Food and Beverage
Who owns that restaurant? The answer can affect food safety in unexpected ways, researchers find
Chelsea Sherlock, Mississippi State University and Erik Markin, Mississippi State University
![restaurant](https://i0.wp.com/stmdailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/AdobeStock_271625711-1022x1024-jpeg.webp?resize=740%2C741&ssl=1)
Imagine going on a road trip and passing several seemingly identical McDonald’s restaurants. Despite their uniform appearance, their ownership may vary widely: One might be run by a family, another by an individual entrepreneur, and others owned directly by the corporation.
This is possible because McDonald’s, like many other well-known fast-food restaurant chains, operates a under a franchise business model. Franchising allows companies to grow by licensing their brand to independent operators, who then manage day-to-day operations.
Ownership structure can significantly affect performance, profitability and other business outcomes, research shows. As professors who study family businesses, we were curious whether it could also be linked to health and safety outcomes.
We hypothesized that family-operated franchises would receive fewer health code violations compared with nonfamily-operated restaurants. Our reasoning was grounded in previous research showing that family-owned businesses often prioritize maintaining a strong reputation over short-term profits.
To test this, we analyzed health code violations at 1,492 quick-service restaurants across the southeastern U.S., categorizing them across three ownership types: family-owned, lone-founder and corporate-owned. We did this by analyzing public franchise disclosure documents and identifying whether one person, two or more members of the same family, or a parent company was listed as the owner.
The results surprised us. We found that family-owned franchises received more health code violations than both lone-founder and corporate-owned outlets. Family-owned franchises also had more frequent “critical” health code violations, like food contamination contributing to food poisoning.
In contrast, we found that corporate-owned franchises generally performed better in terms of health and safety.
Why would family-run businesses lag behind? We suspect it’s because company representatives visit corporate-run franchises more often, which ensures better compliance with health and safety standards. Lone-founder franchises also showed strong health code performance, possibly due to owners’ high level of personal investment and control.
While family-run franchises often excel at long-term goals – like preserving a family legacy and fostering community ties – our findings suggest they may struggle with day-to-day operational compliance pertaining to health and safety.
Why it matters
This study adds to the research on how different types of franchise ownership can influence performance outcomes – both financial and nonfinancial. It also offers several insights into why family-owned franchises might struggle with operational outcomes.
First, family-owned franchises may lack the frequent oversight that corporate-owned outlets receive, reducing their accountability for meeting health and safety standards.
Second, family-owned franchises may prioritize maintaining family harmony over strictly following rules set down by the head office. This can result in poor performance.
Finally, conflicts can arise when franchisees and franchisors have diverging goals. Research shows that family businesses often emphasize noneconomic goals like long-term reputation maintenance and less external monitoring, and thus generally have more conservative investment preferences. These tendencies run counter to the economic goals of most franchising parent companies.
Ultimately, our findings suggest that family franchisees may need to consider their effectiveness in managing a franchise outlet and for corporate franchisors to be mindful of the ownership form of their franchisees.
What still isn’t known
While our findings provide valuable insights, they are not without limitations. Our study focused on restaurants in a single region of the U.S., so it’s unclear how broadly the results can be applied. Future research should investigate whether these trends hold in other regions, countries and industries, such as retail franchises. Additionally, understanding how geographic distance between franchises and corporate offices influences monitoring could provide further insights.
The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work.
Chelsea Sherlock, Assistant Professor of Management, Mississippi State University and Erik Markin, Assistant Professor of Management, Mississippi State University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Food and Beverage
Bring Warmth to Winter with a Filling Family Dinner
This winter, enhance family dinners with healthy recipes featuring sweetpotatoes, a nutritious superfood. Try the Cheesy Sweetpotato Casserole for a comforting, flavorful meal that supports overall health.
![Dinner](https://i0.wp.com/d2z0g7klazfonw.cloudfront.net/production/additional_images/24134/17309_VID_Cheesy_Sweetpotato_Casserole_detail_Intro_Image.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
Bring Warmth to Winter with a Filling Family Dinner
(Family Features) Hearty, comforting foods that go perfectly with cold weather may be some of your family’s favorites, but if all those filling meals are starting to (literally) weigh you down, it’s time for a better-for-you spin.
Add a superfood to your winter menu for cold-weather dishes you can feel good about serving to your loved ones. Sweetpotatoes, known as a “diabetes superfood” by the American Diabetes Association, are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and fiber, all of which are good for overall health. They’re a natural sweetener for that “sweet” flavor you crave without the added sugar, making them a perfect addition to this Cheesy Sweetpotato Casserole made with sweetpotato puree, warm spices and ground turkey.
A healthy and easy weeknight dinner, this creative spin on a classic casserole takes advantage of sweetpotatoes’ sweet, savory versatility. They enhance both flavor and nutrition content in simple and elevated recipes alike. Plus, they can be cooked and prepared in several ways, such as on the stove, baked, microwaved, grilled, slow cooked or, in this case, boiled and pureed.
Visit ncsweetpotatoes.com to discover more ways to cook better-for-you family meals this winter. https://www.youtube.com/embed/NpMfx1ZUyBo?si=EZZcgfdjC5sFWSNb&controls=0
![17309 VID Cheesy Sweetpotato Casserole Detail image Embed](https://i0.wp.com/d2z0g7klazfonw.cloudfront.net/production/additional_images/24135/17309_VID_Cheesy_Sweetpotato_Casserole_Detail_image_Embed.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
Cheesy Sweetpotato Casserole
Recipe courtesy of the North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission
Servings: 6
- 1 medium North Carolina sweetpotato
- 16 ounces shell pasta (or any kind of noodle)
Ground Turkey:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground turkey
- 1/2 medium yellow onion, minced
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon powdered mustard
Cheese Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons tomato puree
- 1/2 cup chicken broth (or any kind of broth)
- 1 cup shredded colby jack cheese, plus additional for topping (optional)
- salt, to taste
- nonstick cooking spray
- fresh parsley, for garnish
- Peel sweetpotato and chop into 1-inch cubes. Place in pot and cover with water. Bring to boil over high heat. Cook 13-15 minutes until sweetpotatoes are tender. Drain and let cool 2-3 minutes then puree in food processor or blender.
- Bring large pot of water to boil. Add shell pasta. Cook until slightly harder than al dente as it will continue to cook in oven.
- Strain pasta, rinse with cold water and set aside.
- To make ground turkey: Heat large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil. When olive oil is fragrant, add ground turkey. Break turkey into small pieces. Mix in onion, garlic powder, salt, ground pepper and powdered mustard; cook 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- To make cheese sauce: Heat oven to 375 F and place sweetpotato puree in blender or food processor with tomato puree, chicken broth, 1 cup shredded cheese and salt, to taste. Blend until combined and sauce is smooth.
- Spray 9-by-13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Place noodles, ground turkey and sweetpotato sauce in casserole dish and mix until coated in sweetpotato cheese sauce. Sprinkle with additional shredded cheese, if desired, and bake 15 minutes.
- Remove, let cool 10 minutes and sprinkle with fresh parsley.
SOURCE:
North Carolina Sweetpotato Commission
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Food and Beverage
A How-To Guide for Deep Cleaning Your Grill
![Grill](https://i0.wp.com/d2z0g7klazfonw.cloudfront.net/production/additional_images/24142/17382-detail-intro-image.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
(Family Features) A clean grill can enhance the flavor of your food, making regular grill maintenance an essential part of your outdoor cooking routine.
Grills, especially those exposed to the elements, can accumulate dirt, rust and food residue that can affect performance and safety. Plus, residual char and grease can impart unwanted flavors and even lead to flare-ups.
Once you’ve gathered the right tools – a sturdy grill brush with stainless steel bristles, a scraper, a bucket of soapy water, microfiber cloths and grill cleaner or degreaser – consult this step-by-step guide to keep your grill in pristine condition, ensuring delicious meals every time.
- Preheat the grill for 15 minutes to loosen any stuck-on residue then turn it off and let it cool slightly.
- Ensure the gas supply is turned off before cleaning.
- Remove the grates and scrub them thoroughly with a grill brush and warm, soapy water. Rinse and let dry.
- Clean burners by wiping them with a damp cloth.
- Scrape the inside of the grill to remove any debris and use a vacuum to collect loose dirt and ash.
- Wipe down the exterior of the grill with a microfiber cloth and grill cleaner.
- Reassemble the grill once all parts are dry and give it a final wipe down.
In between deep cleanings, remember to clean your grill grates immediately after cooking while they are still warm to remove food particles and grease. Find more tips for the grill and beyond at eLivingtoday.com.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
SOURCE:
eLivingtoday.com
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Food and Beverage
Flavorful Snacks Packed with Lean Protein
Cooking flavorful and nutritious meals can enhance health and happiness. Following Mintel’s trends, popular flavors include sweet, sour, smoky, and spicy. Quick recipes like Tuna Stuffed Avocado and Chili Lime Tuna Dip promote healthy eating for families.
![lean protein](https://i0.wp.com/d2z0g7klazfonw.cloudfront.net/production/additional_images/24034/17320-detail-intro-image.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
(Family Features) Living a happier, healthier life often begins in the kitchen. From lunches on the go to sit-down family meals, keeping flavor at the center of your meal planning is key to maintaining healthy habits.
Based on Mintel’s 2025 Global Food and Drink Trends, experts predict that sweet, sour, smoky and spicy flavors will continue to rise in popularity among families in the United States this year. Show your family how much you care with delicious and nutritious dishes that don’t skimp on flavor. After all, it’s easier to stick to healthy eating when you find joy in the foods you share.
Next time you’re at the grocery store, stock up on pantry staples that deliver flavor and nutrition – without extra time in the kitchen. Whether you’re grabbing a snack on your way out the door or looking for ways to add protein to your next meal, Chicken of the Sea Wild Caught Tuna Packets are convenient and flavorful, delivering key nutrients.
Each packet is 100 calories or less and ready to eat with high-quality, responsibly sourced protein made with MSC-certified tuna, allowing you to dive into a world of deliciously seasoned, lean protein.
Your go-to wild caught tuna paired with the iconic blend of 18 herbs and spices, Chicken of the Sea Wild Caught Light Tuna Packet with Old Bay Seasoning is a match made in seafood heaven. Perfect for when you’re on the go, the unique combination of flavor, convenience and value helps fight that pesky midday hump, recover from a tough workout or reminisce about a favorite childhood recipe.
For a quick bite when you’re looking for an easy solution, this Tuna Stuffed Avocado recipe is simple yet satisfying and full of flavor. The protein from the tuna and healthy fat from the avocado help to power you through your day and keep you feeling satiated longer. Now on shelves, you can enjoy lean protein with a mix of classic seafood seasoning in recipes like this one.
With the help of the flavor experts at McCormick, Chicken of the Sea Wild Caught Tuna Packet with Chili Lime is a convenient protein-packed snack. The joyful zing of lime and chili spice takes this next recipe to another level and can help add a burst of flavor to any meal.
If you’re hosting a crowd or preparing a snack for loved ones, Better-For-You Chili Lime Tuna 7-Layer Dip lets you indulge in fun recipes without ditching health goals. For an extra nutritious touch, serve with chopped vegetables.
Make mouthwatering flavor the right decision for your body and mind with additional better-for-you recipe ideas at ChickenOfTheSea.com.
![17320 detail image embed1](https://i0.wp.com/d2z0g7klazfonw.cloudfront.net/production/additional_images/24036/17320-detail-image-embed1.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
Tuna Stuffed Avocado
Total time: 5 minutes
Servings: 2
- 1 packet (2 1/2 ounces) Chicken of the Sea Wild Caught Light Tuna with Old Bay Seasoning
- 1/4 cup whole kernel cooked corn
- 1 tablespoon minced parsley
- 1 avocado
- lemon wedges, for serving
- In bowl, combine tuna, corn and minced parsley.
- Halve avocado and carefully remove seed.
- Divide tuna mixture between avocado halves.
- Serve with lemon wedges.
![17320 detail image embed2](https://i0.wp.com/d2z0g7klazfonw.cloudfront.net/production/additional_images/24037/17320-detail-image-embed2.jpg?w=740&ssl=1)
Better-For-You Chili Lime Tuna 7-Layer Dip
Total time: 15 minutes
Servings: 10
- 15 ounces canned beans (pinto, black, red, etc.), drained
- 1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
- 1 cup guacamole
- 1 cup pico de gallo or salsa
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives
- 2 tablespoons low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 packets (2 1/2 ounces each) Chicken of the Sea Wild Caught Light Tuna with McCormick Chili Lime
- sliced or chopped jalapenos or Serrano chilies (optional)
- lime wedges, for serving
- vegetables or tortilla chips, for serving
- In 2-quart casserole dish, layer beans in single layer.
- Add remaining layers: Greek yogurt, guacamole, pico de gallo or salsa, black olives, cheese and tuna.
- Add additional layer of sliced jalapenos or Serrano chilies, if desired.
- Serve dip with tortilla chips or sliced vegetables.
SOURCE:
Chicken of the Sea
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