Costco Crackdowns & Kraft Singles: The Week's Top Grocery News

This week, grocery shelves were spiced up (literally) with the addition of new flavored Kraft Singles, and we found a rolled tortilla chip that rivals Takis. We also shed light on nightshades and recommend the best allergy-friendly snacks for children's parties. Read on for all of The Takeout's top grocery stories of the week.

Costco is not playing around when it comes to its exclusivity. After the store enacted some crackdowns aimed at weeding out non-members in 2023, CNN Business reports that a potential new hurdle has been spotted at some Costco store locations: member ID scanners. - Angela L. Pagán Read More

It looks like Kraft wants you to play with your sandwiches, because it has released three new flavors of its signature Kraft Singles processed cheese slices. This is the first time it's added new flavors in close to a decade; its Sharp Cheddar and Pepper Jack varieties came out in 2017. The rest of the roster also includes White American, Swiss, and the classic American version. - Dennis Lee Read More

So-called nightshades sound like they belong in a witch's brew or medieval poison. As it turns out, they're just tomatoes. And potatoes. And eggplant. Okay, and also belladonna, which is, admittedly, a poison. Let's learn more about them. - Laura Wheatman Hill Read More

Zachary Quinto, Zach Braff, Zac Efron, Zack Snyder—America has an abundance of dudes named Zach. Add Zack Gazzaniga to the list, because his tortilla chip company, Zack's Mighty, makes a product that just might just rival Takis. - Danny Palumbo Read More

There was a time when the idea of receiving items by drone delivery service seemed as if it was plucked straight from The Jetsons. But it's 2024, and that type of robotic feat has been put into practice to varying degrees of success. Both Amazon and Walmart are all-in on developing this technology for our everyday use, and as they do so, there's more data to be gleaned from how we use it. - Dennis Lee Read More

My kindergarten-aged son is often invited to birthday parties, and with every invitation, the parents have included the same instruction: Please let me know if your child has any food allergies and what needs to be done. This usually prompts a longer discussion, since many well-intentioned parents don't know where to start. Here's a list of allergy-friendly items to stock at children's parties. - Dawn Reiss Read More

Many consumers know perfectly well where their loyalties lie when it comes to grocery chains. Some shoppers are part of the Trader Joe's fandom, while others will bulk buy at Costco until the end of time. However, a recent ranking from marketing firm Dunnhumby shows some less recognized retailers are gaining popularity, such as H-E-B. - Angela L. Pagán Read More

Hidden Valley recently announced a limited-edition brand collaboration with Burt's Bees, releasing a four-pack of Buffalo-wing-inspired scented lip balms, including Buffalo Sauce, Crunchy Celery, Fresh Carrot, and, of course, Hidden Valley Ranch varieties. The product is currently available on the Burt's Bees website for $11.99, but this is far from the strangest ranch-flavored product Hidden Valley has ever sold. - Dennis Lee Read More