Susmita Baral

Susmita Baral is New York City-based multimedia journalist covering food, culture, technology, health and science.
Watch All the Food Scenes from Harry Potter in Just 3 Minutes
The Harry Potter franchise turned 20 on June 26, leaving fans nostalgic for when the first book in the series originally released. The 20th anniversary marked the U.K. release of the first novel in the cult-favorite J.K. Rowling series: Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone. To commemorate the occasion, Digg made a video featuring all the delicious (and unappetizing) foods featured in the films, from mundane moments to unforgettable ones.
Jun 9, 2019
The “5-Second Rule” Is Maybe, Sorta, Kinda Real (Says Science)
The next time you’re side-eyed or shamed for eating food dropped on the floor, know that you’re not alone. Seventy-nine percent of people have admitted to eating food off the floor, and now the science of the “five-second rule” backs you up. Yes, really. According to Aston University microbiologist Anthony Hilton, food is usually safe to consume after it’s been in contact with the floor for a few seconds. Let me explain.
May 30, 2019
Safe to Eat? Food Labels Are Finally Getting Easier to Understand.
If you’ve looked at the date label on food packaging and asked yourself what exactly “best by” means, you’re not alone. It’s confusing! There’s a lot of guesswork when it comes to the date plastered on food packaging and, more often than not, it leaves it to the shopper’s discretion to decide whether a food is safe for consumption.
May 1, 2019
Here Are the Top Trends on Pinterest for Foodie Travelers
A major part of any travel experience, along with exposure to a new culture and seeing new sights, is food. Local cuisine, and their take on global cuisines, can be an experience in itself for those traveling the globe. Now, a new report from Pinterest is shedding light on food travel trends based on the activity of users on the platform.
May 1, 2019
Häagen-Dazs Has Alcohol-Infused Ice Cream, but There’s a Catch
Häagen-Dazs is getting in on the liquor-infused ice cream action with a new line of treats: Häagen-Dazs Spirits.
May 1, 2019
Halo Top Rolls Out 7 Non-Dairy Vegan Flavors
Rejoice with me!
Sep 29, 2017
In California, Coffee May Come with a Cancer Warning
Coffee is a beverage we love to love and love to hate. Is it good? Is it bad? It’s a delicious to some, toxic to others mystery. But if this nonprofit group has its way, your next brew could come slapped with a dire warning — just like cigarettes. The Council for Education and Research on Toxics has a simple goal: for those manufacturing, distributing, and retailing coffee to alert consumers about the carcinogenic chemical lurking in a cup of Joe.
Sep 28, 2017
Get $1 Kale at Whole Foods for World Vegetarian Day
World Vegetarian Day falls on October 1, and this year Whole Foods Market is getting in on the fun. To celebrate, the high-end organic supermarket, which was recently acquired by Amazon, is going to retail organic bunches of kale for $1. And this offer won’t be limited to World Vegetarian Day — it’ll be valid from September 27 to October 3, while supplies last. Get your kale while it’s hot (and cheap), people!
Sep 28, 2017
Can You Look at These Kitchen Items Without Dying Inside?
Back in 2011, Athens-based architect Katerina Kamprani started working on her Uncomfortable series, which entailed reimagining everyday items into “uncomfortable” versions of their useful selves. Many of these everyday goods pertain to the kitchen: a double-cupped champagne glass, interlinked coffee mugs, a thick cutlery set, hourglass salt and pepper shakers, and even a slipper spoon. “I started this project for fun, so my purpose is to make people laugh and feel amused!
Sep 28, 2017
This Test Can Tell Whether You’ve Outgrown a Food Allergy
Diagnosing food allergies is a complicated matter. On top of pinpointing the source of an allergy, there’s the added murkiness of the fact that people can outgrow them. So how do you figure out if you’re still allergic to something without jeopardizing your health? A new study published in the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology spotlights something called food challenge, which serves as a pretty good test, reports NPR’s The Salt.
Sep 27, 2017
Williams-Sonoma Is Hiring Seasonal Work-from-Home Jobs
During the holiday season, retailers hire temporary workers to meet the increased demand from consumers. But most of these jobs require you to physically be present at a brick-and-mortar store dealing with customers face to face. If your dream job is one with a remote work policy and little in-person human interaction, then there’s one company you need to check out for a holiday season job: Williams-Sonoma.
Sep 27, 2017
Ikigai Is the Japanese Way of Life That Promises Happiness
The Danish term describing the concept of coziness — hygge — embodies a feeling of warmth, and it was the “it” phrase for the end of 2016. At the start of this year, hygge faced fierce competition from lagom, yet another Scandinavian buzzword. Now there’s a new lifestyle concept from Japan: ikigai. At its core, ikigai is the exact opposite of hygge.
Sep 22, 2017
Albertsons Is Investing in Changing the Way You Grocery Shop
How we grocery shop is changing, and Albertsons Companies — one of the largest grocery retailers in the United States — is trying to adapt. On Wednesday, the company (which owns the likes of Safeway, Kroger, Food Lion, Ralphs, and Winn-Dixie) announced its acquisition of the popular meal kit company Plated. While talks for the deal reportedly began months ago, Albertsons made the official announcement this week.
Sep 21, 2017
This New Drink from Starbucks Might Be Better than a PSL
With the popularity of the Pumpkin Spice Latte, one would think the first day of fall (September 22) would be the day Starbucks brings the cult-favorite drink back to the menu. But the PSL made its debut earlier in the year, on September 5. To celebrate fall, Starbucks is launching two items in its brick-and-mortar stores that line up with the vibe and feel of the season, and we think you’re going to be very excited about both of them. The first is a Maple Pecan Latte.
Sep 21, 2017
Twitter Is Not Happy About This Meal Prepping Idea
Food stylists know a thing or two about how to present a meal. And there’s some merit to the notion of focusing on how food looks: Some research has found that the way food is presented can make it more (or less) appetizing for the individual consuming it. Last week, food stylist Dominique Eloise Alexander, author of Jar Food: Recipes For On-the-Go, shared her tips with The Independent on how to make your lunch delicious and fun to look at (read: Instagram-worthy).
Sep 21, 2017
Here’s What That Controversial Documentary “What the Health” Gets Wrong
If you’ve been perusing your Netflix library, then chances are you’ve seen a new documentary, What the Health. The pro-vegan film co-directed by Kip Andersen and Keegan Kuhn attempts to show a causal relationship between animal foods and illness. And it’s not shy about it, either, equating eating eggs to smoking cigarettes.
Sep 20, 2017
How You Taste Food Changes When You’re in a Relationship
It’s no secret that people change when they’re in a relationship. Being close to someone makes you alter your behavior, daily patterns, and even habits. And there’s no shortage of research hinting at the fact that couples become increasingly similar throughout a relationship — some even say couples start looking alike. Now, a new study published in the journal Appetite has unearthed a thing or two about the dining habits of couples.
Sep 20, 2017
Aldi’s Wine Advent Calendar Is Everything You Need This Holiday Season
A traditional advent calendar keeps a daily countdown exciting with chocolates or confections, and sometimes even beauty products and trinkets. But for wine-lovers, there is a new option in town this holiday season that promises to shake things up: Grocery chain Aldi has a booze advent calendar that houses six bottles’ worth of wine. The wine advent calendar is one festive box of 24 mini bottles of wine including red, white, rosé, and fizz.
Sep 19, 2017
Aldi’s Wine Advent Calendar Is Everything You Need This Holiday Season
A traditional advent calendar keeps a daily countdown exciting with chocolates or confections, and sometimes even beauty products and trinkets. But for wine-lovers, there is a new option in town this holiday season that promises to shake things up: Grocery chain Aldi has a booze advent calendar that houses six bottles’ worth of wine. The wine advent calendar is one festive box of 24 mini bottles of wine including red, white, rosé, and fizz.
Sep 19, 2017
How Hurricane Irma Impacted Florida’s Crops
Hurricane Irma left a lot in devastation: people were stranded and homes, businesses, and farms were destroyed. The latter leaves the future of produce especially vulnerable. Gene McAvoy, a specialist on vegetable farming at the University of Florida, told NPR that orange and grapefruit groves that were approaching harvest were impacted, as the storm left “50 or 60 percent of the fruit lying in water [or] on the ground.
Sep 15, 2017
Le Creuset U.K. Releases Limited-Edition Pink Ombré Cookware
Le Creuset comes in an array of shades, making it perfect for people looking for specific colors for their kitchen. Now, if you live in the U.K. (or just happen to be visiting there at this exact time), there’s a new delicious color available: Berry, which is basically an ombré pink. The color is the latest addition to the brand’s Taste of the City Collection. It’s not a shocking addition, considering the growing popularity of the “millennial pink” color.
Sep 15, 2017
This New Halo Top Ad Is Downright Creepy
Halloween is around the corner and Halo Top is here to creep you out. A new ad directed by Mike Dahlquist shows a 90-second clip featuring everyone’s favorite low-calorie ice cream, Halo Top. And it’s going to make you uncomfortable. Let’s just say the vibes are more sci-fi movie and less sweet ice cream commercial. The video begins with a mature woman dressed in white (think: hospital gown and less wedding) in a pale-hued room.
Sep 14, 2017
This New Halo Top Ad Is Downright Creepy
Halloween is around the corner and Halo Top is here to creep you out. A new ad directed by Mike Dahlquist shows a 90-second clip featuring everyone’s favorite low-calorie ice cream, Halo Top. And it’s going to make you uncomfortable. Let’s just say the vibes are more sci-fi movie and less sweet ice cream commercial. The video begins with a mature woman dressed in white (think: hospital gown and less wedding) in a pale-hued room.
Sep 14, 2017
The One Book Ina Garten Can’t Get Enough Of
Ina Garten is a household name. She 10 cookbooks under her belt and a cult-favorite cooking show, The Barefoot Contessa. While Garten’s food expertise is renowned, the chef has book recommendations up her sleeve as well. While talking to Michael Ian Black for the podcast How to Be Amazing, the Food Network star revealed her book of choice: Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson. The 656-page biography chronicles the life of the Apple innovator.
Sep 14, 2017
Here’s How You Can Help Hurricane Irma Victims Regain Food Security
Hurricane Irma has taken a toll on regions impacted by the storm, with flooding, power outages, powerful winds, and food shortages. The latter is an especially difficult situation for survivors, as most sources of food — markets, restaurants, and convenience stores — are without power and access to fresh ingredients. As for supermarkets, they are either destroyed or have empty shelves.
Sep 13, 2017
Amazon’s Price Cuts Brought More Customers to Whole Foods
Earlier this summer, the supermarket industry was shaken up: Online retailer Amazon acquired upscale grocery chain Whole Foods for $13.7 billion. One of Amazon’s first moves was to cut costs at the 460 brick-and-mortar stores in the United States, Britain, and Canada. “We’re determined to make healthy and organic food affordable for everyone.
Sep 13, 2017
School Lunches in America Face Health and Cost Concerns
The status of school lunch in America is far from perfect. Between unhealthy options and lunch shaming, there’s tremendous room for improvement when it comes to how and what children in the nation are being fed. Earlier this year, New Mexico became the first American state to take a legal stand on lunch shaming when students don’t have the funds to purchase food.
Sep 12, 2017
Put a Quarter on Top of a Frozen Cup of Water Before a Power Outage
As the Carolina coast prepares for Hurricane Florence, those living in areas impacted have plenty of issues on their mind. Amidst debating evacuation plans, stocking up on emergency items, and generally preparing for the storm, there’s one food dilemma for those who plan to flee: Will the contents of their fridge be safe to eat when they return?
Sep 8, 2017
You Might Not Need to Eat as Many Fruits and Veggies as You Think
The age-old advice for fruit and veggie consumption is that adults need at least five servings of produce a day. But is that really the truth, and is it still relevant? According to a new study, you don’t need quite as much. The study, published in the Lancet, recommends just three to four servings a day of combined fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
Sep 6, 2017
Pumpkin Spice Lattes Are Officially Back at Starbucks for 2017
Fall has become synonymous with one particular squash-themed beverage: the Pumpkin Spice Latte. The Starbucks drink has spiked in popularity and each year fans eagerly wait to learn when the drink will make its debut. If you’ve been twiddling your thumbs waiting for your favorite coffee drink, then I have good news: Starbucks announced today that its fall menu has officially been released and it includes the Pumpkin Spice Latte, or PSL.
Sep 5, 2017
Take This DNA Test to Find Your New Favorite Bottle of Wine
Wine tasting is one way to see what blends you like. Another way? A DNA test. Now, thanks to a company called Vinome, you can use your DNA to navigate your way to the perfect bottle of vino. Vinome was founded by a team of genetic scientists and wine experts in 2015. Using genetic analysis, the company determines what bottles are best suited to your preferences.
Sep 1, 2017
This Is How to Help Hurricane Harvey Victims with Food
Tropical Storm Harvey, a Category 4 hurricane, hit Texas and parts of Louisiana this past week. In light of the deadly floods, people have been partaking in random acts of kindness. Like the Pizza Hut employee who delivered hot slices to those stranded and running out of food, or the Mexican bakers who were trapped and made hundreds of pan dulce for flood victims.
Sep 1, 2017
Starbucks’ Online Store Is Closing This Weekend, but Not Before a Big Sale
Update: We’ve updated this post to share our favorite picks before the store closes this weekend. If you’re a frequent shopper of the Starbucks online store, then I have some bad news for you. The coffee franchise’s e-store — which sells everything from mugs, coffee brewers, and espresso makers to coffee, tea, and beverage syrups — is closing its doors forever as of October 1.
Aug 31, 2017
Target Is About to Debut a Line of $5 Wines
Target already has a cult following of consumers who love the one-stop shop for everything from decor and beauty to clothing and food. Now the food aisle is going to get a lot more alluring to those who are 21 or older. Target is entering the alcoholic beverage market with an exclusive line of wines. The line, called California Roots, will be on the market September 3 at more than 1100 Target stores around the country. What are they like?
Aug 31, 2017
The Best Items to Buy at Whole Foods Right Now
Organic grocer Whole Foods is notorious for costing consumers a pretty penny, earning it the nickname of “whole paycheck.” Which is why news of steep discounts spread rapidly last week after Amazon (who acquired the company earlier this summer for $13.7 billion) announced it would be slashing prices starting this week.
Aug 30, 2017
Starbucks U.K. Just Released a New Latte and We’re Very Jealous
A trending latte is now going mainstream across the pond. Starbucks is selling the popular turmeric latte, also called “golden milk,” in 200 stores across Britain starting August 28. As the name of the beverage suggests, it’s going to have an added ingredient that will offer an extra kick of flavor: turmeric. Starbucks describes the drink as a “warming latte made by steaming milk with aromatic turmeric powder and spices poured over an espresso.
Aug 30, 2017