The LuLac Edition #5, 421, August 23rd, 2025

 

FOOD-TASTIC

NEWS

EDITOR’S NOTE: Starting today, Lulac will be highlighting food news for our readers. Since the President and his stooge, RFK Junior are now tinkering with our nutrition needs, we felt this addition to our editions will satisfy the politicos, foodies and pop culture readers.

 

HERE WE GO AGAIN

A “NEW” COKE

President Donald Trump teased the announcement last week, but the Coca-Cola Co. confirmed it Tuesday: a cane sugar-sweetened version of the beverage maker's trademark soda will be released in the U.S. this fall.

For decades, Coke and the makers of other soft drinks have generally used high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners in their products manufactured in the U.S. But American consumers are increasingly looking for food and drinks with fewer and more natural ingredients, and beverage companies are responding.

PepsiCo and Dr Pepper have sold versions of their flagship sodas sweetened with cane sugar since 2009. Coca-Cola has sold Mexican Coke — which uses cane sugar — in the U.S. since 2005, but it's positioned a trendy alternative and sold in glass bottles. Coke with cane sugar will likely be more widely available.

This is highly ironic that the guy who chugs 5 Diet Cokes a day (I chug at least 3 a day and wear blue suits which scares the shit out of me in a comparative basis) and said that Mexicans were rapists sand drug dealers in his opening foray into politics 10 years ago now wants t to emulate Mexican Coke.  If I were Coke, I’d just bottle the damn Mexican version and slap a new label on it.

Here are some frequently asked questions about the sweeteners in U.S. sodas:

What’s the difference between cane sugar and high fructose corn syrup?

Many consumers know that consuming too many sweets can negatively affect their health, but soda drinkers sometimes debate if either cane sugar or high fructose corn syrup is better (or worse) than the other.

The short answer is that it doesn’t make a difference, said Marion Nestle, one of the nation’s top nutrition experts and professor emeritus at New York University.

Back in 1985 Coke launched New Coke which was a bomb. While some foodies pine for natural ingredients, cane sugar is still sugar. Not Splenda or any low calories substitute.  I do not think people who eat veggies, watch their wait, people who are diabetic are going to jump on the sugar cane bandwagon because the big dope said so.

This is a disaster waiting to happen and Coke will rue the day they capitulated to his whim.

 

CRACKER BARREL

I never was a fan of Cracker Barrel. The place’s decor was fascinating but being a historical nerd, but that’s just me. I loved the old-time candy offerings but the food, ell I had too many pieces of fried chicken covered with breading. Plus, the breakfast menu read like War and Peace. So when I heard people up in arms about the change, I get it. If that’s your place, any change is tough. Here’s what happened.

Cracker Barrel is serving up a redesign of its iconic folksy logo as something minimalist and modern, but some customers – and Wall Street traders – are sending it back to the kitchen.

The 55-year-old restaurant and retail store chain, based in Lebanon, Tennessee, announced on Aug. 19 changes to its logo, menu, and diner decor in a campaign titled "All the More". The redesign eliminates several familiar items, including images of "Uncle Herschel," a farmer in overalls, and a cracker barrel itself, that have been part of the logo since 1977.

Logo changes sparked an online backlash from customers, some of whom mourned the loss of "Uncle Herschel" like a family member. Conservative groups accused the company of going "woke." Anything the snow flake MAGAs and conservatives don’t like, they call woke. They’re idiots.

Wall Street traders also showed their disapproval. Cracker Barrel lost nearly $100 million in market value during trade on Aug. 21. Prices began to rebound on Aug. 22.

Cracker Barrel sales have declined in recent years. In Q2 2024, it reported a 4% decline in customer traffic and a 5% decline in retail sales. In Q3 2025, retail sales were down 3.8%. I think it was because of the food. Rich and fatty. With more young people picking places like Panera  and Chipotle, older fans are dying off and not many people choose a salad at the Barrel.

Like any major change, we shall see. 

 

GET YOUR 

CURLY CREAM

Only 10 more days to get the popular soft serve Ice Cram from Curly Cream in Plains. The flavor until this Wednesday is Blue Raspberry and then the business ends with Tangerine before coding after Labor Day.

 

FAST FOOD BURGER

PRICE WATCH

WHOPPER $6.09 before taxes

BIG MAC $5.69 before taxes

QUARTER POUNDER $5.99 before taxes 

WENDY’S TRIPLE BACON EATER $8.69 before taxes.