5 things: Is lab-grown chicken the way of the future?

It still tastes like chicken: Chicken comes in all kinds of varieties and dishes. There’s chicken wings, chicken parm…and…chicken lab? Yep, that’s chicken parts made solely in a laboratory. In November 2022, the Food & Drug Administration for the first time ever allowed a company, Upside Foods, to create lab-grown poultry. Then in 2023, Good Meat got the go-ahead and has been producing lab-grown chicken and selling it in Singapore. So how do they make it? Cells are pulled from an egg or live animal and the ones resembling chicken meat the most are used to produce more cells. The material is put in vats that resemble those that are found in breweries and the cells grow until they can be shaped into that perfect chicken breast. So where is this headed? Will grocers ultimately have to identify if chicken is lab grown? I sure would like to know if my meal is the product of science or nature. —Bill Wilson

Who let the dogs out? It’s been a couple of years since the state of Washington updated its guidelines on which businesses can allow dogs inside, and grocery shoppers there are now reporting more frequent sightings of the four-legged friends. But are upset shoppers barking up the wrong tree if they report the mutts to a local health department? The Tri-City Herald newspaper has attempted to set the record straight with a guide on regulations that grocers must follow. That includes receiving individual approval from the state, posting signs that pet dogs are allowed in the store, and limiting menus to beverages produced by a food processing plant and non-TCS foods such as ready-to-eat foods. Dogs are also not allowed on tables, chairs, benches, seats, or other fixtures, according to the report. —Tim Inklebarger

 It’s a Wonder: A year ago, Wegmans discontinued its private label WPOP brand of soda, stating that the product, which was first introduced in 1991, no longer represented Wegmans’ standards in 2023. But now, following two years of development, the retailer has launched a better-for-you soda, competing with the likes of Olipop and Poppi.The new soda, Wonder Pop, is available in the flavors cream soda, strawberry cream soda, cola, lemon lime, and grape, and is also organic, prebiotic, probiotic and additionally includes fruit purees and juice. How is it performing so far? “Customer reviews on ecommerce have been very positive, and we’re seeing new customers purchase these items who have not shopped similar items previously,” a Wegmans spokesperson told The Democrat and Chronicle. A wonder indeed. —Chloe Riley

OK, this is scary: Many grocers are getting a jump on trick-or-treat season by offering the fun size candy bars and other Halloween candy to shoppers, effective now. It’s happening in Iowa, and if the home state of WNBA star Caitlin Clark is doing it we might as well all do it. So why would one buy a bag of Reese’s peanut butter cups (if your house doesn’t offer the best, I’m not ringing your bell) only to have it sit for about three months? According to University of Iowa (really, another Caitlin Clark plug?) Professor Peggy Stover, they probably won’t. Iowa stores, however, have been quick to try and capitalize on yearly events. Back-to-school items were available as early as June, and Stove said it would not be a shock to see Christmas ornaments and the like might be out on shelves in the coming weeks. Do we dare say anything about the holiday’s red-headed step child Thanksgiving? No, not when we can feast on Halloween candy and smell Christmas peppermint for an extra month. —BW

Shaq is back: Basketball superstar Shaquille O’Neal is making headlines again but not for his vertical leap. O’Neal made a surprise appearance at a Walmart in Doral, Fla., on Tuesday to promote his new candy that is expected to be released in September, according to news site BRProud.com. The report noted that more than 100 people turned out to see the basketball legend as he passed out samples of his forthcoming Shaq-a-licious XL gummies. Surprised shoppers first became aware Shaq was in the store when he came over the PA system and asked shoppers to join him in the candy aisle. The delectable chewy treats come in original and sour in a variety of flavors, including peach, berry punch, orange, green watermelon, mixed berry, and pineapple. —TI