The Free-For-All: McDonald’s versus manliness / Booze you lose / Cosmetics’ new cavalry

McNuffin meal​

Looks like the McDonald's slogan should have been ‘Not lovin’ it’.

We recently reported on the (serious) findings from an Australian study​ suggesting that ‘healthy fats’ may not be so good for men who are trying to become Dads.

The researchers found that even mono-saturated fats, such as olive oil, negatively affected testosterone production.

However, equally eye-catching, was a previous study by the group which focused on the testosterone impact of a meal containing less healthy fats – specifically a McDonald’s breakfast.

“We have previously shown that a standard high-fat McDonald’s meal of two English muffins (sausage, egg, and cheese) and two hash browns, containing approximately 50g of total fat, also decreased serum testosterone production over a 5-hour period,” ​they wrote.

While the good old McMuffin might not yet appear on any approved list of birth control methods, the evidence suggests that would-be dads might want to steer clear.

So where instead should they look to get their much-needed energy? Unfortunately, the data doesn’t point to a Burger King Double Whopper with Cheese, but instead leads to egg whites and maybe whey protein.

Yummy. Can we at least have fries with that?

Rum deal​

News reaches us that Singapore (home to our APAC HQ) has risen to 10^th​ in the latest Alcoholic Drinks Risk/Rewards Index ​from Fitch Solutions.

Despite its title, the report doesn’t assess the hangover-related pitfalls of consumption (risk) versus the short-term increases in attractiveness and humour (rewards), but instead looks at where is best for the booze industry to make mega bucks.

The country’s increase was due to a higher level of ‘rewards’ for the industry as a result of increasing alcohol consumption, projected sector growth and rising premiumisation.

All of which will no doubt be music to the ears of the City State’s exchequer, which taxes alcohol to the max, meaning it’s not uncommon for fork out $USD15 in a bar for a glass of tepid, gassy and tasteless lager. Or Tiger as it’s officially known.

Compounding the situation is the 2015 Liquor Control (Supply and Consumption) Act, which banned the sale of alcohol in retail outlets after 10.30pm, thereby giving bars and restaurants a lucrative late-night monopoly on liquor.

Sensibly, last year officials softened the rules to allow foods containing alcohol at less than 0.5% to be sold after 10.30pm.

However, it must be regrettably confirmed that even industrial quantities of rum and raisin ice cream fail to entice even a moderate level of tipsiness.

Yep, dry January isn’t going well…

Cosmetics cavalry​

Staying on the topic of booze, a Singapore start-up targeting growth in the cosmetics space is finding a novel use for brewery waste…they are feeding it to black soldier flies.​

The firm, Insectta, hopes to create chitosan from the little battlers as part of its efforts to create a more sustainable and purer form of the ingredient.

Chitosan is conventionally sourced from shrimp and crab. However, the company believes using insects is cleaner, kinder and more sustainable.

“These flies are not pests, they don't bite. They are native to Singapore and not an invasive species.​ They feed on waste which would otherwise go into the incinerator. We're trying to be truly sustainable,” ​said the firm.

It also points out that chitosan provides cosmetics products with wound-healing benefits…something that comes in handy when treating UDI’s (unidentified drinking injuries).

From snacking on brewery waste, to soothing booze-induced grazes…now that’s what I call a circular economy.

Gary Scattergood is Editor-in-Chief of FoodNavigator-Asia, NutraIngredients-Asia and CosmeticsDesign-Asia.​​