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Food & Drink Guide

Reviews and ratings from our experts

Last updated: May 2013

Consumer Reports tests a wide range of food and drinks, from chocolates to wines. We also report on important food-safety and health issues, review diet plans, and provide you with insightful survey results that will help you save money and find the best places to eat and shop.

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Latest reports

Special report: Is your ground turkey safe?
Find the right beer for your backyard barbecue
Great wines for summer
Mechanically tenderized beef poses bacteria hazard
Best grills for family cookouts
Fat facts and fat fiction
Is fully hydrogenated oil better than partially hydrogenated?

Breakfast

Bagels
Breakfast breads
Flavored bread spreads: Nutrition and taste vary
Greek yogurt taste test
Smoothies
'Spray-on' pancakes
Yogurt

Lunch/dinner

Burgers
Claim check: Campbell’s Slow Kettle Style soups
Frozen meals
Frozen pizza
Instant rice (with Ratings)
Mashed potatoes
Pasta sauces (with Ratings)
Sliced turkey
Stuffing mixes
Whole-grain pasta

Desserts

Hostess Twinkie and The Snack Artist Crème Cake taste test
Boxed chocolates
Chocolate-chip cookies
Frozen yogurt and ice cream
Ice cream
Light ice cream
Tips for cooking with chocolate

Beverages

Beer
Cocoa
Coffee
Energy drinks
Juice drinks
K-cup coffee alternatives will save you money
Protein drinks
Relaxation drinks: An antifrazzle fizzle
Sparkling wines that shine
Wine

Snacks

Best beef jerky and meat sticks
Chicken wings
Crackers
Dips
Heat-and-eat appetizers
Hummus
Low-fat snacks
Multigrain chips
Tastiest snack crisps
Vegetable chips

Condiments & more

Barbecue sauces
Butter substitutes
Extra-virgin olive oil
Garlic taste test
Jellies and jams
Mustard
Nectresse sweetener gets sour reviews
Spices
Turkey gravy

Food shopping

Expired products stay on shelves
Food brands taste test
How buying store brands will save you money
Mystery fish investigation
Name brand vs. store brand
Real blueberry or blue dye?
Shop online and save
Supermarkets (with Ratings)
Water in canned foods

Eating out

Best fast-food egg sandwiches
Calorie counts at some chain restaurants aren't accurate
Chain-restaurant reviews
Fast-food restaurants
Fast-food salads
Sensible restaurant salads

Healthy eating

10 tips for healthier cooking
Dieting on a budget
Diet plans (with Ratings)
Five overlooked veggies
Fish oil
Is bison better for you than beef?
Hidden fats in everyday food
The mindful dieter
The risk of eating nutritient-enhanced foods
Sodium in food

Food safety

Antibiotics in meat
Arsenic in juice
Arsenic in your food
BPA in canned food
Chicken safety: Most tested broilers were contaminated
Mercury in tuna
Pork safety: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Tougher safety rules will curb foodborne illnesses