Family entertainment center to pilot gluten-free pizza and cupcake in Minnesota store locations
MINNEAPOLIS, May 07, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — While pizza, dessert and soft drinks are all common favorites for adolescents, compliance with a gluten-free diet often excludes these food experiences from children and families when dining away from home. To accommodate guests with special dietary needs, Chuck E. Cheese’s has added gluten-free options to its menu. The new food items, which include a gluten-free pizza and chocolate cupcake, will begin testing at all Minnesota Chuck E. Cheese’s locations to gauge demand for future national availability.
“We’ve received an overwhelming response from families requesting that we add gluten-free products to our menu items for their kids who love to visit us but can’t enjoy a Chuck-E classic, pizza, because of special diet needs,” said Joe Elliot, Chuck E. Cheese’s vice president of research and development. “In light of growing concerns and sensitivity to this lifestyle, we listened to their feedback and wanted to provide options that better help everyone enjoy the full flavor of Chuck E. Cheese’s.”
Dining out safely remains a primary concern for food-allergic customers under strict dietary limitations. To avoid cross contamination or accidental exposure to gluten ingredients in Chuck E. Cheese’s kitchens, the personal cheese pizza, manufactured by USDA/FDA-approved, gluten-free facility Conte’s Pasta, will arrive to stores in frozen, pre-sealed packaging. The bake-in-bag pizza will remain sealed while cooked and delivered and until opened and served with a personal pizza cutter at families’ tables by the adult in charge.
Under the same procedure, gluten-free, chocolate fudge cupcakes naturally sweetened with fruits, vegetables and grains from Fabe’s All Natural Bakery will remain in pre-sealed, single-serve packaging through preparation and until opened and served at the table. To ensure high taste, integrity and quality standards are met before a national launch, testing these menu options helps Chuck E. Cheese’s deliver the same type of consistent, great-tasting food products that are expected from the leader in family entertainment and dining.
“From delivery to table, our procedures ensure that families can feel confident knowing their meal is completely within gluten-free guidelines,” said Elliott. “We’re happy we can provide a place ‘Where a Kid Can Be a Kid’ and enjoy great fun and food guilt- and gluten-free.”
Although these menu options are not available at every Chuck E. Cheese’s location at this time, the restaurant is evaluating the possibility of introducing gluten-free birthday parties and other special dietary products nationwide if test markets perform well. In addition to the successful launch of its new pizza recipe last year, Chuck E. Cheese’s plans to continue adapting its menu to offer dishes that accommodate the changing tastes, dietary needs and lifestyles of families all over the country.
NEW YORK, May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — DIY Network is motivating its viewers to pick up their shovels and transform their yards this spring. The go-to destination for home improvement television will premiere all-new episodes of its landscaping series every weekday:
Plus, this Memorial Day, DIY Network presents the Grillin’ and Chillin’ Marathon. On Monday, May 28 from 7 a.m. ET until midnight, DIY Network will air its best outdoor programs all day long to inspire viewers to improve their outdoor living spaces.
To top it all off, Jason Cameron, host of Desperate Landscapes, will surprise one lucky viewer with a $25,000 front yard makeover. The Search for America’s Most Desperate Landscape has come to a close and DIY Network is scouring the entries to find the country’s ugliest front yard to receive the transformation. Fans can browse through the viewer uploads and rate their favorites at www.diynetwork.com/amdl. To see which yard was chosen, tune in to the one-hour special on Aug. 18 at 9 p.m. ET.
Record Breaking Quarterback and Philanthropist Wife Partner with So Delicious® Dairy Free To Educate Families About Food Choices-
EUGENE, Ore., May 3, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — So Delicious® Dairy Free, makers of an extensive line of coconut and almond milk products, and the world’s only dairy-free, gluten-free cookie dough “ice cream,” proudly announces that famed quarterback, Drew Brees, and his philanthropist wife, Brittany, have joined their team to spread the word about delicious foods for households managing food allergies and food sensitivities.
Drew and Brittany Brees, who were diagnosed with a number of severe food allergies in their 20s, have been fans of So Delicious Dairy Free for several years. Despite allergies to dairy, gluten and some nuts, Drew has been able to perform as a world-class athlete over the past decade thanks in part to foods like So Delicious Dairy Free.
“We’ve been fans of So Delicious Dairy Free products for years – our favorites include the coconut milk beverages, coconut milk ‘yogurts,’ ‘ice creams,’ the French Vanilla coffee ‘creamer,’ and the new plant-based protein-fortified Almond Plus beverage,” said Drew Brees. “Having food allergies means we face many challenges in managing the food choices in our house – like finding foods that we can eat that are good for us and that also taste great. We hope to inform families who deal with food allergies that there are great food choices out there which will help you maintain a healthy diet and allow you to play at optimal levels…whether it be on the field or on the playground.”
Drew and Brittany will be featured in numerous So Delicious Dairy Free promotions, including an online recipe contest that kicks off May 7th called “SO Much to Love.” This Facebook promotion offers fans the chance to win great prizes each day for 30 days when they vote for their favorite recipes, including an iPad 3 prize which will include some Brees family favorite apps. Drew and Brittany will also be sharing one of their favorite recipes.
In addition, So Delicious Dairy Free will raise funds for Drew and Brittany’s Foundation, The Brees Dream Foundation. July marks national ice cream month, so it is with great pride that .75% of net sales from all So Delicious Dairy Free “ice cream” during both July and August will benefit The Brees Dream Foundation. So Delicious Dairy Free has committed a minimum donation of $50,000 with an uncapped maximum donation during the promotional period. The Brees Dream Foundation is Drew and Brittany’s non-profit organization, which raises money to advance research in the fight against cancer and provide care, education and opportunities for children and families in need.
So Delicious Dairy Free introduced the world’s first drinkable coconut milk beverage in June 2009, and shortly thereafter, Drew and his family discovered it in their local grocery store.
“When grocery shopping, we look for foods that Drew and I can eat as well as ones that the boys will want to eat,” explained Brittany Brees. “So Delicious products have been a part of our family for years. In addition to using the coconut milk in smoothies and on our cereal, Drew and I are big fans of the French Vanilla coffee creamer and the no-sugar added fudge bars – our boys really like those fudge bars too. Plus, being able to have easy substitutes to drop into recipes has been life changing for us. We love the fact that we can ‘swap out’ ingredients for these delicious products and not give up taste!”
“We are honored to be working with Drew and Brittany Brees,” said John Tucker, president of So Delicious Dairy Free. “What they’ve accomplished despite the challenges of food allergies is truly an inspiration.”
So Delicious Dairy Free is committed to offering great tasting foods to millions of individuals with food sensitivities and allergies who have either eliminated foods from their diet or have had to settle for foods that taste inferior. Settling for less than best isn’t an option for Drew and Brittany Brees, and it isn’t an option for So Delicious Dairy Free. The brand’s heritage is in dairy-free frozen desserts, so it is no wonder that they deliver on rich, creamy and flavorful alternatives to milk, yogurts, coffee creamers and frozen treats.
About So Delicious® Dairy Free Based in Eugene, Oregon, privately held So Delicious® Dairy Free has been providing consumers with a broad selection of delicious alternatives to dairy-based foods and beverages since 1988. Ideal for 50 million lactose intolerant Americans and millions of other fans with a variety of food sensitivities, So Delicious Dairy Free is proud to offer truly delicious solutions across numerous categories for people with special dietary wants and needs. All products are 100% plant based with no artificial sweeteners, trans-fats or hydrogenated oils, and many are made with certified organic ingredients. So Delicious Dairy Free products include dairy-free frozen desserts, beverages, “yogurts,” “coffee creamers,” and probiotic beverages. For full product offerings and complete nutritional information, please visit SoDeliciousDairyFree.com
About the Brees Dream Foundation The Brees Dream Foundation was founded in 2003 with a mission to advance research in the fight against Cancer and provide care, education and opportunities for children and families in need. Brittany and Drew Brees and their Brees Dream Foundation have collectively committed and/or contributed more than $11 million to charitable causes and academic institutions. For more information, please visit drewbrees.com
Denver-based cookbook author Jean Duane (Alternative Cook) is featured in the new Betty Crocker® Gluten-Free Cooking Cookbook with over 150 simple-to-make, quick and delicious recipes. This book will soon become your ‘go-to’ book for everything gluten-free.
Gluten Free Recipes, Betty Crocker, Jean Duane, Alternative Cook
Betty Crocker Gluten Free Cooking
“I am thrilled to work again with the team at Betty Crocker and to contribute so many gluten-free recipes to this fabulous book!”
Centennial, CO (PRWEB) April 30, 2012
With a growing number of Americans correlating health problems with diet, gluten-free, allergy-free cooking is becoming more popular. Betty Crocker® Gluten-Free Cooking makes it easier than ever to make delicious appetizers, snacks, breakfasts, meals and desserts. Color photos of recipes and tips to customize the recipes to accommodate other allergies fill nearly every page.
“I am thrilled to work again with the team at Betty Crocker® and to contribute so many gluten-free recipes to this fabulous book” says Jean Duane, Alternative Cook. Betty Crocker® Gluten Free Cooking includes mouth-watering favorites such as Gluten Free Quick Bread Mix, Sesame Crackers, Orange Cranberry Cinnamon Chex® Breakfast Bars, Waffles, Cheesy Vegetable Pizza with Fresh Basil, Gluten-Free Quick Bread Mix, Cinnamon Raison Bread, Applesauce Quick Bread, Gingerbread Molasses Flax Muffins, Chocolate Chip Muffins, Apricot Muffins with Almond Streusel Topping, Cinnamon Scones. Sandwich Bread, Sesame Seed Hamburger Buns, Poppy Seed Crackers, Cornbread, Dinner Rolls, Best Ever Banana Bread, Glazed Lemon Pecan Bread, Soft Pretzels, Gravy, Delicious Chocolate Cake with White Frosting, Chocolate Snack Cake with Creamy Butterscotch Frosting, Spicy Pumpkin Cake, Lemon Poppy Seed Cup Cakes with Lemon Buttery Frosting, Apple Pie, Luscious Meringue Lemon Pie, Strawberry Pie, Apple-Cranberry Crisp, Double Peanut Butter Cookies, Jean’s Snickerdoodles, Nutty Chocolate- Chocolate Chip Cookies, Sugar Cookies, Lemon Wedding Cookies, Peppermint Frosted Brownies and much more.
Working with the Betty Crocker® team was a terrific experience, says Jean Duane. Their professionals triple test every recipe, and then present the finished product to a five-person taste panel. Only the most delicious, easy-to-make, satisfying recipes make the cookbook cut. I am honored to have so many recipes in this book!
Those with gluten intolerance often have other allergies to dairy and/or soy as well. Substitutions are a breeze with this cookbook. Allergic to dairy? Just substitute almond, rice, soy or hemp seed milk for cow’s milk. Instead of dairy-based cheddar or Swiss, use a substitute such as the products made by Follow Your Heart for cheese. Can’t tolerate corn? Simply substitute any other grain-flour. The recipes will still taste great – without the allergens. Still need help with substitutions to fit your dietary needs? Please feel free to contact Jean Duane at http://www.alternativecook.com.
Betty Crocker® teamed with Jean Duane, Alternative Cook and Everyday with Rachael Ray magazine editor Sylvia Nardone to offer an array of recipes that will excite even the veteran gluten-free cook with creative new ideas for meals, snacks and baked treats. It is a ‘must-have’ addition to your recipe collection.
Jean Duane, Alternative Cook, LLC produces full-length instructional DVDs (Chocolate, Mexican, Italian and Kids’ Meals), video streams (alternativecook.com) and Bake Deliciously! Gluten & Dairy Free Cookbook (available in paperback and ebook); and The Complete Idiot’s Guide for Gluten Free Cooking. Ms. Duane has produced several spots for Comcast’s Video on Demand, made television appearances on PBS and has been a featured speaker at the 2009 and 2010 International Association for Culinary Professionals’ Conferences. Jean has developed recipes for Betty Crocker®, for Beautiful Sweets bakery and been featured in Better Homes and Gardens special Christmas Cookies 2010. Ms. Duane an instructor at Denver-based Seasoned Chef Cooking School. A regular speaker and magazine writer, she won Kiplinger’s “Dream in You” contest in 2006.
DUNEDIN, Fla. – Gluten free diets can be challenging as health concerns dictate what to eat, often resulting in complicated gluten free recipes comprised of unusual ingredients that take a long time to prepare. Carol Kicinski, with half her family gluten-intolerant and half not, didn’t sit quiet and compromise on the state of meal preparation. Instead she set out on a mission to develop gluten free recipes, which were fast to prepare and also provided her and her family the taste, texture and nutrition that equaled or surpassed the normal gluten-filled recipes.
Gluten free meal preparations of Kicinski’s are motivating millions to eat healthier. Kicinski is constantly sharing her experiences, meal preparation techniques and tips on television shows, her popular gluten free blog and website, which receives over 500,000 hits a month, in marketplace cooking demonstrations, and now in this – her second gluten free cookbook.
“Gluten free recipes that are not just ‘good for gluten free’ but just plain GOOD, period!” is Kicinski’s recipe motto, which is complemented with her core philosophy of looking at the world of food in terms of what we CAN eat – not what we can’t.
Gluten free cookbook author Kicinski is the first to tell you that she’s not a chef, but a mother who had to learn to cook gluten free in her own kitchen. After enjoying the success of a best-selling gluten free dessert cookbook, “Simply…Gluten Free Desserts,” she has compiled her experiences and complete gluten free meal recipes into her new cookbook, “Simply…Gluten Free Quick Meals” (Thomas Dunne Books, 2012), containing 100 gluten free recipes, including full menus for “Simple Suppers” that can be made in about 30 minutes, and “Easy Entertaining” for special occasion meals made in about an hour or less — setting a new standard as a reference cookbook for people who are gluten-intolerant, and for chefs who must now elevate their meal preparation skills to satisfy the ever growing gluten free consumer demand.
There are many gluten free recipes in Kicinski’s cookbook that don’t require special ingredients. Many of these recipes are not only gluten free, but also grain and dairy free.
With this cookbook you can have a wide range of complete gluten free meal recipes for your discerning taste buds, your family and guests, and yet you can still be sensitive to good health, while quickly and easily preparing complete meals that would have otherwise remained elusive for the gluten-intolerant.
Copies are available at Barnes & Noble, MacMillan, Powells.com, Amazon and on the author’s website, www.simplygluten-free.com.
WHY GLUTEN-FREE?
The Mayo Clinic reported in January 2010 that gluten intolerance is no longer considered “rare” in the U.S. In fact, thousands of Americans are diagnosed each month with a gluten intolerance, allergy or celiac disease. Celiac disease, better known as a gluten allergy or intolerance, is a hereditary disease that does not allow people to eat gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. In people with celiac disease, gluten damages the lining of the small intestine, making it difficult for the body to absorb nutrients from the food they eat. According to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, 15% of Americans today are seeking gluten free products in the grocery stores – a very loyal consumer as the only remedy to gluten-intolerance or Celiac Disease is simply to not eat gluten.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Carol Kicinski is the founder of the food blog SimplyGluten-Free.com, which was just voted one of the Top 60 Must-Read Health Blogs in America today. She has appeared on The Fine Living Network and is in her third year of monthly segments on Daytime TV, a nationally syndicated morning show. She was the featured speaker at the Gluten Free & Allergen Free EXPO (Chicago, April 2011); the Gluten Free EXPO (Dallas, Oct. 2011) with celebrity appearances at Natural Products East and West (2011, 2012). She authors gluten free recipes for Cooking Light and for Martha Stewart’s Whole Living. She resides in Dunedin, Florida.
SIMPLY GLUTEN FREE is a food blog and website serving the gluten-free community, founded and operated by Carol Kicinski – a professional Recipe Developer, TV Personality and Cookbook Author. The Website provides hundreds of recipes, cooking tips and techniques, news, beginners instructions, giveaways, and product recommendations to help people facing the challenges of celiac and gluten-intolerance live a life of abundance instead of restrictions. Carol also founded the Gluten Free Global Community – a group of over 300 Gluten Free Bloggers Worldwide. Carol publishes a very popular monthly newsletter – Simply Gluten Free – and is socially active on Facebook www.facebook.com/SimplyGlutenFree and on Twitter www.twitter.com/simplyglutenfre
National Garden Month Marks Ideal Time To Grow Your Own Flowers, No Matter The Type
LEBANON, Pa., April 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – A new online survey*, released today by Harris Interactive on behalf of Lebanon Seaboard Corporation, sheds light on how generational differences impact flower preferences. According to the new survey, Americans 45 and older prefer to grow roses while younger generations (18 to 44 year-olds) favor growing tulips. Additionally, the survey found that Americans ages 35 and older are more likely to grow flowers, than their younger counterparts (18-34 year-olds).
“In honor of National Garden Month this April, now is an ideal time for people of all generations to give flower growing a try. Experts suggest that nurturing plants is not only good for the planet, but good for us too – it improves attitudes towards health and nutrition, aids in children’s performance at school and enhances community spirit,” said Bill Kelso, executive director sales & marketing, Lebanon Seaboard Corporation, consumer products division.”By following a few easy steps, including using the right fertilizer, all levels of gardeners can grow beautiful flowers, whatever their preference may be.”
To produce more buds, blooms and yield for roses and tulips, users should try the all-new GreenView® with GreenSmart Rose Food or Flower & Bulb plant food options. The new GreenView plant food is micronutrient enriched to promote better blooms. It features a unique, hybrid fertilizer blend of biotechnologies with proprietary, conventional and organic nutrients. It has a dust-free, uniform-grade texture that provides essential nutrients in every granule for consistent performance. The mixture integrates easily within the soil— promoting consistent fertilization results from plant to plant and provides the essential minerals for vibrant flowering.
With just one easy application, GreenView Plant Food with GreenSmart promotes overall plant health and vigor for up to 12 weeks, as a result of essential macro and micronutrients. In addition to the Rose Food and Flower & Bulb products, gardeners can also opt for one of the other five plant fertilizers that are specially formulated to optimize nutritive benefits for specific plants, including:
All-Purpose Plant Food
Tomato & Vegetable Food
Azalea, Camellia & Rhododendron Food
Palm Food
Citrus & Avocado Food
Each option is available in 4-lb. bag sizes, with two options—the tomato and vegetable and all-purpose products—also available in 8-lb. bag sizes. Prices range from $7.99 to $10.99. The new GreenView Plant Food with GreenSmart products are available nationwide at independent garden centers, Menards and online at http://www.greenviewfertilizer.com.
OAKLAND, Calif., April 18, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Add Hidden Valley Salad Dressings to the growing list of foods to clearly call out that they are gluten free.
The makers of Hidden Valley Salad Dressings have added a “Gluten Free” logo to bottles and dry packets of its signature Original Ranch® dressing as well as much of its Farmhouse Originals product line. Packages with the new logo should appear on store shelves this summer.
The packaging change is designed to help the millions of Americans who want to avoid gluten to shop with confidence. While gluten-containing grains – namely rye, wheat and barley – were not previously included in Hidden Valley Salad Dressings, the new packaging reflects a stronger and clearer assurance to the growing number of people who are seeking gluten-free products.
“What we’ve done is taken the added step of auditing our supply chain and securing guarantees that there are no ingredients that contain or are derived from gluten-containing grains,” said Shaunte Mears-Watkins, marketing manager for the Hidden Valley brand.
The facilities manufacturing Hidden Valley® products have stringent allergen control programs to prevent cross-contamination and all of the products listed as gluten free undergo scheduled testing to ensure that the quality of the claim matches the quality of the products.
In addition to the packaging change, the makers of Hidden Valley Salad Dressings have teamed up with the Celiac Disease Foundation (CDF), the leading national Celiac disease organization, to further communicate Hidden Valley’s gluten free promise and to help support the foundation’s efforts to represent the needs and concerns of the Celiac community and raise awareness for early diagnosis of the disease.
Troy-Bilt Offers Tips for a Healthy Lawn and Garden This Spring. (PRNewsFoto/Troy-Bilt)
CLEVELAND, April 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — With unseasonably warm temperatures across the nation all winter long, early spring looks a bit different this year with lush grass, budding trees and flowers blooming sooner than usual. New growth is a welcome occurrence for lawn and garden enthusiasts, but it also begs the question: should yard care be done differently this year?
According to Troy-Bilt®, a leading manufacturer of outdoor power equipment, the answer is yes.
“It’s difficult sometimes to resist the urge to mow the lawn and plant new flowers as soon as the temperatures rise,” said Heidi Ketvertis, director of marketing communications for Troy-Bilt. “Warm temperatures earlier in the season can cause many plants and grasses to begin growing sooner, but there’s also more time for them to be exposed to damaging freezes, which could still come throughout spring.”
Troy-Bilt offers five tips for making sure your lawn and garden are healthy this year:
Don’t plant annuals or fruit- or berry-producing plants early. Annuals and fruit- and berry-producing plants are especially susceptible to being killed off or damaged by frost. If you have these kinds of plants already in the ground, keep them well-watered. If you know the temperature will be dropping dangerously low on a particular night, cover the plants with mesh netting.
Begin pest and insect control earlier than usual. Cold winter temperatures keep pests and diseases in check, but this year many of those pests and diseases may not have died or gone fully dormant. Also, it’s possible the warm winter could have thrown off the life-cycles of various insect species, which may mean the good insects we count on to gobble up the bad insects that harm grasses and gardens were born too early to do the job – so keep an eye out for new problems.
Protect ornamental bushes and shrubs that are out of their native range. Ornamental bushes and shrubs that are on the border of growing in their climate zone are usually more susceptible to blooming early at the first sign of warmer weather. If they do and there’s a freeze, it’s likely they’ll lose their flowers for the season or produce fewer flowers this year. Protect them by watering well early in the season.
Begin weed maintenance earlier than usual. Your grass and garden aren’t the only things growing sooner this year. Weeds had an early start as well. If you don’t get an early start on weeding this year, your lawn or garden may get choked off and not grow as well this season.
Stay off the lawn, and resist the urge to cut the grass too short too early! A growing lawn is more susceptible to freezing than a dormant lawn. Staying off the lawn keeps the stress down on the grass and helps protect it if the temperature suddenly drops. Also, don’t cut more than a third of the blade at a time. If you go lower and a freeze comes along, it could shock the grass and stunt its growth.
Once you’re ready to pull your lawn mower out of the shed for the first time this year, take some time to tune it up. If you’ve used your mower for more than a year, it may be time to sharpen or replace your blades. Also add fresh gas and oil. If your mower needs to be replaced, now is the time to start researching and hitting the stores. Not sure what kind of mower you need? Consider the following choices to find the mower best suited to your needs:
Walk-behind mower – If you have less than an acre of land or many obstacles in your yard, a reel, push or self-propelled walk-behind mower may make the most sense.
Lawn tractor – For larger yards that would be difficult to cover on foot, consider a riding mower. Try the Troy-Bilt Horse™ XP Lawn Tractor, which offers a more responsive hydrostatic transmission, a Soft Touch™ steering wheel and high-back seat for added comfort. With a 46-inch side discharge deck, this mower is equipped to handle the largest lawn.
Zero-turn rider – If you’re looking for faster mowing and easy maneuverability, a zero-turn rider may do the trick. A zero-turn radius enables quick turns and trimming.
NEW YORK, April 4, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Tournament Rookie Eliminates Bracket Juggernaut, Bank of America, to Claim Victory in Consumerist.com’s Annual Bracket-Style Contest
Electronic Arts, which made its inaugural appearance in Consumerist.com’s Worst Company In America tournament this year, has defeated bracket veteran Bank of America to claim the 2012 Grand Championship title, setting a tournament record for the most votes cast in a single round with 50,575 total submissions. While last year’s winner, BP, narrowly beat out rival Bank of America in 2011, this year EA easily claimed the prestigious Golden Poo Award, a statuette modeled after a pile of poo, with 64 percent of the votes.
Over its three-week run, the seventh annual Worst Company In America tournament drew more than 260,000 total votes, setting yet another contest record, from people fed up with the poor consumer policies of the 32 companies nominated from a range of industries, including airlines, telecommunications, retailers, financial institutes and more. EA overtook Sony, Best Buy, Comcast and finally Bank of America to claim the Worst Company In America crown.
While both Bank of America and EA drew consumer ire for their poorly-received practices of swallowing up smaller competitors and nickel-and-diming customers with up-charges and fees, EA’s success in this year’s tournament shines a spotlight on an industry that is often considered ignored by regulators, courts and the mainstream media.
“Some may look down their noses at the idea of voters picking a video game publisher as the Worst Company In America, but that is the exact kind of attitude that has allowed EA and its ilk to nickel and dime devoted customers for a decade,” said Chris Morran, Deputy Editor of Consumerist.com. “This is not just a few people complaining about bad games; this vote represents a large group of consumers who have grown sick and tired of being ignored and taken advantage of.”
Although Bank of America wasn’t able to clinch the top honor in this year’s competition, it did earn its second consecutive Silver Poo Award. This year, Consumerist.com also awarded its first-ever Bronze Poo Award to AT&T, which beat out Walmart for the third-place spot in the tournament.
As a way of saying thanks for all the participation in this year’s tournament, Consumerist.com is also giving out an honorary Golden Poo Award to one lucky fan through its “Worst Company In America Beat the Bracket Sweepstakes.” The Grand Prize winner will receive a Consumerist.com prize package including their very own Golden Poo statue while four runners up will also receive a prize package from Consumerist.com.
While the Worst Company In America tournament may be over, be sure to check out Consumerist.com throughout the year for consumer-driven advice about dealing with everything from non-existent customer service to onerous cell-phone contracts to ever-shrinking (and ever-more-expensive) grocery products.
About Consumerist.comThe Consumerist empowers consumers by informing and entertaining them about the top consumer issues of the day. We are a leading online resource for consumer-driven advice about dealing with everything from non-existent customer service to onerous cell-phone contracts to ever-shrinking (and ever-more-expensive) grocery products. The Consumerist is published by Consumer Media LLC, a not-for-profit subsidiary of Consumer Reports, and takes no outside advertising.
About Consumer Media LLCThe Consumerist’s parent company, Consumer Media LLC, is a subsidiary of Consumer Reports, the nation’s leading not-for-profit consumer advocacy organization. Since its founding in 1936, Consumer Reports has fought for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. To maintain independence and impartiality, CR accepts neither outside advertising nor free samples. It employs a staff of “mystery shoppers” who buy products in retail stores around the country, just as any other buyer would, and then ship them to the Consumer Reports labs, where technical experts test some 3,000 products yearly.
Ashley Bice has created a new service designed to help people faced with often overwhelming dietary changes, (especially those going gluten-free) transition to their new diet.
Ashley Bice lives in Seattle, WA. SHe has been gluten-free for over six years.
“I love to eat, and I love to live. And I’m determined to not let a gluten-free diet get in the way of that!”
Seattle, WA (PRWEB) March 28, 2012
Gracefully Gluten Free is a new small business specializing in helping people transition to a gluten free diet (also working with other allergies and sensitivities) through one-on-one sessions designed to make the switch to a new diet easier, from one’s own kitchen, to grocery shopping, to navigating social situations and restaurants.
Ashley decided to develop this service after working as the Dispensary Manager of a naturopathic clinic. She saw a lot of people who had recently found out that they had various allergies and sensitivities, and they were very overwhelmed at the prospect of changing their entire diet to accommodate their newly discovered needs. Her educational background in Community Health Education, as well as her personal experience of over six years of following a gluten-free diet due to Celiac’s disease, made her feel she had a lot to offer to people trying to make this switch.
She can be found on Facebook, twitter, and on her blog, where she shares gluten-free finds, recipes, living tips, and more!
Troy-Bilt Offers Tips for a Healthy Lawn and Garden This Spring. (PRNewsFoto/Troy-Bilt)