Tainted Cantaloupe Death Toll Up to 18; NYC Goes Gaga for Gluten-Free

Health officials are now saying that 18 people have died and at least 100 more are sick from eating cantaloupes contaminated with listeria.
[MSNBC]

Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has quietly launched an investigation into school lunch providers that have been illegally overcharging.
[NY Daily News]

The price of food and gasoline could drop by year end thanks to commodity speculators fleeing the energy and grain markets out of fear of a global recession.
[USA Today]

Goya Foods was honored by President Barack Obama for Hispanic Heritage Month as the largest Hispanic-owned food company in the country.
[MarketWatch]

Lunch-box notes have become elaborate ordeals, with kids comparing whose mom or dad doodles best.
[Wall Street Journal]

New York City has gone gluten-free crazy, with “g-free” stores, beer, and tons of menu options. The new Zagat guide, out today, even has a new gluten-free category.
[NY Post]

Other highlights from the new Zagat guide? Ai Fiori is New York’s best new restaurant, and Le Bernardin still has top honors, also beating out Gramercy Tavern for most popular.
[BusinessWeek]