Peru Puts 10-Year National GMO Ban In Place June 24, 2011: 09:28 PM EST Peru's Congress has voted to enact a 10-year ban on genetically modified organisms (GMO), which includes the suspension of importation, cultivation, and breeding of genetically modified crops. Legislators who supported the moratorium were driven by the perceived dangers that can arise from biotechnology and the need to protect agricultural diversity. The move ensures that the country will not abet the spread of GMO products worldwide, but recent tests by Peruvian Association of Consumers and Users found around 77% of supermarket products tested showed some GMO contamination, raising questions over how effective the ban will be. Jonathan Benson , "Peru implements ten-year ban on GMOs", Natural News, June 24, 2011, © atural News Network

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Food Companies Await Government Decisions About Nanoparticle Safety June 21, 2011: 09:10 PM EST The use of nanomaterials in food processing is likely to increase significantly in the years to come, once the federal government clarifies its stance on safety issues. According to this Food Safety News report, many discussions focused on nanoparticles during the recent Food Expo scientific sessions, though there were almost no displays of nanoparticles-based food innovations among the thousands of exhibits – a “perplexing” phenomenon. Many exhibitors claimed to be developing food applications using nanoparticles, but declined to talk about them. According to one exhibitor, the main reason for the reticence is "the ongoing concern about possible health hazards or adverse reactions from nanomaterial.” The situation is likely to change only when federal regulators provide a clearer idea of what’s acceptable in food and packaging. Andrew Schneider, "Many Eager to Use Nano in Food, But Few Admit It", Food Safety News, June 21, 2011, © Marler Clark

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Europeans And Americans Have Different Attitudes Toward Eating Cloned Animal Products June 21, 2011: 08:10 AM EST A Kansas State University survey conducted among college students in the U.S., Ireland and France finds that American undergraduates are less skittish than their European counterparts about eating food products derived from cloned animals. The survey also found that K-State sociology and English students were less likely to consume cloned products than agriculture students. When told that both the FDA and the European Food Safety Authority found no safety risk in eating cloned animal products, many students said they’d be more likely to eat such foods. The researchers said their findings suggest that people with ethical and moral concerns about animal cloning are likely to avoid cloned products if they should come to market and are labeled as such. "Consumer Views On Cloned Products Breed Different Results", Press release, Kansas State University, June 21, 2011, © Kansas State University

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FDA Proposes Revamping Its System For Monitoring, Regulating Imported Goods June 20, 2011: 07:55 AM EST Reacting to the explosion of imported, FDA-regulated products, materials and ingredients, the agency has proposed reforms designed to better protect the health of American consumers. The problem is getting worse, thanks to rising productivity among Western economies, growing global demand for products, and faster and easier transfer of goods across borders. The four key reforms include partnering with international regulators, developing international data information systems and networks, developing an information gathering system focused on risk analytics, and working with public and private third parties and industry “to allocate FDA resources based on risk.” We can no longer rely on historical tools, activities and approaches,” said Acting Principal Deputy Commissioner of Food and Drugs John M. Taylor. "Pathway to Global Product Safety and Quality Report", Special report, FDA, June 20, 2011, © U.S. Food and Drug Administration

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Higher Folic Acid Intake During Pregnancy Does Not Cause Childhood Atopic Diseases June 20, 2011: 10:22 AM EST A study revealed that folic acid supplementation and higher intracellular folic acid (ICF) levels during pregnancy are not associated with atopic diseases, such as asthma and wheeze, in childhood. Researchers conducted multivariable logistic and linear regression analyses of data gathered via the KOALA Birth Cohort Study. They also defined folic acid use as standalone and multivitamin supplements based on the period of use before and during pregnancy. Results of the study showed that increased ICF levels during pregnancy slightly decreased risk for developing asthma. Fabienne J. H. Magdelijns, MSc, Monique Mommers, PhD, John Penders, PhD, Luc Smits, PhD, Carel Thijs, MD, PhD, "Folic Acid Use in Pregnancy and the Development of Atopy, Asthma, and Lung Function in Childhood", Pediatrics, June 20, 2011, © American Academy of Pediatrics

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Packaging Made From Recycled Cardboard Contaminates Food June 15, 2011: 12:00 AM EST Swiss researchers who tested food packages made from recycled cardboard found that harmful mineral oils from printing inks can contaminate food even when recycled materials are only used for the transport cartons. In their study, individual packs of noodles rapidly absorbed ten times the recommended levels of contaminating oils from the transport boxes made from recycled fibers. The standard limit for the oils is 0.6mg in each kg of food, the researchers said. But after standing in packaging for just six weeks, food that had a two-year shelf life could contain 6.1mg/kg of the oils. Some companies have switched to packaging made from fresh fiber paperboard printed with inks free of mineral oil. But their efforts are pointless because recycled cardboard transport boxes contain the contaminating oils. Maurus Biedermann, et al., "Migration of Mineral Oil into Noodles from Recycled Fibers in the Paperboard Box and the Corrugated Board Transport Box as well as from Printing Inks: A Case Study", Packaging Technology and Science, June 15, 2011, © John Wiley & Sons

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75% Of Americans Not Ready To Buy Food Products From Japan June 14, 2011: 11:01 AM EST Only one in four Americans said they would buy food imports from Japan after the radiation leaks at the Fukushima nuclear power plant that was crippled by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, according to a study presented at the 2011 Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting and Food Expo. FDA has failed to reassure American consumers about the safety of consuming Japanese seafood and other food products, despite testing and guarantees from the agency. Although 61% of respondents said they feel protected by U.S. regulations and government efforts to protect America's food supply, only 25% said they were ready to buy food imports from Japan. Respondents emphasized their feelings of suspicion and anxiety about buying food products from Japan, according to the study, "Food, Fear and Fury." Press Release, IFT, "Only 25 Percent of Americans Say They Would Buy Japanese-Imported Food Following Fukushima", IFT, June 14, 2011, © IFT

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German Food Safety Officials Relax Warnings About EHEC Outbreak June 10, 2011: 12:07 PM EST The Robert Koch Institutes and the German government have rescinded earlier recommendations that people in the northern areas of Germany refrain from eating cucumbers, tomatoes and lettuce because of the outbreak of the rare O104:H4 strain of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). They  concluded that tainted bean sprouts grown on an organic farm in Northern Germany were the probable source of the deadly bacteria.They recommended  that, in addition to practicing good hygiene, people should not eat raw sprouts and should dispose of any sprouts in stock along with any food items that might have come in contact with the sprouts. The new advisory is the result of a continually declining number of hospital emergency room admissions related to the EHEC outbreak. "Information update on EHEC outbreak", Press release, Robert Koch-Institut,, June 10, 2011, © Robert Koch-Institut

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Toxic Mineral Oils From Printing Inks And Recycled Cardboard Can Contaminate Food Products June 10, 2011: 06:40 AM EST A case study in Zurich, Switzerland, found that toxic mineral oils from printing inks can contaminate food products using recycled cardboard packaging. Results of tests conducted on packs of fine noodles showed that food speedily soaks up 10 times the suggested limit for concentration of these polluting oils from transport box. Researchers found that during the test period, the corrugated board contaminated the lowest packs inside the box with 6.1mg/kg mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH), 10 times the migration limit of 0.6mg/kg. Improved recycled paperboard showed mineral oil migration amounting to 4.9mg/kg, while a printing ink with 3g/kg MOSH also contaminated the fine noodles with 0.6mg/kg MOSH. Maurus Biedermann, Jan-Erik Ingenhoff, Martino Barbanera, Davide Garbini, Koni Grob, "Migration of Mineral Oil into Noodles from Recycled Fibres in the Paperboard Box and the Corrugated Board Transport Box as well as from Printing Inks: A Case Study", Packaging Technology and Science, June 10, 2011, © John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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OTA Disputes The Washington Times Op-Ed ‘Rant’ Against Organic Products June 9, 2011: 01:06 PM EST The Organic Trade Organization (OTA) has called an Op-Ed piece by David Mastio in The Washington Times a "biased, inaccurate and just plain irresponsible” attack against the organic food industry. OTA claims that Mastio is using misinformation and public hysteria over the recent Escherichia coli outbreak to attack organic food producers and points out that Federal food safety rules also cover the organic products industry and no evidence exist showing organic products are more at risk of E. coli contamination than chemically produced foods. It added that organic producers also have to meet third-party standards of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program, including emphasis on sanitation in the production process. Press Release Organic Trade Association, "OTA responds to "MASTIO: Dead bodies demand organic food moratorium" in The Washington Times", Organic Trade Association, June 09, 2011, © Organic Trade Association

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Nestlé To Launch BabyNes Capsule System Outside Switzerland In 2012 June 7, 2011: 11:13 AM EST Nestlé SA plans to roll out its BabyNes infant-formula capsule system next year after initially launching it in Switzerland in May. BabyNes took over six to develop, and it costs 249 Swiss francs. Nestlé would like it to emulate the success of Nespresso, the company's single-serve capsule coffee dispensing system. Nespresso's success encouraged companies, such as Sara Lee Corp. and Ethical Coffee Co., to manufacture capsules compatible with the system. Nestlé responded by taking both to court. BabyNes machines will include a chip to prevent use of non-Nestlé capsules, with the company denying anticompetitive behavior and claiming it merely wants to ensure hygiene and safety standards are maintained. JOHN REVILL, "Nestlé to Take BabyNes Global ", The Wall Street Journal, June 07, 2011, © Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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Report Decries “Cover-Up” Of Scientific Evidence That Herbicide Roundup Causes Birth Defects June 7, 2011: 12:20 PM EST A report by a group of scientists and researchers says that the chemical industry and regulatory authorities in Europe has known for decades ago that the herbicide Roundup causes birth defects in lab animals, but did not share their knowledge with the public. One of the industry studies reporting on the damaging effect of Roundup’s active ingredient glyphosate was conducted by the product’s manufacturer, Monsanto. The report says German officials knew about the harmful effects – at low doses – as long ago as 1990, and the European Commission has been aware of the problem since 2002. According to one of the authors, Claire Robinson, the report sheds light on “a thirty-year cover-up by industry and regulators” that “has certainly placed the public at risk.” "Public kept in the dark on Roundup link with birth defects - new report", Press release, GMWatch, June 07, 2011, © GMWatch

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E. Coli Outbreak Is Hurting Produce Sales, But Effect On Organic Industry Will Be Temporary June 6, 2011: 11:37 AM EST A British analyst firm focusing on the organic industry says the recent E. coli outbreak in Europe that has killed 22 people and sickened more than two thousand others will probably have limited impact on organic devotees over the long haul. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control traced a German farm and are analyzing 18 sprouts including bean and broccoli to determine if they’re the source of the outbreak. Amarjit Sahota, director of Organic Monitor, says sales of organic produce have taken a hit all over Europe  but he doesn’t expect the outbreak to hurt the organic industry in the long term. Organic buyers are more worried about health issues associated with traditional farming, he notes. Tony C. Dreibus, "E.Coli Won’t Have ‘Significant Impact’ on Organic Food Industry", Bloomberg, June 06, 2011, © Bloomberg

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Delaying Introduction Of Allergenic Foods To Young Children Has No Significant Benefit June 6, 2011: 11:12 AM EST Children from infancy through age four who were fed typical allergenic foods such as cow’s milk and peanuts were no more likely to show symptoms of allergies than children who were denied such foods, new Dutch research has found. The study tracked eczema and asthma symptoms of 7,000 children who were introduced to cow’s milk, hen’s egg, peanuts, soy and gluten before they were six months old. “This study does not support the recommendation for delayed introduction of allergenic foods after age six months for the prevention of eczema and wheezing,” the researchers concluded. Ilse I. M. Tromp, MSc, et al. , "The Introduction of Allergenic Foods and the Development of Reported Wheezing and Eczema in Childhood", Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, June 06, 2011, © American Medical Association

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Absorption Of BPA Increases With Continuous Exposure – Study June 6, 2011: 09:48 AM EST A U.S. study that tested long term dietary exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastic containers, including baby bottles and water bottles, found that BPA accumulates in the body faster than scientists previously thought. BPA has been found to be a disruptor of the endocrine system, but animal studies tested large single doses of BPA, finding them tolerable and relatively safe. This study in mice, however, found that the absorption and accumulation of BPA in the blood increased when the mice were given repeated doses as a dietary supplement, instead of one large dose. Researchers concluded that continuous exposure to BPA in the diet is “a better predictor of BPA concentrations in chronically exposed animals and humans.” Paizlee T. Sieli, et al., "Comparison of Serum Bisphenol A Concentrations in Mice Exposed to Bisphenol A through the Diet versus Oral Bolus Exposure", Environmental Health Perspectives, June 06, 2011, © National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

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EFSA Asks For Current Scientific Data For Safety Assessment Of Aspartame June 1, 2011: 08:10 PM EST To determine the safety of the sweetener aspartame, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) announced it is seeking all available scientific data available on its use as a food and drink additive and tabletop sweetener. Prompted by the European Commission, the agency will conduct a full re-evaluation of aspartame to be completed in 2012. The call for data extends to September 2011 “to ensure that EFSA’s risk assessment of the safety of aspartame will be the most thorough and up-to-date yet.”  The agency wants all available scientific and technical data, whether published, unpublished or newly generated, related to the use of aspartame, a low-calorie sweetener that is about 200 times sweeter than sugar. "EFSA launches a public call for scientific data on aspartame", EFSA, June 01, 2011, © EFSA

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Health And Consumer Groups Sue FDA Over Antibiotics In Animal Feed May 25, 2011: 12:53 PM EST A coalition of health and consumer organizations led by the Natural Resources Defense Council has filed a suit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration charging that the agency has failed to meet its legal responsibilities to deal with the overuse of antibiotics in animal feed. According to the NRDC, the overemployment of antibiotics in animal feed is the main cause of the rise of drug-resistant infections in humans over the last 40 years. About 70 percent of the antibiotics used in the U.S. are fed to healthy farm animals to promote faster growth and compensate for unsanitary living conditions. The coalition suit would compel FDA to act on its own safety findings by withdrawing approval for most non-therapeutic uses of penicillin and tetracyclines in animal feed. "Superbug Suit: Groups Sue FDA Over Risky Use of Human Antibiotics in Animal Feed", Press release, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Council (NRDC), May 25, 2011, © Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)

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Health Canada Knew About Fortified Foods Problems In 2009 May 20, 2011: 08:21 PM EST In 2009, Health Canada determined there would be some "safety and consumer confusion" issues arising from a 2005 compromise giving manufacturers of food and beverages, including junk food, discretion to fortify their products with nutrients. According to the memo written by a senior adviser to the director general of Health Canada's food directorate, the agency needed to address some issues about food companies' use of a loophole in the regulations to sell fortified food and drinks as natural health products. These concerns include the risk of too much intake of individual nutrients, which in the case of vitamin A in the retinol form might lead to liver diseases and, in cases of pregnant women, birth defects. Newly released documents also revealed that food companies are divided over how to go about food fortification, while the government has yet to propose new regulations. Sarah Schmidt, "Health Canada saw problems with fortified junk food two years ago: Documents", Montreal Gazette, May 20, 2011, © Postmedia Network Inc.

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Opposition To GM Crops Expressed At Organic Seed Exchange Festival In Greece May 15, 2011: 08:49 AM EST About  5,000 people attended a festival in northeastern Greece to exchange seeds and voice opposition to genetically modified crops. European countries are under pressure from American GM producers such as Monsanto who argue that European bans on GM products violate global trade rules. The European Union has approved only two GM-crops: a maize strain for animal feed and a potato for paper-making. Popular disapproval of genetically modified crops has delayed decisions on a long list of others. On display at the festival were organic tomato roots and seeds to grow organic courgettes, beetroots, melons, watermelons and herbs. A total of 4,000 plant types were distributed to organic growers and supporters. "Greeks mobilize to protect endangered seeds", France 24, May 15, 2011, © AFP/France 24

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Drinking Sweet Beverages Desensitizes People To Sweetness, Causing Overconsumption May 12, 2011: 08:46 AM EST Frequent consumption of sugary drinks dulls the sensitivity to sweetness, leading people to seek more sweet foods and drinks and a “vicious cycle” of consumption, according to a British study. For one part of the study, researchers assessed 22 lean and 11 overweight participants on the intensity of sweet taste, finding that overweight and obese people tended to rate identical drinks as being less sweet than lean people. The authors concluded that sweet “treats” become less rewarding over time, pushing people to look for even sweeter foods and drinks. In the second study, 12 lean people who rarely drank sugary beverages consumed soft drinks for four weeks along with their regular diet. The sugary drinks altered sweet intensity/pleasantness ratings and increased the preference for sweetness in these “sucrose dislikers.” F. Sartor, et al. , "Taste perception and implicit attitude toward sweet related to body mass index and soft drink supplementation", Appetite, May 12, 2011, © Elsevier Ltd.

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Food Imports From China Rising In U.S. Grocery Stores May 11, 2011: 03:23 AM EST Chinese imports are expanding their presence in the U.S. grocery trade. Chinese products account for 7% of the frozen fruit and vegetable market but for some products it is much higher, such as apple juice concentrate where China accounts for around 60% of the US apple juice supply. Contrasting positions adopted by Trader Joe's, which stopped selling Chinese imports in 2007, and Whole Foods, which still sources some  organic products from China, illustrate the ongoing public perception battle over Chinese imports. A Deloitte survey found 73% of consumers are more concerned about the food they eat than they were five years ago, yet most do not check nation-of-origin labels, in spite of various food safety scandals in China. Mitch Lipka , "China Imports in the Grocery Store: A Cause for Concern", Reuters, May 11, 2011, © FOX News Network, LLC

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Kraft Seeks To Expand Its BOCA Range Of Soy-Based Meat Alternative Products May 10, 2011: 11:44 AM EST Gary Berger, BOCA brand manager at Kraft Foods, said that U.S. retailers are re-locating meat alternatives in the store and giving them more shelf space as more consumers buy non-meat options and the category becomes increasingly mainstream. BOCA is looking to get new consumers to try non-meat products and is working with Weight Watchers to position the brand as a healthy weight management food option. BOCA is facing a growing number of competitors, but believes its healthy soy-based products will enable it to retain its leadership in the meat alternatives market. It defends the safety of its products but has introduced a non-GMO soy range to address concerns of consumers worried about GMO ingredients. Elaine Watson, "Kraft: Weight-conscious consumer is key to growth in meat alternatives", NutraIngredients-USA, May 10, 2011, © William Reed Business Media SAS

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Food Safety Problems Plague China Again May 7, 2011: 11:24 AM EST Two years ago China reacted swiftly to the melamine-contaminated milk scandal that sickened thousands of children: the government threatened, raided and arrested – even executed – disreputable food processors. But efforts by the government to enforce a tougher food safety law are falling short, The New York Times reports, as “a stomach-turning string of food-safety scandals this spring” has provided evidence of a continued problem. The media have reported on recycled buns, fake eggs, pork contaminated with drugs, pork sold as beef after being soaked in borax, rice contaminated with the heavy metal cadmium, arsenic-laced soy sauce, etc. And without a strong consumer lobby to voice its concerns, consumers feel helpless. Government officials meanwhile, though admitting embarrassment, say the situation is improving. Sharon LaFraniere, "In China, Fear of Fake Eggs and ‘Recycled’ Buns", New York Times, May 07, 2011, © The New York Times Company

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New FDA Food Safety Rules Will Take Effect In July May 4, 2011: 04:22 AM EST The first rules issued by the U.S. FDA under the recently enacted Food Safety Modernization Act will take effect on July 3, 2011, the agency announced. One rule bolsters the FDA’s ability to prevent potentially unsafe food from entering commerce, while the second requires anyone importing food into the U.S. to inform the FDA if any country has refused entry to the same product, including food for animals. Prior to the new law, the FDA’s ability to detain food products applied only when the agency had credible evidence of contamination or mislabeling. The new information reporting requirement in the second rule improves the FDA’s ability to target foods that may pose a significant risk to public health. "FDA issues first new rules under Food Safety Modernization Act", Press release, FDA, May 04, 2011, © FDA

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Mothers Voice Strong Antipathy Toward Use Of Antibiotics In Animals Raised For Food May 3, 2011: 11:56 AM EST Eighty percent of  804 American mothers who responded to an online poll commissioned by the Pew Campaign on Human Health and Industrial Farming said they were concerned about giving antibiotics to animals produced for meat and poultry. Forty-two percent of the responders, all of whom were registered voters and mothers of children aged 16 and younger, said they were “very concerned” about the practice. In response to the poll findings, the Pew Campaign launched  a grassroots movement of mothers working to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics for their children and families. More than three-quarters of those polled favor federal regulations that would allow antibiotics to treat sick animals, but would eliminate the use of antibiotics to promote growth. "How American Moms In An Internet Study View Antibiotic Use In Food Animal Production", Press Release/Presentation, The Pew Charitable Trust, May 03, 2011, © The Pew Charitable Trust

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Calcium-Vitamin D Supplementation Increases Risk Of Urinary Tract Stones April 27, 2011: 11:19 AM EST U.S. researchers who analyzed seven years of data from more than 36,000 postmenopausal women who participated in a placebo-controlled clinical trial found that daily supplementation with calcium and vitamin D significantly increased the risk of urinary tract stones. About half of the women who participated in the Women’s Health Initiative study received 1,000 mg of calcium carbonate plus 400 of IU vitamin D3 twice daily. The rest of the women received a placebo. The researchers found that 449 women in the calcium-vitamin D group reported urinary tract stones, which was almost 18 percent more than the placebo group. “These findings have implications for [calcium-vitaminD] supplement use,” the researchers concluded. But they cautioned that the self-reported occurrence of stones was not confirmed by clinical evidence. R.B. Wallace, et al., "Urinary tract stone occurrence in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) randomized clinical trial of calcium and vitamin D supplements", American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, April 27, 2011, © American Society for Nutrition

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Energy Drinks Added To Alcohol Change The Perception Of Impairment, Increasing The Danger April 19, 2011: 07:35 AM EST Mixing an energy drink like Red Bull with alcohol changes the reaction to alcohol that a drinker experiences, compared to a drinker who imbibes alcohol only, creating a potentially dangerous situation. Drinking alcohol makes people act impulsively. For the study, researchers randomly assigned 56 male and female college students to one of four groups that drank alcohol alone, alcohol plus an energy drink or a placebo, then measured task execution times. Adding the energy drink to alcohol did not increase impairment, but did change the perception of impairment. “The mix of impaired behavioral inhibition and enhanced stimulation is a combination that may make energy drink consumption riskier than alcohol consumption alone,” the researchers concluded. Cecile A. Marczinski, et al., "Effects of Energy Drinks Mixed with Alcohol on Behavioral Control: Risks for College Students Consuming Trendy Cocktails", Alcoholism Clinical & Experimental Research, April 19, 2011, © Research Society on Alcoholism

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Study Finds Widespread Bacterial Contamination Of Meat/Poultry Products April 15, 2011: 08:01 AM EST A study of 136 meat and poultry samples collected from 26 grocery stores in five U.S. cities has found widespread contamination by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. In addition, according to the researchers, 96 percent of the bacteria were resistant to at least one antimicrobial. The researchers looked at 80 brands of meat and poultry products and found that 77 percent of the turkey samples were tainted, 42 percent of pork samples, 41 percent of chicken samples and 37 percent of beef samples. Some of the meat and poultry samples were contaminated by multiple unique S. aureus strains. “Our findings indicate that multidrug-resistant S. aureus should be added to the list of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens that routinely contaminate our food supply,” the researchers concluded. Andrew E. Waters, et al. , "Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in US Meat and Poultry", Clinical Infectious Diseases, April 15, 2011, © Infectious Diseases Society of America

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Levels Of Carcinogenic Compound In Coffee Vary Depending On Brewing Method April 14, 2011: 10:23 AM EST A study by Spanish researchers has found higher concentrations of the carcinogenic coffee compound known as furan in espresso and lower concentrations in coffee made in a drip coffee maker. Coffee prepared in drip machines is lower in temperature and brewed more slowly, the researchers found, allowing the furan to evaporate, lowering the concentrations. Furan levels in espresso range from 43 to 146 nanograms/milliliter. Coffee made in drip coffee makers, both regular coffee (20 to 78 ng/ml) and decaffeinated coffee (14 to 65 ng/ml) have significantly lower furan levels. The researchers stress, however, that the levels of furan found in all of the variations are considered "safe" to health. M.S. Altakia, et al. , "Occurrence of furan in coffee from Spanish market: Contribution of brewing and roasting", Food Chemistry, April 14, 2011, © Elsevier B V

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Canada’s Oversight Of Food Safety System Is Deemed Lax April 13, 2011: 11:27 AM EST An editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal warns that Canada’s government sectors and private industry are not doing enough to protect consumers from foodborne illnesses. Regulation and oversight of food safety are lax and need to be strengthened. Key problems include inadequate surveillance systems, poor food traceability from “farm to fork,” and a lack of incentives to keep food safe throughout the food chain. "Private and public oversight of food safety should be reformed to ensure sufficiently uniform practices across the country,” the authors write. Though food can never be made completely sterile and risk free, there are measures that can be taken to prevent unnecessary deaths from food contamination. Ken Flegel MDCM MSc, et al., "Food in Canada: Eat at your own risk", Canadian Medical Association Journal, April 13, 2011, © Canadian Medical Association

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EFSA Panel Reports On Assessment Of 442 “General Function” Food Health Claims April 8, 2011: 04:10 AM EST The European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) NDA Panel has assessed 442 “general function” health claims – about 80 percent of such claims – relating to protection against oxidative damage to body cells, contribution to either cognitive or bowel function and maintenance of normal blood cholesterol levels. The panel reported favorably on claims regarding the relationships between, for example, walnuts and improved function of blood vessels and the antioxidant effects of olive oil polyphenols on LDL cholesterol. Nutrient replacement claims approved included replacement of digestible starch by resistant starch to lower the increase of blood glucose levels after meals and  replacement of saturated fatty acids with mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids to maintain normal blood cholesterol. Claims not approved generally offered low quality scientific evidence, EFSA said. "EFSA completes evaluation of further 442 ‘general function’ health claims", EFSA, April 08, 2011, © EFSA

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Enforcement Is Key Concern About Forthcoming FDA "New Ingredient" Guidelines April 8, 2011: 04:49 AM EST Food industry experts are saying there’s little to fear about the forthcoming “new dietary ingredients” guidelines from the FDA -- which are focused on whether ingredients are safe rather than effective -- except the possibility of aggressive enforcement. Some companies may have to worry about whether they can prove their ingredients qualify as “old dietary ingredients,” which are exempt from the 1994 federal dietary supplements law. The FDA may look more closely at whether an “old” ingredient has been chemically altered enough – to increase potency, for example – to make it a “new” ingredient under the law. Another key concern about the revised NDI rules is whether the FDA will look differently at new ingredients that have already achieved GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status. Hank Schultz, "What FDA's New Dietary Ingredients regulation means for industry", Functional Ingredients, April 08, 2011, © Penton Media Inc

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New Policy Would Require Withholding Of Food Products Pending Test Results April 5, 2011: 07:35 PM EST The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing that its Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) be allowed to withhold meat and poultry products from the market until FSIS test results for harmful substances are received. According to the USDA, if the new requirement is enacted, the amount of unsafe food that reaches store shelves – and the number of food recalls – will be reduced. Currently, FSIS can request – but not require – that tested product samples be held until test results are available. FSIS inspects billions of pounds of meat, poultry and processed egg products annually and believes that 44 of the most serious recalls between 2007 and 2009 could have been prevented had the proposed procedure been in place. "USDA Announces Proposed Test and Hold Requirement for Meat and Poultry Products", News release, USDA, April 05, 2011, © USDA

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Folic Acid Supplements Do Not Reduce Cancer Risk In Patients With Adenoma History April 1, 2011: 11:14 AM EST British and American researchers who examined data from three large trials found that folic acid supplements neither prevented or increased the occurrence of  benign, pre-cancerous colon tumors known as adenomas. However, the researchers did observe a “potential beneficial effect” of the supplements on overall mortality of the participants. The meta-analysis, undertaken because of observations that low folate status was associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer, looked at data from 2,632 men and women with a history of adenomas who had taken either  0.5 or 1.0 mg of folic acid a day or a placebo. The researchers concluded that “after up to 3.5 years of folic acid use, there is no clear decrease or increase in the occurrence of new adenomas …” J.C. Figueiredo, et al. , "Folic acid and prevention of colorectal adenomas: A combined analysis of randomized clinical trials", International Journal of Cancer, April 01, 2011, © UICC

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Coca-Cola Refuses To Budge On The BPA Issue March 29, 2011: 09:40 PM EST Arguing that the use of bisphenol A (BPA) is not only safe but is the only commercially viable way to line beverage cans, the Coca-Cola Company is refusing to give in to demands from shareholders for information about whether it plans to phase out the use of the controversial chemical. More than 25 percent of shareholders at the company’s annual meeting voted for disclosure of the company’s plans, if any, for addressing consumer concerns over BPA use in its beverage cans, and called for phasing out its use. BPA has been linked to neurological defects, diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Susanne Rust, "Coca-Cola shareholders demand resolution on chemical", California Watch, March 29, 2011, © California Watch

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FDA To Study Possible Connection Between Hyperactivity In Children and Artificial Food Colorings March 29, 2011: 07:53 PM EST The FDA plans to investigate the possible link between hyperactivity in children and artificial dyes used in ordinary food products such as candy, salad dressing, and waffles. A panel will reconsider the agency's existing view that the dyes pose no health risk to children, a position that some scientists and consumer advocates do not agree with. However, nobody expects the agency to ban artificial coloring. Several food companies, such as Mars Inc. and Kraft Foods Inc., have expressed their confidence in the safety of dyes despite the controversy, which began with a California pediatrician's call in the 1970s for elimination of dyes and preservatives in diets of children with behavior issues and was revived by a 2007 study in the U.K. linking hyperactivity in children to artificial colorings. STEPHANIE GLEASON, "Artificial Food Dyes Scrutinized by FDA", Wall Street Journal, March 29, 2011, © Dow Jones & Company, Inc

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Taurine Found To Hinder Production Of Carcinogen Acrylamide In Baked, Fried Foods March 28, 2011: 09:59 AM EST Chinese researchers have found that the energy drink ingredient taurine inhibits the production of  the carcinogen acrylamide during the baking and frying process. Acrylamide is produced when sugar and the amino acid asparagines react during the baking, frying or toasting process. That reaction causes the brown color and flavor of baked or fried foods. Taurine, derived from the amino acid cysteine, is found naturally in seafood and meat and is believed to boost energy. When taurine is introduced in what is called the Maillard reaction, it reacts with the glucose and with any acrylamide, inhibiting its production by as much as 72 percent. R. Hao, X. Leng, H. Jing , "Acrylamide–taurine adducts formation as a key mechanism for taurine’s inhibitory effect on acrylamide formation", International Journal of Food Science & Technology, March 28, 2011, © The Authors

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China Cracks Down On Dairy Producers Who Lack Modern Product Testing Equipment March 28, 2011: 11:21 AM EST Ongoing government inspections of China’s 800 fresh milk and infant formula producers could lead to the revocation of production licenses of 20 percent of the companies because of inadequate product testing equipment. So far, dairies in Fujian, Guangdong, Shaanxi, Sichuan and Ningxia have been inspected. At least 30 percent of the dairies in four of those provinces are likely to have their production licenses revoked, but fewer than 20 percent of those in Sichuan province. The inspections were expected to be completed by the end of March. The government requires that testing equipment must be able to analyze for 64 additives, including melamine. But upgrading equipment is prohibitively expensive for all but the largest producers, industry analysts say. Yang Lina, "Dairy products crackdown", China Daily, March 28, 2011, © Xinhua News Agency

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Researchers Find No Link Between Mercury Consumption And Risk Of Heart Disease March 24, 2011: 11:49 AM EST A U.S. study of two large cohorts of men and women in the United States found no link  between mercury exposure from fish consumption and increased cardiovascular disease risk. Researchers set out to determine the validity of speculation that exposure to methylmercury from fish increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. Earlier clinical studies were small and results were inconsistent. For their research, scientists looked at cases of coronary heart disease and stroke and analyzed toenail clippings provided by participants for mercury and selenium concentrations using neutron-activation analysis. “We found no evidence of any clinically relevant adverse effects of mercury exposure on coronary heart disease, stroke, or total cardiovascular disease,” researchers concluded. Dariush Mozaffarian, et al. , "Mercury Exposure and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Two U.S. Cohorts", New England Journal of Medicine, March 24, 2011, © Massachusetts Medical Society

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Worries Over Food Safety Drive South Koreans To Local, Organic Food Sources March 21, 2011: 11:34 PM EST Food safety concerns among South Korean consumers have spurred an upsurge in the membership of the country’s largest food cooperative, Hansalim, which sells mainly organic, locally grown vegetables and other food products. Concerns about food safety reached a critical stage after outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza in 2010 forced the slaughter of millions of livestock. Hansalim’s membership leapt by 20 percent to 250,900 during the year, completely by word of mouth because the cooperative spends no money on advertising. Hansalim operates 110 stores in South Korea, which together posted about $162 million in sales in 2010, a small number compared to leading discount store chains such as E-mart, whose product line is globally sourced. Nam Kwang-sik, "S. Korean consumers set sights on local food", YonHap NewsAgency, March 21, 2011, © YonHap News Agency, Korea

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U.K. Survey Finds That GM Soy Probably Used To Feed Animals Used In Food Products March 21, 2011: 11:21 PM EST A survey of leading grocery brands conducted by U.K. newspaper the Daily Telegraph has found that many imported food products probably contain ingredients produced from animals fed with genetically modified soy. According to the newspaper, the survey asked whether brands could assure consumers that their products contained no ingredients from animals fed with genetically modified soy. Responses indicated that unless the product was guaranteed organic, there was no assurance that GM soy was not used. Britain imports three million tons of soy each year, much of which is GM. Supermarkets and food manufacturers are required to state on the label if a product contains GM ingredients. They are not required, however, to state whether GM products were used early in the food chain. Louise Gray, "Shoppers kept in dark over GM ingredients", Telegraph,UK, March 21, 2011, © Telegraph Media Group

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European Legislators Are Deadlocked Over Proposed Changes To Novel Foods Regulation March 18, 2011: 10:07 PM EST Discussions between the European Parliament and the European Commission on how to update the EU’s Novel Foods Regulation may be hopelessly deadlocked over whether food from the offspring of cloned animals should be banned. The Parliament wants such a ban, but the EC would only ban the cloning of animals for food production. It would allow marketing of meat produced from cloned animals. Unless the two institutions reach a compromise by March 30, “the whole proposal – on which work began in 2008 – will have to be scrapped,” according to a report from EurActive. If that happens, the development of novel foods derived from cloning and other new technologies, would be left “in legal limbo for years to come.” "EU novel food regulation review at risk", EurActiv, March 18, 2011, © EurActiv

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Food Manufacturers Change Packaging Because Of Concerns Over Tainted Recycled Cardboard March 8, 2011: 07:58 PM EST Health worries over boxes manufactured from recycled cardboard have led food manufacturers in Europe to change their product packaging, the BBC reports. Toxic chemicals known as mineral oils, used in printing inks in recycled newspapers, were discovered in some boxes by researchers who said the chemicals had contaminated the food they contained. Some firms have stopped using recycled cardboard completely, while others are making sure the boxes they use are not tainted by mineral oils, which have been associated with inflammation of internal organs and cancer. Swiss government scientists who analyzed pasta, rice and cereals sold in cartons manufactured from recycled cardboard found mineral oil levels ten to 100 times higher than recommended limits. Nick Higham, "Food sold in recycled cardboard packaging 'poses risk'", BBC News, March 08, 2011, © BBC News

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Caramel Color Additives Are Generally Safe, EFSA Panel Says March 8, 2011: 11:56 AM EST A food additives committee of the European Food Safety Authority has issued a scientific opinion stating that caramel colors added to foods in the European Union are neither genotoxic nor carcinogenic, nor is there any evidence they harm human reproduction or the developing child. The Panel on Food Additives, which also looked at the safety of by-products resulting from production of the caramel colors, urged that their levels be kept as low as technologically possible. The Panel set an acceptable daily intake (ADI) for the colors at 300 mg per kg body weight per day, but a more restrictive ADI of 100 mg/kg bw/day for caramel E150c because of “uncertainties related to possible effects on the immune system …” "Scientific Opinion on the re-evaluation of caramel colours (E 150 a,b,c,d) as food additives ", Scientific opinion, EFSA, March 08, 2011, © EFSA

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U.K. Survey Sheds Light On Consumer Attitudes Toward Key Food Issues March 3, 2011: 11:40 AM EST A survey commissioned by the U.K.’s Food Standards Agency to obtain information on consumer attitudes toward food safety and healthy eating has found that most said they follow recommended safety practices for cleaning, cross-contamination, chilling and cooking of food, although a sizeable minority (41 percent) always wash raw meat and poultry, which is not recommended. The survey also found that many respondents were not sure of the best temperature for food storage and didn’t know how to tell whether food was unsafe to eat. On the topic of healthy eating, the survey found that most rated eating fruit and vegetables as very important, along with eating less salt and fewer foods high in saturated fat. Gillian Prior, et al., "Exploring food attitudes and behaviours in the UK: Findings from the Food and You Survey 2010", Food Standards Agency, UK, March 03, 2011, © Food Standards Agency, UK

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Scientists, Vegans Contribute To Coconut Oil’s Burnished Image As A Health Food March 1, 2011: 10:32 AM EST Coconut oil, once vilified as an artery-clogging fat to be avoided at all costs, has now become the “darling” of the natural foods community, according to a New York Times article. Whole Foods says annual sales growth for the oil has been at the double-digits level for five years. Among the reasons for the shiny new image: scientific evidence that virgin coconut oil, which isn’t partially hydrogenated, isn’t really bad for your health after all. And vegans have discovered that coconut oil, which is solid at room temperature, is a great substitute for butter in baking. Melissa Clark, "Once a Villain, Coconut Oil Charms the Health Food World", The New York Times, March 01, 2011, © The New York Times Company

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Researchers In Spain Identify A Probiotic Bacteria For Treatment Of Ulcers February 28, 2011: 09:59 AM EST A study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology has isolated a strain of probiotic bacteria that may inhibit Helicobacter pylori, one of the main causes of ulcers in humans and present in 50% of the population. A research team led by E. Chenoll at the University of Valencia, Spain, studied the strain, Bifidobacterium bifidum, in vitro as well as in the relatively untested in vivo state using mice. They found that Bifidobacterium bifidum has all the core properties of a probiotic but also acted against H. pylori. both in vitro and in vivo. E. Chenoll, B. Casinos, E. Bataller, P. Astals, J. Echevarria, J. R. Iglesias, P. Balbarie, D. Ramon, S. Genoves, "Novel Probiotic Bifidobacterium bifidum CECT 7366 Strain Active against the Pathogenic Bacterium Helicobacter pylori", Applied and Environmental Microbiology, February 28, 2011, © American Society for Microbiology

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Transition To Natural Food Colorants Is Plagued By Problems February 25, 2011: 08:14 PM EST Food and beverage manufacturers are beginning the transition from synthetic to natural dyes, but the switch is complicated and costly, and the results are not altogether esthetically pleasing, experts say. The impetus for major changes comes from Europe, where the European Commission responded to concerns over the safety of synthetic food colorants by imposing new requirements, including warning labels on packages, that have pushed food manufacturers to reformulate their products. The movement has spread to the U.S. Products from companies like Frito-Lay and Pepperidge Farm now contain no artificial ingredients, including synthetic dyes. But besides cost and complexity, reformulation with natural dyes has another downside: in some cases the quality of the product, color-wise, just isn’t the same. Lisa Marshall, "Natural color market seeing green as demand grows", New Hope 360, February 25, 2011, © New Hope 360

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Fonterra Expands Outside New Zealand, Builds Dairy Farms in China February 22, 2011: 10:48 AM EST Fonterra Co-Operative Group Ltd. CEO Andrew Ferrier has said his company plans to expand outside New Zealand, particularly in China. Fonterra, which has sales near $13 billion and produces about a third of the internationally traded dairy products globally, is building dairy farms in China; this follows the 2008 contaminated milk scandal involving Shijiazhuang Sanlu Group Co., which was 43-percent owned by Fonterra and prompted it to take control of all aspects of its operations in China. Ferrier sees growing wealth and population growth increasing demand, even as climate change and increasing costs of production push up milk prices worldwide. He added that Fonterra will not sell genetically modified milk products in countries where consumers do not want them, and is instead focusing on selective breeding of cows to improve milk quality and production. REBECCA HOWARD, "Dairy Producer Eyes Expansion in China", The Wall Street Journal, February 22, 2011, © Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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Nutiva Contributes To Legal Efforts To Rescind USDA Monsanto Decision February 17, 2011: 11:04 AM EST Nutiva, a maker of organic hemp, coconut and chia foods, has contributed $25,000 to an effort by the Center for Food Safety to reverse a decision by the USDA to deregulate Monsanto’s genetically engineered, Roundup-Ready alfalfa. According to Nutiva,the USDA’s ruling is “ profoundly disappointing to the organic community.” The CFS says it is pursuing all legal remedies to oppose the decision, primarily because biotech industry market dominance in crops will mean “the majority of organic foods will be genetically contaminated with foreign genetic material through pollen drift and accidental co-mingling.” "Nutiva Pledges $25,000 to CFS for Challenging USDA’s Approval of Monsanto's Genetically Engineered Alfalfa", News release, Nutiva, February 17, 2011, © Nutiva

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