Well hello to all you dear people! It’s May and the sun is out and happiness reigns. This is what has been going on this week in the food world:

‘Draconian’ school food regulations counter-productive
Measures put in place to encourage healthy eating in schools are having the opposite effect, according to caterers. It appears that pupils are eschewing the healthy food on offer and nipping down the road to the chippie. You can lead a horse to water etc etc…

A sausage a day might kill you
The risk of heart disease and diabetes is greatly increased by regularly eating processed meat, say a Harvard University team. The lack of concrete evidence notwithstanding, the results suggest that it’s the salt and preservatives in processed meat that cause this anomaly. Unprocessed meat, such as steak, appeared to cause no added risk.

An end to 24-hour drinking?
The new home secretary Theresa May has called for an end to 24-hour licensing laws in an effort to curb excessive drinking. May blamed round-the-clock grogging for an increase in public disorder. I’d take a look at unemployment and general dissatisfaction with life first, love, but that’s just me.

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Other food news this week:
* The cauliflower has suffered a fall from grace in recent years, according to studies.
* Welsh valley wins awards for its wine. British wine is one to watch, a wise fellow told me this week.
* It is believed that pizza in Naples is being cooked with wood made from coffins.
* Sales at Majestic wine are expected to increase after a decision to reduce minimum order from 12 to 6 bottles.
* American TV chef Juan-Carlos Cruz is accused of hiring homeless men to kill his wife.

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Blog of the week
I was thrilled to discover Recipe Rifle and its general give-a-shit attitude towards cooking. Remember folks – it’s only food.

Recipe of the week
A very pretty blog indeed, and a recipe for macaroons from For The Love Of Food.

Shocker of the week
The mark up on popcorn in cinemas is in the region of 2,500%, reports Alex Renton. Say no to popcorn people!

Video of the week
Suggestions that chefs are highly strung appear unfounded. Yoi.