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6906
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September 1, 2010: 05:39 PM EST
In a newly published position paper, the American Dietetic Association urges greater funding for food and nutrition assistance programs, increased nutrition education and efforts to promote economic self-sufficiency for households and individuals. Calling access to food "a basic human need and fundamental right," the paper defines food insecurity as "limited or intermittent access to nutritionally adequate, safe and acceptable foods accessed in socially acceptable ways." According to the ADA, more than 49 million people living in the U.S. experienced food insecurity in 2008, while 17.3 million people, including 1.1 million children, had "very low food security." The USDA defines very low food security as "multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake." Food insecurity is linked to lower academic achievement, poor health and chronic disease.
David H. Holben, "Food Insecurity in the United States", Position paper, American Dietetic Association, September 01, 2010, © ADA
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6901
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September 1, 2010: 11:42 AM EST
Pubescent girls whose diet is high in fats could have a greater risk of developing breast cancer later in life, whether or not they become obese or overweight, according to a U.S. study. The findings, which suggest that a high-fat diet may have harmful effects beyond those associated with gaining weight, are the latest in a long-term, multimillion-dollar project studying the impact of lifelong environmental exposures that may dispose women to breast cancer. "A high-fat diet during puberty can lead to the production of inflammatory products in the mammary glands of adults, which can promote cancer growth," a researcher said. Earlier research by the same scientists found that the hormone progesterone activates genes that trigger inflammation in the mammary gland that may increase breast cancer risk.
Sandra Haslam, et al., "High-fat diet during puberty linked to breast cancer risk later in life", News release, Mich. State Univ. Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Center, August 31, 2010, via EurekAlert, © MSU
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6900
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September 1, 2010: 10:45 AM EST
The U.S. Justice Department has asked for a permanent injunction against Michigan-based Scenic View Dairy and four top executives alleging that they sold dairy cows for human consumption that contained illegal drug residues in edible tissues. The complaint was filed on behalf of the FDA in a Michigan federal court. The defendants were also charged with selling for slaughter dairy cows that had been treated with drugs “contrary to the drugs’ FDA-approved labeling and without a valid veterinary prescription authorizing such use.” The company was warned numerous times about the violations by the FDA and the USDA. Drug traces allegedly found in the tainted meat included the antibiotics neomycin, penicillin, and sulfadimethoxine. Meat containing illegal levels of drugs can lead to development of bacteria that resist antibiotics, the FDA said.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, "FDA seeks court order against Michigan dairy", News release, FDA, August 31, 2010, © FDA
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6902
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September 1, 2010: 06:03 AM EST
With Americans spending $15 billion a year on non-vitamin, non-mineral, natural dietary supplements containing herbs or herbal mixtures, the U.S. National Institutes of Health has decided it’s time to take a closer look at the products to help consumers make better informed purchase decisions. NIH is allocating nearly $38 million to study the safety, effectiveness and biological action of botanical products at five new dietary supplement research centers. Funding will flow through two NIH offices and the National Cancer Institute. The awards of about $1.5 million each per year for five years were made to institutions in Louisiana, Illinois, Missouri and North Carolina. Botanicals to be studied include plant oils, garlic, soy, elderberry, licorice, black cohosh, St. John's wort and dong quai.
National Institutes of Health, "NIH announces five Botanical Research Centers", News release, NIH, August 31, 2010, © NIH
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6897
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August 31, 2010: 01:46 AM EST
The $1.5 billion Chinese organic food market is surging, thanks to a string of food safety scares involving toxic beans, tainted milk and pork, and dumplings contaminated with pesticides. The latest disclosure – investigators discovered that as much as ten percent of meals are cooked in discarded restaurant oil scoured from sewers – served as an additional shot in the arm for organic foods. According to reports, Chinese consumption of organic foods is double that of Japan, with sales quadrupling over the last five years. There are no laws to prevent the dredging and reselling of discarded restaurant oil, though the Chinese government promises action. Up to 20 percent of recovered oil is sold to biofuel makers, but the rest is apparently recycled back into the food chain.
Malcolm Moore, Nanhui, "China goes organic after scandal of cooking oil from sewers", Telegraph, UK, August 30, 2010, © Telegraph Media Group Limited
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6890
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August 28, 2010: 01:46 AM EST
An effective product tracing system would make it easier to identify food-borne illnesses earlier and control problems such as the egg salmonella outbreak faster, according to the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT). In a report submitted to the FDA, the organization suggests guidelines for creating a comprehensive product tracing system to track food products from farm to point of sale or service. The report recommends, for example, creating a standard list of key information to be collected; identifying points along the supply chain, internally and between partners, where information needs to be captured; keeping comprehensive records; using electronic systems for data transfer; and including traceability as a requirement within audits. The report says the system should be simple, user friendly, globally accepted and compatible with existing industry systems.
Jennifer C. McEntire, et al., "Traceability (Product Tracing) in Food Systems: An IFT Report Submitted to the FDA", Report by the Institute of Food Technologists to the FDA, August 27, 2010, © Institute of Food Technologists
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6893
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August 27, 2010: 02:32 PM EST
A Danish clinical study has found that, contrary to earlier research, eating broccoli sprouts does not improve cardiovascular performance or lower blood pressure. Forty participants, all of whom had hypertension, either ingested 10 grams daily of dried broccoli sprouts rich in the antioxidant glucosinolate, or continued their normal diet for four weeks. No significant differences in blood pressure or other measurements of cardiovascular health, including cholesterol levels, were found among the participants, even though the glucosinolate dosage of the dried sprouts was twice that used in earlier Japanese research. In that study, scientists had found a decrease in total and LDL cholesterol after only a week of daily ingestion of fresh broccoli sprouts.
Buris Christiansen, Natalia Bellostas Muguerza, Atheline Major Petersen, Britt Kveiborg, Christian Rask Madsen, Hermann Thomas, Nikolaj Ihlemann, Jens Christian Sørensen, Lars Køber, Hilmer Sørensen, Christian Torp-Pedersen, Helena Domínguez, "Ingestion of Broccoli Sprouts Does Not Improve Endothelial Function in Humans with Hypertension", PlosOne, August 27, 2010, © Creative Commons Attribution License.
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6894
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August 27, 2010: 12:52 PM EST
Retail sales of chocolate products in the U.S. rose three percent in 2009 to $17 billion and is expected to reach $19 billion within the next four years, according to a report from Packaged Facts. The increase was due mainly to two factors: three fourths of Americans bought chocolate and manufacturers raised prices. Demand for chocolate is also expected to rise globally, thanks to increasing use in the confectionery, beverage, restaurant, hospitality and personal care industries. The researcher sees growing demand for premium chocolate, especially in healthy formats that offer "better-for-you" ingredients like lavender and blueberry. "This may be a mature market, but it's a market that isn't afraid to innovate, whether that means using savory influences such as bacon and cheese or ethnic flavors such as curry and chipotle."
"Recession-Resilient U.S. Chocolate Market Reaches Record Sales in 2009 as Premium and Innovative Ingredients Pique Consumer Interest", Report, Packaged Facts, August 26, 2010, © Packaged Facts
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6892
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August 27, 2010: 08:55 AM EST
Win Chance of Thailand, a licensee of H.J. Heinz Co, has launched a ketchup targeted at children and an oyster sauce, both containing Omega-360, a taste-free, odor-free fish oil omega-3 ingredient provided by Denomega Nutritional Oils. Win Chance says its marketing strategy is to provide natural and healthy nutrition that tastes good, and clinical studies support the benefits of EPA and DHA omega-3, including heart and brain health. Win Chance produces Heinz-branded tomato ketchup, chili sauce and oyster sauce in Thailand, exporting 70 percent to countries in the Asia-Pacific region. In addition to making products under the Heinz brand, the company provides them under private labels. Products are available in major supermarkets and retail stores.
"Heinz Sauce Fortified with Omega 3 Ingredient Launched in Asia", Nutrition Horizon, August 26, 2010, © CNS Media BV
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6884
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August 27, 2010: 02:49 AM EST
An antibacterial enzyme known as lysozyme applied to food could protect people from intentional contamination with anthrax, U.S. scientists report. Lysozome, which is found in human tears and other body fluids, destroys protective cell walls of bacteria. Lysozyme in breast milk protects infants from certain infections and in the whites of hens’ eggs protects developing chicks. In their study, the researchers used a surrogate bacterial strain considered a stand-in for anthrax in hens’ egg white, and found that the lysozyme in egg white effectively killed the bacterial spores. It also showed some activity in killing spores added to ground beef and milk. The scientists say more research is needed on the effect of lysozome on bacteria in other types of foods, such as ground beef, milk, fruit juices, and vegetables.
Saeed A. Khan, Ph.D., et al., "Toward Safer Foods for Human Consumption with Anthrax Protection", Presentation, national meeting of the American Chemical Society, August 26, 2010, © American Chemical Society
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