Two new studies published at the American Academy of Ophthalmology journal show that eating some forms of seafood might help protect older people’s eyesight, while measuring the eyes’ retinal nerve cell functionality may help detect glaucoma early. The John Hopkins School of Medicine study found corroborative evidence that older people whose regular diet included fish and shellfish rich in Omega-3, a nutrient thought to be essential to eye health, reduces the risk of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in the US among white people. The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine study, on the other hand, discovered that a pattern electroretinogram optimized for glaucoma screening (PERGLA) can measure dysfunctions in retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) at the outset of glaucoma and help early detection and treatment evaluation of the disease.

A review conducted in China of several trials that studied the effects of ginseng on cognitive function has revealed that it has no beneficial effects on study subjects’ cognition. It is currently a best-seller in the global herbal market but, although it does appear to have some benefits for cognition and quality of life, the study concluded that there was a lack of credible evidence showing that Panax ginseng enhances cognitive capability in healthy participants, and little in the way of quality evidence that it benefits patients with dementia. The review also recommended the need for more thoroughly designed studies that would look deeper into the herb’s supposed health benefits.

The naturally-occurring organic acid creatine, found mostly in meat, fish and other animal products, is often used as a muscle-enhancing supplement in sports applications. Various studies have shown that creatine also influences brain functioning. Because creatine levels are known to be lower in vegetarians, British researchers examined whether creatine supplementation would enhance cognitive functions in vegetarians. For the double-blind study, 128 young adult females were divided into vegetarian and non-vegetarian groups that consumed either a placebo or 20 g of creatine supplement for 5 days. After applying a battery of cognitive function tests, researchers found that creatine supplementation did not influence measures of verbal fluency and vigilance. “However, in vegetarians rather than in those who consume meat, creatine supplementation resulted in better memory,” researchers concluded.

A study by John Hopkins University researchers finds that diets richer in fish and shellfish tend to slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a common vision problem that can lead to blindness if left untreated. Researchers attribute the AMD benefits to the high levels of omega 3 fatty acid found in fish. The study, which covered 2520 participants aged between 65 and 84, also found that as little as one large serving of fish per week can produce the beneficial effect.

A review 43 randomized trials involving 215,633 children has found that giving vitamin A capsules to children aged six  months to five years can reduce death and some diseases. Scientists from the U.S., Pakistan and the U.K. said their findings strongly endorse the continuation of vitamin A supplementation programs that reduce the incidence of measles and diarrhea and ultimately save lives. A common problem in low and middle income countries, vitamin A deficiency can impair bodily functions, making people more susceptible to blindness, infection and early death. The researchers found that giving vitamin A capsules reduced the risk of death from any cause by 24 percent compared to placebos or the usual treatment, a rate that equates to saving the lives of almost a million children a year.

The results of a study on mice at the Department of Animal Biology in the University of Pennsylvania suggest the importance of managing stress during dieting in long-term weight maintenance. It showed that mice subjected to a 3-week reduction of calorie intake and withdrawal from a high-fat diet later engage in binge eating as a result of the stress that they experience. The observed behavior is thought to be due to the changes that happen in the brain during dieting. In the case of humans, similar changes could suggest the need to manage stress during dieting to help avoid later binge eating and ensure the diet’s long-term effectiveness. 

Researchers at Georgetown University have released the results of their investigation into the health potential of the isoflavone genistein occurring in soy. Specifically, since genistein is known to activate estrogen receptors in women, scientists Leena Hilakivi-Clarke, Juan E. Andrade, and William Helferich studied the relationship between genistein consumption and the onset of breast cancer and the recurrence of breast cancer in survivors. The team found that a diet of moderate soy intake throughout life was found to lower the risk of breast cancer, although this could relate to soy intake in the early years, and does not appear to increase the risk of recurrence. For Asian women, continued soy intake could provide breast cancer with a better prognosis. The researchers say that more work is needed to identify the link between soy consumption in early life and reduced risk of breast cancer and recurrence.

A study led by Dutch scientists has found that a protein called Angiopoietin-like protein 4 (Angptl4) protects animals and perhaps people whose diets are high in saturated fat from a massive inflammatory response that is potentially fatal. Deficiencies in this protective pathway in mice that ate a lot of saturated fat led to a significant swelling of the lymph nodes and death. Dietary fats are normally broken down into fatty acids that are metabolized by the enzyme lipoprotein lipase (LPL) to feed various tissues. LPL activity, however, depends on Angptl4. The findings may have implications for the three percent of humans who carry a mutation in the Angptl4 gene and “may be particularly sensitive to the proinflammatory effects of dietary saturated fat," the researchers wrote.

Diets that raise brain serotonin levels increased hair pulling and caused ulcerative dermatitis (UD) in mice, according to results of a double-blind crossover trial conducted by researchers from Purdue University’s Department of Animal Sciences. The researchers also fed the diet developed for the study, which was designed to test whether it would lower the rates of hair pulling in a mouse model of trichotillomania, to a second group of mice to determine whether behavior plays an essential role in emergence of UD. Presence of high levels of scratching behavior and low barbering before diet feeding predicted UD emergence. This shows that diet can cause the start of complex disorders without any underlying metabolic deficit.

A panel of food industry experts says the biggest challenge for food companies in developing healthful products over the next five years is making sure they are “truly healthy,” while keeping them simple and natural. Several problems inherent in these goals include maintaining superior taste, functional benefits, the ”inherent goodness” of ingredients and appropriate portion sizes while reducing sodium, fat and high fructose corn syrup levels. Key trends in the food industry include: growing consumer aversion to processed foods; interest in foods whose ingredients offer health benefits (vitamins, minerals, fiber, omega-3s, etc.); battling obesity through development of thermogenic foods, portion control products, low-glycemic index foods and resistant starches. Also, look for increased interest in foods that offer greater functionality: lowering bad cholesterol, improving digestion, regulating insulin, etc.

U.S. scientists have found a link between both lower and higher levels of vitamin D and the increased likelihood of frailty in older women. Frailty, marked by weakness and slowness, has been shown to result from vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D supplementation is often recommended when levels in the blood are lower than 30 ng/ml. For the study, researchers measured vitamin D data on 6,307 women aged 69 and older. They found that women with vitamin D levels higher than 30 ng/ml or lower than 20 ng/ml were more likely to be frail. Women whose vitamin D levels were between 20.0 and 29.9 ng/ml had the lowest risk of frailty. The researchers recommended that large, randomized clinical trials should be conducted to determine the health effects of vitamin D supplementation.

Sesame Workshop will launch four new “Superfoods” Muppets this December - low-fat cheese, a banana, a broccoli stalk, and a whole wheat bun - through a clip on Sesame Street that shows the importance of healthy snacks, breakfast, and eating as a family. Not for the first time, the non-profit organization is venturing into public health territory, this time in the light of USDA statistics showing that 17 million kids, more than half of whom are below 6 years old (Sesame Street’s target audience), don't eat food that meets basic nutritional needs, partly due to the economic downturn.  Under its “Food for Thought: Eating Well on a Budget “initiative, it will distribute 400,000 bilingual kits containing a DVD with the new Muppets story and other information for low-income families about eating right. The kits are also available on iTunes and Amazon.com.

Packaged grocery store salads, unheard of 20 years ago, are now a $3 billion a year business thanks to health- and convenience-conscious shoppers looking for value. Refrigerated dressings are also a hit, partly because producers have come up with innovative ways to link dressings with other grocery store sections. Besides fresh produce and salad packages, they can be placed near potatoes and cut vegetables, for example. Companies are cross-merchandising dressings, packaged salads and salad kits using coupons and other promotional methods. Salad producers are also doing their best to meet consumer preferences for all natural and even organic ingredients in salad kits and refrigerated dressings. According to Craig Hope of Calif.-based Earthbound Farm, organic options comprise 16 percent of the salad category, but only 3.7 percent in total food.

Diabetics and pre-diabetics with metabolic syndrome might benefit someday from a laboratory research finding that the polyphenols and phenolic acids found in strawberries and apples seem to decrease glucose uptake in the intestines. British researchers suggested that in the future unsweetened drinks containing polyphenols, phenolic acids and tannins (PPTs) extracted from apples and strawberries may provide a dietary way to suppress, stop or regulate intestinal sugar absorption. That, in turn, would decrease after-meal glucose “spikes” that have been linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. According to the researchers, PPTs “were able to influence glucose uptake into the cells and transport … by inhibiting activities of the glucose transporters.”

The voluntary steps the European food industry has taken to reduce advertising of unwholesome products to children do not go far enough, consumer organizations argue. To avoid stricter regulation of their advertising activities by the EU, companies have launched self-regulation initiatives – including the World Federation of Advertisers EU Pledge – designed to decrease food and beverage advertising on television, in print and on the Internet targeted at children under 12. The industry claims the balance of ads has shifted “dramatically” toward “better for you” products. Consumer advocates, however, while acknowledging the positive steps, nevertheless say the initiatives fall short. The food industry should halt advertising fatty, sugary and salty foods to kids altogether. And, they say, marketers have simply moved advertising to the Internet and to video games.

A federal district judge who found that hundreds of acres of genetically engineered (GE) sugar beet seedlings had been planted in September in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act has ordered their destruction. Earthjustice and the Center for Food Safety had filed a suit on behalf of farmers, consumers, and conservation groups shortly after the USDA acknowledged it had allowed the plantings without the required impact analysis. Noting that containment efforts were insufficient, the judge said past contamination incidents were “too numerous” to allow the illegal crop to remain in the ground. He also outlined the many ways in which GE sugar beets could harm the environment and consumers. According to the judge, “farmers and consumers would likely suffer harm from cross-contamination” between GE sugar beets and non-GE crops.

To meet a growing demand for “better for you” foods among Asian consumers, Cargill has developed functional texture-enhancing ingredients for healthier bakery and dairy applications. New Cargill formulations for baked goods include Mochi fried donuts and Mochi bread buns based on the ProtexCF 6205 and 6206 formulas that blend pre-mixed modified starches and alginates. The ingredients deliver a chewy and elastic texture, better stability throughout shelf life, increased volume and shape preservation after frying or baking. The new ProtexABN functional system is formulated to stabilize high calcium chocolate milk drinks by balancing the suspension of calcium and cocoa particles in milk. The ProtexABA functional system, designed for acidified dairy drinks with  ingredients like fruit pulp, provides stability and low viscosity, as well as a smooth and refreshing mouthfeel.

Wal-Mart International CEO Doug McMillon believes that in the future his company might have a CEO who was born outside the United States. While current CEO Mike Duke, his predecessor Lee Scott, and company founder Sam Walton are all Americans, an executive born outside the U.S. might one day lead the company. Although the U.S. accounts for about 75% of Wal-Mart’s $400 billion yearly sales, the company’s more than 4,100 stores in other countries brought in more than $100 billion in sales in the most recent fiscal year. Wal-Mart has previously appointed regional and country heads that were born outside the US, such as Latin American chief Eduardo Solorzano and Andy Clarke, who heads up ASDA, Wal-Mart’s subsidiary in the UK.

A U.S. chemistry professor is analyzing pomegranate juice and juice blend products to determine whether they are the real deal, delivering the promised health benefits of antioxidants and other functional ingredients.  Cynthia Larive of the University of California, Riverside, is measuring levels of unique compounds in pomegranate juice to create a “molecular fingerprint” to that would help identify adulterated juice products. She and colleagues are measuring small-molecule metabolites in juices using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The three technologies determine levels of amino acids, organic acids, sugars, pomegranate pigment compounds, as well as health-producing antioxidant molecules unique to pomegranate juice. The research is being funded with a $50,000 one-year grant from pomegranate product maker Pom Wonderful.

Organic farmers have to be more resourceful in protecting crops from pests, because they don’t have access to the chemical pesticides used by conventional farmers. Powerful organic bug sprays just don’t exist. But organic farmers have access to a growing body of knowledge about methods, known collectively as integrated pest management, to keep bugs at bay. That knowledge is growing at least partly because the 2008 farm bill provides $20 million a year to research organic pest control technologies. The funding supports 24 current research projects. A key finding so far: natural enemies are the cornerstone of organic pest control. Wild sunflowers, for example, provide a home to lady beetles and parasitic wasps that kill bad bugs; planting alyssum among lettuce plants attracts hoverflies that kill destructive aphids.

New media and digital platforms are galvanizing some of the world's biggest companies into getting the consumer more closely involved than ever before. Delegates at New York's Ad Age Media Evolved Conference heard there are now dramatic changes in how marketing content is distributed and how consumer content and contact can be controlled. Leading marketers, including giants like General Electric and Johnson & Johnson, are finding there are now very different, ultramodern and challenging ways of getting their message across - with consumer interaction as the key. The conference was told that new media creators, who have modern technology at their core, allow companies to draw on the imagination of content creators and consumers, enabling genuine engagement with the brand.

Does the potato really need to be defended as a healthy food? Apparently so, thanks to challenges from the “vociferous obesity lobby” and health-conscious consumers suggesting that the potato makes people fat. But potato boosters counter that the spud is indeed a nutritious vegetable, rich in fiber, potassium and vitamin C. To prove his point, Washington Potato Commission Executive Director Chris Voight has maintained a diet consisting entirely of 20 potatoes a day since October 1, cooked in a variety of ways – baked, boiled, mashed, etc. – but without any additives like cheese or milk. Among the health benefits he has charted: a nine-pound weight loss, 12-point drop in blood sugar, and a 52-point drop in his cholesterol level.

Natural baking ingredients maker Earth Balance is launching a dessert baking contest with the help of organic grocer Whole Foods Market and social entertainment company EQAL. Participants can enter the “Holiday Bakeoff” at the company’s Web site, MadeJustRight.com, by submitting original recipes for holiday pies, dessert bars, cookies and cakes through December 26. Recipes must use all-natural ingredients and at least one Earth Balance product, such as a spread, butter stick, nut butter or soy milk. Winners receive a $400 Whole Foods gift card and a year’s supply of Earth Balance products. Winning recipes may also be featured on the Web site.

German specialty chemicals supplier Cognis has launched a whip-topping concentrate to meet demands for cakes and other desserts based on non-hydrogenated fats. The hydrogenated-fat-based Lamequick CE 2956 and the new Lamequick CE 2903 are premium products suited for cake fillings and Chantilly cream. They combine vegetable oil, emulsifiers and various dairy ingredients to create a concentrate that is similar to real cream in melting properties, mouthfeel and appearance. Lamequick CE 2903 contains no hydrogenated fat, so it can be used for clean-label products that indicate “vegetable fat” instead of “hydrogenated vegetable fat”. According to Cognis, “this is an important competitive advantage, as consumers are becoming more and more aware of the negative effects on health of hydrogenated and trans fats …”

Green & Black's Fair Trade Certified Organic Chocolate brand has launched a Global Ambassador program that will dispatch ten Americans and Britons on a 14-day trip in March 2011 to the Dominican Republic where they will join a local cocoa farming community. The company says the main task of the “ambassadors” will be to assist in construction of a gravity-fed water system that will provide community access to fresh, drinkable water. To qualify as an ambassador under the program, individuals must provide evidence that they have made a difference in their own communities and are interested in helping the Dominican cocoa farming community. Winners will be announced in January.

Organic dairy producers in India are doing much more than raising chickens and cows without hormones, pesticides or herbicides. They are also ensuring that the animals are raised without stress or constraint. One company, Organic India, allows its cows to roam free as they graze and only milks them after the calves are fed. These “tension-free” practices ensure that its ghee – a form of clarified butter – is of the highest quality and purity. Keggfarms raises its chickens without chemical feed and in open areas with access to sunshine and fresh air. At Hare Krishna farm, which produces ahimsa milk made without harm to living animals, cows are milked to the sounds of Sanskrit prayers being chanted. Hara Krishna sells its ahimsa milk to the Hindu community in London for £3 ($4.68) a liter.

An eating regimen that emphasizes protein but avoids high glycemic index carbohydrates has proven effective at keeping the weight off overweight people who have already shed some pounds through dieting. The study by European researchersfound that “the ideal for the prevention of weight regain” is a diet comprised of lean meats, poultry and beans, but low in starchy carbohydrates – “a modest reduction in the glycemic index.” Researchers studied 773 overweight adults from eight European countries who had already lost an average of 24 pounds on a low-fat diet for two months. Six months into the study, the group that ate a low-protein, high-carb diet regained an average of four pounds. But those who stuck to the high-protein, low-carb diet either maintained their weight or continued to lose.

Marketsmonitor has released a report on the organic food market in the US (“US Organic Food Market Analysis”). It is being driven by a population that has growing incomes and is increasingly aware of issues such as personal health, the environment, food safety and animal welfare. The research found that the US organic food market grew annually at between 16 and 21 percent in the period 2000 to 2008, and managed to survive the economic slowdown, with positive growth in 2009. The industry is expected to benefit further from government support as well as from the growing acceptance of organic food, and the authors forecast a CAGR of 13 percent in the 2010-2014 period. The picture in the US differs between regions, with interest in organic food stronger in states such as California, Wyoming, Texas, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and South Dakota.  

Japanese and South Korean retailers are opening shopping centers and convenience stores in Vietnam. Targeting mostly young consumers and middle-income families, these retail outlets are a new business concept in the country. With four convenience stores operating in Ho Chi Minh City, FamilyMart Co. of Japan plans to open about 300 more in the city and is looking at Hanoi too. Meanwhile, South Korean retail giant Lotte has opened two supermarkets, with one branch large enough to include a six-screen cinema complex. Lotte plans to build more than 30 supermarkets in the country by 2018, and build a department store in Hanoi. After joining the World Trade Organization in 2007, Vietnam has allowed foreign companies to enter its retail business, which grew to 1,200 trillion dong (about US$61 million) in 2009, a threefold increase from 2004 figures, according to government data. The South Korean and Japanese companies are hoping to gain a foothold before global giants like Wal-Mart and Carrefour arrive in the country.

Hindustan Unilever Ltd. (HUL) regional category vice president for food products Sidharth Singh said his company does not see a demand for organic foods in India. For example, while the company plans to use eggs from cage-free chicken in its Hellmann’s brand of mayonnaise in Western Europe and North America, it has no intention to do so in India, where consumers find organic foods too expensive. Trends that drive consumption patterns in the country include self-regulation by the food industry, increase in popularity of health foods, blurring of lines between food categories, and consumers’ desire to eat their favorite restaurant foods at home. As part of the industry’s move toward self-regulation, many companies have agreed to refrain from advertising foods that are not healthy for children.

Fruitflow® is, according to its manufacturer, DSM Nutritional Products, the “first natural, scientifically substantiated solution for the promotion of healthy blood flow”, and the product won Most Innovative Health Ingredient at this year’s Hi Excellence Awards. DSM Nutritional Products also says that Fruitflow is the only ingredient with an approved health claim from the European Food Safety Authority under Article 13.5, which should allow it to market the product with the claim: "Helps maintain normal platelet aggregation, which contributes to healthy blood flow". The company adds that a product with such a claim could help save lives. Along with Fruitflow’s overall award it also won the award in the heart health category, and there were also awards for products in three other categories: digestive health (Danisco’s Grinsted® Fibreline healthier bread technology); nutrition (Innophos’s VersaCal Clear); and sports performance (Chr. Hansen's L. Fermentum PCC probiotic). There was no winner in the weight management category – no entries met the judges’ criteria. 

Canadian scientists have found that injections of inexpensive and safe vitamin C not only prevent the onset of sepsis, a life-threatening disease that starts with a bacterial infection, but it reverses it as well. Sepsis, which can begin anywhere in the body, causes the immune system to go into overdrive and overwhelm normal processes in the blood. Small blood clots form and block blood flow to vital organs, leading to organ failure. Though there is no effective treatment, the researchers discovered  that a single injection of vitamin C at the time of sepsis onset prevents capillary plugging. In addition, a delayed injection can reverse plugging by restoring blood flow in plugged capillaries. According to the researchers, vitamin C could "significantly improve the outcome of sepsis patients world-wide especially in developing countries."

Whole Foods said that starting in January 1, 2011, the company will stop selling products that contain high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in its stores in northern California. Whole Foods regional grocery buyer Parrish Placencia has admitted in an email that the company has “historically sold only a few products that contain HFCS.” This confirms some customers’ complaint that the company has been selling HFCS-containing products for some time. Whole Foods’ practice of using HFCS as an ingredient in its own pastries and cookies means the organic food retailer has no basis for selling these products at premium prices. The company indicates it  has no interest in removing HFCS-containing products from its stores nationwide.

A Japanese study has found that mice fed black or green tea along with a high-fat diet were less likely to gain weight and were less at risk for type 2 diabetes. For the study, one group of mice was fed a high-fat (29 percent lard) diet and the second group a normal diet. Each group was then further divided into smaller groups that were given water, black tea or green tea for 14 weeks. Consumption of the tea suppressed deposits of white adipose (fat) tissue in the animals, improved hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance, all precursors of type 2 diabetes. According to the researchers, the teas stimulated glucose uptake activities in the mice by “translocation of glucose transporter (GLUT) 4 to the plasma membrane in muscle.”

Vertis Communications’ recent study, “Grocery Shopping In The New Economy 2010,” reveals that 57% of male respondents say they are their households’ main grocery shoppers, a 10 percent increase from a similar study in 2006, although 85% of women say they are. A majority of adult respondents say they still rely on newspaper inserts to choose which grocery store to go to and prepare their shopping lists, although just 46% of 18-34 year-old male respondents say they do so. Among respondents who are 35 years and older, 90% of women and 80% of men say they read grocery stores’ direct mail; and among these readers, about 75% redeem coupons. People still look to conventional supermarkets for perishables, although a growing proportion of shoppers are using discount stores and wholesale clubs and discounters and club channels are increasingly encroaching on supermarkets’ territory for non-perishables. Price remains the dominant factor in store choice in all groups.

European Consumers Organisation Director-General Monique Goyens, in a speech at the CIAA Congress in Brussels, Belgium, assailed the increasing complexity of the European Union’s mandatory food labeling rules. Goyens claimed she finds it difficult to read and process the information included on food labels. EU Health Commissioner John Dalli, speaking at the same event, admitted there is a problem with “information overload” affecting food labels, but pointed out that the European Parliament continues to require the European Commission to include yet more packaging information. For his part, Unilever CEO Paul Polman said that manufacturers have a key role to play in making sure that their products include healthy ingredients. Polman cited his company’s “Sustainable Living Plan” campaign to improve its products’ nutrition levels as an example for the food industry.

Marketers should thank teenagers for bringing about the resurgent creativity in marketing. Teen consumers, who are well known for having short attention span, being easily bored, and lacking in patience, have forced marketers to be more creative. “Breakthrough ads” by brands, such as Axe, Adidas, and Old Spice, demonstrate this trend. Marketers, however, should target all groups with creative marketing efforts. Also, effective marketing initiatives even those targeting small audiences can easily become viral or word-of-mouth successes, as the book Tipping Point, by Malcolm Gladwell, asserts.

An October 2010 study by Brand Anywhere and Luth Research show that 51% of consumers prefer to buy from retailers that have a mobile Web site. The study also reveals that fewer than 5% of retailers operate a mobile site, suggesting a need to address this m-commerce disparity as a record number of consumers intend to use their mobile phones to shop this holiday season. A separate study conducted in February 2010 by Multichannel Merchant discovered that almost 80% of multichannel retailers were not using m-commerce; while eROI’s April study revealed that fewer than 25% of marketers owned a mobile Web site. Consumers found many mobile sites were not up to their expectations. Brand Anywhere’s research also showed that retailers’ mobile sites display Flash animations although these are not supported by all iPhone and almost half of Android smartphones.

Use of nanotechnology in the food, supplements and packaging industries is growing, despite concerns about safety and whether nanoparticles belong in organic foods. Writer Jill Richardson says she finds “terrifying” the idea that food makers are including nanoparticles in foods without labeling them as such. She notes that an AOL news article reported that common fruits and vegetables are often coated with an edible “wax-like nanocoating” that extends shelf-life and protects color and flavor. And nanoparticles can be found in salad dressings, sauces, diet beverages, and boxed cake, muffin and pancakes mixes. The EU addressed the safety issue, saying that nanotechnology must not be allowed in foods until proven safe. Canada has said that nanotech must stay out of organics. U.S. regulators are still reviewing the safety and organic issues.

Procter & Gamble plans to build a production facility in Chennai and make it the company’s regional center in south India. Unidentified company sources confirmed media reports that the facility will make liquid detergents, making Procter & Gamble the first vendor to manufacture liquid detergent in India. The company, whose 15% market share trails rival Hindustan Unilever’s 37%, plans to tap the low and middle segments to grow its share of the Indian market, one of the fastest growing in the world. Procter & Gamble aims to accomplish this and triple its India revenues in the next three to four years by launching new products and expanding into rural markets.

General Mills says it has enhanced the health profile of many of its products by adding whole grains, fiber and calcium, and reducing calories, sugar, sodium and trans fats. These healthier products now account for 25 percent of its U.S. retail sales in fiscal 2010, according to the company. Noting that it will continue to “push the envelope on improving the nutrition profile” of its products, the company says it plans to increase vitamins, minerals and fiber; reduce calories, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sugar or sodium; formulate products to include at least a half serving of whole grain, fruit, vegetables or low or nonfat dairy; and meet FDA guidelines for a product to be considered healthy.

A report from the Organic Center (Boulder, Colo.) comparing meat production, earned revenue, waste generation and other factors at conventional and organic dairy farms has found that grass-based organic dairy farming promotes cow health, enhances milk quality, and lightens the environmental footprint. At high production grain-based dairies, however, reproductive health problems lead to fewer and longer lactations, increased costs and lower lifelong production and revenue. The report says organic systems promote cow health and longevity by placing less stress on cows and feeding them healthier forage-based diets, while also improving the nutritional quality of milk. Other findings: manure management systems on organic farms reduce manure methane emissions by 60 percent to 80 percent; cows live and produce milk longer on organic farms; milking cow replacement rates are 30 percent to 46 percent lower.

WILD Flavors GmbH has appointed Univar to distribute its Sunwin Stevia product range, WILD Taste Modification Technologies, and other sweetening flavors in Europe and the Middle East., enabling WILD Flavors to expand in the European market. Univar will also provide technical expertise in applications development, logistics, and customer service. Its food technicians will develop new food and drink recipes and formulations. Initially, Univar, which has sales in excess of $7 billion, will market the products in France and Switzerland, and then will cover the rest of Europe as the company receives permits to sell.

Health Canada has acknowledged the health benefits of oat fiber by officially supporting the claim that “oat fiber helps reduce cholesterol, a risk factor for heart disease.” Oats provide two types of dietary fiber: soluble and insoluble. The soluble fiber, called oat fiber or beta-glucan, helps reduce cholesterol. Research has shown that consuming three grams of soluble oat fiber per day can have a positive effect on cholesterol levels. Foods that carry the claim must meet additional nutritional criteria, including minimum amounts of vitamins and minerals as well as maximum levels of cholesterol, sodium and saturated fat. Dr. David Jenkins, a Canadian nutrition professor, said the Health Canada claim about oat fiber is an important step forward in the process of educating Canadians about functional foods that aid in lowering cholesterol.

The debate in China over the safety of genetically-modified food heated up recently when the Ministry of Agriculture awarded bio-safety certificates to a corn variety and two rice varieties that were genetically modified to resist pest damage. The move makes China the first country to approve GM food staples for field testing. But there remains significant disagreement among government officials and scientists over the question of commercializing GM food, despite the lack of scientific evidence that it is dangerous to humans. There is agreement, however, that ongoing research into human and environmental safety issues, as well as economic security issues, is needed. With food security a high priority, the government is looking closely at gene modification technologies as a way to ensure food supplies keep up with the ever-growing population.

The mood/mind health food and drinks market is still in its infancy, but growth opportunities in this subset of the functional food and drink industry are enormous, according to this Business Insights report. Emerging sectors like mood/mind health can create a buzz among curious consumers and they can inspire manufacturers/retailers. According to the report, since 2006 the sector has undergone significant changes, as more people show an interest in products that  improve  mood and mental acuity, and target specific concerns related to wellness and mental health. Though products such as confectionery, bakery and soft drinks are usually considered indulgent, recipe reformulation, re-branding and a shift in marketing strategy can help products target mood/mind health. A change in strategy can actually introduce existing products to new potential target audiences, retail and distribution opportunities.

Hoping to update and make more fair its Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) of subsidies for farmers, the European Commission has proposed a restructuring plan. The proposal calls for increasing subsidies to smaller East European farmers, but linking payments to environmental and food security goals. The EU several Central and East European countries in 2004, but the subsidy amounts are calculated based on production volumes of EU members in 2000-2002. Payments between old and new member states vary from €500 per hectare in Greece to less than €100 in Latvia. Debate on the new plan will start next July when the Commission proposes its budget for 2014-2020. The Commission said its other major priority is to promote the diversity of European agriculture with a rural policy that features "a green component".

Though the USDA and America’s meat producers have tried to educate the public about discoloration – it’s not necessarily a sign of spoilage – consumers are still wary of fading or darkening meat and poultry. That costs retailers millions of dollars every year. But now those losses could be trimmed significantly if a new ingredient discovered by U.S. scientists is put into use. The pulp of a Tahitian fruit called noni, when mixed into ground beef, prevents rapid discoloration and extends shelf-life. The antioxidant pulp inhibits oxidation of the red beef pigment oxymyoglobin that occurs on exposure to air and grocery store lights. The pigment is turned into metmyoglobin, which gives meat a brownish-red or gray color. Experiments showed that noni pulp stabilized meat color for as long as four days.

A study by Dutch scientists has found that chronic hyponatremia – low levels of sodium in the blood of older adults – may be a major cause of fractures from falls, which account for as much as half of elderly deaths from injuries. Researchers studied 5,200 adults over 55 years old for six years to confirm earlier studies that had found a link between low blood sodium levels, falls, osteoporosis and fractures. Though low sodium levels did not seem to affect the risk of osteoporosis, those who had hyponatremia, possibly from taking diuretics, had a higher rate of falls during follow-up: 24 versus 16 percent. And  the group with low sodium levels had a higher rate of fractures. “Chronic hyponatremia is not a benign condition,” researchers concluded, advising blood screening, monitoring and treatment.

The review process used by the FDA to determine the safety of a faster-growing transgenic salmon does not take into account all of the consequences of the fish's widespread production, U.S. scientists say. If the agency approves the modified salmon, whose genome contains genes from two other fish species, it would be the first genetically modified organism accepted for human consumption in the U.S. But the scientists argue that the process used by the FDA assesses its safety only by comparing its nutritional profile to an equivalent portion of nonmodified salmon, and screening it for known toxins and allergens. That ignores potential health and environmental effects. A smarter approach would be for the FDA or even the Congress to broaden the interpretation of the terms "safe" and "health" in FDA statutes.