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Mushrooms in the News: 3-2-18

SONIC officially announced the release of their SONIC Slinger – the first blended burger to be served at fast food restaurants nationwide. Top trade and consumer publications including Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Business, QSR, Food Beast, Manhattan Digest and more featured the news.

The Packer gave a nice nod to the Council regarding the SONIC news, noting “The Council has been instrumental in helping foodservice perfect recipes that use the meat-mushroom mix.”

Food Beast says: “The blended burger patties give SONIC and the Signature Slingers a new role in the fast food industry. The chain is now leading the charge amongst major QSRs when it comes to healthy innovation thanks to this burger, which lowers cost and calories while retaining flavor.”

In preparation for the launch, SONIC has been serving up Signature Slingers in the streets of NYC yesterday and today from their food truck. The Slinger will be available nationwide on March 5.

The February Blenditarian Challenge ended with another round of newly pledged blenditarians and inspirational social shares, including the five winners:

• Udon Wedding Soup with blended mushroom meatballs is the healthier choice. #blenditarian #mushrooms #blenditarianchallenge
• Mushroom-Swiss Burger, only the mushrooms are blended into the inside of the burger. Yum! Blending adds great texture! #BlenditarianChallenge
• I love the flavor blended mushrooms bring to tacos! My kids don’t even know! #blenditarianchallenge
• Irish date night! Mushroom and beef shepherd’s pie paired with Guinness, naturally. #blenditarianchallenge
• Blended with mushrooms, jalapenos and cheese. The best burgers ever! #blenditarianchallenge

NOTEWORTHY ARTICLES

Blend Coverage

• Slideshow: New menu items from Sonic, Wendy’s, Perkins – Food Business News
• New Signature Slingers Coming To Sonic on March 5, 2018 – Chew Boom
• Sonic Drive-In rolls out mushroom-blended burger nationwide – Nation’s Restaurant News
• Sonic slings mushroom-meat blend burgers at all U.S. locations – The Packer
• Sonic Goes Systemwide With Blended Burger – Restaurant Business
• Fast food chain introduces mushroom-blended burger – Fresh Plaza
• Sonic Launches First Fast-Food Mushroom-Blended Burger – QSR
• Sonic Introduces The First QSR Mushroom-Blended Burger Starting Under 350 Calories – Perishable News
• Sonic’s New Signature Slinger’s Contain a Groundbreaking Burger Patty – Food Beast
• ‘Blended Burger’ Allows a Simple Shift to More Sustainable Eating – EcoWatch
• Sonic’s New Signature Slingers Feature a Mushroom-Beef Burger Patty – Trend Hunter
• Sonic Drive-In to Debut New Blended Mushroom Burger Nationwide – Wide Open Eats
• Fast food chain debuts ‘new sustainable burger’ – Sustainable Food News (subscription required)
• ‘Blended Burger’ Allows a Simple Shift to More Sustainable Eating – EcoWatch
• Mushroom-beef burgers from Sodexo, Sonic are cutting calories and emissions – GreenBiz
• Sonic Drive-In’s Delicious Food Truck Arrives this Thursday! – Manhattan Digest
• SONIC Signature Slingers Cheeseburger – MoneyFocus.com
• Elon Musk’s mother Maye Musk on raising the world’s greatest inventor – Financial Review
• Mother of Invention – The Economist 1843
• A Burger that Saves Emissions Taking 2 Million Cars Off the Road – South-South News (NY) and Global Issues
• Sonic Adds New Mushroom-Beef Burger Patty – Brand Eating
• Stephen Fries: Fun and healthful food trends for 2018 – Milford Orange Bulletin (CT) and The Eagle (TX)
• Report: Beef/Mushroom-blend burgers could help US reduce emissions – SmartBrief on Sustainability
• Nature News Update – The Sunbury News (OH)

Mushroom Nutrition, Recipes and Other News

• Explore Wellness: Mushroom Popularity – National Geographic
• Mushrooms are turning up in coffee, chocolate, even beauty ‘dusts.’ How come? – Washington Post (and in print)
• You Should Be Cooking with Enoki Mushrooms, the Easiest fungi to Love – Bon Appetit
• This mushroom risotto is feeling its oats – Washington Post (and in print)
• These mushrooms were made to be skewered – Washington Post (reposted in Seattle Times)
• Comforting lentil soup doesn’t need meat – Beacon (WA)

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NOTEWORTHY SOCIAL/DIGITAL ACTIVITY

Most Popular Social Posts
MC Facebook: Avocado contains many healthful nutrients. Top off this avo toast with umami-packed mushrooms for a healthful, savory meal! #HeartMonthMushroom Avocado Toast ? http://bit.ly/2DC1M6x

• 1,114 Reactions
• 19,139 Reached

Blenditarian Facebook: Tip: Make these freezer-friendly Crispy Golden Dumplings today and enjoy later! How do you save time in the kitchen? #blenditarian Recipe ? http://mushro.ms/2ENJv3g

• 180 Reactions
• 1,046 Reached

MC Twitter: Top your spinach salad off with meaty, mighty mushrooms for a delicious #HeartMonth recipe!

• 9,616 Reached
• 4 Responses, Clicks, Retweets

Blenditarian Twitter: Congrats to our February #BlenditarianChallenge winners! Each of their recipes are automatically entered to win the Annual Grand Prize of $2,500 (+ $2,500 to a local food bank of their choice)! @GateTraveler@orangepin75 @LisaCurrier2 @goodgriefcooks https://t.co/tOyOtV4uY7

• 1,019 Reached
• 5 Responses, Clicks, Retweets

MC Instagram: Asparagus is a good source of Vitamin K – a nutrient that helps prevent blood clotting. Top this creamy mushroom pasta sauce with asparagus for a nutritious (and tasty) dinner! #heartmonth

• 76 Likes

Blenditarian Instagram: Eat better with these Beef Stroganoff Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms! ?

• 52 Likes