Wednesday, November 30, 2005

AMI comments on CO use in meat products

11/30/2005-The American Meat Institute has issued a statement on the petition to Ban Carbon Monoxide in Red Meat Products by the AMI Foundation President James H. Hodges.
"We have full confidence in the federal government’s approval processes, through both the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture, for new technologies and believe that the government acted appropriately when it approved the use of carbon monoxide in meat packaging. The scientific evidence supports the safety of this packing technology.
Unfortunately, it appears that this petition to ban a safe technology may be motivated by competitive interests. It is unfortunate that this competitive attack may create food safety concerns when there are none here.
We look forward to the federal government’s thorough review of the petition."

Barry Callebaut appoints new Chief Innovation Officer

11/30/2005-Barry Callebaut AG, the world’s leading manufacturer of cocoa and chocolate products, has appointed Hans P. Vriens (born 1965) to the newly created position of Chief Innovation Officer and member of the Management Team effective December 1, 2005.
Since 2001 Hans Vriens has been the owner of VF&Co. b.v. in Amsterdam, Netherlands, a holding company which invests in and develops new consumer brands for itself and for third-party customers. Activities include the consulting of large multinational companies in the development of functional foods, a partnership selling an energy drink in a new packaging concept, as well as the production and distribution of a functional dairy product.

Smithfield Foods income falls; to close plants

11/30/2005-Smithfield Foods, Inc. reported net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2006 of $51.6 million versus net income last year of $58.4 million. Sales were $2.9 billion, compared with $2.7 billion a year ago.
The company also plans to cease fresh pork processing at the Smithfield Packing plant in Smithfield, Virginia. Additionally, the company has announced the closing of an outdated facility in Salem, Virginia. The Salem facility's production will be transferred to other plants with no anticipated loss of volume.

New antibiotic may help manage diseases in oysters

11/30/2005-North Carolina Sea Grant researchers have isolated a new peptide antibiotic from the American oyster that may have implications for managing many diseases in oysters.
The new antimicrobial peptide "American oyster defensin" (AOD) may protect against bacteria in Crassostrea virginica, a species that is native to North Carolina and important economically to Atlantic and Gulf Coast fisheries.
"This peptide may be helpful in selecting disease-resistant oysters for aquaculture and fisheries and may also allow for the development of a test to monitor oyster health," says Ed Noga, professor at the North Carolina State University College of Veterinary Medicine. "In recent years, a number of pathogens, especially bacteria and parasites, have devastated American oyster populations."
The research findings appear in the new (Dec. 30) issue of Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications.
Pathogens such as dermo (Perkinsus marinus) have caused major decreases in oyster productivity -- bacterial pathogens -- such as Vibrio vulnificus that can cause a food-borne illness are a human health concern, according to Noga.
This is the first time that researchers have isolated an antimicrobial peptide from any oyster species, he says.
NC State veterinary medicine postdoctoral research associate Jung-Kil Seo, as well as scientists J. Myron Crawford and Kathryn L. Stone of Yale University's Keck Biotechnology Resource Laboratory, collaborated with Noga on the study. "The results may be used to better understand the innate immune system of American oysters and to enhance research to protect it from important microbial infections," according to Noga. "Further studies are needed to identify sites of synthesis and storage of AOD and determine mechanisms affecting its regulation."

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Peet's Coffee to build new plant

11/29/2005-Peet's Coffee & Tea, Inc., a specialty coffee roaster and marketer, announced today that it has selected The Waterfront at Harbor Bay Business Park in Alameda, California, as the site of its new 135,000 square foot coffee roasting and distribution facility. The new facility is intended to support the company's long term growth plans by helping to meet the growing customer demand for Peet's coffees and teas.

Celiac disease research center established

11/29/2005-Thanks to a $2.5 million gift from the Oklahoma-based William K. Warren Foundation, researchers at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) School of Medicine will be able to step up the fight against celiac disease, a disease estimated to affect one in 100 Americans. Celiac disease is a digestive condition triggered by consumption of a common protein called gluten, which is found in bread, pasta, cookies, pizza crust and many other foods.
“A change in diet is the only treatment at the moment,” said Martin F. Kagnoff, M.D., UCSD Professor of Medicine and one of the country’s recognized leaders in Celiac Disease research. “This generous gift will enable us to support funding for new investigators and innovative research in the field of celiac disease, with the ultimate goal of developing new approaches to diagnose and treat this disease.”
The grant – $500,000 a year for the next five years – will enable Kagnoff and his colleagues to establish the William K. Warren Medical Research Center for Celiac Disease. The center will comprise research in celiac disease being conducted by several investigators at UCSD. Future plans also include developing a clinic at San Diego Children’s Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, planned for early 2006 and, ultimately, an adult celiac disease clinic at UCSD. The funding will support basic and translational research programs for a disease that often goes undiagnosed in patients.

FDA/USDA meeting to discuss joint jurisdiction

11/29/2005-A joint FDA/USDA meeting to discuss a consistent regulatory approach concerning the jurisdiction over certain products containing meat or poultry will be held Dec. 15 in Rosemont, Ill. For more information, see FDA Press Release.

Cargill makes presentation at FiE

11/29/2005-Cargill will explain the value of ingredient branding in helping communicate complex health messages to consumers around the world during Food Ingredients Europe (FIE), Nov. 29 through Dec. 1 in Paris, France. David Henstrom, general manager Europe for Cargill Health & Food Technologies, will offer insights on the value of ingredient branding as it pertains to obesity-related health concerns, such as heart, joint and bone health. The FIE is one of the largest food ingredient shows in Europe with more than 17,000 attendees.
Henstrom explains: “Obesity is a growing issue globally with major effects on cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and joint health to name a few. While tackling this issue demands a multi-faceted approach from many stakeholders, the food industry is making strides in delivering functional food solutions that can make a real difference. But more can and should be done to better communicate the message of benefits to the consumer.”
Henstrom’s presentation, scheduled for the early afternoon FIE session, Wednesday, Nov. 30, will first explore the global obesity situation’s effect on related major diseases. It will then focus on the benefit of well-executed ingredient branding in bringing the benefits delivered by functional foods to the consumer.
Henstrom adds that Cargill’s proprietary marketing research indicates that the majority of consumers in selected European markets think seriously about the healthfulness or nutritional value of what they eat. “Good tasting, efficacious functional foods are experiencing a greater acceptance by mainstream consumers than ever before,” said Henstrom

Give thanks for the cranberry, say dental researchers

11/29/2005-Families gathered around the Thanksgiving dinner table might consider giving thanks for the bacteria-busting ability of cranberry juice, say dental researchers who have discovered that the beverage holds important clues for preventing cavities.
A team led by oral biologist Hyun (Michel) Koo, D.D.S., Ph.D., at the University of Rochester Medical Center has discovered that the same traits that make cranberry juice a powerful weapon against bladder infections also hold promise for protecting teeth against cavities. Koo found that cranberry juice acts like Teflon® for teeth, making it difficult for the bacteria that causes cavities to cling to tooth surfaces. Stickiness is everything for the microbe Streptococcus mutans, which creates most cavities by eating sugars and then excreting acids that cause dental decay.
"Scientists believe that one of the main ways that cranberries prevent urinary tract infections is by inhibiting the adherence of pathogens on the surface of the bladder. Perhaps the same is true in the mouth, where bacteria use adhesion molecules to hold onto teeth," Koo said.
Koo's team also found evidence that cranberry juice disrupts the formation of the building block of plaque, known as a glucan. Like a mason using cement to build a wall brick by brick, bacteria use enzymes known as glucosyltransferases to build dental plaque piece by piece, quickly forming a gunky fortress that covers the tooth and gives bacteria a safe haven to munch on sugar, thrive, and churn out acid. Koo's team found that cranberry juice prevents bacteria from forming plaque by inhibiting those enzymes and by stopping additional bacteria from glomming on to the ever-growing goo.
"Something in the cranberry juice disarms the pathogens that cause tooth decay," Koo said.
But don't even think about running to the juice aisle in the grocery store to prevent tooth decay, Koo said. The sugar that is usually added to cranberry juice can cause cavities, and the natural acidity of the substance may contribute directly to tooth decay.
Instead of advocating mass consumption of cranberry juice, Koo hopes to isolate the compounds within the juice that pack an anti-cavity punch. The substances could then be added to toothpaste or mouth rinse directly. He is working closely with Nicholi Vorsa, Ph.D., a plant pathologist and director of the Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension Center at Rutgers, to isolate the compounds in juice that are most protective.
A food scientist turned dentist, Koo became fascinated with research and is an expert on natural substances that can improve oral health. Currently, as an assistant professor in the Eastman Department of Dentistry and a researcher in the Center for Oral Biology, he is focusing on ways to stop the bacteria that ultimately causes cavities. Such research, if successful, would improve the oral health of millions of people worldwide.

CDC posts site on health risks of unpasteurized juice

11/29/2005-The Centers for Disease Control has posted a "Preventing Health Risks Associated with Drinking Unpasteurized or Untreated Juice."

Sites provide access to FAO expertise

11/29/2005-A new web-based FAO information service launched today, "Ask FAO," lets users pose questions directly to experts in the Organization and also includes a searchable "knowledge base" of answers to frequently asked questions covering issues as varied as how to ask FAO for technical assistance to controlling bird flu to finding out national rates of deforestation.
Similarly, FAO's new "Best Practices" website, also launched today, serves as a one-stop source of technical information on recommended practices and techniques in food production, rural development, natural resource management and other areas.
AskFAO: http://www.fao.org/askfao
FAO's Best Practices site: http://www.fao.org/bestpractices.

ADM names new VP of product development

11/29/2005-Doug Millar has been named Vice President-Product and Market Development for the Corn Processing, Natural Health and Nutrition, and Specialty Food Ingredients divisions of Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM). In this role, he will be responsible for new product and market development, cross divisional key account analysis and strategy, as well as identifying new ingredient opportunities through utilization of existing assets.
Millar previously served as Vice President-Sales and Marketing for the Specialty Food Ingredients division. He joined the Company in 1985 and received a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba.

Monday, November 28, 2005

Novartis sells dietary food business

11/28/2005-Novartis announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement to divest its Nutrition & Santé business unit to ABN AMRO Capital France for approximately EUR 220 million (USD 260 million) on a cash and debt free basis. The transaction, which requires customary regulatory approvals, is expected to be completed in Q1 2006.
Nutrition & Santé holds the remaining dietary food assets of the former "Health and Functional Food" business unit, which were not sold to Associated British Foods plc in November 2002. At the time of the divestiture, Nutrition & Santé was classified as a non-core asset and has since been included within the Medical Nutrition business unit results.
"Nutrition & Santé has developed a unique range of high-value dietary food products trusted by European consumers. At Novartis, we are committed to focusing on our pharmaceuticals and healthcare businesses. This transaction provides Nutrition & Santé and its employees with a new shareholder who will focus on the business and allows Novartis to realize the value of its investments into Nutrition & Santé," said Paul Choffat, Chief Executive Officer of Novartis Consumer Health.
"We are enthusiastic about the acquisition of Nutrition & Santé. We are very excited to partner with the management team and we consider the company as an exceptional platform to expand in the dietary food business via organic and external growth", said Hervé Claquin, Chief Executive Officer of ABN AMRO Capital France.
Nutrition & Santé, which is headquartered in Revel, France, is a leader in the European dietary foods market through activities in functional foods (Gerblé® and Céréal®), slimming products (Gerlinéa®, Pesoforma® and Milical®), sports nutrition (Isostar®), and other nutritional specialties. Products are sold through groceries and supermarkets, pharmacies and drug stores, and specialist channels such as health-food stores and gym clubs. Nutrition & Santé reported sales of EUR 245 million and operating income of EUR 21 million for the 12 month period ended September 2005, primarily in France, Spain/Portugal, Italy and the Benelux region.

Omega-3s have positive impact on blood lipids

11/28/2005-A recent clinical study(1) on behalf of Nutrinova, the international supplier of food ingredients, demonstrated that a supplementation of its omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) oil, Nutrinova® DHA, has a positive impact on blood lipids and, thus, significantly enhances the so-called omega-3 index. The omega-3 index indicates the blood level of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA. A low omega-3 index has recently been described as an indicator for increased risk of coronary heart disease.
The clinical study was designed to investigate the nutritional and health benefits of a DHA supplementation with vegetarians. The Nutrinova® DHA that was used is a natural DHA source derived from microalgae and is suitable for the vegetarian diet.
Vegetarians usually have a very low dietary intake of natural DHA. Although most of the participants reached recommended intakes for essential fatty acids, such as alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), none of them reached a recommended omega-3 index of at least 8%. After supplementation with Nutrinova® DHA over a period of 8 weeks, the omega-3 index increased significantly: 69% of the group supplemented with DHA reached an omega-3 index above 8%. Contrarily, this level could not be reached by any participant of the placebo group.
This suggests that the in vivo conversion of ALA (as available from plant sources such as flax) to EPA and DHA is not adequate to reach a desirable EPA and DHA status. Thus, a dietary supplementation of EPA and DHA seems to be necessary to enhance the omega-3 index.
Moreover, as the increase of DHA levels could have been expected during the supplementation, the results of the study showed that there was also a significant increase in the EPA level after DHA supplementation. This suggests that Nutrinova® DHA is also suitable for enhancing both the DHA and EPA status.
The results of this study are in line with other recent findings, indicating that DHA may promote cardiovascular health.
Nutrinova® DHA is a plant-based omega-3 fatty acid oil derived from microalgae. It contains at least 43% (of total fatty acids) DHA, has a pleasant taste and no contaminants that may be found in common fish oils. Nutrinova® DHA is suitable for products supporting a vegetarian or vegan diet and is included in numerous functional foods and supplements around the world.
1) Geppert, Kraft, Demmelmair, Koletzko. Docosahexaenoic acid supplementation in vegetarians effectively increases omega-3 index: A randomized trial. Lipids (2005), 40(8), 807-814

FDA to expand "lean" label claim

11/28/2005-The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to amend its food labeling regulations for the expanded use of the nutrient content claim "lean" on the labels of foods categorized as "mixed dishes not measurable with a cup" that meet certain criteria for total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol content. This proposal responds to a nutrient content claim petition submitted by Nestle Prepared Foods Co. For more information, see the Federal Register of November 25, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 226, Page 71041-71057).

Tate & Lyle posts comments on EU sugar reform

11/28/2005-Tate & Lyle has issued a press release on how the latest EU reformation of the sugar sector will affect its business. For more detail, see the press release. The final legislation will not be issued until January 2006.

Sunny Fresh receives Malcolm Baldrige award

11/28/2005-For a second time, Sunny Fresh Foods, Inc., the egg further processing subsidiary of Cargill, has received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the highest recognition of performance excellence that a U.S. company can receive.
"Receiving the Baldrige award the first time was a big honor,” said Sunny Fresh President Mike Luker. "Receiving it a second time is truly a testament to the sustained commitment of the Sunny Fresh team and its focus on helping customers succeed.”
In 1999, Sunny Fresh, became the first food company to receive the honor.
With headquarters in Monticello, Minn., Sunny Fresh has egg further processing facilities in Monticello and Big Lake, Minn.; Mason City and Panora, Iowa; and Lake Odessa, Mich. The Sunny Fresh team includes 620 people.
Sunny Fresh makes a variety of egg-based foods including prepared and frozen entrees like omelets, patties and frittatas, pre-cooked scrambled eggs, diced eggs, peeled hard-cooked eggs and French toast, as well as pasteurized refrigerated and frozen liquid egg products, including fat-free egg products. Sunny Fresh serves the foodservice industry. Its customers include major restaurants and quick service restaurant chains, as well as schools, convenience stores, health care facilities, military bases and food processors.
Congress established the Baldrige award program in 1987 to recognize U.S. companies for achievements in quality and business performance excellence. It is named after the late U.S. commerce secretary, Malcolm Baldrige. The commerce secretary and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly the National Bureau of Standards) provide the leadership and management for the program.
Baldrige applicants are evaluated on the following categories: leadership, strategic planning, customer and market focus, information and analysis, human resource focus, process management, and business results.
“What makes this accomplishment amazing is that two-thirds of our team today were not even with Sunny Fresh in 1999, when we received our first Baldrige,” Luker said, noting that employment at Sunny Fresh has about doubled in the last six years and some of the 1999 stakeholders have moved on to other positions in the Cargill organization. “I think this shows that we have the processes in place to sustain our high performance.”

EU reforms sugar sector

11/28/2005-On Nov. 24, the European Union agriculture ministers reached political agreement on a wide-ranging reform of the Common Market Organisation for sugar, based on the proposal tabled by the European Commission in June.
The reform will enhance the competitiveness and market-orientation of the EU sugar sector, guarantee it a viable long-term future and strengthen the EU's negotiating position in the current round of world trade talks. It will bring a system, which has remained largely unchanged for almost 40 years, into line with the rest of the reformed Common Agricultural Policy. The guaranteed price for white sugar will be cut by 36 percent over 4 years; farmers will be compensated for, on average, 64.2 percent of the price cut through a decoupled payment - which will be linked to the respect of environmental and land management standards and added to the Single Farm Payment; countries which give up more than half of their production quota will be entitled to pay an additional coupled payment of 30 percent of the income loss for a temporary period of five years; a generous voluntary restructuring scheme will be established to provide incentives for less competitive producers to leave the sector; intervention buying of surplus production will be phased out after four years. Developing countries will continue to enjoy preferential access to the EU market at attractive prices. Those ACP countries which need it will be eligible for an assistance plan worth EUR 40 million for 2006, which will pave the way for further assistance.

EU and US sign wine trade agreement

11/28/2005-The European Union and the United States signed an agreement in the form of an exchange of letters on matters related to trade in wine. This agreement was one element of the Wine Agreement on which the negotiators of the two Parties finally reached agreement at the end of the summer and which was initialled in Washington on 14 September 2005.
This separate agreement has been negotiated taking into account the need not to disrupt trade in wine between the Parties pending the full entry into force of the Wine Agreement. Under this agreement, the EU continues to apply its existing authorisations regarding US wine-making practices as well as certification and labelling, while the US exempts EU wines, including low alcohol wines, from their new certification requirements due to be applied to the 2005 harvest. Regarding the Wine Agreement, EU procedures are currently under way and a final decision on it is expected by the end of the year.

Australian food agency releases health claim plan

11/28/2005-Food Standards Australia New Zealand has released a draft plan aimed at helping people make healthier food choices and to encourage the development of healthier products.
The plan calls for all health labels on food packaging to be backed up by scientific evidence and in some cases will need its approval before the product is marketed.
For more see, the News Release.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

More fresh produce linked to Salmonella, CSPI says

11/23/2005-According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), Salmonella outbreaks caused by fresh produce are increasing, and could catch up to those caused by poultry.
In CSPI's Outbreak Alert! database, which has data on "nearly 4,500 [food-poisoning] outbreaks between 1990 and 2003," produce was responsible for 554 outbreaks, which sickened more than 28,000 people. Over 100 of those outbreaks were due to Salmonella. From 2002-2003, produce accounted for 31 Salmonella outbreaks, while poultry was the culprit in 29 cases.
"Fresh fruits and vegetables are at the center of a healthy diet, so it’s critical that steps are taken to improve their safety," said CSPI food safety director Caroline Smith DeWaal. "FDA should require growers to limit the use of manure to times and products where it poses no risk. And packers and shippers should mark packaging to ensure easy traceback when fruits and vegetables are implicated in an outbreak."
In October 2004, the FDA released its Produce Safety Action Plan in an effort to minimize foodborne illnesses associated with fresh produce.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

PepsiCo acquires pita chip firm

11/22/2005-PepsiCo announced today its agreement, pending government approval, to purchase Stacy's Pita Chip Company -- the top-selling maker of pita chips with sales approaching $60 million this year. Stacy's, which will continue to be based in Randolph, MA, with more than 100 employees, is planned to operate as a separate unit and report to Frito-Lay North America chairman and chief executive officer Irene Rosenfeld.
Stacy's is an all-natural snack company with strong growth potential that supports Frito-Lay's desire to participate more broadly in the $90 billion macrosnack category. It compliments the company's growing portfolio of healthier snack options. Stacy's pita chips are distributed nationwide and have become the sales leader in the rapidly growing pita chip category. The company's pita chips come in five flavors and qualify for PepsiCo's Smart Spot, a symbol on select products to make shopping easier for families looking for healthier snack and beverage choices. Stacy's pita chips are baked, all natural and have no cholesterol or trans fats. Like Frito-Lay, Stacy's offers snack chips without trans fats and includes trans fat information on its packaging.
"I am delighted to welcome Stacy's employees to the Frito-Lay family. Stacy's has enjoyed tremendous success since it was founded nine years ago," said Irene Rosenfeld, Frito-Lay Chairman and CEO. "Stacy's enables Frito-Lay to be a leader in the pita chips category, while supporting our plans to expand our snack offerings to meet consumers' changing needs and lifestyles. Stacy's has created a unique entrepreneurial identity, which has been instrumental to its success, and we plan to preserve that identity, while providing access to Frito-Lay's resources."

Sara Lee to sell European nuts and snacks business

11/22/2005-Sara Lee Corporation announced today that it has reached agreement on the principal terms and conditions for the sale of its European nuts and snacks business in the Netherlands, Belgium and France to PepsiCo for EUR 130 million.
As part of Sara Lee's transformation plan announced in February, the company identified European nuts and snacks as a non-core business that would be sold. The European nuts and snacks business, which generated approximately EUR 88 million in annual sales in fiscal 2005, markets products under the Duyvis brand in the Netherlands and Belgium as well as the Benenuts brand in France.
"A critical element of our transformation strategy is to divest a number of businesses, including the European nuts and snacks enterprise, that are not in our core categories, so that Sara Lee is a more focused, more disciplined, high-performing company for our shareholders," said Brenda C. Barnes, chairman and chief executive officer of Sara Lee Corporation. "We look forward to productive and collaborative discussions with the appropriate works councils as we move forward with this transaction."
Sara Lee intends to use the proceeds from this sale to support its previously announced priorities for driving shareholder value through its dividend, a multi-year, $2 billion share repurchase program, debt repayment and investment in the company's core businesses.
Sara Lee Corporation (www.saralee.com) is a Chicago-based global manufacturer and marketer of high-quality, brand-name products for consumers throughout the world. In February 2005, the company began executing a bold and ambitious multi-year plan to transform Sara Lee into a company focused on its food, beverage, and household and body care businesses around the world. As part of its transformation plan, Sara Lee will drive growth in its key categories via such strong brands as Ball Park, Douwe Egberts, Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean, Kiwi, Sanex, Senseo and its namesake, Sara Lee.

Monday, November 21, 2005

Counting calories isn’t the best way to lose weight

11/21/2005-Counting calories isn’t the best way to lose weight, according to a new Brigham Young University study that suggests that an approach toward food called “intuitive eating” is better at producing lower cholesterol levels, body mass index scores and cardiovascular disease risk.
“The basic premise of intuitive eating is, rather than manipulate what we eat in terms of prescribed diets -- how many calories a food has, how many grams of fat, specific food combinations or anything like that -- we should take internal cues, try to recognize what our body wants and then regulate how much we eat based on hunger and satiety,” said lead researcher Steven Hawks, a BYU professor of health science, who adopted an intuitive eating lifestyle several years ago and lost 50 pounds as a result.
In a small-scale study published in the latest issue of the “American Journal of Health Education,” Hawks and his team of researchers -- Hala Madanat, Jaylyn Hawks and Ashley Harris -- identified a handful of college students who are naturally intuitive eaters and compared them with other students who aren’t. Participants were then tested to determine how healthy they were.
As measured by the Intuitive Eating Scale, developed by Hawks and others to measure the degree to which a person is an intuitive eater, researchers found that intuitive eating was significantly correlated with lower body mass index, lower triglyceride levels, higher levels of high density lipoproteins and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease. Approximately one-third of the variance in body mass index was accounted for by intuitive eating scores, while 17 to 19 percent of the variance in blood lipid profiles and cardiovascular risk was accounted for by intuitive eating.
“The findings provide support for intuitive eating as a positive approach to healthy weight management,” said Hawks, who plans to do a large-scale study of intuitive eating across several cultures.
“In less developed countries in Asia, people are primarily intuitive eaters,” said Hawks. “They haven’t been conditioned to artificially structure their relationship with food like we have in the United States. They’ve been conditioned to believe that the purpose of food is to enjoy, to nurture. You eat when you’re hungry, you stop when you’re not hungry any more. They have a much healthier relationship with food, far fewer eating disorders, and interestingly, far less obesity.”
Hawks says that “normal” dieting in the United States doesn’t result in long-term weight loss and contributes to food anxiety and unhealthy eating practices, and can even lead to eating disorders.
“What makes intuitive eating different from a diet is that all diets work against human biology, whereas intuitive eating teaches people to work with their own biology, to work with their bodies, to understand their bodies,” said Hawks. “Rather than a prescriptive diet, it’s really about increasing awareness and understanding of your body. It’s a nurturing approach to nutrition, health and fitness as opposed to a regulated, coercive, restrictive approach. That’s why diets fail, and that’s why intuitive eating has a better chance of being successful in the long term.”

Wrigley to sell gummy candy brand

11/21/2005-The Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company announced today the signing of an agreement to sell the North American trademark rights for the Trolli gummy candy brand and the associated Creston, Iowa production facility to Farley's & Sathers Candy Co., Inc. of Round Lake, MN. Terms are not being disclosed.
The Creston factory has approximately 150 employees who will transfer with the business. The two companies will work on transitioning the business, including customer notification, over the coming weeks, with an expectation that the transaction will close by mid-December.
"Our intent to divest Trolli was announced when we closed on the acquisition of several confectionery brands from Kraft Foods in June. This move is part of the integration of that acquisition and the related realignment of Wrigley's North American supply chain, which are progressing according to plan," said Peter Hempstead, Senior Vice President - Worldwide Strategy & New Business.

Hershey announces new organizational structure

11/21/2005-The Hershey Company today announced a new organization structure to better leverage its scale in the U.S. and accelerate the company's growth in key global markets. The changes, which are effective immediately, are designed to further strengthen the company's current performance while capitalizing on long-term growth opportunities.
Highlights of the new structure include the formation of:
-- A U.S. Commercial Group, with responsibility for continuing to build Hershey's confectionery leadership while capitalizing on its scale in the U.S. snack market.
-- An International Commercial Group, with responsibility for pursuing profitable growth opportunities in key markets in the Americas and Asia.
-- A Global Growth and Innovation Group, with responsibility for building global brands, developing benefit-driven growth platforms for the short and long term, and strengthening marketing capabilities worldwide.
Commenting on the new organization structure, Richard H. Lenny, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, The Hershey Company, said, "We've made great strides in executing Hershey's value-enhancing strategy in recent years, delivering record sales, market share and earnings from operations. Now is the right time, as we approach the close of what we expect will be another strong year, to take steps to strengthen our performance in the near term and build a structure that will continue our momentum for the long term.
"The organizational structure we announced today," continued Lenny, "will allow Hershey to capture a larger share of the U.S. snack market while broadening its international presence. Unifying our U.S. business, adding much-needed global capabilities, and aligning selected international opportunities with total company resources will ensure that we continue to achieve top-tier performance."
Chris Baldwin, formerly Senior Vice President, Chief Global Customer Officer, has been appointed Senior Vice President, President U.S. Commercial Group. Michele Buck, formerly Senior Vice President, President U.S. Snacks, has been appointed Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, U.S. Commercial Group, reporting to Baldwin.

Friday, November 18, 2005

DSM opens lab with Chinese university

11/18/2005-DSM Nutritional Products, a maker of vitamins and fine chemicals, and Fudan University announced the opening of their Joint Laboratory at Fudan University in Shanghai. The laboratory is part of a long-term research cooperation between DSM and Fudan in nutrition and health. The announcement comes after the signing of a legal agreement between DSM Nutritional Products (DNP) and Fudan University at the end of 2004, representing a total investment of RMB 36 million (CHF 5.0 million).
The Fudan-DSM Joint Lab is closely located to the Fudan Department of Chemistry and will provide lab space, seminar rooms and infra-structure for up to 30 scientists. In the first phase of this co-operation, approximately 10 scientists will work under the guidance and supervision of Professor Fener Chen. The laboratory is focusing on research in chiral technologies, synthetic methods for the industrial production of vitamins, carotenoids and new food and feed ingredients. In later stages of the lab’s development, the research scope will be broadened. Both DSM and Fudan are confident that this laboratory represents a new model of collaboration between multinational enterprises and China’s leading scientific research institutions. On the one hand, Fudan University has realized its ambition of intensifying cooperation with leading industrial corporations as well as enhancing the transfer of scientific and technical knowledge.
At the same time, DSM is strengthening its technological involvement in one of its most important markets. “Fudan University will fully support the joint lab with human resources, lab space, a supportive research environment, etc.” Yuliang Yang, Academician of CAS and Vice President of Fudan University, said about the project. “Through joint research and development, we hope that the cooperation will not only promote first class research activities in health beneficial ingredients, but can also create real products that benefit human health and life-quality.”
For DSM, the research capabilities of Fudan represent an opportunity to tap into China’s vast reservoir of talent in terms of market and innovation potential as well as knowledge-base. Fudan has created a solid foundation for progress by establishing itself as the Chinese Center of Excellence. “The establishment of Fudan-DSM Joint Lab will be an important milestone and an integrated part of DSM Nutritional Products’ R&D strategy. It is also part of DSM’s overall strategy to strengthen its business and R&D activities in China. The combination of highly skilled and educated scientists from Fudan University, along with the long-term experience and business and science know-how of DSM Nutritional Products’, raises my expectations for high-value scientific contributions and fast, efficient progress in this area. “said Dr. Manfred Eggersdorfer, R&D Director DSM Nutritional Products.

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Novozymes and ADM win Technology of the Year Award

11/17/2005-Novozymes, a supplier of enzymes and microorganisms, today announced that INDUSTRYWEEK magazine named the company's enzymatic interesterification process one of six Technologies of the Year for 2005. The development is a food-processing innovation that uses enzymes to develop healthier fats and oils for use in margarine, baking and confectionery applications.
The 13th annual INDUSTRYWEEK Technology and Innovation Awards celebrates outstanding achievements and innovations in technology. A profile of Novozymes' enzymatic interesterification process will be featured in the December issue of INDUSTRYWEEK and online at www.industryweek.com.
Enzymatic interesterification is a bio-based innovation that employs an enzyme - Lipozyme(R) TL IM - as an alternative to conventional partial hydrogenation technique that produces large amounts of trans fats. Earlier this year, Novozymes and its partner, Archer Daniels Midland Company, won a Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award for this advancement.
"We are delighted that INDUSTRYWEEK has recognized our enzymatic interesterification technology as one of the year's leading innovations," stated Stevens W. Pearce, staff scientist at Novozymes North America. "This revolutionary development that helps deliver healthier food products while reducing the environmental impact of traditional production techniques is yet another milestone in Novozymes' portfolio of biological solutions that improve everyday lives."
According to Pearce, replacing partially hydrogenated oils with interesterified products can enhance public health by reducing the consumption of trans fatty acids while increasing the use of poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), essential parts of a healthy diet. "The Food and Drug Administration estimates that listing trans fat on food labels would save between 2,000 and 5,600 lives per year as people either choose healthier foods or manufacturers improve their recipes to eliminate trans fat," he said. "Enzymatic interesterification helps food processors avoid the formation of trans fatty acids while retaining flavor and texture."
Trans fatty acids can lead to increased serum levels of LDL cholesterol or "bad" cholesterol. When too much "bad" cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain resulting in atherosclerosis. Trans fatty acids can also lead to decreased levels of HDL or "good" cholesterol because a high level of it seems to protect against heart attack. The presence of both High LDL and low HDL levels in the blood stream are strong indicators for heart disease.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Silliker acquires lab based in Netherlands

11/16/2005-The Chemical Laboratory “Dr. A. Verwey,” a leading independent analytical laboratory in the Netherlands, has joined the Silliker, Inc. international network of laboratories. Based in Rotterdam, Verwey joins the organization’s Ede-based laboratory in the Netherlands. Silliker General Manager Sébastien Moulard will lead the new acquisition.
With three additional facilities in Vondelingenplaat, Vlaardingen, and Oosterhout, Dr. A. Verwey provides a full spectrum of analytical, auditing, and consulting services to local and multinational companies, and is internationally renowned for its chemistry expertise.
“Throughout Europe, Dr. A. Verwey is recognized as one of the continent’s preeminent chemistry laboratories due to its outstanding technical competencies, state-of-the-art facilities, and professional staff,” said Pam Coleman, Silliker, Inc. Vice President of Chemistry Services. “We are pleased to welcome its dedicated team of scientists and safety experts to the Silliker international network.”
The acquisition, Coleman stated, is an integral part of the company’s strategic plan to expand its chemistry services both here and abroad and leverage its global expertise to better serve its clientele. As one of the food industry’s leading chemistry providers, Silliker serves 21 of the top 25 food companies in the world.
Founded in 1901, Dr. A. Verwey is accredited under ISO 17025 by the Dutch Accreditation Council Rva and EN-ISO 9001:2000 by Bureau Veritas (BVI), an independent certification body. The lab is also a member of the Federation of Oils, Seeds and Fats Associations (FOSFA).

Silliker Research Center announces name change

11/16/2005-The Silliker, Inc. Research Center has changed its name to the Silliker Food Science Center. The adjustment reflects the organization’s strategic vision to meet growing client needs.
“The name change embodies the diversity of our services and represents a future bright with new possibilities in the 21st Century, “ says General Manager Mark Carter.
For four decades, the South Holland, IL-based organization has been one of the preeminent food research laboratories in North America. Renowned for its shelf-life studies and collaborative work on many of today’s leading rapid testing methods, the Silliker Food Science Center provides expert services ranging from new product development to processing equipment validation.
Carter said the Research Center will aggressively advance its multi-faceted abilities industry-wide and use its considerable capabilities to help companies maximize new technologies, address emerging safety risks, and meet mounting regulatory requirements.
“While our new name marks the beginning of a new era, providing our clients with the outstanding scientific expertise and professional service remains our foremost priority, ” Carter said.

Mastertaste realigns management structure

11/16/2005-Mastertaste Inc., a global developer and manufacturer of high-quality flavors and flavor and fragrance bases, today announced a realignment of its global management structure. The changes include a new managing director of Mastertaste’s European operations and a new president of its Natural Products Division and Manheimer Fragrance business.
“As our strategic direction becomes more clearly defined, the deployment of our most important resource – our people – is key to our long-term success,” said Kevin Lane, President and CEO, Mastertaste. “To that end, I am pleased to announce a major realignment of our global structure.”
The following executives have been appointed to new posts within Mastertaste:
Paul Shanahan has been promoted to Managing Director, Europe and will be headquartered in Mozzo, Italy. In his new role, Shanahan will be responsible for business operations in the UK, Ireland, and Western Europe. Most recently, Shanahan served as President of Mastertaste’s Natural Products Division, which encompasses the Manheimer Flavors, SunPure, and Crystals business units.
Michael O’Neill has been named President of both the Natural Products Division and the Manheimer Fragrance business unit, both of which will continue to operate as separate entities. O’Neill has served as the company’s CFO since its inception in 1998.
Shane McGibney has been appointed CFO of Mastertaste Inc. McGibney will be responsible for overseeing corporate finance, as well as IT, Purchasing, and Legal. A six-year veteran of Mastertaste’s parent company, the Kerry Group, McGibney most recently served as Controller of Mastertaste’s Natural Products Division.

Spice company petitions FDA to prohibit CO use in meats

11/16/2005-Kalsec, Inc, Kalamazoo, Mich., has petitioned the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prohibit the use of carbon monoxide in consumer meat packaging, saying that the practice, done to maintain red color in fresh meats, can hide spoilage. According to the company, the use of carbon monoxide deceives consumers and creates an unnecessary risk of food poisoning by enabling meat and ground beef to remain fresh-looking beyond the point at which typical color changes would indicate ageing or bacterial spoilage.
The petition, filed by Kalsec, urged the FDA to withdraw its July 2004 decision and related decisions to allow the presence of carbon monoxide in meat packaging.
“Carbon monoxide simulates the appearance of freshness, so consumers may actually believe meat is fresh and safe when it may be neither,” said Dr. Don Berdahl, Vice President and Technical Director of Kalsec. “We hope the FDA acts quickly to end this deceptive, potentially dangerous practice.”

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Poultry industry posts site on avian influenza

11/15/2005-The poultry industry has launched a new website -- www.avianinfluenzainfo.com -- to respond to any public concern that may occur over avian influenza. The site is a joint project of the National Chicken Council (NCC), National Turkey Federation (NTF), and Egg Safety Center (ESC).
"The goal of the poultry industry is to prevent the disease from occurring in our flocks and to continue to provide safe, wholesome, and nutrient rich products," said Hilary Shallo Thesmar, Ph.D., R.D., director of the Egg Safety Center in Washington, D.C.

ADM launches soy isoflavone awareness campaign

11/15/2005-Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) announced the launch of a soy isoflavone education campaign aimed at women seeking relief from menopausal symptoms, particularly hot flashes.
The program seeks to help women choose wisely from among the variety of products containing soy isoflavones and promises of health benefits stemming from soy isoflavones. Campaign literature will educate women on the benefits of daily soy isoflavone consumption, as well as draw on recent research findings to direct them to the most efficacious soy isoflavones.
“Consumers are aware of the benefits associated with routine consumption of soy isoflavones,” said Janice Binger, vice president of sales, ADM Natural Health and Nutrition. “What they may not realize is that research indicates that certain isoflavone sources are more effective than others, particularly when it comes to relieving the frequency and severity of hot flashes.”
To make sure women know that not all soy isoflavones are created equal, ADM has launched a Web site, www.easingmenopause.com, which offers information on soy isoflavones, as well as information on how to identify the retail brands that contain the right amount of the specific isoflavone forms.
Throughout the coming year, the company will attend various health and nutrition trade shows and conferences to speak with doctors, dietitians and other health providers about the benefits associated with daily soy isoflavone consumption. Additionally, it will help customers promote retail brands that contain the optimum amount of isoflavones as contained in the whole soybean.
As part of these efforts, ADM conducted a critical review of the scientific literature relating to the efficacy of soy isoflavones in easing hot flashes, a symptom of menopause. The research focused on soy isoflavone extracts used to supplement the diets of postmenopausal women.
The interesting observation of this report is that soy isoflavone supplements which exceed a daily dose of 15 mg of genistein are consistently effective in alleviating both the frequency and severity of hot flashes. Conversely, supplements providing less than 10 mg of genistein daily are ineffective in easing hot flashes.
Although the study’s conclusion contradicts some previous reviews, these reviews did not take into account the source of the isoflavones. This new review focused on the difference among types of isoflavone supplements.
Soy researcher Mark Messina, Ph.D., adjunct associate professor of Nutrition at Loma Linda University in California, is intrigued by the results of this new study.
“These new findings suggest that much of the inconsistency in scientific literature regarding hot flashes is because of the differing types of supplements used in the clinical trials,” Messina said. “Isoflavone supplements that reflect the whole soybean isoflavone profile— the relative ratio of the three naturally-occurring isoflavones found in the soybean— appear to be effective whereas those supplements that are not made from virtually the whole soybean are ineffective.”

WFFC honors contributions to flavor industry

11/15/2005-The Women in Flavor and Fragrance Commerce held their 23rd Open dinner on September 29, 2005. Each year at the open dinner, the WFFC honors a woman who has made outstanding contributions to the flavor and fragrance industry. The 2005 honoree was Valerie Jacklin, Director, Worldwide Ingredients, Flavor Technology, Pepsio, Inc.
Valerie has been with Pepsico since 1985 in a diverse number of positions across R&D, including product development, innovation, flavor quality and technology. She is currently leading the "R" side of R&D, and is responsible for flavor and ingredient technology research, development, application, commercialization and quality for Pepsi's worldwide carbonated and non-carbonated beverage portfolio. Valerie is well-known to the flavor industry, and over 650 of her industry colleagues came out on September 29 to congratulate her on this award.
For more information about WFFC and their upcoming events in 2006, please visit their website: www.wffc.org.

European dairy group outlines WTO position

11/15/2005-Last Friday, 11 November 2005, a delegation of the European Dairy Association (EDA) met with EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel. At the occasion of this meeting, EDA defended its position with regards to the WTO negotiations on agriculture. EDA maintains its position regarding these upcoming negotiations.
Because of its direct implications and potential major impacts for the whole industry, the European dairy sector follows the WTO negotiations on agriculture very closely. In order to explain clearly its position, the EDA invited EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel for a constructive meeting last Friday. Any WTO agreement is of major importance for the EU dairy industry. EDA states that it is pleased with the outcome of the meeting and that its arguments and challenges seem to be well understood by Commissioner Fischer Boel.
Above all, the EDA underlines that any WTO agreement should give the dairy industry the opportunity to successfully undertake any further structural developments required by the changing world trade environment, this from a timing (gradual phasing) and from a schedules perspective (respond to changes in the international trade pattern). This translates in these following points:
- The EDA supports the pursuit of multilateral trade liberalisation through the WTO, the dairy industry is well developed and considers that any WTO agreement can be at the basis of an increase in trade opportunities;
- Any phasing out of export support schemes and decrease in import tariffs should take place gradually over the full implementation period, with increasing speed towards the end; front loading is not acceptable.
- With regards to the export support, to have the possibility for the industry to adapt during the phasing out period, for EDA any further reductions in supported volume are not acceptable: phasing out has to take place only through budget reductions;
- With regards to market access, the present proposal of the EU is the limit; any further reduction in import tariffs will result in a significant decrease of the milk price, that will go far beyond the agreements as set out in the CAP-reform, the basis for the EU mandate;
- EDA and the dairy industry advocate a comparable and well-balanced approach with other developed countries as the US, Australia and New Zealand regarding all three pillars (export support, market access, domestic support)
Commenting the upcoming WTO negotiations and their potential impact on the European dairy industry, Mr Veijo Meriläinen, President of EDA, says "that the EDA is aware of the potential increase in trade opportunities the WTO negotiations represent for the dairy industry; but that however any WTO agreement will have to be well-balanced with a reasonable timeline for the European dairy industry to adapt itself to any new situation, and with sufficient flexible schedules to allow the EU dairy industry to adapt its product mix to respond to changes in the international trade pattern. Our aim as an organisation is to make sure that the European dairy sector - farmers and processors - remains prosperous now and in the future" concludes Mr Meriläinen.

Galaxy to supply veggie-based cheese slices to Subway

11/15/2005-Galaxy Nutritional Foods, Inc., a producer and marketer of plant-based dairy alternatives for the retail and foodservice markets, announced a market test in southeast Florida that will complement sandwich-maker Subway's "7 Subs with 6 Grams of Fat or Less" offering. The market test will expand the variety of choices that Subway restaurants can offer customers in its healthy menu category.
Galaxy will supply vegatable-based Provolone Flavor Cheese Alternative Slices.

Frito Lay to reduce workforce by 250

11/15/2005-As part of a PepsiCo restructuring announced earlier, Frito-Lay will streamline its organization enabling the company to re-invest in business initiatives that will strengthen its leadership position and create capabilities for continued growth.
Frito-Lay’s restructure will result in a reduction of approximately 200 to 250 associates, with the exact number to be determined. This represents about half of one percent of Frito-Lay’s 46,000-person national workforce, with the majority of associates affected from salaried positions at its Plano-area headquarters and HQ-related roles across the country. This action will have no impact on frontline associates. Frito-Lay will notify affected associates in early December and will begin working on details related to severance packages, transition benefits and job placement assistance.
“Streamlining our business accelerates Frito-Lay’s drive for greater simplicity, flexibility and speed – and it also enables us to step up our investments in consumer and customer focused innovation, our selling systems and supply chain infrastructure,” said Irene Rosenfeld, Frito-Lay Chairman and CEO. “We recognize the personal implications of these actions are significant, especially when the business is as strong as ours, and we wanted to establish an open environment that allows for treating our people with the greatest consideration and assistance to ensure a smooth transition.”

Dairy Australia funds milk protein research

11/15/2005-Biotechnology company Cryptome Pharmaceuticals Ltd will receive more than $850,000 from Dairy Australia over the next three years to conduct research that could unlock hidden pharmaceuticals and utraceuticals in milk proteins.
Expertise, R&D facilities, and an international network of collaborators will enable Cryptome to identify and characterise novel proteins and fragments of proteins (crypteins). These could provide health benefits, as well as nutritional benefits, and potentially be used by the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical markets.
Cryptome’s Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Vic L. Ilag said discoveries in this area could potentially help
manage cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic inflammatory disorders.
“This is a valuable and exciting project coming just at the right time. To date, most bioactive peptides
have been derived from casein and whey.
“The uniqueness of our approach will be to look at other milk proteins, including proteins of low
abundance. For this latter group, Cryptome will be using the expertise of one of its American
collaborators, Prof. Bill Hancock, at the Barnett Institute (Northeastern University) in Boston. This
contract is a vote of confidence in our technology,” Dr Ilag said.
Dairy Australia’s Dr Phillip Marzella said Dairy Australia is keen to support the venture, which will
ensure that any benefits will be captured by the Australian dairy industry.
“The biotechnology expertise provided by Cryptome builds on current capability within the
industry and complements the wider Australian dairy industry’s R&D efforts.
“This collaboration is also another example of how Dairy Australia’s Dairy Chain Innovation
Program is working with leading technology partners and companies to ensure the Australian dairy
industry is globally competitive, “ Dr Marzella said.

Israel Chemicals acquires Astaris

11/15/2005-Israel Chemicals Ltd., a multinational fertilizer and specialty chemicals company, announced that it has completed the acquisition of the business and assets of Astaris LLC, a major US manufacturer and marketer of specialty phosphates.
Astaris is a North American leader in specialty and food phosphoric acid and phosphate salts that was formerly a joint venture between FMC Corporation and Solutia Inc. with revenues of approximately $350 million per year in 2004, 570 employees and manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Brazil. After the acquisition, Astaris will operate under the name of ICL Performance Products LP and will be a key component in ICL's global Performance Products business segment. The addition of Astaris' business is considered highly complimentary to ICL's specialty phosphate activities in Israel, Europe, Asia and South America.
The acquisition will give ICL a strong platform for the global expansion of its specialty food additive and phosphate salt sales, and access to markets in North and South America. With a strengthened technological and application base and vertically-integrated value line resulting from the acquisition, ICL Performance Products will utilize its production facilities in North and South America, Asia, Europe and Israel to produce a broad variety of high-end products, including food and technical grade phosphoric acid, phosphate salts and phosphate-based food additives.

Monday, November 14, 2005

Metals may affect color of wine

11/14/2005-Researchers at the University of Navarra in Spain have studied a number of metals and their effect on the development of the color of wine during fermentation, and have concluded that a slight change in metals can substantially modify certain aspects of the wine's color.
Their study was based on samples of the Spanish Tempranillo grape, taken from three successive harvests and given identical fermentation treatments. The researchers discovered the preferred location of the metal components in the grape seeds and how their proportion is modified during fermentation. Results showed that most iron concentrates in the skin and that the amount of this metal, along with copper, "drops considerably" in the beginning of fermentation. This change can affect the color.
A small quantity of iron in wines can increase the blue hue (thereby decreasing red color) by anywhere from 8% to 30%. In addition, the researchers developed a mathematical expression enabling the quantification of these type of color changes. This will be published shortly in the specialized magazine, Analytica Chimica Acta.

Canned soup market to grow in China

11/14/2005-Market research in China finds that consumption of convenience foods there is on the upswing. According to Datamonitor (www.datamonitor.com), China's canned soup market will grow from $204 million in 2004 to $289 million by 2009 -- an annual growth rate of 7.3% for the period. In Hong Kong, however, the canned soup market is expected to decline by 2009. The growth of convenience foods in China is due in part to the increasingly busy lifestyles of urban Chinese, says a report by Research and Markets (www.researchandmarkets.com).

UK starts new BSE testing rule

11/14/2005-Starting this month, the UK is beginning to allow cattle over thirty months old, and who test negative for BSE, into the food supply. Previously, the Over Thirty Months (OTM) Rule, in effect since 1996, banned all cattle aged over thirty months from entering the food chain.
The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) says that this move to BSE testing of older cattle follows a decline in BSE from over 37,000 clinical cases in 1992 to 90 cases in 2004. Since 1996, no cases of BSE have been found in the UK in cattle younger than thirty months. In addition, the UK will continue to enforce its Specified Risk Material control, which removes the parts of cattle most likely to carry BSE, thus removing nearly all risk that could be present in any cattle with BSE.
Cattle born before August 1996 -- when a reinforced ban was introduced on animal feed containing meat and bone meal -- will continue to be permanently excluded from the UK food chain.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Pittcon to feature food science focus

11/10/2005-Pittcon (The Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy) announced today a diverse Technical Program geared toward the Food Sciences that will be presented at Pittcon, March 12 – 17, 2006, Orlando, FL. Attracting thousands of scientists annually, the Pittcon Technical Program features Short Courses, Invited Symposia, Workshops, Contributed Technical Sessions, Posters, and plenary lectures presented by leading scientists from Academia, government, and industry.
One of the features of the program is the symposium on Rapid Food Analysis scheduled for March 16. New approaches to improve speed and selectivity in the extraction, separation and detection of various trace components in complex food matrices will be reviewed. These topics are critical to government agencies and companies involved in public protection against use of biological and chemical weapons, food quality and safety, and agricultural trade regulations.

Global influenza meeting sets key action steps

11/10/2005-A global meeting has identified key components of a global action plan to control avian influenza in animals and simultaneously limit the threat of a human influenza pandemic.
More than 600 delegates from over 100 countries agreed that there is an urgent need for financial and other resources for countries which have already been affected by avian influenza, as well as for those which are most at risk, and to identify and respond to a human pandemic the moment it emerges.
In his conclusions to this historic meeting, Dr. LEE Jong-wook, Director- General of the World Health Organization (WHO), said: "The world recognizes that this is a major public health challenge. WHO is ready to focus its resources to reduce the risk of a human pandemic. We have plans on paper, but we must now test them. Once a pandemic virus appears, it will be too late."
Experts and officials set out key steps that must be taken in response to the threat of the H5N1 influenza virus which is currently circulating in animals in Asia and has been identified in parts of Europe:
Control at Source in Birds: Improving veterinary services, emergency preparedness plans and control campaigns including culling, vaccination and compensation
Assisting countries to control avian influenza in animal populations.
Surveillance: Strengthening early detection and rapid response systems for animal and human influenza; building and strengthening laboratory capacity
Rapid Containment: Support and training for the investigation of animal and human cases and clusters, and planning and testing rapid containment activities
Pandemic Preparedness: Building and testing national pandemic preparedness plans, conducting a global pandemic response exercise, strengthening the capacity of health systems, training clinicians and health managers
Integrated Country Plans: Developing integrated national plans across all sectors to provide the basis for coordinated technical and financial support
Communications: To support all of the above, factual and transparent communications, in particular risk communication, is vital.
Dr. David Nabarro, Senior UN System Coordinator for Avian and Human Influenza, said: "We must use all our assets and skills to the best effect, avoid duplication, share expertise, learn from our experiences and tune-up our ways of working. We must focus on support for existing country mechanisms and provide integrated global joint plans, programmes and monitoring."

Barry Callebaut announces results

11/10/2005-Barry Callebaut AG, a leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate products, announced today its results for fiscal year 2004/05 ended August 31, 2005. Sales volumes grew by more than 4% to 1,052,467 tonnes even though certain unprofitable volumes in the German consumer business were deliberately discontinued during the course of the year. Primarily due to lower cocoa bean prices and negative currency effects, sales revenue increased by 0.3% to CHF 4,061.1 million. Sales volumes and sales revenue were both partly influenced by the first-time consolidation of AM Foods acquired in September 2004. Fluctuations in cocoa bean prices, however, have no meaningful impact on Barry Callebaut's profitability due to its business model.

Groups make donation to Chicago Food Depository

11/10/2005-Toyota, the Chicago International Produce Market (CIPM) and Atlas Toyota Material Handling made several donations to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, also known as the Food Depository, including nearly 10 tons of fresh produce and a new Toyota electric pallet truck. The donations capped off a celebration at the CIPM – Toyota’s way of showing gratitude for using its lift trucks throughout the nation’s largest produce market.
“In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we see images of people going hungry every day,” said Breck Grigas, president of World Wide Produce and CIPM Board Chairman. “However, it’s important to remember that our friends, families and neighbors right here in Chicago also desperately need food.”
This food donation is not the first of its kind for the CIPM. The CIPM has been donating fresh produce to Chicago’s food bank since the Food Depository was established more than a quarter-century ago. The donated food helps make it possible for the Food Depository to serve more than 84,000 meals daily through its 600 member agencies.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

D.D. Williamson offers organic caramel colors

11/08/2005-D.D. Williamson, a caramel color manufacturer, announced its launch of the first certified organic caramel colors manufactured in North America. The company developed the new products in response to consumer trends and resulting ingredient demand from its customers in food and beverage processing. Caramel color, manufactured from the controlled heat treatment of carbohydrates, is the world’s most widely consumed (by weight) food color.
The new organic products -- sucrose-based Caramel Color and Caramelized Rice Syrup -- are designed for D.D. Williamson’s customers to formulate in foods and beverages labeled “organic”. Food processing customers using either product can label “organic caramel color” on ingredient declarations in the United States. D.D. Williamson will include the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Organic seal in conjunction with the Quality Assurance International (QAI) mark on its own labels. The USDA has accredited QAI as a certifying agent for the National Organic Program (NOP), which mandates that organic ingredients must be derived from natural sources.
“Food and beverage processors are requesting organic ingredients to meet the growing consumer demand for organic products,” said Owen Parker, Vice President, D.D. Williamson. “We were able to develop one organic color with stability in low pH to enhance visual appeal in many types of beverages.”

Study suggests lowfat milk role in preventing high blood pressure

11/08/2005-Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects one in four Americans, but a new study suggests that what's filling your glass at mealtimes may help reduce your risk. Published today in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the study found that people who drink lowfat milk may be at a lower risk of developing hypertension, which is a key risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
Researchers at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain, in cooperation with Harvard University analyzed the diets and risk factors of nearly 6,000 adult men and women over a 27-month period. Participants' intake ranged from one to three servings of dairy foods each day, and those who consumed lowfat options were less likely to develop hypertension. Ninety-two percent of the lowfat dairy intake in the study was attributed to milk. There was no association found between full-fat dairy foods and hypertension risk.
Other studies suggest that nutrients found in milk -- calcium, potassium and magnesium -- may play an important role in maintaining normal blood pressure.
Another risk factor for hypertension is poor diet. While lowfat dairy has always been recommended as part of a healthy diet, most Americans still do not get enough of it. According to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines and MyPyramid recommendations, Americans should include at least 3 servings of lowfat milk or milk products in their diet every day. This will ensure adequate consumption of nine essential nutrients including calcium, potassium and magnesium.
Source: Alonso, A., Beunza, JJ., Delgado-Rodriguez, M., Martinez, JA., and Martinez-Gonzalez, MA. Lowfat dairy consumption and reduced risk of hypertension: the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) cohort. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2005; 82: 972

New global agricultural census under way

11/08/2005-More than 100 countries are participating in the UN Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) 2010 round of agricultural censuses covering the period 2006-2015, the agency announced today. In addition to collecting the conventional structural data at farm level, the censuses now gather socio-economic data at the community, or village level.
"Examples of community-level data under consideration are: whether the community is prone to natural disasters; the availability of services such as roads, electricity, health facilities and schools; markets and agricultural input suppliers, as well as the existence of farmers organizations, are also considered," said Hiek Som, Chief of FAO Surveys and Statistical Development Service.
FAO designed the new agricultural census program to help countries monitor progress towards the Millennium Development Goals through their national statistical programs, Mr. Som said.
For more information, see the FAO Press Release.

Monday, November 07, 2005

FDA and FSIS to split food product jurisdiction

11/07/2005-The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), in the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), are jointly announcing a public meeting to discuss and solicit information on an approach for providing consistency and predictability with respect to which of the two agencies should have jurisdiction over certain types of food products that contain meat and poultry as ingredients, as well as the opening of a joint agency docket to receive written comments. The public meeting will be held on December 15, 2005, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The public meeting will be held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 5555 North River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018, 847-692-0222. For more, see Federal Register: November 7, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 214, Page 67490-67494).

New VP Innovation and Strategy named at Hershey

11/07/2005-The Hershey Company today announced that Andrew (Drew) J. Panayiotou has been named Vice President, Innovation and Strategy, Snacks, effective November 7. Panayiotou will report to Michele Buck, Senior Vice President, President U.S. Snacks.
Panayiotou will lead Hershey's efforts to identify and develop future growth platforms and fill the new product pipeline. He also will play a leadership role in the international expansion of snacks and will work with the business development group to develop growth plans and strategies. "Drew brings an outstanding record of developing strategies and programs that drive growth and build consumer brands," Buck said. "He combines an entrepreneurial spirit and creative approach with a deep understanding of brand dynamics. Drew's extensive experience with a wide variety of retail channels and his background in connecting with consumers will be extremely valuable as we continue to develop snacks that generate excitement among consumers and drive profitable growth."
Panayiotou most recently built an independent marketing consulting practice focused on helping companies strengthen marketing strategies and programs. His clients included Mizuno Global Sports, Sears Roebuck, and Nike. Prior to this, Panayiotou worked at Eastman Kodak, where he led Innovation and New Products Marketing for the entire consumer division. He played a key role in the turnaround of Kodak's camera business and launch of several new products. Panayiotou also worked at Dr. Pepper/Seven Up, Inc., where he helped lead the turnaround of the Canada Dry business.

Leveille named executive director of Wrigley Science Institute

11/07/2005-Gilbert A. Leveille, PhD, has been named executive director of the newly established Wrigley Science Institute (WSI), a Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company initiative devoted to advancing understanding of the benefits of chewing gum. In his role, Dr. Leveille will work with the WSI and global science and research communities to study the benefits of chewing gum. Emerging science suggests that chewing gum may have potential benefits in weight management and satiety, reducing situational stress and influencing brain activity and cognitive function, as well as promoting oral and dental health.
"The world's number one chewing gum company, Wrigley has committed to working with scientists and institutions with expertise in basic science, food science, diet, nutrition, cognitive function, stress and other areas to advance the study of the benefits of chewing gum," said Surinder Kumar, PhD, Wrigley's chief innovation officer. "Dr. Leveille is one of the most respected nutrition and food science professionals in the world. Through his leadership, Wrigley's development and understanding of the scientific evidence supporting the benefits of chewing will increase greatly."
"I am honored to be working with Wrigley on this unique program," said Leveille. "Based on the existing scientific data, I believe this endeavor will lead to some intriguing scientific findings about how such a simple thing as chewing gum can enhance our lives. Health professionals and consumers are increasingly finding that the benefits of chewing gum extend beyond breath freshening and great taste and it's exciting to see that Wrigley is taking the industry lead in this new area."
Before joining Wrigley, Leveille most recently served as vice president, Technology, for Cargill’s Food System Design Unit, and as a senior consultant on scientific and regulatory affairs for the company. Prior to Cargill, he spent three years as worldwide vice president, Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, McNeil Consumer Healthcare. In 1996, Dr. Leveille founded Leveille Associates, which provided scientific and regulatory consulting services related to food, nutrition and functional foods (nutraceuticals). Prior to forming his own company, Dr. Leveille held several relevant positions, including: vice president, Research and Technical Services, Nabisco Foods Group (1986 to 1996); and director, Nutrition and Health Sciences, General Foods Corporation (1980 to 1986).
His academic positions include: professor and chair, Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Michigan State University (1971 to 1980); and professor, Nutritional Biochemistry, Department of Animal Science, University of Illinois at Urbana.Champaign (1965 to 1971).

International conference on bird flu calls for action

11/07/2005-As the world takes prudent measures to prepare for a major human influenza pandemic, “more decisive action must be taken by affected countries, civil society, the private sector and by the international community to stop bird flu in animals,” said Samuel Jutzi, Director of the FAO Animal Production and Health Division, at the opening of an international conference on bird flu in Geneva today.
“To stop this dangerous and devastating disease requires extraordinary political commitment, very substantial investments, concerted international cooperation, and severe action at the country level,” Jutzi said.
“We still have a window of opportunity to stop the disease in animals. The virus has not yet reassorted or mutated; action is required now; there is no time to lose.”
The circulation of the H5N1 virus in domestic poultry is the core problem. “Controlling the virus in animals is the only way by which the likelihood of the bird flu virus acquiring human-to-human transmissibility can be influenced,” the FAO expert said.
More than 300 animal and human health experts, senior policy-makers, economists and industry representatives are gathering in Geneva to design a strategy to eliminate the virus in animals and prepare for a possible human influenza pandemic. For more information on the conference see the FAO Press Release.
The WHO has also published resources on the food safety issues of Avian Influenza.

Bunge to increase rapeseed crushing capacity

11/07/2005-Bunge Europe today announced plans to increase the rapeseed crushing capacity of its plant in Mannheim, Germany. The company will adapt the facility's existing soybean crushing line to process both soybeans and rapeseeds. In addition, the total capacity of the facility will be increased to approximately 1.3 million metric tons. New rapeseed crushing capacity is expected to come online in the second quarter of 2006.
The project will enhance Bunge's ability to supply the growing German market for rapeseed oil, a primary component of biodiesel. "The growth in demand for biodiesel is changing the landscape of the German vegetable oil market," stated Jean-Louis Gourbin, CEO, Bunge Europe. "We have decided to install additional capacity in Mannheim to supply this expanding market and to better serve our food customers."
By creating a soy/rape line and adding new capacity, Bunge expects to improve the flexibility and efficiency of the Mannheim plant, enhance the company's position as a leading supplier of oil and meal to customers in southern Germany and further strengthen its ties to the local farming community, from which it intends to purchase additional rapeseeds.

LycoRed acquires Buckton Scott Nutrition

11/07/2005-In a move aimed at strengthening its position in the U.S. nutritional ingredients market LycoRed Corp. has acquired the assets and business of the Buckton Scott Nutrition, Fairfield, N.J., a subsidiary of Buckton Scott Group.
The acquisition of Buckton Scott Nutrition’s leading range of dietary supplement ingredients, expands LycoRed Group activities in this market where it already plays a major role.
In addition to its product line, Buckton Scott Nutrition brings its marketing capability in the U.S. dietary supplement industry to LycoRed. LycoRed Group will also benefit from Buckton Scott’s strength in sourcing high quality raw materials for nutritional products, internationally.
"The dietary supplement and health food industries in the U.S. are looking for “one-stop-shop” opportunities for value-added ingredients. The expanded LycoRed Group operation in the U.S. will provide a complete service package, including a wider product range and the analytical and formulation capabilities of the LycoRed Group.” says Morris Zelkha, President and CEO of the LycoRed Group. "This acquisition is one of LycoRed’s several srategics steps aimed at increasing our capabilities in the US and abroad."

What’s lurking in your refrigerator?

11/07/2005-IFT member, Mike Doyle, gets busy examining the contents of a family’s refrigeration on ABC’s Good Morning America and in the process teaches us a little about food safety.

Cadbury to grow with new products

11/07/2005-Today’s Wall Street Journal (subscription required) has an extensive interview with Cadbury CEO Todd Stitzer. Stitzer says that he will continue to pursue acquisitions as well as developing new products to grow the company. He denies that Cadbury is a target for acquisition by either Hershey or Kraft. According to the article, new products accounted for only 6% of Cadbury's sales in 2003. Last year, they made up 9%, and Stitzer has set a goal of 15% for the end of 2007. Also, according to the article, much of the new product research will take place in the gum-and-candy portfolio, that the company aquired with the purchase of Adams from Pfizer Inc.

Sunday, November 06, 2005

U.S. dairy industry: Change in a global setting

11/06/2005-Global dairy markets have changed. Are U.S. dairy policies standing in the way of the dairy industry taking advantage of new market opportunities. For more see, the USDA Report.

Store formats drive retail food prices

11/06/2005-Just 20 years ago, traditional grocery stores claimed nearly 90 percent of Americans' at-home food purchases. Today, their share has dropped to 69 percent. Led by retail giants Wal-Mart, Costco, and Target, nontraditional food stores have managed to grab market share by enticing consumers with a formula of one-stop shopping and lower prices. For more informaiton, see the USDA Report.

Friday, November 04, 2005

European rosemary extracts market information questioned

11/04/2005-A recent press release stated that one company had a 70% market share of active ingredients of Rosemary extracts in Europe. This information has been strongly disputed by Jacques Dikansky, President and CEO of Naturex, a member of a group of four main producers of Rosemary extracts in Europe that has been created in order to register Rosemary extracts as antioxidants with the European Legislation. The group has been actively involved in the funding of the registration processes and clinical / toxicological studies that relate to this project. IFT is following up to check the facts of the story.

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Dairy cows act as biofilters for perchlorate

11/03/2005-Dairy cows may metabolize over 80% of ingested perchlorate in their digestive system, reducing the amount of this chemical that can be transferred to milk. Public concern about the environmental presence of perchlorate, a naturally occurring and industrially used compound, has increased in recent years. Perchlorate is potentially dangerous because it competes for iodine uptake in the thyroid gland and may subsequently reduce thyroid hormone levels, which are necessary for growth and development. Lactating mammary glands can also take up iodine, raising concerns that ingested perchlorate might be transferred to milk. Anthony Capuco and colleagues evaluated the effects of perchlorate on the health and milk of 16 dairy cows. The researchers infused perchlorate into the cows' digestive tracts and found that while perchlorate levels increased slightly in the milk (and urine, feces, and blood) as its administration increased, the rise was not linear. At the highest infusion level (40 mg/d), perchlorate output was only 17% of total input, which the researchers believe is due to perchlorate being metabolized to chloride in the bovine rumen. Extra perchlorate did not accumulate in animal tissue, and no reduction in thyroid hormones or other negative health effects were observed.
For more information, see Article #08337: "Fate of dietary perchlorate in lactating dairy cows: Relevance to animal health and levels in the milk supply" by A. V. Capuco, C. P. Rice, R. L. Baldwin, VI, D. D. Bannerman, M. J. Paape, W. R. Hare, A. C. W. Kauf, G. W. McCarty, C. J. Hapeman, A. M. Sadeghi, J. L. Starr, L. L. McConnell, and C. P. Van Tassell

Benefits and risks of salmon consumption

11/03/2005-A group of researchers from Cornell Univ. have conducted a benefit : risk analysis regarding the consumption of farmed Atlantic and wild Pacific salmon. The group conluded that although the benefit-risk ratio for carcinogens and noncarcinogens is significantly greater for wild Pacific salmon than for farmed Atlantic salmon as a group, the ratio for some subgroups of farmed salmon is on par with the ratio for wild salmon. For more information, see the Journal of Nutrition.

Glycemic load reduction may not benefit weight loss

11/03/2005-According to research published in the Journal of Nutrition, reducing the glycemic load and glycemic index of a calorie-restricted diet does not necessarily provide any added benefit in promoting weight loss in obese subjects.

ConAgra offering white whole wheat flour

11/03/2005-ConAgra Food Ingredients is now offering Ultragrain® White Whole Wheat flour. According to the company press release, the white whole wheat flour lets consumers enjoy the sweeter taste and smooth texture associated with refined flour products while getting whole grain nutrition. The flour starts with a specially grown variety of white wheat with a sweeter, milder taste and lighter color relative to traditional red wheat. A patent-pending milling technology helps Ultragrain retain whole-grain nutrients like fiber, B vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients, while at the same time delivering the fine texture of popular white flours. The flour has a lighter color, a softer, smoother texture, and a reduced visibility of bran specks, compared to other whole-wheat flours. Ultragrain is an ideal ingredient for a number of different foods that generally use refined flour—from breads to crackers, cookies, pasta, pizza dough and even pastries. ConAgra Mills offers the a portfolio of whole grains and a selection of multi-use premium flours, including proprietary value-added products designed to meet consumer needs. For more information about the Ultragrain or any ConAgra Mills product, see www.conagrafoodingredients.com.

EU approves use of GM corn for animal feed

11/03/2005-The EU's European Commission has authorised the placing on the market of the genetically modified maize 1507. The authorisation covers the import and processing of this GMO, including its use in animal feed. The maize has been modified to make it resistant to certain pests and for tolerance to the herbicide glufosinate-ammonium. This decision is valid for 10 years and results from an application submitted by the company Pioneer/Mycogen Seeds. An authorisation for use as food is still under examination.

USDA's Organic Standards Board to meet

11/03/2005-The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has announced a forthcoming meeting of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The meeting dates are Wednesday, November 16-17, 2005. Requests from individuals and organizations wishing to make an oral
presentation at the meeting are due by the close of business on November 11, 2005. The meeting will take place at the Channel Inn Hotel, The Captain's Room, 650 Water Street, SW., Washington, DC 20024. Requests
for copies of the NOSB meeting agenda, requests to make an oral presentation at the meeting, or written comments may be sent to Ms. Katherine Benham at USDA-AMS-TMD-NOP, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW., Room 4008-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250-0200. Requests to make an oral presentation at the meeting may also be sent via facsimile to Ms. Katherine Benham at (202) 205-7808 or electronically to Ms. Katherine Benham at Katherine.benham@usda.gov.

USDA seeking nominations for Bauman Award

11/03/2005-The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is soliciting nominations for the Howard E. Bauman Award. The award was created to recognize one or more
persons who have shown longstanding commitment, leadership, and service to improving food safety. The Agency is interested in receiving nominations of persons who have positively affected food safety and
public health. Submit nominations by December 5, 2005. The nomination form is available at: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSISForms/4450-1.pdf.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Cargill acquires palm plantations

11/02/2005-Cargill and Temasek Holdings have acquired CDC Group plc’s palm plantation interests in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. These include a plantation in Kalimantan (Indonesia) and a majority shareholding in four other plantations in the region. One of these plantations is located in Sumatra (Indonesia), with the other three in Higaturu, Milne Bay and Poliamba (Papua New Guinea).
The new venture is registered in Singapore as CTP Holdings Pte Ltd (CTP). Cargill is the majority shareholder of CTP and will assume managerial and operational responsibilities. Cargill’s existing palm plantation in Sumatra will now become part of CTP.
“Palm oil demand is increasing globally and this acquisition represents a significant development for Cargill in the plantation business”, says Paul Conway, head of Cargill’s business in Asia and chairman of CTP Holdings. “The addition of these plantations is critical to diversifying our edible oils portfolio and will allow us to meet our customers’ requirements for supply chain integrity and a high quality supply of palm oil and associated products.”
Demand for palm oil has almost doubled in the past decade. Global consumption now stands at about 30 million tonnes, making palm the world’s largest vegetable oil crop after soya.

Cargill to build massive new sugar refinery

11/02/2005-Cargill Sugar North America and Louisiana Sugar Cane Products, Inc., (LSCPI) announced their intention to form a joint venture to construct and operate a million-ton-per-year sugar refinery at Cargill’s Terre Haute Marine Facility in Reserve, La. LSCPI would provide the entire raw sugar production from its 10 sugar cane mills -- about 800,000 tons per year -- to the joint venture once it becomes operational. Cargill would sell and distribute refined sugar products from the joint venture to food and beverage customers.
Groundbreaking for the refinery is expected to take place in spring 2006 and production would commence by early 2008. The project is subject to completion of definitive agreements and corporate approvals by Cargill and LSCPI.
LSCPI is a cooperative representing 10 cane mills and their 700 growers. LSCPI markets about 75 percent of the raw sugar produced in Louisiana.

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Hunger in America

11/01/2005-Hunger in American households has risen by 43 percent over the last five years, according to an analysis of US Department of Agriculture (USDA) data released today. The analysis, completed by the Center on Hunger and Poverty at Brandeis University, shows that more than 7 million people have joined the ranks of the hungry since 1999.
The USDA report, Household Food Security in the United States, 2004, says that 38.2 million Americans live in households that suffer directly from hunger and food insecurity, including nearly 14 million children. That figure is up from 31 million Americans in 1999.

"This is an unexpected and even stunning outcome," noted center director Dr. J. Larry Brown, a leading scholarly authority on domestic hunger. "This chronic level of hunger so long after the recession ended means that it is a man-made problem. Congress and the White House urgently need to address growing income inequality and the weakening of the safety net in order to get this epidemic under control." According to the Center on Hunger and Poverty, food insecurity increased by nearly a million households from 2003 to 2004. Rates of hunger increased in almost every single category of household during the same time, with single mothers and those living in or near poverty continuing to suffer from severely high rates of both food insecurity and hunger.

California, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma and South Carolina all have food insecurity and hunger rates that are significantly higher than the national average. The lone bright spot in the nation is Oregon. Once considered to have the worst hunger in the country, Oregon has shown significant decreases in food insecurity and hunger since 1999-2001.

Broccoli sprouts, cabbage, and garlic may halt cancer growth

11/01/2005-Five studies presented Oct. 31 during the American Association for Cancer Research’s 4th annual Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research meeting in Baltimore, Md., add to the arsenal of research that shows adding certain vegetables and herbs to the diet can prevent or, in some cases, halt the growth of cancer. In this case, broccoli sprouts, cabbage, ginkgo biloba and garlic. For more information, see the press release.

Obesity may thwart efforts to reduce cancer

11/01/2005-According to a press release from the American Association for Cancer Research, although researchers have suspected that diet and obesity play a significant role in cancer risk, the latest results are suggesting the problem may be more serious than previously thought.
Updated population studies suggest that the projected burden of cancer resulting from overweight and obesity may thwart other efforts to reduce cancer incidence over the next couple of decades, including curtailment of smoking.
Poor eating patterns, generally referred to as the “Western diet,” may contribute to increased incidence of breast cancer among African-American women, according to a large study presented at this meeting.
On the other hand, consumption of fatty oils from other sources, including fish, flaxseed, corn and vegetable oils, may prove to be beneficial for some – perhaps depending on an individual’s genetic makeup.
Results from these studies, summarized below, will be presented this week during the AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research.
Updated evidence on the proportion of cancer due to obesity (Abstract 3513)
Growing evidence suggests that overall cancer incidence and mortality resulting from overweight and obesity is increasing, potentially thwarting other prevention and treatment efforts aimed at reducing these dire statistics.
“Given the trends in obesity and the increasing evidence of a broad range of cancers caused by excess energy balance, the projected burden of cancer over the coming years is worrisome,” according to Graham Colditz, professor of epidemiology with the Harvard School of Public Health.
The latest projections represent a departure from an earlier report prepared in 2002 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer Committee on Weight Control and Physical Activity (IARC), based on European estimates for cancer prevalence (see table below).
That report concluded that overweight and obesity are related to cancers of the colon, endometrium, kidney and esophagus, as well as postmenopausal breast cancer. The study was based on estimates that 50 percent of all men, and 35 percent of all women were overweight, with 13 percent of men and 19 percent of women classified as obese.
The new projections stem from a review of published studies, updates to the IARC report from 2002, and data from the Nurses’ Health Study II, which includes 116,686 women.
“Given the trend to increasing prevalence of obesity, these estimates are conservative,” Colditz said.
Furthermore, he said that scientists now recognize a broader range of cancers associated with cancer mortality. These include myeloma, lymphoma and pancreatic cancers. Other sites are under review.
“The epidemic of obesity will run counter to the improving trends, such as a decrease in current smoking, that may suggest the incidence of cancer can be reduced,” said Colditz.

Health Canada holds trans fat consultation

11/01/2005-Health Canada announced that the Trans Fat Task Force will be holding a one-day consultation with stakeholders from the scientific community in Ottawa, Canada on Wednesday November 2nd. The focus of this consultations will be on scientific knowledge in support of developing healthy alternatives to fats and oils high in trans fats. Health Canada and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada are co-chairing a task force aimed at developing recommendations and strategies for reducing trans fats in the Canadian food supply to the lowest level possible. By the end of the Fall 2005, the Task Force will provide Canadian Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh with recommendations for an appropriate regulatory framework and for the introduction of healthy alternatives to limit trans fat content in processed foods sold in Canada to the lowest levels possible. Task Force co-chairs Mary L'Abbé, Director, Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Health Canada, and Sally Brown, CEO, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada will be available to answer questions from media during breaks in the proceedings.
Media are required to sign in at the main registration desk upon arrival. For more information about the Task Force, visit:
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/gras-trans-fats/index_e.html