Many Americans stocking up for summer cookouts are navigating three competing trends: a heightened demand for protein, an increased emphasis on health and historically high beef prices.

Seventy percent of Americans report protein as the nutrient they most want to consume, a 2025 International Food Information Council survey found. That helps explain why burgers remain a summer staple despite rising beef prices and certain health concerns.

Ground beef prices are up 14% from a year ago, according to NielsenIQ retail data. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) data shows average fresh beef prices reached a record $9.64 per pound in April.

OWNER OF VIRAL $1.34 BURGER STAND SHARES SECRET TO KEEPING PRICES UNCHANGED SINCE 2006

Despite the high price of beef, the American Farm Bureau Federation reported in May that "demand for meat continues to grow."

More than half of Americans (52%) surveyed said "the healthiness of food is highly important when deciding what to eat," according to Pew Research from last year. The same Pew survey also found, however, that 69% of Americans said food price hikes make it more difficult for them to eat healthfully. 

"The 'healthiest burger' isn't determined by a single ingredient. It will be relative to a person's health goals and nutrient needs," Caroline West Passerrello, Ed.D., RDN, LDN, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, told Fox News Digital.

"Beef, poultry, seafood and even plant-based burgers can all have a place on the menu," she added. "Rather than looking for a perfect burger, consumers may benefit from considering protein quality, saturated fat, sodium, portion size and what they're pairing it with."

Burgers shouldn't be labeled as inherently good or bad — and there are pros and cons of each type, Passerrello said.

Plant-based options aren't automatically healthier, Passerrello said. High-quality animal protein sources are rich in iron, zinc and vitamin B12, she noted.

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Many chefs recommend choosing ground beef with an 80/20 or 85/15 meat-to-fat ratio for the juiciest, most flavorful burger.

"Choosing 80% lean beef may improve flavor and satisfaction for some people, but that doesn't necessarily make it the healthiest option for everyone," Passerrello cautioned. "Individuals with elevated LDL cholesterol, cardiovascular disease or those working to reduce saturated fat intake may prefer leaner cuts."

The best choice of beef depends on personal health goals, taste preferences and overall dietary pattern, she said.

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While some consumers are experimenting with more decadent burger toppings such as truffle aioli, foie gras, goat cheese or caviar, the classics — cheese, lettuce, tomato, ketchup and onion — are still the most popular, as of a 2021 YouGov survey.

These basic toppings also typically make the best burger, Wahlburgers executive chef Paul Wahlberg told Fox News Digital.

"Sometimes less is better," he said. "The simpler, the better is always good."

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Consumers should consider the overall meal when evaluating the healthfulness and cost of a backyard burger, Passerrello said.

"A burger doesn't exist in isolation," she said.

"The bun, toppings, condiments, portion size, beverages and side dishes can have just as much influence on the nutritional quality of the meal as the patty itself. Adding vegetables, choosing whole grains when available and balancing the meal with fruits or vegetables can meaningfully improve overall nutrient intake."

One of human history's oldest-cultivated foods is having a moment as more people reach for healthier alternatives to ultra-processed foods.

Sales of dates in the U.S. were up 33% in 2025, a founding member of organic California-grown date company Joolies California Superfruit told Food52.com.

Those numbers are expected to grow significantly, Fortune Business Insights reported. 

NUTRITION EXPERTS RANK THE 5 HEALTHIEST NUTS AND THE ONE THAT STANDS ABOVE THE REST

By 2034, the market size for dates in America is projected to reach $1.6 billion.

In the U.K., sales of medjool dates have increased 100% at U.K. grocery retailer Ocado compared to last year, the Guardian reported.

Globally, the market size for dates is projected to experience a compound annual growth rate of 6.1%, going from $34.5 billion in 2026 to $55.58 billion in 2034, according to Fortune Business Insights.

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As consumers increasingly prioritize less-processed, whole foods, dates have surged in popularity on social media. 

Videos of people trying dates for the first time and recipes for "healthy desserts" featuring dates as a sugar alternative have gone viral.

Health benefits of dates, according to the Cleveland Clinic, include improved gut health, better brain function, healthier skin and a lowered risk of several diseases.

"While dates might be a newer trend for consumers, they've been the go-to ingredient among dietitians to sweeten smoothies and lower-sugar dessert foods for years," Lisa Moskovitz, a registered dietitian, founder of the NY Nutrition Group and author of "The Core 3 Healthy Eating Plan," told Fox News Digital.

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"Not only are they super tasty and versatile, but they provide fiber, antioxidants and other essential nutrients like magnesium and potassium."

The Middle East and Africa still dominate the demand for dates and accounted for 85.28% of the market share in 2025.

Historians believe ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia were cultivating dates as early as 6,000 to 8,000 years ago. The stone fruit remains culturally significant to the region, as Muslims typically break their Ramadan fasts with dates, according to Brandeis University.

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Date types are divided into three main categories: soft, semi-dry and dry. 

Less moist varieties are more commonly used for baking and cooking, while high-moisture dates, namely medjool, are popular for snacking.

Moskovitz cautioned that the sugar content in dates can add up quickly.

"The average date contains about 15 grams of natural sugar — so if you need to be careful of sugar intake, pair this delicious dried fruit with some nuts or seeds to balance blood glucose levels," she said.

The marijuana legalization movement sold Americans a simple promise: legalize cannabis, regulate it, tax it, and the black market would disappear.

That promise has failed spectacularly.

Today, illegal marijuana dealers remain active across California and throughout the nation. Meanwhile, the "legal" marijuana industry — the very industry that was supposed to replace them — is struggling with declining sales, shrinking profits, surrendered licenses, and falling tax revenues and investment loses.

The problem is not that Americans have stopped using marijuana. That would be a great outcome for public health and safety. The reality is quite the opposite.

MARIJUANA IS NOT HARMLESS. THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE AND THE EVIDENCE KEEPS GROWING

National surveys show that cannabis use continues to increase. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), past-month marijuana use rose from 37 million Americans in 2021 to more than 44 million in 2024, while past-year use also reached record levels. Yet during the same period, California's "legal" cannabis sales declined for three consecutive years. If demand is growing while "legal" sales are shrinking, the obvious conclusion is that consumers are increasingly obtaining marijuana from sources outside the licensed marketplace.

Three Consecutive Years of Sales Declines in California

Year — Legal Cannabis Sales:

2023 $4.4 billion

2024 $4.2 billion

2025 $3.9 billion

A cumulative decline of roughly 11% from 2023 to 2025.

This raises an uncomfortable question: What exactly has legalization accomplished?

The answer appears to be that legalization created a government-endorsed marijuana industry that now performs many of the functions once handled by the black market itself. Licensed marijuana dealers advertise cannabis products, normalize marijuana use, introduce new customers to the drug, expand public acceptance, and help grow overall demand. They operate attractive retail storefronts, develop sophisticated branding campaigns, and spend millions of dollars promoting marijuana consumption.

In doing so, they have effectively become the customer-acquisition arm of the broader marijuana economy.

Once consumers become accustomed to using marijuana, many discover that they can purchase the same product through underground channels at significantly lower prices. Illegal dealers do not pay licensing fees, testing costs, regulatory compliance expenses, labor mandates, security requirements, local taxes, state taxes, or federal tax burdens. As a result, they can often undercut "legal" sellers on price while benefiting from the increased consumer demand that legalization helped create.

In other words, licensed marijuana dealers are spending money to recruit customers who can later become customers of illegal marijuana dealers.

MILLIONS OF ILLICIT CANNABIS PACKAGES DISGUISED AS CHILDREN'S CANDY SEIZED IN CALIFORNIA

California's numbers tell the story. The state now has more than 10,000 inactive or surrendered cannabis licenses, exceeding the number of active licenses. Tax revenues that have been baked into city and state budgets are declining. In San Diego, cannabis tax collections have fallen dramatically from their post-legalization highs. Across the country, cannabis-related stocks have lost substantial value with a major cannabis-sector fund reporting a - 67.40% one-year return for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2025, while the S&P 500 was up 15.16% over the same period. Investors increasingly recognize that legalization has not produced the thriving, profitable industry that many predicted.

The industry's defenders argue that legalization has reduced criminal activity and increased consumer safety. Yet the black market remains enormous. By some estimates, over 60% marijuana consumed in California is still obtained outside the "legal" system.

The result is a policy outcome no legalization advocates anticipated but prevention specialists predicted. Rather than replacing illegal drug dealers, legalization created a second class of drug dealers — licensed, regulated, and taxed — who now compete with the original ones.

The irony is difficult to ignore. The "legal" marijuana industry has spent years helping normalize pot use, expanding consumer demand, and increasing public acceptance of the drug. But much of that expanded demand continues to benefit the very underground market legalization was supposed to eliminate.

The black market has thrived. The "legal" market is shrinking. And taxpayers should be wondering whether the grand promises of marijuana legalization were ever realistic in the first place.

Florida and Texas have for years attracted Americans feeling high-tax, high-cost states with an absence of personal income tax and business-friendly policies. Now, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is betting that reducing property taxes could become the Sunshine State's next competitive advantage.

The stakes extend well beyond Florida.

The competition for new residents translates directly to political influence, with population growth affecting everything from congressional representation to Electoral College votes.

TAX-WEARY AMERICANS FLEE BLUE STATES FOR REPUBLICAN-LED SOUTHERN HAVENS

As Americans continue relocating to southern states in search of affordability amid a bubbling economic crisis, the latest proposal in Florida could become a test of whether low-tax states can further widen their advantage over higher-tax rivals.

Supporters argue it would strengthen Florida's appeal to homeowners, retirees and businesses while giving it a new edge over competitors like fellow red state Texas. Critics counter that any tax savings must eventually be offset through spending cuts, higher fees or alternative revenue sources, making Florida a potential case study in both the promise and the pitfalls of aggressive tax reduction.

The governor is backing a constitutional amendment that would dramatically expand Florida's homestead exemption, potentially lowering tax bills for millions of homeowners.

Under the proposal, Florida's existing $50,000 homestead exemption would increase to $150,000 in 2027 and to $250,000 in 2028. In practice, the exemption reduces the portion of a home's value that is subject to taxation, lowering the tax bill for qualifying homeowners.

For homeowners, that could translate to meaningful tax savings. For local governments, however, it would mean collecting substantially less revenue from one of their largest funding sources.

That tension between tax relief and government funding is at the heart of the debate.

THE RED STATES RACING AHEAD IN AMERICA’S POWERFUL WEALTH BOOM — AND THE STATES FALLING BEHIND

State analysts estimate the measure could reduce local government revenue by more than $8.4 billion annually, raising questions about how cities and counties would make up the difference.

Backers say the proposal would provide relief to homeowners at a time when many Floridians are grappling with rising housing costs, insurance premiums and inflation. Critics, however, warn that property taxes help fund many of the local services residents rely on every day.

"While the idea of eliminating the property tax sounds appealing, it's important to remember the local services those tax dollars provide," Nicole Fox, a policy analyst with the Center for State Tax Policy at the Tax Foundation, told Fox News Digital.

"The quality of a community's schools and roads, as well as the safety of a community, are important both for quality of life and contributing to the value of one's home," she added.

Fox noted that the proposal would eventually eliminate roughly 36% of homestead property taxes and argued that a reduction of that magnitude would likely require some form of replacement revenue.

AMERICANS KEEP MOVING TO TEXAS AND FLORIDA — BUT ONE OTHER RED STATE IS GROWING EVEN FASTER

"When you are talking about 36% of homestead property taxes eventually being eliminated, there must be a plan for at least some degree of revenue replacement," Fox said. "Currently that plan is unknown."

Fox, who recently co-authored a Tax Foundation analysis of the Florida proposal, argued the measure could shift the tax burden onto businesses, renters and property owners who do not qualify for the homestead exemption.

"It would do so through less stable revenue sources that could alter consumer behaviors and negatively impact businesses, as well as shift the burden to those who do not qualify for the homestead exemption," Fox said.

ONE SOUTHERN CITY YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF IS GROWING FASTER THAN ANYWHERE ELSE IN AMERICA

Florida already has "a very competitive tax structure," Fox added, but warned that "this drastic restructure risks significant uncertainty and economic harm."

Whether voters ultimately embrace the proposal remains an open question. The constitutional amendment must receive support from at least 60% of voters to take effect.

If approved, supporters argue it could cement Florida's status as one of the nation's most attractive destinations for homeowners and businesses, potentially giving it a new advantage over competitors like Texas and South Carolina.

If critics are right, however, the proposal could become a test case for whether billions of dollars in property tax relief can be delivered without shifting costs elsewhere.

Either way, the debate unfolding in Florida is being watched closely as states compete for residents, businesses and investment in an increasingly mobile America.

The American Culture Quiz is a weekly test of our unique national traits, trends, history and people — including current events and the sights and sounds of the United States.

This week's quiz highlights music milestones, patriotic pursuits — and much more.

Can you get all 8 questions right?

Give it a try and see how you do!

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To try your hand at more quizzes from Fox News Digital, click here. 

Also, to take our latest News Quiz — published every Friday — click here.

Former Cuban leader Raúl Castro made his first public appearance Friday since the Trump administration charged him with murder over the 1996 shoot-down of planes operated by a Cuban exile group.

Castro appeared on state television during an Interior Ministry celebration in Havana, according to Reuters.

The appearance came weeks after the Department of Justice unsealed an indictment accusing Castro of playing a role in the downing of two aircraft operated by the Miami-based exile organization Brothers to the Rescue nearly 30 years ago.

Castro was charged with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, destruction of aircraft and four counts of murder.

DOJ, TREASURY INVESTIGATE NONPROFITS AND LEADERS ALLEGEDLY COORDINATING WITH CUBA IN INFLUENCE CAMPAIGN

Castro, who turned 95 on Wednesday, was last seen publicly during May Day celebrations in Havana, days before the indictment was unsealed.

Prior to his May Day appearance, Castro had remained out of public view for months, appearing only at a public ceremony in Cuba's capital in January honoring 32 Cuban soldiers killed during the U.S. military operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The indictment centers on a February 1996 incident in which Cuban military aircraft allegedly shot down two unarmed civilian planes operated by Brothers to the Rescue, killing four men: Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre Jr., Mario de la Peña and Pablo Morales.

OBAMA’S BASEBALL OUTING WITH CASTRO REIGNITES FURY AFTER TRUMP DOJ DROPS HAMMER ON CUBAN LEADER

Prosecutors allege the aircraft were flying outside Cuban territory when they were destroyed.

The indictment came amid rising tensions in the Caribbean and a series of comments from Trump and his surrogates hinting at possible regime change in the island nation.

President Donald Trump previously praised the indictment, saying Cuban Americans whose families suffered under the communist regime had waited decades for accountability.

TRUMP DECLARES NATIONAL EMERGENCY OVER CUBA, THREATENS TARIFFS ON NATIONS THAT SUPPLY OIL TO COMMUNIST REGIME

"We have big news on Cuba, as you know, with the indictment of Castro," Trump said. "A lot of people have suffered very big, very, very, at levels that few people would understand."

Trump also suggested tensions with Cuba would not escalate following the indictment.

"There won’t be escalation," he said. "We won’t have to."

MADURO'S CAPTURE IS 'BEGINNING OF THE END' FOR CUBA'S REGIME, HOUSE INTELLIGENCE CHAIR SAYS

Still, the decision to indict Castro fueled comparisons to the pressure campaign Trump previously used against Maduro.

"At the very least, it means symbolically that he is now set up just as Nicolás Maduro was," Christine Balling, a Cuba expert at the Institute of World Politics and former advisor to U.S. Special Operations Command South, previously told Fox News Digital.

The U.S. indicted Maduro on narco-terrorism charges while tightening sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector, backing opposition efforts to remove him from power and increasing military operations in the Caribbean.

"I don't think that we are necessarily going to conduct the same operation," Balling said. "Raúl Castro is 94 years old. It might not be worth the trouble."

Still, Balling argued that the indictment sent "a very straightforward message that we are 100% behind the fall of the Castro regime."

Fox News Digital's Robert McGreevy, Greg Wehner and Morgan Phillips, along with Fox News' David Spunt, Bill Mears and Jake Gibson contributed to this report. Reuters also contributed to this report.

Customs and Border Protection stopped two separate vehicles and confiscated over $300,000 worth of narcotics over the span of a day.

The apprehensions continue to demonstrate the high volume of narcotics that smugglers are attempting to bring across the southern U.S. border, even as immigration numbers have plummeted in recent months.

On Sunday, May 17, agents at the San Ysidro Port of Entry referred a 2013 Honda Civic for secondary inspection. After an imaging system detected anomalies in the car’s firewall, they discovered six packages of white fentanyl powder worth roughly $113,600 along with 8.4 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $161,600.

CBP OFFICERS SEIZE OVER $14M OF ALLEGED METHAMPHETAMINE AT SOUTHERN BORDER

That same day at the Calexico East Port of Entry, about 100 miles away, a 2011 Nissan Cube was also sent to secondary inspection. Agents there discovered 63 packets of methamphetamine after a scan of that vehicle detected anomalies in its flooring.

Officials praised both detections.

"Sunday may be a day of rest for many, but criminals don’t take days off, and neither do our CBP officers," San Diego Director of Field Operations Sidney Aki said

"Our officers remain vigilant around the clock, and these significant seizures are a direct result of their commitment to keeping dangerous drugs like these from entering our country."

SOUTHERN BORDER APPREHENSIONS PLUNGE MORE THAN 90% FROM YEAR AGO IN APRIL, CBP SAYS

The agency believes its operations are a continuation of efforts laid out by President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin, even as immigration border crossings have come down.

Since the end of 2024, border crossings have plummeted, going from over 144,000 encounters in December 2024 to just 10,000 in April.

Even so, CBP has reported several high-profile smuggling attempts that have sought to bring weapons, narcotics and humans across the U.S. border.

ARREST OF GANG MEMBER CONVICTED OF MURDER PUTS DEM STATE’S SANCTUARY POLICIES ON BLAST

Recently, CBP has released reports on how it had prevented a car carrying a rocket-propelled grenade launcher from crossing the border, detected dozens of immigrants crammed into a semi-truck and even detained a boat off the coast of the Dominican Republic with the help of a Black Hawk helicopter.

"CBP officers along the southwest border stop illegal activity, including the smuggling of drugs and humans, and facilitate lawful entry for millions of legitimate travelers into the United States," CBP said in a statement.