One of the big food distributors in the United States supplies food to just about everywhere people eat. From small-town hospitals to school cafeterias, to restaurants big and small, 730,000 global locations. So if you’ve ever ordered jalapeno poppers somewhere new and thought, “These taste …

As Americans prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, the gratitude many feel is tempered by doubts caused by the disruptions of the recent government shutdown. Washington has reopened but insecurity lingers. In one Missouri community, a single mother is relieved by the restoration of benefits that help feed her children but feels newly vulnerable. A retired school cafeteria worker who hosts a free holiday feast in the community has upped her plans to 700 meals to account for the food insecurity. A U.S. customs worker in Florida who worked for weeks without pay is grateful for the invitation to a meal her family would otherwise be unable to afford.

A major highlight of Thanksgiving is the menu, but the big meal can come with a lot of wasted food. Experts say a pinch of extra planning can ensure more gets eaten.

Costco sold more than 4 million pies in the three days before Thanksgiving in 2023, with 2.9 million being pumpkin pies and 1.3 million apple and pecan pies. Americans bake or buy this Thanksgiving dish every year, but more and more home cooks are leaving the rolling pin in the drawer. For a…

Thanksgiving math actually isn’t all that hard. You just need to use a few basic equations.

Roasting turkey may be synonymous with Thanksgiving, but for a growing number of Americans, that bird is nowhere on the table. More than 34% of American adults say their least favorite traditional Thanksgiving food is the turkey at the center. Instead, stuffed squash, braised short ribs and …

More than 1,000 unionized Starbucks workers are on strike Thursday at 65 U.S. stores. The strike has closed some stores on Starbucks' Red Cup Day, which is typically one of the company's busiest days of the year. Starbucks gives away free, reusable cups to customers who buy a holiday drink. The union organizing Starbucks baristas says the striking workers are protesting a lack of progress in labor negotiations with the company. Starbucks Workers United says the walkout will impact stores in 45 cities, including New York, Philadelphia, Minneapolis and Dallas. Starbucks says fewer than 4% of its U.S. stores are unionized and sales were exceeding its expectations Thursday morning.

State officials are working to restore full SNAP benefits to millions of people after the long U.S. government shutdown has finally ended. Some state officials said Thursday that full November SNAP benefits should be available to spend on groceries by Friday, if not sooner. A series of court rulings and shifting policies from the Trump administration had led to inconsistent distribution of November benefits. About two-thirds of states had issued only partial or no benefits before the shutdown ended Wednesday night. The federal food program serves about 42 million people in lower-income households.

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to announce whether the Trump administration must start complying with lower court orders that require full payments in the SNAP food program. The administration accepted a pair of earlier rulings that said it must provide at least partial benefits. But there has been an intense court battle underway since last week after a judge ruled that full funding was required. SNAP helps about 1 in 8 American buy groceries. For many of them, November's payments are already delayed. Resuming the program is a piece of the legislation adopted by the Senate and now headed to the House on to reopen the federal government. A high court decision is expected Tuesday.

The Trump administration has asked a federal appeals court to block a judge's order to distribute November's full SNAP benefits during a U.S. government shutdown. A U.S. district judge had given the administration until Friday to make the payments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. However, the administration is seeking to suspend any court orders requiring it to spend more money than available in a contingency fund. Meanwhile, some states, such as California, New Jersey and Wisconsin, have already started distributing the payments. The ongoing court battle adds to weeks of uncertainty for the food program, which serves about 1 in 8 Americans.

A federal judge in Rhode Island has ordered the Trump administration to find the money to fully fund SNAP benefits for November. The ruling Thursday was in response to a challenge from cities and nonprofits complaining that the administration was only offering to cover 65% of the maximum benefit. The Trump administration said last month that it would not pay benefits at all for November because of the federal shutdown. Last week, two judges ordered the government to pay at least partial benefits using an emergency fund. It initially said it would cover half, but it now says it will cover 65%.

Americans throw away, on average, more than 300 million pounds of food at Thanksgiving. Families gather around the table to share turkey, swap stories and make memories. Yet the holiday carries a costly side effect for consumers, the environment and grocery store prices.