Something to really be thankful for: The price of items for a basic family Thanksgiving dinner is down about 9% from 2008. According to LSU AgCenter family economists, the items to feed 10 people cost an average of $37.52 in Baton Rouge grocery stores, compared with $41.30 in 2008. Turkey prices have dropped 15 cents, to 84 cents per pound, the biggest single contributor to the price drop. Other items that cost less than previous years include sweet potatoes, stuffing mix, fresh cranberries and milk.
Report: 4% of children allergic to food items: An analysis of four national surveys finds that 4% of U.S. children have food allergies. The report, published today in the journal Pediatrics says that the number of Americans under the age of 18 with food allergies has gone up by 18% from 1997 to 2007. The number of medical visits for food allergies tripled during that time. Doctors have several theories about why more children have food allergies, says the Los Angeles Times; the most prominent is that children are less exposed to germs and other disease-causing substances, preventing their immune systems from developing.
