All The Bite

Taco Bell's parent company Yum! Brands is already claiming victory in fast food breakfast, but it is misleading, writes Scott Humes. In fact, Taco Bell and Yum! Brands' declaration does not mean competitors should worry.

The world population is estimated to rise over 9 billion in 2050, putting pressure on food security, Cara Mayo and Ben Simon write. Could food recovery be the key to securing the food industry?

Uber, the taxicab and ridesharing service, is delivering ice cream to its users in 144 cities for the third year in the row. Until 5 p.m., smartphone users with the Uber app can  request a shipment of ice cream to be delivered 'within minutes.'

A television series in Kenya is trying to help small-scale farmers with issues such as financial management and irrigation. For example, the show has been helping one Ugandan woman turn her farm into a business to support her nine children.

Given that McDonald's US sales have been declining in 2014, McDonald's franchisees are wondering if the brand needs to reinvent itself. In a survey, some franchisees in the US say 'McDonald's is more and more like a convenience store.'

McDonald's may need to watch out for Chick-fil-A's growing business over the next 10 years, experts say. Chick-fil-A has one-sixth of McDonald's US sales in 2013, but it is growing rapidly. 

Swiss chocolate maker Lindt & Sprügli says it is acquiring Russell Stover Candies, making the company the third-largest chocolate maker in North America. Details of Lindt & Sprügli's acquisition were not disclosed, but several media outlets report the deal was between $1 billion to $1.4 billion.

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) published an atlas containing a series of maps illustrating the current situation of African smallholder agriculture. The IFPRI's goal with the maps is to inform readers efforts to improve the lives of Africa's rural poor. 

The US Department of Agriculture has organized the US Food Waste Challenge to encourage Americans to reduce and recover food waste. By participating and promoting the challenge, the USDA will advertise participating organizations and their food waste reduction activities.

Restaurants have been slowing down on advertisement spending in the US. The reason behind the trend is that many US restaurants are offering fewer limited time offers (LTOs).

7-Eleven Day is here, which means the chain will give away free Slurpees between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., plus a week of free treats to customers who download the new 7-Eleven app. Enjoy 7-Eleven Day now, before a summertime 'polar vortex' drops temperatures across the country.

Crumbs Bake Shop shut down all its stores Monday, but it may be coming back. Crumbs Bake Shop is reportedly receiving financial help from an investor group that includes businessman Marcus Lemonis and Fischer Enterprises, which bought Dippin' Dots Ice Cream in 2012.

Half the farmers in the US are 55 or older, which means fewer small-scale farmers in the future. At the same time, the agricultural sector may be a source of jobs for the 74.2 unemployed youth in the world.

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is promoting awareness for saving bees and other pollinators. Without bees to pollinate, agriculture and food production could be in danger, the group says.

Crumbs Bake Shop is closing all 48 of its stores in the US following years of poor sales. Crumbs Bake Shop may file for bankruptcy, so what led to the once-trendy cupcake's demise in popularity? What food, if any, will become the next big food fad?

From the US to Australia, many cities and towns are experiencing more severe droughts in recent years. Although there is aid to help people in the short term, experts and policymakers are pushing for a long-term drought policy for farmers.

FoodLink, a New York food hub, is working on a new approach to distributing local produce across the state of New York. FoodLink has distributed more than $125 million worth of food to communities in western and central New York.

Seven years ago, the Danish island of Samso became the first island to use renewable energy for 100 percent of its electricity needs. Now, Samso's farming communities are moving toward organic farming – and away from fossil fuels.

Although some burger businesses will be closed on July 4, here are 14 burger joints in the US that are still open on Independence Day. Several of these burger businesses will also offer special Independence Day burgers. 

A conference in Nairobi has leaders calling for better food security and environment services in Africa. Agricultural production must increase by 70 percent in order to feed people in Africa, according to one United Nations official.