediterranean food fits Halloween better than people think

The logic starts with the Mediterranean diet itself, which UNESCO recognizes as a cultural tradition built around shared meals, seasonal produce, olive oil, grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables, and herbs. That foundation already overlaps with the best version of Halloween entertaining: communal, colorful, and built for grazing. Harvard Health and Oldways both emphasize that Mediterranean eating is less about a rigid recipe list than about plant-forward dishes, modest proteins, and meals meant to be enjoyed together.

Late October also happens to favor Mediterranean flavors. Pumpkin, squash, walnuts, grapes, figs, dates, and pomegranates all sit comfortably within the broader ingredient world of the Mediterranean table, even if Americans do not always associate them with Halloween first. The result is food that looks dramatic without relying on artificial colors or gimmicks.

There is also a practical hosting advantage. Many Mediterranean dishes are make-ahead friendly, room-temperature tolerant, and easy to scale for a crowd. Dips, roasted vegetables, grain salads, and braises can sit on a buffet and still taste composed, which is more than can be said for many fried party snacks.

So the question is not whether Mediterranean food belongs on Halloween. It is why more hosts have not realized that orange squash, jewel-toned pomegranate, black olives, and deep red sauces already deliver the exact palette the holiday wants.

The seven dishes that deserve a place on the table

Start with roasted pumpkin hummus, the most natural bridge between Mediterranean pantry cooking and Halloween produce. Versions from cooks like Jamie Oliver and Ottolenghi lean on chickpeas, tahini, lemon, olive oil, and roasted pumpkin for a dip that is earthy, sweet, and unmistakably seasonal. It gives you the familiar comfort of hummus with a darker, autumnal depth.

Next come harissa-roasted pumpkin with tahini, stuffed grape leaves, and a baked feta tray with olives and thyme. The pumpkin dish brings heat, creaminess, and a vivid orange centerpiece. Dolmas add the herbal, rice-filled bite that balances richer foods, while warm feta with oregano or thyme gives the table a salty anchor that guests can spoon onto toast or vegetables.

Round out the spread with muhammara, lentil soup shooters, pan-roasted shrimp with garlic and paprika, and an orange-and-black salad of arugula, roasted beets, black olives, and pomegranate. Muhammara, the Levantine pepper-and-walnut spread, has a naturally crimson color that looks made for Halloween. Lentil soup served in small cups feels cozy and smart, while shrimp adds a faster-cooking protein option for guests who want something substantial.

Together, these seven dishes cover every hosting need: dip, centerpiece vegetable, cheese course, handheld bite, soup, seafood, and salad. More importantly, they look festive without ever losing their culinary identity.

How to build the menu so it feels festive, not forced

The easiest mistake is over-theming. A strong Mediterranean Halloween table works when the holiday stays in the background and the ingredients do the visual work. Think burnt orange pumpkin, ruby pomegranate, ink-dark olives, crimson muhammara, and golden olive oil catching candlelight.

Texture matters as much as color. Pair creamy dishes like pumpkin hummus and baked feta with crisp elements such as seeded crackers, toasted pita, or roasted chickpeas. Then add one brothy or spoonable item, like lentil soup, so the meal feels layered rather than flat.

Balance is the final test. Oldways places vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, herbs, and olive oil at the base of Mediterranean eating, with seafood and dairy used more selectively. If your table follows that pattern, it will feel abundant rather than heavy, which is especially useful on a night already crowded with sweets.

In other words, Halloween does not need more gimmicks. It needs food with atmosphere, generosity, and a sense of season. Mediterranean cooking offers all three, quietly and convincingly, which is exactly why these dishes belong there.