Sampler Platter: pelted by sandwiches, blue food dye & Iron Man's donuts

If a British synth-pop band attacks another British synth pop musician and doesn't say anything about it for 20 years, did it really happen? Apparently it did.

• We know this much is true: 20 years after terrorizing 80s pop star Howard Jones by pelting him with sandwiches while backstage at a Belgian awards show, the members of Spandau Ballet have apologized. The Press Association
• Can blue food dye protect your spine? Possibly, if you're a rat. U.S. News & World Report
• Sunnin, a much-loved Lebanese hole-in-the-wall in Westwood, will re-open on Aug. 1 in greatly expanded digs right across the street. Eater LA
• Reports from Comic-Con say that "Iron Man 2" opens with Robert Downey Jr.'s character eating donuts while perched in the middle of Randy's donut hole. TMZ
• The nation's obesity-related health costs could be as high as $147 billion. NPR
• Little Next Door gets a bar. Blackburn + Sweetzer
• Nanotechnology is the new genetic modification in the food science world. Boston.com
• Top TV & movie chefs. Chicago Tribune

--Elina Shatkin

Photo: Howard Jones (left) was once pelted with sammies but not the innocent pan bagnat at right. Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times.