Here's a sampling of links to news about food in other media:

NPR: U.S. Is A Spicier Nation (Literally) Since 1970s. Sales of spices in America have ballooned since the 1970s, increasing at nearly three times the rate of population. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans are consuming 600 percent more chili pepper, 300 percent more cumin and 1,600 percent more ginger.

Two factors are credited with contributing to this increase: a burgeoning immigrant population, especially from Mexico and southeast Asia, which has contributed to a wider assortment of restaurants; and food blogs and television cooking shows, which encourage more home cooking.

NPR: Your Olive Oil May Not Be The Virgin It Claims. In order to be considered "extra virgin," oil can not be rancid or mixed with other oils. A new study from University of California - Davis shows that two-thirds of imported olive oils labeled as "extra virgin" are not able to back up that claim. You can see if your favorite olive oil makes the grade here.

Wall Street Journal: Test Flight: Lufthansa Searches for Savor in the Sky. In an attempt to understand why even well-prepared food can fall flat in airplanes, Lufthansa has been conducting flavor tests in a mock high-altitude environment.

'"One problem with airplane dining is that parched cabin air quickly evaporates nasal mucus, which helps odor receptors function. Up to 80% of what we consider taste is actually smell,' said Andrea Burdack-Freitag, who ran the tests for Lufthansa."

Spicy food holds up well at high altitudes, while cream sauces come across as bland.

Food in the News appears weekly in the Food & Drink section. Have a story link you'd like to share? E-mail jessicawebster@annarbor.com.