• Dannon reached a $21 million settlement with the Federal government over “exaggerated” claims for certain yogurt products; among other things, the company must now stop saying Activia makes people poop. [USAT]
• The free food in the Google cafeteria is so good, two former chefs from the company have launched a catering business that’s all the rage among Bay Area tech start-ups. [Wall Street Journal]
• Ever hear of a fruit called the medlar? A farm forty miles east of Bakersfield specializes in this rarity once known as “open-arse” in Tudor English and “cul-de-chien” (dog butt) in France. [L.A. Times]
• Seven L.A. County sheriff’s deputies have been placed on leave after a brawl outside of a Montebello restaurant following a holiday party. [Mercury News]
• Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken celebrated 25 years of Border Grill on Tuesday night by working the line and preparing food for friends, including Ozomatli. [L.A. Times]
• GQ’s Alan Richman named Venice’s Tasting Kitchen as #4 on their best new restaurants list, even if it’s been open since summer 2009. [Eater]
• One out of six Americans gets food poisoning each year. That’s a lot, but it’s lower than what the CDC had previously claimed. [USAT]
• Our least favorite fast-food giant can’t catch a break: first McDonald’s had its computers hacked last week, now it’s getting sued by a group that claims Happy Meals encourage unhealthy food choices. But hey, on a brighter note, the company is expanding in China. [LAT, NRN]
• Drinking alcohol with a rich meal has been shown to slow digestion. That means you won’t be hungry for high-calorie desserts; bottoms up! [Discovery News]
• Starbucks executive Paula Boggs was appointed to the White House Council for Community Solutions. This should solve the pressing issue of latte-deprivation-fueled crime in Washington. [NRN]
