• A fraternity hazing ritual sent a University of Virginia student to the hospital when he had to eat “dog food, matzo balls, gefilte fish, and soy sauce.” We feel ill just reading about that. [Fox News]
• Movie theaters are seeking exemption from calorie-labeling laws for chain restaurants. Nice try, guys … [NACS]
• The next time you see grannie, be sure to pour her a drink: A German study suggests light to moderate alcohol consumption can protect against dementia even in the 75-plus crowd. [Wine Spectator]
• If you’re brainstorming sandwich recipes for those contests we mentioned, have a look at the Milk Truck’s Big Cheesy competition-winning grilled cheese, overflowing with onions and mushrooms. [NYDN]
• High-school heroes: Two 15-year-old girls got Kellogg’s to pledge that it will try to limit deforestation caused by the palm oil it uses in products like Frosted Flakes and Girl Scout Cookies. [Grist]
• In Japan, “grocery store shelves have been stripped bare, as wary residents brace for the threat of a nuclear disaster at quake-damaged power plants to the north.” [St. Catharines Standard]