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Czechs are bigger consumers of poultry meat, drink less milk, eat more cheese, and are still in the top global league for beer consumption. Those are some of the conclusions of a Czech Statistical Officer survey of Czech trends at the table. Average poultry consumption shot up 13 times between 1948 and 2009, beef consumption fell and pork consumption has stagnated, according to the survey. While Czechs drink less milk, cheese consumption has risen. Fresh fruit is also more available and popular with average consumption rising to 90 kilogrammes a year.

Food banks are part of a humanitarian aid network across Europe and Czech civic associations are gradually developing this form of aid for the poor here in the Czech Republic as well. After Prague and Ostrava which are only able to cover their own needs, the town of Litoměrice has launched a food bank for the whole north Bohemian region.

What do foxes and yoghurt have in common? Nothing at all, aside, that is, from that fact that they are the subjects of some interesting experiments in Czech science. Welcome to this month’s Science Journal.

As the German dioxin scare widens, the Czech Agrarian Chamber has been ringing alarm bells, appealing to Czech meat-processing plants not to buy cheap German pork and calling for a change of legislation which would ensure that food labels clearly state the source of food products.

Last week was the time to check out Prague’s ghosts, lovers of good food are having a ball, and set your own price: a café owner finds a way to drum up business. Find out more in Magazine with Daniela Lazarova.

The animated film Kuky Returns is back – this time in English, a copper five haler coin minted in 1924 sells for half a million crowns and, Czech tattoo artists hold an auction of their work – on oranges and lemons. Find out more in Magazine with Daniela Lazarová.

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority banned the sale on Thursday of a batch of salted pistachio nuts imported from Iran due to a high presence of aflatotoxins – naturally occurring mycotoxins often found on cereals, roots, or tree nuts. The product was uncovered at the chain store Kaufland, which has since removed the product from the shelves. The stores are offering a refund to consumers.

The Czech Agricultural and Food Inspection Authority has begun checks at wine retailers on whether a top Czech wine producer has fulfilled demands it withdraw 2009 vintage sales from store shelves. Templářské sklepy Čejkovice was given the instruction to remove more than a million litres of wine from sale after it was found to have used unknown grapes along with its own production. The wine producer has challenged the inspectorate’s moves and threatened legal action against it. The state food and drinks authority says the case could compromise its success in recent years in helping Czech wines win a better reputation for quality.

A junior team representing the Czech Association of Cooks and Pastry chefs has won a gold medal at the Culinary World Cup 2010 in Luxembourg. The team won with its gingerbread creation called Girl’s dream – shaped like a hat, an umbrella, a mirror, a fan and a basket. They also wowed the jury with a 90 centimeter high chocolate statue. A total of 2300 cooks from more than 50 countries are taking part in the event which runs until Wednesday, November 24th.

The Supreme Court on Monday upheld the right of restaurants to determine their closing time. The court was dealing with a complaint from a restaurant in the town of Břeclav protesting against a regulation issued by the town hall which said all restaurants in town must close by 10 pm on workdays and by midnight at the weekend. The Supreme Court ruled that the local authorities had no right to issue such restrictions. The ruling has set an important precedent since hundreds of town halls fight similar battles on the grounds that late-night opening hours disturb the peace for those living in the close vicinity.