We recently passed the approximate half-way point of summer, a fact worth celebrating in a half-glass-full kind of way — and a reason to perform a mid-point status check. Are you making it through that reading list? Have you spent enough time at the beach? Have you tried at least half of those recipes you’ve been marking, saving, and creating?

If not, you have approximately another half to go; plenty of time to fit in everything you planned for your summer. Regardless, you can enjoy these “half and half” edition of Food News Round Up.

Research: 1/2 Science + 1/2 News Reporting

Media coverage on eating behavior research abounds, but the relationship between science and science news is often tenuous. These three studies were reported in the media this week and are presented here with the study or abstract to ensure research integrity.

• Due to perceived anonymity, food orders place online are more fattening, complicated
  • Read the study
• Neuroscience study finds fat in foods directly impacts taste perception
  • Read the abstract
• Restaurant meals a bit healthier after menu labeling law
  • Read the abstract 

Food Policy: 1/2 Foreign and 1/2 Domestic 

Food policy news this week spans both international and US concerns:

• Will food security be Obama’s foreign policy legacy?
• 2012 hottest year on record; FAO debates how much is attributable to livestock
• Africa’s looming food crisis could affect 18 million people
• Record drought increases corn prices, gives urgency to farm bill
• Wholesome Wave CEO makes the economic case for Food Stamps
• Could newly enacted school lunch rules result in more wasted food?

Food and Culture: 1/2 the Arts + 1/2 Cuisine

This week provides a veritable smorgasbord of interesting tidbits involving food and culture, divided between the visual and linguistic arts and culinary trends:

• Sport Your Food exhibit combines Olympic spirit, food, and art
• San Francisco chef finds poetry in food and food in poetry
• Hispanics in nursing homes increases along with culture shock in language and food
• Bagels on the rise in Jakarta, India
• Vegan food on the menu for NASA Mars mission

This post was originally published as part of a recurring feature called ‘Food News Round Up’ on the Gastronomy at BU blog.