Coca-Cola plans to launch a location-based marketing campaign based on SCVNGR’s smartphone gaming application. The campaign, which is part of the company’s Secret Formula Challenges marketing program will be rolled out in 10 malls in the United States on Black Friday. By doing certain tasks, consumers taking part in the campaign can earn points that they can use to redeem prizes. While the campaign is part of the growing trend of brands partnering with providers of location-based services, Coca-Cola’s partnership with SCVNGR might have been driven in part by rival Pepsi’s alliance with Foursquare. SCVNGR founder Seth Priebatsch said his company puts emphasis on the gaming side of location-based services, saying "You use Foursquare, Gowalla and Twitter. You do not use SCVNGR -- you play it."

The Organic Trade Association (OTA), responding to a Fox Business News report that purportedly said chemically-grown produce is safer, said the only way consumers can minimize dietary exposure to pesticides is to purchase organic products. The OTA cited research by a Harvard assistant professor who has found that pesticide residues detected in the urine of children who eat conventionally produced fruits and vegetables disappear when children eat organic produce. Exposure to pesticides has been linked with higher risk of birth defects, the OTA said, as well as the onset of autism,  neurodevelopment problems in vulnerable fetuses and young children. “Consumers should know that organic foods have the least chemicals applied in their production and the least residues in the final products,” an OTA official said.

Researchers from the University of Alabama discovered that, contrary to prevailing wisdom, chromium has no nutritional benefit. Results of the research, which was funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, showed that chromium, designated by the National Academies of Science as an essential element in 1980, is not, in fact, essential. The study, which involved feeding a group of rats with a near chromium-free diet, reinforced scientists’ growing skepticism about the supposed nutritional benefits of chromium. Results, however, showed that when consumed in large doses, chromium potentially has a therapeutic effect on diabetes. For the meantime, researchers doubt the value of chromium-based nutritional supplements, which are the second best selling mineral supplement in the United States.

A preliminary study by Israeli scientists has found evidence that pomegranate juice can prevent several complications experienced by kidney disease patients who undergo dialysis, including a reduced number of infections and cardiovascular events. Other studies have demonstrated that antioxidant-rich pomegranate juice lowers both cholesterol and blood pressure in diabetics and heart patients. In this study, researchers tracked 101 dialysis patients who either drank pomegranate juice or a placebo beverage at the start of a dialysis session, three times a week for one year. Lab tests showed that the juice reduced inflammation and damage from oxidative stress. And the juice drinkers were less likely to be hospitalized due to infections. The researchers recommend further clinical studies of pomegranate juice and its impact on cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease.

The National Fruit & Vegetable Alliance’s National Action Plan (NAP) paints a fairly dismal picture of U.S. fruit and vegetable consumption. According to its report card, the average American’s fruit and vegetable consumption is far below levels recommended in the 2005 federal dietary guidelines of 5-13 daily servings. Average daily consumption is 1.13 cups of vegetables and 0.68 cups of fruit. Only 6 percent of individuals achieve their recommended target for vegetables, and only 8 percent for fruit. The NAP report card assigned an “A” grade to the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Fruit and Vegetable Vouchers program, a “C” to school food and restaurant menus, and a failing grade to healthy food advertising, due to the decrease in nutritious food advertising over time.

Dutch researchers have found that drinking modest amounts of alcohol can prevent diabetes and premature death among kidney transplant patients, as it does among the general population. Researchers followed 600 renal transplant recipients who for several years after their procedure. Of these, 48 percent reported that they did not drink alcohol, 16 percent said they drank sporadically, 35 percent imbibed moderately, and one percent admitted to being heavy drinkers. Moderate alcohol drinkers were 67 percent less likely to develop diabetes than other types of drinkers/nondrinkers, and were 44 percent less likely to die. The authors concluded that common advice for kidney transplant recipients to refrain from drinking alcohol is erroneous. “There seems no reason to advise renal transplant recipients to abstain from alcohol post-transplant," they concluded.

GNC has launched GNC Longevity Factors, a new line of nutritional supplements developed in partnership with 70-year-old neurosurgeon, nutrition expert, and tri-athlete Joseph Maroon. Designed in response to the principle that people can determine their own health, the products feature ingredients with clinically proven health benefits for the heart, eyes, and brain, as well as the ability to enhance absorption of an antioxidant that promotes healthy aging of cells. The supplements also come with formulations that include polyphenols, such as resveratrol, that help prevent damage to cells. The product line includes Healthy Aging Program for defense against cell aging; Heart Health for cardiovascular health; Cellular Antioxidant Defense for fighting premature cell aging; Energy Enhancer for added body strength; Eye Health for healthy eyes; Strength & Agility for retaining strength and agility; and Memory Formula for keeping memory healthy.

Europeans concerned about possible food-related health risks are more worried about chemical contamination than bacterial contamination of food or about health and nutrition issues, a Eurobarometer poll commissioned by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has found. Most Europeans are confident that national and European food safety agencies are providing good information on potential food risks. The poll also found that Europeans focus on the enjoyment of tasty food with friends and family rather than on concerns like affordability. Fewer respondents were concerned about the safety of food (37 percent) or nutritional issues such as checking calories and nutrients (23 percent). And, EU citizens ranked the economic crisis (20 percent) and environmental pollution (18 percent) as very likely to affect their lives but only 11 percent perceived a risk to their health from food.

With digital and online media becoming essential parts of overall marketing plans, marketers need to take into consideration five characteristics of the “best” and most valuable customers. Marketers need to focus on customers who do not see price as the most important factor in their purchasing decisions and are dealing with significant issues that a brand can resolve. Best customers find new products and services from the brand attractive, and as such will help promote the brand, most probably via online social networking sites, such as YouTube, Flickr, Facebook, and Twitter. Just as important, marketers need to know how to relate to these customers, how to use both traditional and new-media communications, and learn about their needs and wants. Finally, marketers should use media databases and channels that are top-heavy in terms of “high-value customers.” 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has sent warning letters to four makers of caffeine-laced malt beverage makers notifying them that caffeine is an “unsafe food additive” and the products ”pose a public health concern.” The companies have 15 days to respond and have the right to appeal. However, the FDA said further action is possible, including seizure of the products. The products in question are Core High Gravity HG, Core High Gravity HG Orange, Lemon Lime Core Spiked; Moonshot; Four Loko); and Joose and Max. The FDA said its decision came after a review of scientific studies and company literature, and consultation with toxicology and other medical experts. One of the companies, Phusion Projects, LLC, maker of Four Loko, has already said it will remove caffeine and other stimulants from its drinks.

Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have discovered the enzyme histone deacetylase 9 (HDAC9) causes body fat disorders and could be targeted for treatments. HDAC9 is associated with the efficient transformation of fat cells that help maintain proper lipid and glucose balances. Many problems linked to obesity, including diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, stem from malfunctioning fat cells. The researchers found that when HDAC9 levels became elevated in obese mice the fat cells failed to perform normally and caused hormonal instability. Further experiments will see if removing the HDAC9 gene from obese mice helps provide any protection from obesity related problems.

Launched in India in October and priced at a very low 15 rupees (~$0.33), with refill cartridges at five rupees, the Gillette Guard has been a success. Procter & Gamble's Chief Technology Officer Bruce Brown gives three core reasons for the Guard’s success. First is consumer insight based on thousands of hours in market, understanding consumer wants, needs and desires. Second is the push to innovate a solution that would delight consumers, not merely satisfy them. Last, is the need to match the model to the market, which in the case of the Gillette Guard required new/appropriate manufacturing, distribution and promotion strategies.

Israeli food ingredient and flavor producer Frutarom has introduced a bioavailable and novel food-approved variety of vitamin K2 (MK-7) for use in foods and food supplements. According to the company, uniK2 is derived from the traditional Japanese food known as Natto, a rich source of vitamin K2. The company says scientific studies support the claim that uniK2 enhances both bone and heart health. Made by fermenting soy beans, Natto is produced using Bacillus natto, a bacteria naturally occurring in the food. The extract provides vitamin K2 as menaquinone-7 (MK-7), a highly bioavailable and bioactive form of vitamin K. The extract is available in powder form or as an oil, the company says, and can be used in dietary supplements, as well as functional foods.

The U.K.’s Food Standards Agency-commissioned 2009 review of the nutrient content of organic and non-organic foods followed good practice at all stages, according to an assessment by the General Advisory Committee on Science (GACS), though the committee did offer some recommendations. The Soil Association and the Organic Trade Board had expressed concerns about the validity of the study and the nature of the Agency’s communications. But GACS said the research had solicited comments early in the process and had undergone extensive and rigorous peer review. GACS offered two recommendations to the FSA: establish an unambiguous policy on releasing supporting data not in the public domain; and be sure all interested parties are informed ahead of time when results might be published at very short notice.

Nestlé India has contracted with the New Delhi-based National Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol (NDOC) Foundation to study diabetes trends and patterns in the country, which has more than 50 million diabetics (18 percent of the population). The move comes just two months after parent company Nestlé SA said it plans to establish a business unit to research and develop personalized nutrition products targeted at prevention and treatment of diabetes. NDOC President Anoop Misra will supervise the research. According to Misra, the research will focus on increasing consumer awareness of dietary changes needed to prevent and manage diabetes and on “the disease in the Indian landscape.”

Campbell Soup Company has named Kim Fremont Fortunato, 53, to fill the newly created position of director of the Childhood Obesity and Hunger program. Her goal will be to reduce childhood obesity and hunger by 50 percent over the next ten years in Camden, N.J, location of the company’s headquarters, and in other U.S. locations where Campbell has operations. The company’s plan to reduce hunger and obesity was outlined in its 2010 Corporate Social Responsibility report. Obesity rates for children in Camden ages three to 19 are nearly 40 percent, well above the national average of 32 percent. Fortunato joins Campbell from Operation Warm, Inc., an organization that provides new winter coats to children in need.

The USDA has decided to allow growers to plant genetically modified (GMO) sugar beet seeds  until legal issues related to the seeds, which are genetically engineered to resist the weed killer Roundup, are decided. Groups opposing a September USDA decision to allow planting of GMO seeds filed a lawsuit asking for destruction of the seeds. Hearings are in progress in California on the issue. According to the International Dairy Foods Association, GMO beets account for 95 percent of America’s sugar beet crop and 60 percent of the domestic sugar supply. About 200 IDFA members who manufacture products that use sugar are affected by low domestic supplies and high costs. USDA is examining public comments on the impact of the GMO seeds on the economy and the environment.

Belgian researchers have discovered a link between retarded growth in Tanzanian infants and consumption of the toxin fumonisin produced by maize fungus. Stunted growth and low weight are a major cause of infant deaths in the country. For the study, researchers selected 215 infants. They then calculated the level of intake of fumonisin based on measurements of amounts of consumed maize-derived porridge. In 26 of the infants fumonisin levels exceeded recommended maximum daily levels. At 12 months of age, infants who were exposed to fumonisins intakes above the maximum tolerable daily intake were significantly shorter by 1.3 cm and 328 g lighter. “It appears,” the researchers concluded, “that the exposure to fumonisins is associated with growth retardation.” The researchers called for infant foods to be screened for mycotoxins such as fumonisin.

Today’s teenage girls are technology-empowered social connectors who are more involved than ever in their communities and value leadership more than simply being trendy, according to a survey by Varsity Brands. The survey found that 93 percent of teen girls participate in one or more activities at school, 50 percent hold some type of leadership position in or out of school and 75 percent feel people look to them as a leader. Other findings: about 65 percent of teen girls have volunteered in the past year; almost 90 percent enjoy sharing brand recommendations with friends; and 53 percent believe their opinions greatly influence friends’ purchase decisions, and 65 percent participate in a high school sport. The survey included 1,016 teen girls ages 13-18 who represent the 14 million American teen girls.

Research by U.S. scientists has found that people who take herbal and dietary supplements may be putting their lives at risk if they are also taking warfarin, a commonly prescribed blood thinning medication for people with atrial fibrillation who are at risk for stroke. Of the 100 most-used supplements, 69 percent interfere with the effectiveness of warfarin. The researchers interviewed 100 atrial fibrillation patients, finding that 35 combined warfarin with supplements and 54 percent did not know about possible interaction problems. The most commonly used herbal and dietary supplements were vitamins, glucosamine/chondroitin, fish oil and coenzyme Q10. Warfarin and herbal and dietary supplements "compete" in the liver, changing the way the blood thinner works by either increasing the risk of bleeding or by increasing the risk of stroke. The researchers recommended better communication between doctors and patients.

Two Danish bakery chains – Lagkagehuset  (“The Cake House) and Emmerys – with distinctly opposite points of view about baking are flourishing  despite harsh economic conditions. Lagkagehuset, whose12 stores offer various traditional pastries and fresh-baked breads, is expected to show a $31 million profit this year, nearly double last year’s earnings. Emmerys, which is focused on organic baked goods, has 23 outlets, each offering breads and desserts and imported gourmet organic products, including wines and coffees. Both companies charge a lot for their loaves, about $6. A British chef says the rise of the two bakery chains is “an amazing plus for the people of Copenhagen,” because they have given Danes “a new-found interest for one of the most fundamental elements of daily life.”

Advertisers use images – puppies, babies, etc. – that cause the human brain to release the hormone oxytocin which, new U.S. research finds, makes people more disposed to trust and accept an advertising message. For the study, participants either sniffed a spray of oxytocin or a placebo, then were shown short public service announcements that had aired on television describing the dangers of smoking, alcohol, reckless driving, and global warming. Researchers then asked participants how they felt about the people and issues presented in the ads and gave them  n opportunity to donate some of the money earned from participating in the experiment. People treated with oxytocin donated 56 percent more money to causes presented in the PSAs, and reported that the ads made them feel more empathetic.

Whole Foods Market is testing a humane meat-rating system in the South that will be expanded nationwide early in 2011. The six-step, color-coded labeling system is designed to give meat shoppers at supermarket chains specific information about the way source animals were raised. It could also enhance sales for certified farmers and participating stores. The six-step approach sets minimal standards for meats sold in stores. Producers would be able to raise their ratings as their animal welfare standards improve. The highest rating (5+, colored green) would go to chickens bred, hatched and raised on one farm with vegetation-covered pasture, and whose legs could support it at market weight. The standards were developed by the nonprofit Global Animal Partnership, comprising farmers, scientists, retailers, animal welfare advocates and others.

As part of an “Eat Right Live Well” campaign targeting the Middle East, Nestlé has launched a major promotional effort in leading stores and outlets in the region using contests and prizes to encourage consumers to follow five steps to healthy living. The prizes offered are designed to encourage a healthier lifestyle. They include diet packages, gym memberships, Nintendo Wii Sports, Polar watches, pedometers, and BMI calculators. The five steps for healthy living are: eating a variety of foods, being active 30 minutes a day, drinking eight glasses of water a day, eating breakfast and maintaining a healthy weight. The campaign targets stores in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.

Functional ingredient maker Burcon NutraScience Corporation plans to license its Clarisoy soy protein isolate technology to Archer Daniels Midland Company, which will produce, market and sell the isolates worldwide and pay Burcon quarterly royalties. Clarisoy is a 100 percent soluble and transparent isolate with low-viscosity in acidic beverages. Clarisoy is designed to be used in transparent protein fortified beverages such as juices, soft drinks and sport drinks in the low pH range. According to Burcon, Clarisoy is also heat stable in acidic beverages, allowing thermal processing, and lacks the "beany" taste typically associated with soy protein. The company says Clarisoy was found in recent studies to have better digestibility than conventionally prepared soy protein isolates, and a balanced amino acid profile.

U.S. scientists have found that a naturally occurring compound in strawberries slows down the appearance of motor defects and prolongs life in mouse models of Huntington’s disease. An inherited disorder, Huntington's destroys neurons in the brain, slowly eroding the ability to walk, talk and reason. A genetic defect leads to the expansion of a trinucleotide repeat in the huntingtin protein, which keeps repeating until the onset of the disease. An intracellular signaling cascade affected by the mutant huntingtin protein is the Ras/ERK pathway. Earlier studies had determined that fisetin showed neuroprotective and memory-enhancing effects by activating the Ras/ERK signaling pathway, which is less active in people with HD. The researchers have developed a potent variety of fisetin that they hope to test in human trials of HD and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Vitamin D deficiencies double the risk of a fatal stroke among whites, but not among blacks, new U.S. research has found. The research follows on earlier studies associating low levels of vitamin D with high death rates, heart disease and peripheral artery disease. The researchers analyzed data from nearly 8,000 healthy men and women of both races who were part of an ongoing national health survey. Among the participants, 6.6 percent of whites and 32.3 percent of blacks had severely low blood levels of vitamin D. The chance of blacks suffering strokes was 65 percent higher than whites during the study, but probably because of higher rates of hypertension and diabetes, not vitamin D deficiencies. Vitamin D is obtained from sunlight, milk, fatty fish and fortified cereals

A study of the current federal system for defining and regulating organic foods, especially the review process used to add or remove nonorganic substances from the “National List,” finds it flawed. According to the study, the review and petition process does not support development of organic alternatives and may actually be a hindrance. The study recommends a simpler, more efficient process for approving substances for use in organic foods. It’s an urgent situation: as the multi-ingredient organic food sector continues to grow, USDA’s National Organic Program will be faced with more complex issues. According to the researchers, it might be better if the NOP, for example, were to “incentivize the development of organic ingredients and processes by setting clear guidelines and deadlines and providing development support to food manufacturers.”

Food and ingredients producer Cargill has introduced new meat ripening (starter) cultures that enhance the flavor of dried fermented meats. According to the company, the new cultures, known as Flavor Start D, are available now to meat manufacturers in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and will be introduced elsewhere later. Starter cultures are used to make dry fermented meat products, such as dry sausages, salamis and chorizos. Combining lactic bacteria (chiefly Lactobacillus and Pediococcus) with Staphylococcus, the cultures are used for acidifying and texturizing, coloring, flavoring and preserving dry meats. The natural flavor created by Flavor Start D contains “specific green fruity notes,” the company says. Because they accelerate and enhance flavor formation, the cultures reduce production time, saving money for manufacturers, Cargill says.

A randomized U.S. clinical trial involving 663 heart patients has found that high-dose prescription omega-3 fatty acid supplements had no impact on the recurrence of atrial fibrillation over six months. Some earlier studies had found evidence that omega-3 supplements, such as from fish oil, might improve treatment of atrial fibrillation, a disease that can lead to reduced quality of life, hospitalization, heart failure, stroke, and death. There is currently no effective therapy for the condition. Participants received prescription omega-3 (8 grams/day) or a placebo for the first seven days, then prescription omega-3 (4 grams/day) or a placebo for six months. Many of the patients experienced sudden attacks of AF during the study. The researchers concluded: “Prescription omega-3 did not show evidence of reducing the recurrence of symptomatic atrial fibrillation.”

Results of a survey conducted by Kantar Media revealed that 5% of adults or respondents aged 15 years and older in U.K. believe that celebrities influence their purchasing decisions. Over 60% of respondents who acknowledge celebrities’ influence are younger than 30; almost 50% are less than 25 years old. Location is also a factor: London residents are 41% more likely than the average adult to admit celebrities’ influence. The survey also included the young and found that 45% of 11-14 year olds said they want to be famous, compared with 49% three years ago. The 7-10 and 15-19 age groups also displayed similar declines, showing perhaps children’s growing awareness of some of the potential downsides of fame. Marketers should keep in mind that some celebrity relationships are seen in bad light: for example, 44% of 11-14 year olds said they hate Paris Hilton, while more than half of the 7-10s admire Ant & Dec and Cheryl Cole.

Loyalty 360 (The Loyalty Marketer’s Association) predicts that 11 trends will dictate the direction of the loyalty marketing industry in 2011. These developments include a greater understanding by marketers that loyalty is an ongoing process and a strategic business objective, and that marketers will design loyalty initiatives that focus more on emotions and less on reason. Increasingly, companies will pay more attention to how customer relations and employee management interact to influence a company’s financial performance. Meanwhile, brands are likely to focus more on customer programs as a business strategy; while customers will increasingly demand loyalty programs that are relevant to their wants and needs. Mobile and online marketing will gain more strategic importance; and customer loyalty programs will be tailored to engage customers. Marketers will depend more on cause-related marketing and corporate social responsibility programs to target millennials, or customers who are 18- to 34-year old. Restaurants will invest more in loyalty programs; and marketers will revise their debit card programs and will adopt social gaming as part of their loyalty initiatives.

Eating salty processed and prepared foods like bread, cereal, canned and fast foods poses a serious cardiovascular threat to teenagers and their families, a U.S. study has found. Teenagers consume nine grams of salt (3,800 mg of sodium) a day, more than any other age group, researchers said. The American Heart Association recommends a maximum of 1,500 mg. But, researchers said, if teenagers would cut their salt intake by three grams a day, the number of hypertensive teenagers and young adults could drop by 63 percent. The number of hypertensive adults aged 35 to 50 could decline by 43 percent. Noting that most of the sodium people consume comes  “not from our salt shaker” but from processed foods, the researchers urged continued manufacturer efforts to reduce salt content in foods.

British retailer Marks & Spencer’s entire Swiss chocolate range will be sold this Christmas in biodegradable plastic trays developed by Australian company Plantic Technologies. The innovative bioplastic, also called plantic, is manufactured using starch, is 100 percent compostable and dissolves completely in running water. Plantic, founded in 2003, has sales offices in Germany, Britain and the U.S., and employs about 50 people worldwide. The global biodegradable plastic packaging market is estimated by a British analyst to be worth $1.6 billion this year. However, the recession and falling oil prices have left the plastics market in a shambles. Plantic's shares on London's tech-oriented AIM exchange dropped sharply, from 80 pence to seven, but a plan is now underway to take the company’s stock private.

U.S.-based Nest Collective, a company that acts as a brand “accelerator” for healthy, organic, kid-focused foods, now has two brands in its portfolio. Plum Organics and Revolution Foods offer children’s foods that are not only an alternative to junk food, they are a tasty, healthy alternative to traditional baby and toddler foods like Gerber’s. Revolution Foods, whose business model is based on the fact that half of all school kids carry their lunch, offers nutritious sandwich bars and organic squeezable fruit snacks that fit nicely into lunch boxes. Market leading Plum Organics’ baby foods come in convenient, portable pouches that have a much lighter footprint than glass jars. The company also offers a one-handed baby food-dispensing spoon that attaches to the pouches.

U.S. researchers experimenting with natural extracts of green tea and grape seed and bacteriocins such as nisin have successfully protected chicken and turkey hot dogs from pathogen contamination. The scientists believe food processing companies might be able to replace chemicals as a means of protecting against contamination. Food processors currently use chemicals and heat treatments to preserve food and lower the risk of bacterial food poisoning outbreaks and food spoilage. But the trend these days is toward less processing, fewer additives, and more natural ingredients. According to one researcher, “Natural extracts can accomplish the same goal without compromising taste or food safety.” A blend of 25 percent natural plant extracts and 75 percent chemical antimicrobials inhibited the growth of Listeria monocytogenes on the hot dogs, scientists said.

With two key Democrats declaring support for child nutrition reauthorization legislation (Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, S.3307), the International Dairy Foods Association says it is getting more likely that the House will pass the legislation during the lame duck session. Action on the bill stalled in September when some House members expressed reservations about how the bill would be funded. But with time running out, the House is not likely to press for a compromise with the Senate, which passed the measure in August . IDFA says it has worked with the National Milk Producers Federation and other food and agriculture organizations to urged quick passage before the current congressional session ends. The bill provides an additional $4.5 billion over 10 years to federal child nutrition programs including school lunch.

Japan's NTT Communications has developed a mobile phone app that uses photographs of the meal being eaten to count calories. Current phone apps for dieters require typing in food and calorie information. But NTT’s software analyzes food color and shapes and checks the information against a database to come up with the calorie counts. The database, which is accessible by smartphone, is extensive, including information on 100,000 foods; calorie counts can be adjusted according to perceived portion size. NTT says the app is still being tested, but a beta version will be made available free in January.

The bone disease known as rickets, associated with poverty and unhealthy diets, was eradicated eight decades ago, but is returning to the U.K., according to a leading orthopedic physician. Prof. Nicholas Clarke, consultant orthopedic surgeon at Southampton General Hospital, says rickets resurfaced in northern areas of the U.K. earlier in the year and has now been found in increasing numbers among young people in Southampton. And it’s no longer a disease confined to poor populations. The key problem, Clarke says, is insufficient levels of vitamin D in the blood, due to a lack of sun exposure and a poor diet. He urges wider use of vitamin D supplements to stop the increase in rickets cases.

The U.K.’s Soil Association has asked retailers Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Marks and Spencer and Waitrose to follow the lead of French supermarket giant Carrefour and label foods made from animals raised on non-GM feeds. Many of the chains ban GM ingredients from their private label food products, but the ban does not include feed given to their livestock. According to the Soil Association, almost all non-organic milk, dairy products and pork in British supermarkets are produced from GM-fed animals. And that means “most consumers are unwittingly eating food produced from GM crops everyday.” Carrefour placed a non-GM logo on products when a consumer survey found that 63 percent would not eat products made from animals raised on GM feed.

Ongoing research at the University of South Carolina is looking into the possibility that a compound in licorice root could prevent or slow down cell death caused by neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Lliquiritigenin (LQ) is a phytoestrogen found naturally in plants that mimics the hormone estrogen. Phytoestrogens bind to either alpha or beta estrogen receptors (ER) in human cells. The ones that target alpha ERs have qualities that may prevent some cancers, including breast, ovary and uterine. However, beta ERs, which LQ targets, are found in brain cells. Neuroscientist Dr. Rosemarie Booze has isolated liquiritigenin from licorice root and is testing its ability to help nerve cells survive in neurodegenerative diseases, keep neurons connected and functional, and maintain brain plasticity.

Quarterback Tom Brady signed a multiyear endorsement deal with apparel manufacturer Under Armour that includes shares of the company’s stock. A growing trend in the sports marketing field, equity endorsement deals offer advantages for both companies and sports stars that endorse their products. These deals offer athletes assets that can potentially build their wealth and provide them with beneficial tax treatment. Companies benefit from lower upfront costs and motivate athletes to behave well both in and outside their sports arenas. Baseball star David Wright’s experience with his equity endorsement deal with Glaceau, manufacturer of VitaminWater, demonstrates the potential benefits of including ownership stakes in endorsement contracts. Equity deals, however, also pose some risks, especially when a company’s stock takes a hit, or the market in general suffers declines.

Germany-based food ingredients vendor Wild has developed a fruit-juice-based binding system for cereal and dried fruit bars. The natural binding technology will enable cereal-bar manufacturers to make natural products that contain no additives and are “both crispy and moist,” allowing them to attract more health-conscious consumers and compete better in the growing cereal-bar market. Wild’s binding system also has high Brix value and low pH value, which means manufacturers can produce bars that do not require preservatives.  The company is positioning the system as a means for companies to release products without E-numbers and with a greatly reduce ingredients list.

Eco-friendly packaging has become a major trend among packaging manufacturers, consumer products manufacturers and retailers who are working together to promote cost-effective sustainability, even in a sagging economy. For example, the customers of a company that distributes organic foods like Silk soy milk are keenly aware of fair labor and trade practices, food miles, the environmental impact of products, and package recyclability, so the company keeps this criteria in mind when making procurement decisions. Even troubled companies like Winn-Dixie have kept sustainability a priority, relying on suppliers to maintain green standards. An executive at Winn-Dixie says financial condition shouldn’t stand in the way of principles: “It is finding the niche in which, relative to your space, you can play a role in sustainability, that makes the right sense for a business model.”

New certified reference materials developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) will help food manufacturers and researchers measure the levels of organic acids in dietary supplements containing vaccinium berries, i.e. cranberries, blueberries and bilberries. Dietary supplement makers often make health claims about products formulated with vaccinium berries, promising prevention of urinary tract infections, reduced risk of cancer or Alzheimer’s disease, and improved night vision. But sometimes products are diluted with less expensive juices to save money. By using the new standard reference materials (SRMs) scientists will be able to determine whether organic acid ratios specific to each berry have been tampered with. The new SRMs cover, among others, cranberry (fruit), low-calorie cranberry juice cocktail, cranberry extract, blueberry (fruit) and bilberry extract.

Health Canada has confirmed in a letter of non-objection that Kemin Health’s Slendesta food ingredient is not considered a novel food and may be marketed as such for use in conventional foods and beverages without a pre-market notification process. Slendesta has achieved the same status in Europe; in the U.S. the FDA ruled it was GRAS (generally recognized as safe) for use in foods and beverages. The active component in Slendesta, Proteinase Inhibitor II (PI2), is derived from U.S.-grown white potatoes. According to the company, the compound enhances the body’s natural release of cholecystokinin (CCK), a signaling peptide that travels through the bloodstream and helps induce feelings of fullness and satisfaction, thus helping people control hunger and perhaps make dieting easier.

U.S. organic food producer Fig Food Company says it is now offering its organic soups in the U.S. via Whole Foods Markets and other natural food stores. Ingredients for the soups, which are certified organic and kosher, come primarily from North American farms, the company says. The company offers four shelf-stable ready-to-eat varieties (Tuscan White Bean, Umbrian Lentil, Yucatan Black Bean, Gran Farro e Fagioli) and three condensed varieties (Tomato, Wheatberry and Split Pea). The company’s mission is to provide healthy plant-based foods that contribute to fossil fuel independence and a reduction of greenhouse gases. The company plans to expand beyond soups to other ready-to-eat meals in the future.

A recent online survey of U.S. adults conducted by Harris Interactive revealed that an image of a puppy, when used in advertising, is most likely to have an emotional impact on 41% of respondents. The research, which also included as choices images of a baby (34%), an old lady (3%), and an old man (2%), found out that gender plays a role in respondents’ reactions to images used in advertising: 45% of women said they are affected by images of a puppy, compared with 37% of men; 39% of women are affected by images of a baby, but only 29% of men. Age also plays a role: between 40% and 42% of each age group said they are likely to be affected by images of a puppy; 39% of 35-44 years old respondents and 38% of the 45-54 years group said they are likely to be affected by images of a baby; however, only 30% of 18-34 years old said so. The study, however, does not say whether an emotional appeal can in fact drive consumers to buy.

A report, “US Organic Food Market Analysis,” says that the U.S. organic food market has been one of the fastest growing industries, with average annual growth of 16%-21% in 2000-2008. As the world’s biggest economy, with one of the highest per capita incomes, the U.S. has the ingredients for the organic food market to expand and flourish, with compound annual growth rate forecast at 13% in 2010-2014. Rising awareness about environmental protection, food safety, health, and animal welfare are some of the factors that drive market growth. Government support and the growing demand for organic and natural products are pushing further the growth of the organic niche for the food and beverages industry.

More than 25 percent of women want healthier snacks that also taste good and satisfy their sweet tooth, an online survey has found. And when women proactively seek healthier snacks, 41 percent choose a snack under 100 calories, 36 percent select a low-fat snack and 33 percent pick "whole grain anything." The study, which was conducted on behalf of Dole Food Company, also revealed that nearly 60 percent of women reached for fruit or dried fruit when choosing a healthier snack. Forty-three percent prefer yogurt and 31 percent choose something with whole grains. However, 39 percent of women admitted grabbing candy when they feel like having something sweet. But candy bars only temporarily satisfy sugar cravings. Sweet natural fruit satisfies cravings but doesn’t over-stimulate taste buds to make you want more.