@CCC:
Yes, OP has been on Sunday mornings for quite a while now (since the beginning?).
Honestly, looking at all the marketing for Toriko as a whole (anime, toys, games, other merchandise) the target audience is definitely the 6 to 12 crowd. Everything is bright, colorful, and flashy. Given the contrast with the manga (which, while not being "dark," has already shown itself to have a lot of One Piece-esque appeal/potential as far as fights, characters, themes, the world overall, etc.) I have to think that the decision to tone down pretty much everything outside of the manga was a conscious one made by the marketing execs at Toei. Whereas OP's success is nearly universal across age and gender demographics, perhaps the suits were looking for a new heavy-hitter specifically for the shounen niche (literally, very young boys). And the fact that the source material didn't quite fit that niche didn't stop them from adjusting everything else to make it so.
As others have said, I can't wait to see what they do with Tommyrod's flesh-rending bugs.
Censorship was different back in 99 when the OP anime made it's debut. I'm guessing they might have not had too much say in what was shown in the anime back then like they do now. And that's why Toriko the Anime is night and day when compared to the manga. And after realizing that it makes sense as to why they put a non-canon character (I.E. Tina) in canon situations.
As the series progresses and more characters are introduced, the series gets a tad more dark/gritty. So Maybe as the anime progresses as well and if it does well the nerffed animation might be lifted? But I wont hold my breath. And in fact, if it DOES do well with it being nerffed, then they might actually keep it that way until the anime eventually ends. Either way I still have the manga and that's enough for me. But what's funny is we have all this talk about censorship and Nerfing. But compared to 4kids this is heaven.
Just think if 4kids had gotten their grimy hands on this?
Instead of "KNIFE!" we'd have something like "SPORK! and "SPOON!" and the Creme de la creme, "3 HIT NAPKIN PUUUUNNCHHHH"
So, I think on some Level we should be thankful that the censorship hasn't at least pulled a 4kids.