Mediavore

Four Loko Removes the Caffeine; Mexican Cuisine Now Protected by U.N.

• Four Loko, a Chicago-based manufacturer, plans to remove caffeine from its alcohol products ahead of a potential ban by the Food and Drug Administration. [Trib]

• Hautre French cuisine and traditional Mexican fare made the U.N.’s recent list of 51 cultural elements in need of “protection amid globalization and urbanization.” [CNN]

• Contrary to common wisdom, red wine can pair well with seafood, especially if you happen to have a 2005 Nebiolo and some lobster with truffle shavings on hand. [On Wine/WSJ]

• The Senate will likely vote this week on a food-safety bill that would give the FDA more leeway with recalls. It would not address meat, however, as that is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture. [WSJ]

• That fancy extra-virgin olive oil in your cupboard might not be your best choice for cooking; taste tests found most flavor get “obliterated” when the oil is heated. [NYT]

• Target’s expanded food offerings are partly to credit for the retailer’s third-quarter gains. Similarly, while Wal-Mart Canada’s overall sales slipped in the third quarter, its food business grew. [AP, Globe and Mail Canada]

• Officials in California have created a system to help consumers determine how local food really is. [ABC NEWS]

• Fifteen percent of U.S. households had trouble getting enough to eat last year. [WP]

Four Loko Removes the Caffeine; Mexican Cuisine Now Protected by U.N.