Thursday, August 31, 2006
FDA amends trans fat labeling
8/31/2006-The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending its nutrition labeling of dietary supplements regulations. This action is being taken to ensure the accuracy of FDA's regulations. This rule is effective August 31, 2006. In the Federal Register of July 11, 2003 (68 FR 41434), FDA published a final rule entitled "Food Labeling: Trans Fatty Acids in Nutrition Labeling, Nutrient Content Claims, and Health Claims" (the trans fat rule). Among other things, the final rule amended Sec. 101.36(b)(2)(i) (21 CFR 101.36(b)(2)(i)) by incorporating "trans fat" as a dietary ingredient that must be declared in the nutrition label of a dietary supplement when it is present in a dietary supplement in quantitative amounts by weight that exceeds the amount that can be declared as zero in nutrition labeling of foods in accordance with Sec. 101.9(c) (21 CFR 101.9(c)). For more, see the Federal Register of August 31, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 169, Page 51726-517270.
Cargill gets more GRAS for products
8/31/2006-Cargill has expanded the GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) status of its Oliggo-Fiber® brand of inulin and oligofructose products through an independent evaluation by a qualified scientific expert. The expansion gives food and beverage manufacturers the freedom to add these beneficial ingredients to an even broader variety of consumer-friendly food brands. The expanded GRAS status permits the Oliggo-Fiber inulin and oligofructose line of products for general use in foods at levels consistent with current good manufacturing practice. Oliggo-Fiber inulin was previously deemed GRAS by an expert panel of independent and qualified scientific professionals for use in a list of specified foods, but the “general food use” approval opens doors for other food formulation opportunities. Oliggo-Fiber inulin, known as the “invisible fiber,” can be incorporated into almost any food or beverage without affecting taste or texture. Oligofructose is a subgroup of inulin. Inulin and oligofructose are naturally occurring dietary components that are becoming increasingly important as Americans’ desire to boost dietary fiber intake and calcium absorption grows. Research indicates that inulin may enhance dietary calcium absorption, particularly among preteens and postmenopausal women. Inulin is also recognized as a prebiotic ingredient that supports the natural, healthful bacteria in the lower GI tract.
"The expanded GRAS status of Cargill’s Oliggo-Fiber inulin and oligofructose products generates an advantage for manufacturers to create foods with mass-market appeal that address consumer health concerns, such as digestive health and bone health," said Steve Snyder, vice president sales and marketing, Cargill Health & Food Technologies.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Higher hopes for C4 rice
8/30/2006-"The development of C4 rice or similar varieties is very much welcome and we strongly recommend that member governments and the donor community provide full support to current research based on improving the photosynthetic efficiency of the rice plant," International Rice Commission Secretary Nguu Nguyen said August 25. Nguyen was commenting on recent reports on a major international scientific effort to enhance the rice plant’s efficiency, or what is known to experts as converting rice from a C3 plant to a C4 plant, where the "C" refers to the carbon captured by photosynthesis for growth. The more solar energy a rice plant can efficiently capture, the more it will yield, explained Mr. Nguyen. "We need to meet the challenge of feeding a growing world population which is projected to reach 8.3 billion in 2030, with an accompanying rice demand of 771 million tons," he said. For more, see the FAO press release.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Consumer hygiene fears lead to improvements
8/29/2006-A major outbreak of E.coli poisoning in 1996 in which 500 people were affected and 20 died seems to have led to improvements in the management of food risks in the retail and catering industries, according to research at the London School of Economics. A report from the Centre for Analysis of Risk and Regulation (CARR) says that an education campaign in Scotland following the 1996 outbreak raised the profile of food safety and hygiene and brought home the importance of environmental health officers (EHOs) and the human costs of poor practices. Survey data also suggests that the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) in Scotland is generally perceived to have better relations with the local food community than their counterparts in London. The CARR study says that many managers in hotels, restaurants, and food shops in the UK pay just as much attention to consumer fears and opinions as they do to rules and regulations when it comes to evaluating food hygiene and safety risks. "Most managers in the sample sense a general public awareness of food safety and food hygiene risks," says CARR co-researcher, Clive Jones. "They said safety concerns were more important to the consumer than value for money, labeling, and other considerations such as GM or additive content, even though actual risks might not be very high." The on-going research focused on risk management practices by businesses in southeast England and Scotland. A survey of 204 individuals in more than 30 businesses, ranging from large supermarket chains to independent restaurants, found there was no consensus about the state of food safety and food hygiene in the UK today. Instead, there is a high degree of confusion about the responsibilities and functions of regulators. "The results reveal some potentially interesting data about the effects of greater investment in education and training in food safety and food hygiene training," says Professor Bridget Hutter, who led the research. "The suggestion that consumers as well as those in the food industry were influenced by the events of 1996 is also worth further exploration."
Mayfield Dairy announces ice cream winner
8/29/2006-Blueberry Cream Pie ice cream has won the Mayfield Flavor Decision '06, an annual popular vote to determine which seasonal ice cream flavor gets a permanent spot on the Mayfield ice cream roster. The unique cream cheese ice cream candidate with blueberry swirl and sugary pie pieces appears to have garnered at least 34 percent of the popular vote. Extreme Moose Tracks was a very close second, while Triple Brownie and Peanut Butter Cookie Dough made a respectable showing. Mayfield Dairy Farms, based in Athens, Tenn., serves nine southeastern states, and offers a full line of milk, cultured and ice cream products.
Quick casual restaurants see strong growth
8/29/2006-Quick casual restaurants such as Panera Bread, Boston Market, and Chipotle continue to enjoy strong consumer appeal and growth, according to the new 2006 Technomic Top 100 Quick Casual Chain Restaurant Report. Panera Bread, Chipotle, and Zaxby's saw double-digit growth in 2005. The report says that future growth opportunities remain strong, and that growth rates for quick casual restaurants surpass those of traditional quick-service restaurants. The quick casual market is estimated at $10-11 billion in sales per year. For more information, visit www.foodpubs.com.
Decas Cranberry moves headquarters
8/29/2006-Decas Cranberry Products, Inc. (DCP), the largest independently-owned cranberry ingredient company in the world, has announced that all sales, marketing, finance, operations, and research and development will be consolidated into a new office complex located at its Carver, Mass., processing plant. The Carver plant produces sweetened dried cranberries, cranberry concentrate, and other cranberry based ingredients. The company has been headquartered in Wareham, Mass., since 1934. Today, Decas produces nearly 50 million pounds of cranberry based ingredients, and its growth required a new space. The move places Decas in the heart of cranberry country in southeast Massachusetts and near to many local growers and some of its own cranberry bogs. "The construction of this new office in Carver is consistent with the company's long term plans. This move will increase operating efficiencies and establish a solid foundation for future growth," said Jeff Carlson, president and chief executive officer of DCP. The company did not say when the move would be complete.
Monday, August 28, 2006
FDA posts revised Registration of Food Facilities guide
8/28/2006-The U.S. FDA has posted an updated Compliance Policy Guide for Registration of Food Facilities Under the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002.
Quick diagnosis of flu strains with new microchip
8/28/2006-Scientists from the University of Colorado at Boulder and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have developed a microchip-based test that may allow more labs to diagnose influenza infections and learn more about the viruses causing illness. The FluChip successfully distinguished among 72 influenza strains -- including the H5N1 avian influenza strain -- in less than 12 hours. The research was led by University of Colorado scientist Kathy L. Rowlen, Ph.D., and was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). It appears in the current issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology. Laboratories across the United States can do basic tests to determine the type and subtype of an influenza virus within several hours. However, only the CDC and a handful of other labs internationally have the high-level biosafety facilities needed to perform specialized tests that reveal critical details about the virus's geographic origin and other features. Because the FluChip technology could be used in lower level biosafety facilities, it could expand influenza diagnostic capacity by allowing more labs to determine the geographic origin of a newly emergent virus and whether its source is human or nonhuman; learn how closely related a new virus is to ones that circulated previously; and detect genetic changes that may signal the virus is becoming more virulent. "The ability to quickly and accurately identify strains of influenza would be invaluable to international flu surveillance efforts," says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. "This is an encouraging advance." The FluChip is a type of microarray, commonly called a gene chip. Although there are numerous variations, microarrays can be made by using a robotic arm to drop hundreds or thousands of spots of genetic material -- DNA or RNA -- of known sequence onto a microscope slide. The spots, called probes, are then exposed to a sample of unknown A key challenge in designing a gene chip for flu diagnosis is determining which flu virus gene sequences to use as probes, notes Dr. Rowlen. In a companion paper, the researchers describe a powerful new way to scan vast amounts of flu virus genetic information to find the most informative sequences. "Our goal was to develop an efficient method for mining large databases to identify regions of the flu genome that are largely the same from strain to strain as well as strain-specific sequences," Dr. Rowlen says. Beginning with a pool of nearly 5,000 flu gene sequences, the investigators used the data mining process to select 55 flu RNA sequences for use as probes on the FluChip. Among them were probes chosen to enable detection of two of the most common flu strains currently circulating in humans, the H1N1 and H3N2 strains, as well as the avian flu strain H5N1. The CDC provided flu isolates to the University of Colorado researchers to identify using the FluChip. The samples included flu strains that infect humans, horses, birds, and swine. Combined results after two rounds of tests showed that the FluChip allowed users to obtain correct information about both type and subtype -- considered a full characterization of a strain -- from 72 percent of the samples. Full information on type, but only partial information on subtype, was obtained for 13 percent of the samples, while 10 percent of the samples could be identified by type only (no information about subtype). It took about 11 hours to conduct the tests and learn the identities of the strains. "We were surprised and pleased at how well the chip performed in these early tests," says Dr. Rowlen. The researchers from CDC and University of Colorado are continuing to refine the FluChip and hope to bring the total time required to get full type and subtype characterization to under one hour. Developing improved gene chips for flu diagnosis depends, in part, on the ready public availability of genomic sequence data, notes Karen Lacourciere, Ph.D., NIAID influenza program officer. In addition to flu genome sequence databases housed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and CDC, the researchers also used information from the NIAID-supported Influenza Genome Sequencing Project. NIAID rapidly makes this sequence information publicly available through GenBank, an international, searchable online database funded by NIH. This resource is enhancing researchers' ability to select target sequences for next generation diagnostic chips, Dr. Lacourciere says. MB Townsend et al. Experimental evaluation of the FluChip diagnostic microarray for influenza virus surveillance. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.00134-06 (Aug. 2006). M Mehlmann et al. Robust sequence selection method used to develop the FluChip diagnostic microarray for influenza virus. Journal of Clinical Microbiology. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.00135-06 (Aug. 2006).
composition: for instance, material taken from a person with an undiagnosed illness. Probes that match gene sequences of bacteria or viruses present in the sample result in capture of the target gene. By analyzing the pattern of captured targets, doctors can diagnose the cause of infection.
LycoRed move expands U.S. operation
8/28/2006-LycoRed Corp. announced the move of its U.S. headquarters to Orange, N.J., the site of the former H. Reisman company. The company says its new Orange facility gives it the ability to provide full service to its North American customers with a U.S.-based manufacturing facility and technical support team. The new facility specializes in manufacturing beadlets, triturations, carotenoid formulations, and nutrient premixes, thereby expanding LycoRed's product portfolio. LycoRed's beadlet technology is used to stabilize sensitive ingredients, such as carotenoids and vitamin D, protecting them from oxidation. Triturations provide uniform distribution of trace nutrients that have very low RDA's. Nutrient premixes that reduce overages and improve manufacturing efficiency are designed based upon "years of global formulation experience". LycoRed's facility in Orange will serve as the regional technical support and customer service center. The manufacturing facility is FDA inspected, cGMP compliant and supported by a complete analytical laboratory. The technical service team includes regulatory experts and R&D staff for new product development and formulation.
"This has been a year of expansion for LycoRed, including multiple acquisitions and integration of the new products and technologies," states Leo Cullen, president of LycoRed Corp. "This latest acquisition of H. Reisman gives us the U.S. facility and resources we need to further LycoRed’s commitment to provide all-natural carotenoid solutions to our customers around the globe."
Unilever to sell European Frozen Foods business
8/28/2006-Unilever today announced that it had reached an agreement to sell the majority of its European Frozen Foods business to the Permira Funds for €1.725bn. The deal, which is subject to regulatory approval and a consultative process with the relevant employee works councils, is expected to be completed before the end of the year. The Unilever businesses being sold in this transaction include the Frozen Foods operations in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. The decision to sell the businesses followed a thorough study into the strategic options for the future of the Frozen Foods business. Patrick Cescau, Group Chief Executive, said: "The Frozen Foods business has been great for Unilever over many decades with tremendous products, iconic brands and memorable advertising delivering value for our shareholders. Having taken the decision to focus our portfolio on other priorities, I am confident that the business will prosper under the dedicated and focused management that the Permira Funds will bring." Cheryl Potter, partner at Permira, commented, "We are delighted the Permira Funds are acquiring such iconic brands and look forward to supporting their growth going forward. The market sees few food deals of this size and very rarely involving brands of this stature."
Friday, August 25, 2006
Wrigley patents metal salt gum
8/25/2006-The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has approved the Wrigley Company's application for a patent on a chewing gum that uses metal salts to provide against bad breath. Zinc and copper salts can reduce bad breath by bonding to volatile sulfur compounds associated with halitosis. However, in the past there have been problems with using the salts -- they are easily washed away with saliva or drinks, and they have an unpleasant metallic taste. The patent was awarded for an improved chewing gum that used enough metal salts in the gum center, coating, or both, to be "therepeutically effective" against bad breath. A variety of salts are possible, and the coating may include a surfactant and an edible oil. The inventors named on the patent are Gordon N. McGrew, James R. Maxwell, Henry T. Tyrpin, Michael J. Greenberg, and David W. Record.
Wine sales rise as rules are lifted
8/25/2006-Since the Supreme Court ruled last year against state rules limiting wine shipments, wine sales have grown dramatically, and more court rulings have forced states to lift hefty regulations. The deregulation is helping smaller wineries who wish to ship their wine directly to customers and retailers no matter where they live. Meanwhile, large retailers like Costco and Target, who are eager to break into the wine-selling business, are eager for more rules to be lifted. This Wall Street Journal article looks at the recent court cases, and their effect on wholesalers, distributors, retailers, and sellers.
Roughage keeps you "regular"
8/25/2006-If you ever wondered just how a high-fiber diet helps keep you, well, “regular,” scientists may have the answer. New study results suggest that as these bulky foods make their way down the gastrointestinal tract, they run into cells, tearing them and freeing lubricating mucus within. More mucus is good, says Dr. Paul L. McNeil, cell biologist at the Medical College of Georgia and corresponding author on the study published online Aug. 21 and scheduled for the September print issue of PloS Biology. "When you eat high-fiber foods, they bang up against the cells lining the gastrointestinal tract, rupturing their outer covering. What we are saying is this banging and tearing increases the level of lubricating mucus. It’s a good thing." The fact that consuming roughage increases mucus production was known, and years ago, Dr. McNeil discovered frequent cell injury and repair occur when we eat. The new research ties the two together. "It’s a bit of a paradox, but what we are saying is an injury at the cell level can promote health of the GI tract as a whole," says Dr. McNeil. Even though epithelial cells usually live less than a week, they are regularly bombarded, in most of us at least three times a day as food passes by. "These cells are a biological boundary that separates the inside world, if you will, from this nasty outside world. On the cellular scale, roughage, such as grains and fibers that can’t be completely digested, are a mechanical challenge for these cells," he continues. But in what he and colleague Dr. Katsuya Miyake view as an adaptive response, most of these cells rapidly repair damage and, in the process, excrete even more mucus, which provides a bit of cell protection as it eases food down the GI tract. In research published in 2003 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Dr. McNeil showed proof of his then decade-old hypothesis that cells with internal membranes use those membranes to repair potentially lethal outer-membrane injuries. A recent paper published in Nature in collaboration with Dr. Kevin Campbell’s laboratory at the University of Iowa showed how human disease, including certain forms of muscular dystrophy, can result from a failure of this mechanism. An outer membrane tear is like an open door through which calcium just outside the cell rushes in. Too much calcium is lethal but that first taste signals the vulnerable cell it better do something quick. With epithelial cells, several of the internal mucus-filled compartments fuse together within about three seconds, forming a patch to fix the tear. In the process the compartments expel their contents so, almost like a bonus, extra mucus becomes available to lubricate the GI tract. "We have found a very natural way we can enhance mucus production," says Dr. Miyake, cell biologist and the study’s first author. He and Dr. McNeil suspected for years that mucus escaped cells as a result of injury. "You might have predicted it, but science is about testing predictions," says Dr. McNeil. To test their theory, Dr. Miyake, assistant director of MCG Cell Imaging Core Laboratory, began working on a method to reproduce cell injuries. "Dr. Miyake developed a very potent cutting edge technology involving the two photon laser that allowed us to blast small holes in cells, mimicking what happens in the living animal. It also allowed us to assess in those living cells whether they could reseal, repair the damage and how they might respond biologically, namely in this case, whether they responded by secreting mucus as part of the healing process,” Dr. McNeil says. They found time and again that most cells did just that, including intact cells in a section of the GI tract. "Epithelial cells are high-turnover cells but they have a built-in survivability," Dr. McNeil says. The scientists aren’t certain how many times cells can take a hit, but they suspect turnover is so high because of the constant injury. Potentially caustic substances, such as alcohol and aspirin, can produce so much damage that natural recovery mechanisms can’t keep up. But they doubt a roughage overdose is possible.
Hop on the harvest ale wagon
8/25/2006-This fall, as chandelier earrings go out and fashion leggings and clunky platform heels return, the erstwhile fashionable can still be hip with freshly hopped harvest ales. Hops, usually used as dried pellets, act as a preservative and flavoring agent in beer. Harvest ales, also known as wet-hops or fresh-hops, use freshly picked hops, often gathered just a few hours before brewing. Hops degrade quickly, within 48 hours, forcing the brewer to be close to the source. The Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in California developed the first fresh hop ale, called Harvest Ale, in 1996. Since then, fresh-hopped ales have become popular with microbreweries and other small craft brewers who have access to fresh hops. Because the time frame for creating the ale is limited, so are the quantities, making it a special seasonal choice. Harvest ales tap into the desire of many consumers to get closer to the production of their foods. Like beaujolais nouveau, the ales come out with much fanfare during the fall. The 4th annual Fresh Hop Ale Festival in Yakima, Wash., celebrates the fresh-hop brewing process by inviting 12 of the top microbreweries from the Pacific Northwest and northern California to a brew-off. The breweries must get Yakima hops "from the vine to the vat within 24 hours." For more, see this Wall Street Journal exposé.
William C. Haines dairy science award nominations
8/25/2006-The California Dairy Research Foundation (CDRF) is accepting nominations through September 22nd for the William C. Haines Dairy Science Award honoring individuals who work in support of dairy science. U.S. and international scientists who have made a significant contribution to dairy science and the betterment of the dairy industry through research and development in the field of chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology, technology, nutrition, and/or engineering are eligible for the award, which includes a plaque, a cash prize of $1,000, travel expenses, and the opportunity to make a presentation at a dairy industry event co-sponsored by the CDRF. "This award is our way of recognizing the individuals who are helping to move the field of dairy science forward for the betterment of the industry and for increased consumer health", said Dr. Joseph O¹Donnell, executive director of the CDRF. "We encourage scientists to nominate themselves or their colleagues." Nomination forms for the 2007 award, which are due by September 22, 2006, are available at www.cdrf.org under Awards/Giving. The winner will be announced in early 2007. Established in 2004, the William C. Haines Dairy Science Award is named for Bill Haines, the former Vice President of Product Innovation for Dairy Management Inc., in recognition of his contribution to and support of the field of dairy science. The award was presented to Northeast Dairy Foods Research Center Director and Cornell University Professor David Barbano in 2005 and Southeast Dairy Foods Research Center Director and North Carolina State University Professor Todd Klaenhammer this year.
Danisco withdraws enzyme product from the market
8/25/2006-Following a patent infringement ruling in a U.S. Federal court in Delaware, Genencor has decided to voluntarily withdraw SPEZYME® ETHYL -- an alpha amylase enzyme used in ethanol production -- from the market. The ruling states that a Novozymes A/S patent has been infringed. Genecor says its legal options are currently under review and an appeal of the ruling is being considered. Should the ruling be upheld, it may result in Genencor being liable for compensation for the patent infringement. This morning, Genencor launched a new product, SPEZYME® XTRA, to replace SPEZYME® ETHYL. The product has been successfully tested on both pilot and full scale at multiple customer sites.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
The protein that sours on us
8/24/2006-A team headed by biologists from the University of California, San Diego, has discovered the cells and the protein that enable us to detect sour, one of the five basic tastes. The scientists, who included researchers from the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, suggest that this protein is also the long-sought sensor of acidity in the cerebrospinal fluid. The study, featured on the cover of the August 24 issue of the journal Nature, reports that each of the five basic tastes is detected by distinct taste receptors -- proteins that detect taste molecules -- in distinct cells. The team previously discovered the sweet, bitter, and umami (savory) receptors and showed that they are found in separate cells, but some researchers have argued that sour and salty tastes, which depend on the detection of ions, would not be wired in the same way. "Our results show that each of the five basic taste qualities is exquisitely segregated into different taste cells,"” explained Charles Zuker, a professor of biology at UCSD and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, who headed the study. "Taken together, our work has also shown that all taste qualities are found in all areas of the tongue, in contrast with the popular view that different tastes map to different areas of the tongue." To determine if the taste cells and receptors for sour were separate from the receptors for the other basic tastes, the researchers tested mice in which they had genetically ablated the cells containing the sour taste receptors. The mice could not taste sour, but had completely normal sweet, bitter, umami and salty tastes. Therefore, although the salt taste receptor has not yet been discovered, it and the four identified receptors must each be segregated into distinct taste cells. In addition to being found in the taste buds, the researchers discovered that the sour protein receptor, PKD2L1, is also found along the entire length of the spinal cord in nerve cells that surround and reach into the central canal. Because sourness is a reflection of the acidity, or the pH of a solution, the researchers suspected that the spinal neurons with PKD2L1 might be responsible for monitoring the pH of the cerebrospinal fluid. Electrical recordings taken from these spinal neurons showed that they were able to detect and respond to very small changes in pH, confirming their role as pH detectors. "There have been many claims for pH detectors that monitor the health of different body fluids, but the nature of the circuit and the receptors has been unknown," said Zuker. "Therefore it is significant to discover that the same protein that detects sour tastes also functions as a sentinel of pH in the central nervous system." To discover the sour taste receptor, the researchers first turned to bioinformatics. According to Angela Huang, a graduate student working with Zuker and the lead author of the Nature paper, they started with three simple assumptions and then hunted the entire genome. "First, we expected the taste receptors to be embedded in the cell membrane where they could be in contact with taste molecules on the tongue," explained Huang. "Therefore, we narrowed the search down to genes for proteins with a structure that would allow them to be in a cell membrane. Second, we ruled out candidates that were found in many different tissues and focused on those mainly in the taste cells. Third, we looked for a candidate that was made in select populations of taste cells, rather than all taste cells." The three assumptions resulted in just a handful of possible candidates. PKD2L1 stood out because it was strongly produced in select cells in all of the different types of taste buds. PKD2L1 is a member of a family of proteins called polycystic-kidney-disease-like ion channels. Mutations in some members of this protein family lead to kidney failure, but according to Zuker, the cause of failure has been an open mystery. "We don’t know if the other members of the protein family work in the same way as PKD2L1, but our findings could be an exciting and unexpected entry into understanding these devastating kidney disorders," he said. In addition to Zuker and Huang, the contributors to the study were Nicholas Ryba and Mark Hoon at NIDCR and Xiaoke Chen, Jayaram Chandrashekar, Wei Guo and Dimitri Tränkner at UCSD. The study was supported by the HHMI and grants from the National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, the NIDCR, the Human Frontiers Science program and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
Katrina relief efforts continue in New Orleans
8/24/2006-Hurricane Katrina, which struck New Orleans almost one year ago, was one of the largest natural disasters in U.S. history. Recovery efforts are still under way in the Crescent City. Because of IFT’s long association with New Orleans -- IFT has held annual meetings there since 1974 and will hold the 2008 Annual Meeting there from June 28-July 1 -- we would like to note the recovery efforts in the Crescent City and wish the people of that wonderful city well. For more on ongoing relief efforts, see www.redcross.org.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Berries for the brain
8/23/2006-Feeling older and forgetful? Dip into that last summer bowl of berries, scientists say. Lab animals that were fed berry extracts and then treated to an accelerated aging process were protected from damage to brain function, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists reported. Psychologist Barbara Shukitt-Hale, neuroscientist James Joseph and psychologist Amanda Carey of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston conducted the research in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. The study, which has been published online, will also appear in an upcoming print issue of Neurobiology of Aging. Three groups--20 rats in each--were studied for about three months. The control group was fed a standard diet of grain-based chow. A second group was fed chow with blueberry extract equal to one cup daily in humans. A third group was fed chow with strawberry extract equal to one pint daily in humans. After two months on the diets, half of the rats in each group were treated to induce the normal losses in learning and motor skills that often come with aging. Compared to the aged control rats, the aged-but-supplemented rats were much better able to find--and in some cases remember--the location of an underwater platform. In addition, the aged control rats had lower levels of dopamine release than the nonaged control rats. But these decreases in dopamine release were not seen in the strawberry- and blueberry-supplemented groups, whether aged or not. The new findings add to a lineup of research studies published during the past eight years showing reduced, or in some cases reversed, declines in brain function among rats whose diets were supplemented with either blueberry, cranberry or strawberry extracts or Concord grape juice.
New mad cow case found in Canada
8/23/2006-The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed bovine spongiform ecnephalopathy (BSE) in a mature beef cow from Alberta. The case is the country's eighth since 2003. The CFIA says no part of the animal's carcass entered the human food or animal supply. A CFIA investigation is underway to locate the positive animal’s birth farm. In a statement on the BSE case, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns says that a change in the status of beef imports from Canada is not anticipated. For more information, see the CFIA press release and the USDA statement.
Chicago restaurants flout foie gras ban
8/23/2006-Restaurants across the city of Chicago deliberately defied a City Council ban on the serving of foie gras, according to a Chicago Tribune report. The ban was passed by the Council in April and carries fines of $250 to $500. Mayor Daley expressed himself on the subject, essentially saying "what's next?". If banning foie gras is okay, Daley said, "all of a sudden, you can question any type, basically, anything that can be served in a restaurant. The poor snails and the mussels and the shrimp. I could go on and on. The lobsters." On Tuesday morning, the Illinois Restaurant Association filed a lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court seeking to overturn the ban.
Unauthorized GM rice causes concern for importers
8/23/2006-Consumers in the U.S., and government agencies in Europe, Japan, and other countries who import U.S. rice have raised concerns about the trace amounts of unapproved GM rice recently detected in commercial long grain rice samples in the U.S. Now, requirements from the EU and other countries to ensure their rice imports are GM-free mean the U.S. is rushing to certify a new test. The bioengineered rice variety, developed by Bayer CropScience under the name LLRICE 601, expresses the herbicide-tolerant protein phosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase (PAT), also known as Liberty Link. The line was not yet intended for commercial use. In public statements, the USDA and FDA have said they reviewed the available scientific data and concluded that LLRICE 601 rice poses no threat to human health, food safety, or the environment. Bayer CropScience says that the Liberty Link protein is well known to regulators and has been confirmed safe for food and feed use in a number of crops by regulators in many countries, including the EU, Japan, Mexico, the U.S., and Canada. The European Commission, however, is now requiring U.S. rice imports to be certified as free from the unauthorized variety. In a press release, the EU said, "These emergency measures ... mean that, with immediate effect, only consignments of U.S. long grain rice that have been tested by an accredited laboratory using a validated testing method and accompanied by a certificate assuring the absence of LL Rice 601, can enter the EU." Japan has already closed its borders to U.S. long grain rice imports, according to news reports. Scientists with the USDA’s Grain Inspection, Packers & Stockyards Administration are working on validating a test, and could have it ready as early as today. Bayer has made arrangements with several private laboratories to run the tests and will post that information on their website (www.bayercropscience.com). According to estimates for 2006, rice production in the U.S. is valued at $1.88 billion, and half of that is expected to be exported. The U.S. provides about 12% of world rice trade. On concerns over exporting, rice futures at the Chicago Board of Trade closed down sharply Tuesday but bounced back slightly on Wednesday. For more information, see the USDA statement and the USDA Fact Sheet on genetically engineered rice.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Chewing gum uses bacteria to fight tooth decay
8/22/2006-The familiar bacteria Lactobacillus, normally found in live yoghurt, has spawned a strain that could help prevent tooth decay, accoding to Chemistry & Industry. The L. anti-caries strain was discovered by the German chemical company BASF, and is used in a chewing gum, one of several products being developed using Lactobacillus. Tooth decay begins when the bacteria Strepptococcus mutans stick to the surface of teeth, producing an acid that breaks down the enamel. The new strain of Lactobacillus, L. anti-caries, binds to S. mutans, causing them to clump together and preventing them from becoming attached to the tooth surface. Tests reveal that the chewing gum can reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth fifty times. Stefan Marcinowski, executive director of research at BASF, said that a Lactobacillus product is due to hit the supermarkets in 2007, but would not confirm whether it is the chewing gum. Marcinowski says that the chewing gum "has been tested on large numbers of people and demonstrated the ability to significantly reduce bacterial levels."
Monday, August 21, 2006
Dumpster divers out for free lunch
8/21/2006-According to this report, “Dumpster divers scavenge for groceries”, by Megan Greenwell of the Washington Post, more people are taking to trash bins, either as a semi-political statement or in an effort to fight food waste. Of course, many that do this may not be aware of the many safety issues.
FDA approves bacteriophages for food safety
8/21/2006-The FDA has approved a bacteriophages-based food safety product for use on ready-to-eat meat and poultry products. LMP 102 is made by Intralytix, Inc., and according to the company, it's the first bacteriophages-based product approved by FDA. The product is effective against Listeria monocytogenes. Bacteriophages are viruses that are parasites of bacteria, meaning they can infect and kill specific bacteria. LMP 102 is a mix of six phages that can be sprayed on ready-to-eat meats to kill the Listeria bacteria, when present. "We are pleased with the approval by FDA of LMP 102. It is our intent to seek approval for additional food safety products effective against E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in the next 12 months," said John Vazzana, president and CEO of Intralytix.
Food Safety Net Services appoints new COO
8/21/2006-Dr. Scott Brooks is the new Chief Operating Officer at Food Safety Net Services. He will oversee all laboratory operations as well as technical services for FSNS. Brooks previously served as Senior Director of Quality and Regulatory Affairs for E&J Gallo. Prior to this position, Brooks was Senior Manager of Food Safety and Quality Assurance for Taco Bell Corporation/Yum! Brands. Before joining Taco Bell, he served on active and reserve military duty as Director of Food Safety Programs for the U.S. Air Force. Brooks is also currently an appointed member of the National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods.
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Kraft Foods to be spun off?
8/19/2006-With a U.S. District Court ruling on August 17 that was generally favorable to tobacco companies, some are speculating that tobacco company Altria Group Inc. may now completely spin off Northfield, Ill.-based Kraft Foods Inc. For more, see the Chicago Tribune.
Pilgrim's Pride seeks to buy Gold Kist
8/19/2006-Pilgrim's Pride Corp. has sent a proposal to Gold Kist, Inc. offering to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Gold Kist common stock for $20.00 per share in cash. The transaction is valued at approximately $1 billion, plus the assumption of Gold Kist's debt of $144 million. Pilgrim's Pride's offer represents a premium of approximately 55% over Gold Kist's closing stock price of $12.93 on Friday, August 18, 2006. "We believe the combination of Pilgrim's Pride and Gold Kist will create the world's leading chicken producer and result in substantial value creation for our respective shareholders, employees, business partners and other constituencies," said O.B. Goolsby, Jr., president and CEO of Pilgrim's Pride.
Bioengineered rice may be in food supply
8/19/2006-According to a U.S. FDA press release, Bayer CropScience recently notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that trace amounts of a bioengineered variety of rice were detected in samples of commercial rice seed, and may have entered the food and feed supply in the United States. The bioengineered variety of rice, called LLRICE601, expresses the phosphinothricin-N-acetyltransferase (PAT) protein, which provides tolerance to glufosinate-ammonium herbicide. This rice variety, not intended for commercialization, was not submitted to FDA for evaluation under the Agency's voluntary biotechnology consultation process. However, crops containing the PAT protein have previously been evaluated for safety by FDA on a number of occasions through the agency's voluntary biotechnology consultation process. Bayer has informed the FDA that LLRICE601 is present in some samples of commercial rice seed at low levels. In addition, Bayer has provided information about the safety of the PAT protein, molecular characterization, and nutritional composition of grain from LLRICE601. Based on the available data and information, FDA has concluded that the presence of this bioengineered rice variety in the food and feed supply poses no food or feed safety concerns.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Man survives chocolate ordeal
8/18/2006-According to a news report from the BBC, a 21-year-old man ended up in hospital after spending two hours trapped in a vat of chocolate, police in Wisconsin said on Friday. According to the report, rescue workers and staff at the Debelis Corp. used cocoa-butter to thin out the chocolate and pull him free. The accident involved dark chocolate.
Danisco says sugar production in line with quotas
8/18/2006-Food ingredient company, Danisco anticipates sugar production will be in line with EU quotas given that the results of the first beet harvest forecast of the year are now available.
The cool spring in Europe resulted in late sugar beet sowing in 2006 in the countries where Danisco has sugar production. The subsequent exceptionally hot and dry summer meant less favourable growth conditions. Nevertheless, Danisco’s first beet harvest forecast indicates sugar production in line with our EU quotas totalling 988,000 tonnes of sugar.
The beet and sugar production has been adjusted to the terms of the new EU sugar regime, under which sugar production in the EU will be reduced and C sugar production will cease, and to the EU’s extraordinary quota reduction of approximately 14%. So far, Danisco’s sugar production has significantly exceeded the quota (C sugar), but that will not be the case this year.
Burcon patents flax protein isolate
8/18/2006-Burcon NutraScience Corp. announced that it has been granted a patent by the European Patent Office: European Patent No. 1434493 - “Flax Protein Isolate and Production” – which covers a novel protein isolate derived from any flax oil seed, including the low linolenic acid variety Linola™ oil seed, and the production thereof.
Linola is the trademark name of solin varieties, strains of flax, now being developed by Canada’s Agricore United through a joint venture with CSIRO – the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization of Australia which developed the original
strain in the early 1990’s.
The patent application, which is the subject of this announcement, was originally filed in November 2002. At that time, Burcon also filed applications, which are currently being reviewed, with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as well as internationally under the Patent Cooperation Treaty of the World Intellectual Property Organization.
Burcon has committed to register this patent in some twenty European countries. As previously announced, Burcon already holds four U.S. patents over canola protein processing technology and canola protein isolate product uses.
“Flax is an important oil seed crop which has seen strong growth in consumer awareness for its health benefits including omega 3 fatty acids, lignans and fibre,” stated Johann Tergesen, Burcon’s President & COO who added, “Burcon will continue to devote some
of its resources to exploring opportunities beyond its core canola protein isolate technology.”
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Both old and new bird flu strains cause outbreaks
8/17/2006-Laboratory confirmation points to both old and new isolates of the bird flu virus as sources of recent HPAI outbreaks in Southeast Asia, FAO said today.
Vigorous implementation of recommended control measures is needed to prevent a further spread of the disease and sustain past successes in the region, the Organization warned.
Concerned about the recurrence of bird flu in Asia, close monitoring of diagnostic results by FAO has revealed that bird flu is endemic in some areas while new strains have emerged in other places.
“Last month’s HPAI outbreak in Thailand’s Pichit province was caused by the same virus strain circulating in the area since 2003/4. The H5N1 virus thus remained alive in central Thailand in a reservoir of birds and poultry, most probably a mix of backyard chicken, ducks and fighting cocks,” said Laurence Gleeson, regional manager of FAO’s bird flu centre in Bangkok today.
This indicates that the H5N1 virus is endemic in the area. While the number and size of outbreaks has been reduced, past control efforts were only partly successful.
For more, see the FAO Press Release.
FDA corrects nutrition labeling regulation
8/17/2006-The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of July 25, 2006 (71 FR 42031). The document amended the voluntary nutrition labeling regulations by updating the names and the nutrition labeling values for the 20 most frequently consumed raw fruits, vegetables, and fish in the United States. The document published with incorrect units of measures
for nutrients and an incorrect number in the Final Regulatory Impact Analysis section. See, the Federal Register of August 17, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 159, Page 47439-47443).
High-fat, copper-rich diets associated with cognitive decline
8/17/2006-Among older adults whose diets are high in saturated and trans fats, a high intake of copper may be associated with an accelerated rate of decline in thinking, learning and memory abilities, according to a report in the August issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
Although copper, zinc and iron are essential for brain development and function, an imbalance of these metals may play a role in the development of brain plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease. Previous studies have also linked fat intake, especially that of saturated and trans fats, to Alzheimer's disease and other forms of cognitive difficulties, according to background information in the article. One recent animal study found that the consumption of copper in drinking water could amplify the degenerative effects of a high-fat diet on rabbit brains.
Martha Clare Morris, Sc.D., Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, and colleagues assessed the connection between dietary fat and dietary copper intake in 3,718 Chicago residents age 65 years and older. Participants underwent cognitive testing at the beginning of the study, after three years and after six years. An average of one year after the study began, they filled out a questionnaire about their diets. The dietary recommended allowance of copper for adults is .9 milligrams per day. Organ meats, such as liver, and shellfish are the foods with the highest copper levels, followed by nuts, seeds, legumes, whole grains, potatoes, chocolate and some fruits. Copper pipes may also add trace amounts of the metal to drinking water.
Cognitive abilities declined in all participants as they aged. Overall, copper intake was not associated with the rate of this decline. However, among the 604 individuals (16.2 percent of the study group) who consumed the most saturated and trans fats, cognitive function deteriorated more rapidly with the more copper they had in their diets. "The increase in rate for the high-fat consumers whose total copper intake was in the top 20 percent (greater than or equal to 1.6 milligrams per day) was equivalent to 19 more years of age," the authors write.
Other metals assessed in this study, iron and zinc, did not show any effects on cognitive decline in interaction with a high-fat diet. Previous studies have found higher levels of copper in the blood of patients with Alzheimer's disease, and medications that bind with copper to block its effects have shown promise treating patients with the condition.
"This finding of accelerated cognitive decline among persons whose diets were high in copper and saturated and trans fats must be viewed with caution," the authors conclude. "The supporting evidence on this topic is limited. The strength of the association and the potential impact on public health warrant further investigation." (Arch Neurol. 2006;63:1085-1088.)
USDA opens new research center in Davis
8/17/2006-The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) on August 15 dedicated a new $25-million laboratory and office building for the agency's Western Human Nutrition Research Center (WHNRC) in Davis, Calif. ARS is the chief scientific research agency of USDA.
The 49,000-square-foot structure is situated on two acres of the University of California-Davis, which enhances collaboration with UC-Davis faculty.
The research center's team of 85 scientists, technicians and other specialists includes experts in nutrition, exercise physiology, chemistry, immunology and related disciplines. According to center director Lindsay H. Allen, the researchers specialize in exploring new and healthful ways to fight obesity, America's No. 1 nutrition problem.
"The scientists of WHNRC also conduct pioneering studies to discover how nutrients and nutrient-like compounds in foods and beverages can help prevent chronic diseases that are among the leading causes of death in America," said Gale A. Buchanan, USDA Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics. "That list includes heart disease, stroke and certain kinds of cancer."
Increasingly, the research of these scientists has encompassed nutrigenomics, an
emerging field which benefits from still-unfolding discoveries in human genome research. Nutrigenomics studies, for example, will speed discovery of how genes influence the body's ability to absorb and use essential nutrients.
The Davis scientists have won major national and international awards for their
research, and have published their findings in many of the world's leading
English-language scientific journals that document research in nutrition, immunology, food chemistry and other fields.
The ARS Western Human Nutrition Research Center was established at the Presidio of San Francisco in 1980. The staff relocated to Davis in 1999, working in temporary quarters in nearly a dozen different buildings throughout the campus. The center is part of a nationwide network of human nutrition research centers operated by ARS.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Codex needs your input on food additives
8/16/2006-IFT's Global Regulations and Policy Committee alerts you to a request for comments and information on several food additive provisions. If Codex does not receive the input (e.g., technological need for a specific use) needed, the Codex Committee on Food Additives will discontinue work on the General Standard for Food Additives (GSFA) provisions for these substances (e.g., BHA, BHT, sulfites, caramel color, and various sweeteners), resulting in deletion of the additives from the GSFA. Removal of additives from the GSFA could result in more restrictions on their use in the future The Circular Letter requesting comments and information is accessible at www.ift.org/ccfa.pdf. Please send comments/pertinent information to Rosie Newsome at IFT, preferably electronically and no later than September 14, 2006. Let Dr. Newsome know if you have any questions about this Codex activity.
Rosetta Newsome, Ph.D.
Director, Science and Communications
Institute of Food Technologists
525 West Van Buren Street
Suite 1000
Chicago, IL 60607-3814
Phone: 312-782-8424
FAX: 312-782-8348
Email: rlnewsome@ift.org
Monday, August 14, 2006
No quick fix for acrylamide in food
8/14/2006-Scientists now can identify strategies for reducing levels of acrylamide formed when starchy foods are baked, roasted, fried or toasted, according to an article scheduled for the Aug. 14 issue of Chemical & Engineering News, the American Chemical Society's weekly newsmagazine.
Those first roadmaps for responding to concerns about acrylamide -- a neurotoxin and probable human carcinogen -- have emerged from a flurry of scientific research done on the compound since 2002, writes C&EN Senior Editor Bette Hileman. The studies began after acrylamide was first identified in food; about 200 scientific papers on the compounds now have been published.
However, the research provides few answers about acrylamide's human health risks, C&EN says. The article discusses how food authorities in the United States and Europe have taken different approaches to regulating acrylamide levels in food. The highest levels occur in French fries and potato chips. Efforts to reduce acrylamide in food in the United States may depend on the fate of a proposed Federal law, according to the C&EN article. The law would restrict state efforts to regulate acrylamide and other food compounds more stringently than does the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
"No Quick Fix for Acrylamide in Food: Intense scrutiny has provided methods of reduction but few answers about risk"
Red and white wine may be equally good for the heart
8/14/2006-Scientists say they have new evidence that the pulp of grapes appears just as heart-healthy in laboratory experiments as the skin. The new study, scheduled for the Aug. 23 issue of the ACS Journal of Agricultural & Food Chemistry, challenges the idea that red wine is more heart-healthy white wine.
Past studies indicated that the cardioprotective compounds in grapes -- polyphenolic antioxidants -- reside in the skin and seeds. Grape skins, which contain purple pigment, are crushed with the pulp to make red wines. But the skins are separated from the pulp to make most white wine. That situation led to the conventional belief that red wines and red grape juice are the most heart healthy.
Dipak K. Das, of the University Of Connecticut School Of Medicine, headed the study. It was done with colleagues form the University of Milan and several other research institutes in Italy.
"Although further study is needed to identify the principle ingredients responsible for the cardioprotective abilities of the grape flesh, to the best of our knowledge, our study provides evidence for the first time that the flesh of grapes is equally cardioprotective with respect to the skins," the researchers report.
"Comparison of Cardioprotective Abilities Between the Flesh and Skin of Grapes"
Sapporo to buy Canadian brewery
8/14/2006-Sapporo Breweries Ltd. and Sleeman Breweries Ltd. announced today that Sapporo has agreed to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Sleeman at a cash price of C$17.50 per common share. The cash consideration represents a 50% premium over the closing share price on May 11, 2006, the day prior to Sleeman's announcement of its Board's decision to initiate a review of strategic options and an 18% premium to today's closing price. The Offer represents an aggregate value for Sleeman, including assumed debt, of approximately C$400 million. Sleeman Breweries Ltd. is the leading brewer and distributor of premium beer in Canada and the third largest brewing company nation-wide.
Cargill Cocoa offers new product line
8/14/2006-Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate announced a new line of 100% Belgian chocolate for use by chocolatiers and pastry chefs, called Veliche. The product line contains three bittersweet chocolates, Chocolat Noir 72%, Chocolat Noir 62% and Chocolat Noir 58%; two milk chocolates, Chocolat Lait 34% and Chocolat Lait 31%; and a white chocolate, Chocolat Blanc. Manufactured in Belgium, Veliche chocolate is made with vanilla and non-alkalized liquor, making it naturally flavored. According to the company, the products have low viscosity and are highly workable. The line comes in button form for easy handling and is packed in 10 kg. cartons. It is available to chocolatiers and pastry chefs in North America.
World now has more obese than hungry
8/14/2006-According to news reports from the 2006 conference of the International Association of Agricultural Economists being held in Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, Queensland, Australia this week, the world now has more overweight people than hungry ones and governments should design economic strategies to influence national diets. According to a presentation made Aug. 14, by Barry Popkin, University of North Carolina, "The reality is that globally, far more obesity than undernutrition exists."
Popkin made the claim that while hunger is slowly declining, obesity is rapidly spreading.
According to Popkin, there are more than a billion overweight people in the world and 800 million who are undernourished. The world population is estimated at about 6.5 billion. "Obesity is the norm globally," he said, "and undernutrition, while still important in a few countries and in targeted populations in many others, is no longer the dominant disease."
FDA issues Pacific Northwest shellfish warning
8/14/2006-The Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers not to eat raw clams harvested in the Pacific Northwest because of reports of a significant increase in gastrointestinal illnesses caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp). This advisory updates a July 31, 2006, advisory to consumers on eating raw oysters harvested in the Pacific Northwest.
"FDA is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and our state partners in this continuing investigation," said Dr. Robert Brackett, Director of FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. "We will continue to update the public as more information becomes known."
In recent months, there has been an unusual increase in bacterial illness associated with eating raw oysters and raw clams from the Pacific Northwest. The illnesses are associated with the naturally occurring bacterium Vp, which is most prevalent during summer months when water temperatures in the Pacific Northwest are most favorable for its growth. While Vp can cause mild gastrointestinal disorders in healthy individuals, older persons and those with weak immune systems are at greater risk for serious illness, such as septicemia (infection of the blood system).
Until the threat of Vp from shellfish harvested in the Pacific Northwest has passed, consumers are advised to thoroughly cook oysters and clams harvested from that area before eating. They also should thoroughly cook oysters and clams if they are not certain of their origin, or if they wish to further reduce their risk of infection from bacteria that may be found in raw oysters and clams.
Pacific Northwest oysters and clams are distributed nationally. To date there have been 72 laboratory confirmed and an additional 105 probable Vp illness reported from Washington State, Oregon, and New York linked to contaminated oysters and clams.
In Washington State, shellfish control authorities are identifying and closing harvest areas where oysters and clams associated with the illnesses originated. Washington State has initiated a recall of all shell stock oysters (in the shell) harvested from areas closed within the state.
Because of the potential for nationwide distribution, consumers are advised to follow recall instructions and return associated shell stock oysters to the retailer from which they were purchased. The FDA is currently working with state shellfish authorities to take appropriate action to address any product that be remaining on the market.
Cooking destroys the bacteria, eliminating the risk of illness for both healthy and immunocompromised individuals. The majority of illnesses that occur from the consumption of raw shellfish are not life-threatening to the general population and commonly range from mild intestinal disorders of short duration to acute gastroenteritis. The symptoms are watery diarrhea, often with abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills. Usually these symptoms occur within 24 hours of ingestion and last no more than three days. Severe disease is rare and occurs most commonly in persons with weakened immune systems. Individual who believe they have experienced the same symptoms of illness after consuming oysters or clams should consult their health care provider and contact their local health department.
USDA testing rules out H5N1 strain in swans
8/14/2006-The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Interior today announced that routine surveillance has indicated the presence of H5 and N1 avian influenza subtypes in samples from two wild mute swans in Michigan, but testing has ruled out the possibility of this being the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain that has spread through birds in Asia, Europe and Africa. Test results thus far indicate this is low pathogenicity avian influenza, which poses no threat to human health.
The swans were sampled as part of the expanded avian influenza surveillance program. They were showing no signs of sickness, which suggests that this is low pathogenicity avian influenza. Additionally, genetic analysis of the virus conducted at USDA's National Veterinary Services laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, Iowa, suggests that it is similar to a low pathogenicity strain that has been found in North America.
It is possible that these birds were not infected with an H5N1 strain, but instead with two separate avian influenza viruses, one containing H5 and the other containing N1. The confirmatory testing underway at NVSL will clarify whether one or more strains of the virus are present, the specific subtype, as well as pathogenicity. These results are expected within two weeks and will be made public when completed. It should be noted that wild birds are known to harbor many influenza viruses, and the finding of one or more of these viruses during routine testing is not unusual.
For more, see the USDA Press Release.
PepsiCo names its first female CEO
8/14/2006-PepsiCo announced today that Steve Reinemund, 58, Chairman and CEO, will retire next May.
The board of directors has elected Indra K. Nooyi, 50, as CEO effective October 1, 2006. Mr. Reinemund will serve as Executive Chairman of PepsiCo and will continue to serve as a member of the board of directors until his retirement in May, 2007.
In addition, PepsiCo also announced that Ms. Nooyi's current responsibilities will be divided between two PepsiCo veterans. Richard Goodman, 57, who has 12 years of service with the company and is currently CFO of PepsiCo International, will assume the position of CFO for the corporation with responsibility for Tax, Treasury, Control, Risk Management and Audit and Investor Relations.
New automated microbial testing system offered
8/14/2006-bioMérieux, Inc., a leading industrial microbiology and diagnostics company, announced the launch of TEMPO®, an industry-first for the food market, at the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) Annual Meeting in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. TEMPO is an automated quality indicator testing system for the enumeration of quality indicator organisms in food and environmental samples.
TEMPO automates testing for total viable counts, coliform counts, generic E. coli, and Enterobacteriaceae. Testing for these organisms is important to a food quality laboratory for determining overall product hygiene and also as an indication of product spoilage. If there is an unacceptable level of these organisms in a facility’s food products, it can lead to a negative financial impact. Automation helps to standardize numerous preparation steps, interpretation, and test results.
“Quality indicator testing is sometimes referred to as ‘routine indicator testing.’ We designed TEMPO to help a food facility change the ‘tempo’ of their work and change their routine by using a new useful tool for the testing of their quality indicator organisms,” explained Herb Steward, bioMérieux’s Senior Vice President of North American Commercial Operations. “The TEMPO takes a routine, labor-intensive test and automates it, which provides a great deal of value to the laboratory. The improved workflow allows the lab to better synchronize their production schedule and product release from inventory.”
Friday, August 11, 2006
Coca-Cola releases test results of Indian soft drinks
8/11/2006-The Coca-Cola Company today announced results of independent laboratory tests confirming that the Company's soft drinks in India meet the stringent purity criteria set by the European Union for pesticides in bottled water.
"There is no issue with the quality and purity of our products," said Rick Frazier, vice president of Technical Stewardship, The Coca-Cola Company.
Samples of Coca-Cola, Thums Up, Sprite, Fanta and Limca have been tested by the highly respected independent laboratory, Central Science Laboratories (CSL), in the United Kingdom. CSL's test results confirm that there are no safety problems with pesticide residues in the soft drinks made by The Coca-Cola Company in India. Results from 2006 tests showed less than .1 part per billion of any pesticide. Testing is ongoing with additional results expected this coming week.
"Our beverages provide not only great taste and refreshment, but absolute quality - every bottle, every can, every day, everywhere," said Frazier. "For the past two years The Coca-Cola Company has been monitoring the purity of our beverages in India using the European Union criteria. We are therefore very comfortable supporting the Indian government's intention to establish criteria for pesticide residues in soft drinks, based on scientifically validated testing methods."
Parental time directly related to childhood obesity
8/11/2006-A multi-year study by researchers from Texas A&M University found that the amounts and quality of time parents spent with their children has a direct effect on children's rates of obesity, said Dr. Alex McIntosh, lead researcher. McIntosh is professor of sociology with a research appointment from Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture study, "Parental Time, Role Strain and Children's Fat Intake and Obesity-Related Outcomes," was published in June.
In general, researchers found the amount of time a mother spent with her child, her work stress and her income level had a larger impact in lowering the child's risk of obesity than the father's time, work stress and income, McIntosh said.
Furthermore, the more time a mother spends with the child, the less likely that child is to be obese; conversely, the more time a father spends with a child, the more likely the child will be obese, he said.
"The impacts were greater for 9- to 11-year-old children than for 13- to 15-year-old children," he added.
As a sociologist, McIntosh has long wondered how parents influence their children's nutritional habits, he said.
"The project has been in my head for well over 10 years," he said. "For a long time we thought that parents ought to influence what their kids eat, but we were not sure how that worked."
And that's what the Texas A&M researchers set out to find, he said.
"The epidemic of obesity is spreading across the United States and across the world," said Dr. Karen Kubena, one of the researchers. She is a professor of nutrition and food science and associate dean for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
"Of concern is the fact that the prevalence is increasing at younger and younger ages. ... Factors related to development and perpetuation of obesity need to be identified so that prevention can be achieved," she said.
Because so many families are headed by two working parents, the focus of the research was to look at how the parents' work-related stress, flexibility and general work conditions influenced the children's nutrition, McIntosh said.
"One factor in the development of childhood obesity that has been suggested but about which little research data exist is mothers working outside of the home," Kubena said. "The study was designed to look at time allocation and food selection and the role of women's employment. Other factors related to parental influence on children's dietary intake and body weight were assessed as well."
The research turned out to be more complicated than expected in many ways, McIntosh said. First, finding 300 families who had the right demographics and were willing to participate took 15 months. Both parents and one child had to agree to fill out a complete two-day diary, and the participating child had to be either 9-11 or 13-15. And all participating families had to live in the Houston area.
Then, collecting the data and analyzing it took about three years, McIntosh added.
"You can look at parents' time in a whole lot of different ways," he said. "We thought for starters we would focus on (the amount) of time parents spend directly with their children."
All together, the study took almost five years.
"We started in the fall of 2001 and published in June 2006," he said.
The results of the study proved surprising, McIntosh said.
The study found 9- to 11-year-olds' fathers spend an average of 80 minutes per day with their children, while mothers' average time spent with their children is 125 minutes. Children ages 13-15 included in the study saw their fathers an average of 95 minutes per day, while mothers of this age group spent an average 87 minutes per day with their children.
Quality attributes of pork may be changing
8/11/2006-Ken Prusa, a professor of food science and human nutrition, has been researching ways to improve pork quality since he joined the Iowa State faculty in 1985. At that time, the push was to make pork extremely lean. By 1987, the pork industry had launched its marketing campaign, "The Other White Meat," which was based on public perception that chicken and turkey are more healthful than red meat, including pork.
Now, 20 years later, Prusa is part of a growing circle of scientists and leaders in the industry who think pork may be lean enough.
"So we're studying other attributes of the product to look for points of differentiation for value added," he said.
And Prusa may have identified a characteristic that could prove to be as significant to the industry as leanness.
"I was doing research in a meat packing plant and noticed that the Japanese export buyers always chose the darker pork," he said. "I wanted to find out why, so I evaluated some darker products."
Prusa's research showed the Japanese were selecting not by color, but by what color indicated: pH, a measure of acidity or alkalinity. Darker pork has a slightly higher pH than lighter pork. A higher pH means there's less acid — acid that damages muscle proteins and causes meat to be pale and watery.
"Through sensory testing, we found pH to be a pretty strong driver of ultimate pork quality. Higher pH products are more tender, juicy and flavorful," he said. "It tuned us in to an opportunity to add value to pork products in the marketplace."
"Now producers and packers are hearing more about the pH factor and learning that it's in their best interest to produce products with higher pH," he said.
"Chilling is a big factor in processing," Prusa said. "It's critical to lower the temperature of the carcass fairly rapidly. Otherwise, the pH may drop too low before chilling can stabilize it. "
There's also a growing emphasis on reducing the stress an animal experiences just before slaughter. Keeping animals as calm as possible is key.
"Stress causes a high metabolism rate, which creates a lot of adrenaline. When that happens right before slaughter, it causes a really rapid pH decline. If there's a rapid pH decline in the hot carcass, it's even worse. At that point, there's not much you can do for quality," he said.
Prusa is working with packers, processors and geneticists to take advantage of the pH factor.
"There's probably a premium market in the U.S. for higher pH pork. Some major retailers on the West and East coasts are figuring out that the best pork is exported. We're looking at specific ways to provide them higher pH products," he said.
And, some processors and packers are moving toward buying pigs on the basis of pH. Packers are almost to the point of routinely measuring pH on the production line.
"When that happens, it will be like when they started measuring leanness. Pigs got lean. And when consumers started to pay for leanness, pigs got lean in a hurry," Prusa said.
"We hope that through our work with packers and processors, we'll see higher pH products on the market soon. We're looking at ways of marketing products on the basis of the deeper, richer color and flavor. People can see the difference. Once they taste it, the better quality is obvious," he said.
Naturex plants receive Halal approval
8/11/2006-Naturex, a French company specializing in plant extracts with flavouring, colouring, antioxidant or nutraceutical properties, announced that its plants in France, Morocco, New Jerseym and California have received Halal approval by IFANCA (Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America). This recognition means that Naturex is in accordance with the rigorous standards of Halal and can deliver an ingredient certificate attesting this. According to the company, meeting Halal requirements is part of the Naturex growing business initiatives Young Muslims, while they remain Halal-conscious, still want to eat Thai food, Chinese food, pizza, and burgers. The company estimates that the market is at 1.4 billion Muslims in the world.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Campina expands ingredients business
8/10/2006-Campina, one of Europe's leading dairy companies, headquartered in the Netherlands, and Vitalus, based in Canada, have entered a Joint Venture (JV) in value added Food & Nutrition ingredients. The 50/50-JV will further strengthen the position of Campina's ingredients business in functional and nutritional ingredients in the North American market. By joining forces, Campina enhances the critical mass for further penetration in these markets with dairy based ingredients. The JV is expected to generate a turnover of EUR 10 million and will involve initially approximately 50 people. The JV will operate under the name DMV-Vitalus Ingredients N.V. and will be effective as of August 10, 2006.
Vitalus will bring into the JV its range of specific dairy based ingredients and US customer base, whereas DMV International will cover for sales, marketing and customer support throughout North America. The JV will focus on expanding the business with a portfolio of dairy protein specialties such as whey protein concentrates for use in food products and in infant, and diet nutrition formulas. The JV will be owned 50/50 percent, emphasizing the commitment of both partners to build a strong position in the ingredients business. Management control of the JV will be with Campina.
"With this JV Campina will improve its position in the international ingredients business and strengthen its presence in the important North American dairy ingredients market. The market value is estimated at an impressive EUR 4 billion and showing annual growth rates of 3-4 percent", said J.J.G.M. (Justin) Sanders, CEO of Campina BV. "The JV is fully in line with Campina's growth strategy and will form a solid basis to continue long-term investments in innovation, quality and service, needed to stay ahead. By the end of this year the major investment project 'Veghel Force' in DMV's production facilities in the Netherlands will deliver us a highly efficient whey processing plant and a range of unique whey based ingredients. Through this partnership, North American markets will have an even better access to this promising ingredients portfolio."
The announcement of the JV with Vitalus is a third milestone in a row in the deployment of Campina's international growth strategy for ingredients. On June 1st 2006, Campina announced the acquisition of the Inovatech plant in Argentina that produces a range of ingredients for the food industry worldwide and is fully integrated within DMV International's business line Food Systems & Nutrition. In addition, Campina announced recently a JV between DMV International and Lactose New Zealand to join forces in pharma ingredients.
Healthy living/ethnic flavors boost salad dressing market
8/10/2006-The desire to eat more nutritious foods, coupled with increasingly adventurous palates, is the biggest hope for growth in the sluggish salad dressing market. New product developments based on these criterion should grow the market from $2.72 billion in 2005 to nearly $2.9 billion in 2010, according to Salad Dressings in the U.S., a new report from market research publisher Packaged Facts.
Packaged Facts projects that market for refrigerated, shelf stable, and mix dressings, which remained flat from 2000 to 2005, will show steady growth over the next four years as marketers find new ways to introduce better-for- you dressings with heightened flavor profiles.
Cross-merchandising dressings with lettuce; developing a new dressing based on a winning recipe on an episode of "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart;" and the introduction of "spray-on dressings" are just a few of the novel approaches taken by marketers in 2005 to stave off wilting sales.
Consumers, meanwhile, are turning more and more toward exotic and blended flavor profiles to satisfy their palates. Between January 2005 and June 2006, 91 blended salad dressings were introduced as marketers strove to reach beyond the traditional Ranch, Italian, and Thousand Island dressings to pique consumer interest.
"Most of the major marketers have seen sales slipping and are going the extra mile to create and promote new flavor combinations that will serve to meet the newfound health consciousness of Americans as well as their desire to experience exotica," said Don Montuori, the publisher of Packaged Facts. "Good-for-you dressings -- such as those labeled "No Trans-Fats" -- as well as organics should help to revitalize this market."
USDA expands H5N1 monitoring
8/10/2006-Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns and Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne announced that their departments are expanding wild bird monitoring for highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza (HPAI H5N1) beyond Alaska through cooperative agreements and projects made with the lower 48 states, Hawaii and other Pacific islands.
"We are working on several fronts to combat highly pathogenic avian influenza around the world and here at home," said Secretary Johanns. "Because we cannot control wild birds, our best protection is an early warning system and this move to test thousands more wild birds throughout the country will help us to quickly identify, respond and control the virus, if it arrives in the United States."
Interior Secretary Kempthorne noted that a robust monitoring effort helps to ensure early detection should migratory birds carry this virus to North America. "These coordinated federal and state testing programs will be important this fall as birds now nesting in Alaska and Canada begin their migration south through the continental United States," Kempthorne said.
As part of the "An Early Detection System for H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Wild Migratory Birds -- U.S. Interagency Strategic Plan," USDA has completed cooperative agreements with 48 states thus far and is finalizing agreements with 2 states, which cover all 50 states in the four major U.S. migratory bird flyways. These agreements provide nearly $4 million for state agencies to sample specific species of migratory birds at appropriate sites under plans coordinated through the four national flyway councils.
Interior's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized cooperative agreements with California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington as well as an agreement with Hawaii which will be completed soon. Thus far, these states and other cooperators have received $1.9 million from the Service to implement monitoring strategies in each state's surveillance plan.
Sartori acquires Antigo and Blackfoot Cheese Companies
8/10/2006-Privately-held Sartori Food Corporation announced it has completed the purchase of The Antigo Cheese Company and The Blackfoot Cheese Company, employee-owned manufacturers of aged Italian cheese, with facilities in Antigo, Wis. and Blackfoot, Idaho. Sartori announced in June an asset purchase agreement to acquire both cheese companies.
“The addition of two production facilities in geographically diverse locations provides our customers further assurances of a reliable, uninterrupted supply,” said James Sartori, president of Sartori Foods. “This acquisition also allows us to improve our capacity and meet increased demand for premium, specialty cheeses by consumers with increasingly sophisticated palates.
This is the second acquisition in less than a year for Sartori, creating a five-plant system for the cheese manufacturer. Sartori Foods has leveraged its reputation as a producer of premium specialty cheeses to become an industry leader. The staff of
culinary professionals at Sartori assists customers in better utilization of cheeses in end-products, which has led to signifcant growth for Sartori Foods.
“There are powerful synergies to be created by combining The Antigo Cheese Company’s 80-plus years of cheese making expertise with Sartori Foods’ innovative,
specialized food solutions,” added Sartori. “We are stronger together, and welcome all of our new team members, customers, patron farms and other stakeholders.”
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
USDA proposes change to WIC program
8/08/2006-The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) announced proposed changes to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) food packages that reflect recommendations made by the National Academies of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine (IOM).
The current WIC food packages were designed to supplement participant’s diets with foods rich in five nutrients—vitamins A and C, calcium, iron and protein—because those nutrients were lacking in the diets of the WIC target population when the program first began in 1974.
The proposed changes largely follow recommendations made by the IOM in the final report of its review of the WIC food packages, WIC Food Packages: Time for a Change, as well as the latest nutrition science and the Dietary Guidelines. Under the proposal, the food packages would be revised to add new foods such as fruits and vegetables and whole grains, while amounts of some current foods would be modified.
WIC provides pregnant, breastfeeding, and postpartum women, infants and children up to age five with nutritious supplemental foods. The program also provides nutrition education and referrals to health and social services. About eight million participants receive WIC benefits each month. Federal food costs for the program were $3.6 billion in fiscal year 2005.
Notice of this proposed rule will be published in the August 7, 2006 Federal Register. A copy of the proposed rule can be found at
www.fns.usda.gov/wic/.
Tropicana introduces new line of fresh fruit juices
8/08/2006-Tropicana Products, Inc., a division of PepsiCo, Inc. announced today it is going beyond the juice aisle into the produce section with the introduction of Tropicana Pure, a new line of 100% fruit juices.
Tropicana Pure goes beyond breakfast and Tropicana's flagship orange juice and debuts in four blends that showcase the taste of fruit in clear one liter bottles. The four delicious varieties include: Pomegranate Blueberry, Mango Orange, Triple Berry, and Valencia Orange.
Tropicana Pure 100 percent fruit juices can be found among their fresh fruit counterparts in the produce section. The drinks will have a suggested retail price of $3.79 per one liter bottle.
Aramark to be acquired
8/08/2006-Foodservice company, Aramark announced that it has signed a definitive merger agreement under which Joseph Neubauer and investment funds managed by GS Capital Partners, CCMP Capital Advisors and J.P. Morgan Partners, Thomas H. Lee Partners and Warburg Pincus LLC will acquire ARAMARK in a transaction valued at approximately $8.3 billion, including the assumption or repayment of approximately $2.0 billion of debt. The transaction is expected to be completed by late 2006 or early 2007.
Martek to supply Hain with omega-3 fatty acids
8/08/2006-Martek Biosciences Corp. and The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. announced that they have entered into a license and supply agreement whereby Martek will serve as the exclusive DHA and ARA supplier for all Hain Celestial infant formula products in the United States.
The companies also announced that they are in discussions regarding the potential expansion of this relationship into other food and beverage products. Martek produces DHA, a vegetarian source of the omega-3 fatty acid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and ARA (arachidonic acid), an omega-6 fatty acid.
Hain Celestial recently unveiled a new infant formula as part of the Earth's Best(R) brand, the leading brand of organic baby and toddler food sold in natural food stores and the fastest growing organic baby food brand in grocery stores.
"We are excited about the developing science of DHA and ARA and our role in bringing its health benefits to babies through our Earth's Best infant formula," said Irwin D. Simon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hain Celestial. "Hain Celestial chose Martek for its high quality DHA and ARA, and we are looking forward to incorporating DHA into our great-tasting and healthy food products."
Monday, August 07, 2006
Givaudan reports half-year results
8/07/2006-Flavor and fragrance manufacturer, Givaudan, Geneva, Switzerland, reported that in the first half of 2006, sales totaled CHF 1,474 million, resulting in a growth of 3.7% in local currencies and 7.8% in Swiss francs.
Flavor sales grew 2.6% in local currencies and 6.8% in Swiss francs, in line with the market. Total sales of CHF 868 million were impacted by continued streamlining of commodity ingredients, amounting to CHF 7 million (estimated full year impact CHF 25 million). Latin American sales showed strong double digit growth. Europe and North America exceeded prior year’s levels with low single digit growth, whilst Asia Pacific experienced slow sales due to a decline in the Japanese Beverage segment and high comparables.
Probiotic drinks may exaggerate health benefits
8/07/2006-According to a story in the UK's Daily Mail, Glenn Gibson, a professor of food microbiology at The Reading University, cautioned that up to half the probiotic drinks, yoghurts, powders and capsules on the market do not work.
Gibson said, "There is research showing that half of the products you can buy in the UK don't match up. They've got the wrong bacteria or the wrong numbers" For more, see the news item.
Biodiesel use may change vegetable oil industry
8/07/2006-A new study by Rabobank's Food and Agribusiness Research group finds that the increasing global appetite for biodiesel and other biofuels is driving demand for vegetable oils to historic levels in world markets, leading to higher prices for vegetable oils relative to meals and causing soybean crushers to reevaluate their business models. The confluence of environmental concerns, high energy prices and government incentives which is fueling demand growth is also driving expansion on the supply side, leading to significant increases in oilseed processing capacity.
Speaking at a recent conference on biodiesel and canola in Alberta, Canada, Alejandro Reca, Executive Director of Rabobank's Food and Agribusiness Research group in the Americas, discussed the dynamics driving the strong demand for biodiesels and predicted that the recent income gains in the global vegetable oil sector would be sustained over the long term.
Worldwide use of vegetable oils is expected to post growth of approximately 5.5% CAGR between 2005 and 2010, a significant departure from historical rates, reflecting the newly expanded biodiesel application.
"Biodiesel is proving to be a significant demand shifter in the overall vegetable oil industry," said Dr. Reca, "but the canola and palm sectors will benefit more proportionally from this growth, thanks to their high oil content and the oils' multiple uses as food and foodstock."
Reca said that Canada is expected to capture at least half of the anticipated 300% increase in production and crushing of canola, with Southeast Asian countries expected to reap the rewards of the more than 500% expansion of palm oil processing which is forecast for that region.
He also predicted that recent income gains in the global vegetable oil industry would remain strong, since food consumption of vegetable oils should mitigate any potential decline in non-food uses of vegetable oil.
Reca noted, however, that the variance between lower prices for vegetable meals and higher prices for vegetable oils, as well as the increasing competition from DDGs, was causing many soybean crushers to rethink their traditional business models.
Reca cited several factors driving both supply and demand growth of biodiesel, notably the Kyoto protocols, the U.S. ban on MTBEs and requirement for ultra-low sulfur diesel, and increasing international government interventions in the areas of mandatory contents, tax credits, and differential taxes.
Additionally, continued instability in oil-producing regions and the resulting higher oil prices have prompted policymakers and industry to pursue alternative fuels which are cleaner and often produced from locally-grown and renewable commodities such as vegetable oils, which appeal to Western consumers.
"The tremendous opportunities presented by biodiesel today are attracting non-traditional investors to the agribusiness sector, such as financial institutions and private equity firms, as well as traditional energy and agribusiness players," said Reca. "The result is that our energy and agricultural markets are becoming increasingly interrelated."
Reca noted the significant increase in manufacturing infrastructure as well, with approximately 50 plants currently under consideration for the U.S. market, along with a shift to larger scale plants. Many biodiesel manufacturers are locking in solutions such as supply agreements and off-take contracts to mitigate their long-term risk. He added that many automakers and agricultural machinery manufacturers, with an eye toward the future, are extending their warranties to allow for biodiesels use.
Reca's remarks were delivered at the "Biodiesel: Powered by Canola" conference, an initiative of The Canola Council of Canada and the Alberta Canola Producers Commission.
Cargill acquires Chinese xanthan gum business
8/07/2006-Cargill announced today that it has acquired 100% ownership of Zibo Cargill Huanghelong Bioengineering (ZCHB) located in Zibo, China. Cargill bought the shares from its joint venture partner, the Shandong Huanghelong Group. ZCHB was formed in April 2003 to produce xanthan gum and was expanded in 2004. The facility will now be fully integrated into Cargill's Texturing Solutions business as a key component of Cargill's texturizing ingredients portfolio.
"This transaction, together with the acquisition of Degussa Food Ingredients in April 2006, is in line with Cargill's strategy to become one of the top ranking producers of xanthan gum worldwide," said Cargill Corporate Vice President Robert Parmelee, who leads the company's Food System Design businesses. "ZCHB is already one of the most technologically advanced xanthan gum plants in China. With our recently expanded hydrocolloids team, we are now in a position to further improve our Chinese production by transferring some state-of-the-art knowledge from our French facility in Baupte to ZCHB. Our xanthan gum range will now be complete, from industrial to specialty food and cosmetic grades including clear, granulated, dispersible and allergen free. This will complement our overall unmatched texturizing offering, ranging from single ingredients like xanthan gum, pectin, soy proteins and starches to functional texturizing systems, cultures and lecithin."
Friday, August 04, 2006
Resveratrol reviewed
8/04/2006-Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene) is a natural polyphenolic phytochemical with a variety of bioactivities associated with health promotion. Resveratrol is readily absorbed with the other absorbable digestion products of its main human dietary sources (peanuts, peanut butter, grapes, and red wine). The polyphenolic structure of resveratrol confers antioxidant activity and may reduce oxidant-induced apoptosis and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. Resveratrol may be responsible, in part, for the correlation between increased wine consumption and decreased risk of coronary heart disease. For more, see the Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety article.
What is "gastronomie moleculaire"?
8/04/2006-Several years ago Dr. Herve This served as a peer reviewer for a Journal of Food Science manuscript and on that occasion informed me about his special interest which he called "gastronomie moleculaire." The term caught my attention and I followed the concept as a recipient of his e-mailed newsletters; unfortunately, I was severely handicapped by insufficiencies with my French. In my new role as editor of CRFSFS, however, I have turned more aggressive and have invited Dr. This to provide information on his creation to the Institute of Food Technologists...so writes Manfred Kroger in the latest issue of Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety.
Orafti touts oligofructose benefits in diet studies
8/04/2006-Orafti Active Food Ingredients, a producer of inulin, will attend this year’s HIE in Frankfurt, Germany, to present their research of a recently published human volunteer study. According to the company, the findings demonstrate that when oligofructose is incorporated into the diet, it can limit hunger feelings and food intake.
The European Association for the study of Obesity has revealed that approximately one in three people living in the European Union is overweight. Of those 33%, more than one in ten is now obese. Obesity is strongly linked with the incidence of several chronic diseases including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Subsequently, this has an impact on health care budgets globally. To combat this growing problem, the food industry, has actively been looking for ways to help people achieve a healthy body weight and manage their weight and through their diets.
Both animal and the most recent human studies have provided a strong rationale to propose Beneo™ oligofructose supplements in the management of food and food intake. Following animal studies in 2005 it was found that through the administration of the company's oligofructose products, food intake and body weight were modulated in animals. To build on these findings, the company commissioned a human volunteer study to determine the effects of Beneo™ oligofructose on appetite and food intake in humans. The study found that oligofructose treatment increases satiety, reduces hunger, prospective food consumption and food intake.
Anne Franck, Executive Vice President of Science and Technology at ORAFTI, commented, “The increase of satiety by Beneo™ oligofructose offers an interesting approach to manage body weight and help tackle the obesity problem. BeneoTM oligofructose should allow food manufacturers to increase the satiety potential of their food products, thus helping consumers avoid overeating."
Symposium on fruit and vegetable intake to be held
8/04/2006-The upcoming 5th International Symposium on Fruit and Vegetable Intake will be held in Ottawa, Canada from October 15 to 17.
The 5th International Symposium, will create a forum for representatives from the health, education, government and business sectors worldwide to examine current activities promoting fruit and vegetable consumption and strengthen the global campaign for improved health for all.
IFAVA is an international non-profit and non-governmental organization. Responsible for encouraging and fostering efforts to increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables for health. The objective of IFAVA is to gather as many countries as possible to form a strong coalition that can stand united to increase fruit and vegetable consumption to address the potential reduction of a real health calamity on a national and global level.
For more information, see the IFAVA Web site.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
EU targets reducing Salmonella in poultry
8/01/2006-The EU’s European Commission has adopted two regulations aimed at reducing and controlling the prevalence of Salmonella in poultry and eggs across the EU. The first regulation lays down targets for the reduction of Salmonella in laying hens, which in turn should lead to less Salmonella contamination in eggs. Every Member State will have to work towards reducing the number of laying hens infected with Salmonella by a specific minimum percentage each year, with steeper targets for Member States with higher levels of Salmonella.
The first target deadline is set for 2008, although Member States will have to submit national control programs on Salmonella reduction in laying hens to the Commission by early 2007.
The second regulation adopted by the Commission sets out rules on the methods used to control Salmonella in poultry, including mandatory vaccination from 2008 onwards for laying hens in Member States with a Salmonella prevalence of 10% or more.
In addition to the two regulations adopted on Aug. 1, the Commission is also currently looking into the possibility of introducing a trade ban on eggs from Salmonella infected flocks as soon as possible. This is in light of the recent findings in the preliminary EFSA report on Salmonella levels in laying hens. A Commission proposal for certain trade restrictions has already been presented to Member States and the options will be discussed further with national food safety experts in the autumn. For more, see the EU Commission Press Release.
Cadbury Schweppes opens regional Technology Center
8/01/2006-Cadbury Schweppes Asia Pacific today opened its first Regional Science & Technology (S&T) Centre as part of its strategic plans to accelerate growth momentum in key emerging markets.
This new facility will be a centre of excellence for gums and candy (sugar confectionery) development, and will compliment the existing network of regional and global Cadbury Schweppes science and technology facilities.
Rajiv Wahi, President of Cadbury Schweppes Asia Pacific said that the new centre will focus on innovation to capture the growth potential of emerging markets in this region.
“Asia Pacific is a significant market for us. With a mix of developed and emerging market growth potential, the region will continue to deliver above average growth. In Asia Pacific, our investment in innovation will also be ramped up to open up new markets for us and increase our penetration in markets where we already have high value share.” Mr Wahi said.
The company’s focus on emerging markets is intense as they present tremendous opportunity for greater growth. The emerging markets of Asia1 demonstrated strong growth in the last year. The whole confectionery industry grew 8%, the candies category grew 7%, and the chewing gum category grew 10%. These are impressive numbers when compared with the average growth rate of barely 5% in developed markets.
The company’s growth rates are just as impressive. In 2005, Cadbury Schweppes Asia Pacific contributed 18% to Cadbury Schweppes group revenue. Mr Wahi commented, “We continue to drive towards lifting this share, in recognition of the enormous growth potential of this region.”
Investment in innovation is a key growth driver for Cadbury Schweppes. The company’s long and successful track record in innovation has contributed to its leadership in the global confectionery industry.
The S$4.3 million, 920 square-metre innovation centre in Jurong will house 10 global researchers who will focus their innovation on what will delight Asian consumers.
Each piece of great tasting candy or gum may take up to 70 ingredients to make. That translates to an enormous amount of technology, research and development going into every bite.
One recent example of great sugar innovation that will enhance the company’s market leadership and growth is Chocfuls. Chocfuls is a caramel candy with a hard shell and a soft chocolate centre, developed for the Indian market. The key innovation breakthrough behind this story is the successful creation of a superior, high quality product that is truly affordable – at S$0.04 cents per piece.
In the same vein, the new Regional S&T Centre will create breakthrough products that are of high quality and also highly affordable - ingredients for success in emerging markets. The Centre’s functions will be to: develop innovative products in the gums and candy categories that will strongly appeal to consumers; explore new and emerging technologies that will enhance innovation for the above categories; and network with other research organisations internally and externally around the world to leverage the latest developments in these categories.
FDA reopens comments on infant formula regulations
8/01/2006-The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reopening until Sept. 15, 2006 the comment period for the proposed rule published in the Federal Register of July 9, 1996 revising FDA's infant formula regulations in 21 CFR parts 106 and 107. FDA is reopening the comment period to receive comment only with respect to specific issues identified in this proposed rule. Submit written or electronic comments by September 15, 2006. For more information, Federal Register.
ADM has booming growth in fourth quarter
8/01/2006-Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. announced that its net income doubled during the fourth quarter. Net earnings for the quarter more than doubled to $410 million, or $ 0.62 per share, from $195 million or $0.30 per share last year. Segment operating profit for the quarter increased 82% to $637 million from $351 million last year. The company also announced plans to expand in areas of food, fuel, and industrial products. ADM announced in the fourth quarter the following operations: selection of Cedar Rapids, Iowa site for ethanol expansion; selection of Hazleton, Pennsylvania for a new cocoa plant; two agreements to market other producers’ ethanol; acquisition of Groupe Lysac, Inc., including biodegradable absorbent polymer technology; expansion of Hamburg, Germany oil refinery; and plans to build the first biodiesel plant in Brazil.
H5N1 virus might be hard to transmit
8/01/2006-A new study from researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests that it might be more difficult for the H5N1 avian-flu virus to start a human pandemic than originally feared. In research published in the latest issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers report that a simulation of one of two main paths the H5N1 virus could take to adapt itself to humans, such as mixing genes with a common human-flu virus, didn't create a lethal version that could jump from one human to another. They cautioned, however, that the avian flu virus could still evolve into a pandemic bug in other ways. As the researchers affirm, three things are necessary to cause a pandemic: 1) a new virus that has surface proteins that human beings don’t have antibodies to, and thus are susceptible to; 2) a virus that is capable of causing infection and disease, and 3) a virus that can move easily from one person to another. With H5N1, two of these three conditions are met. There is a new virus which humans don’t have immunity to, and, on a global scale, and we have a virus that has infected people and caused disease 231 times, and 133 of those people have died. But researchers have yet to see any evidence of efficient person-to-person transmission of the H5N1 virus. CDC scientists tried to determine if H5N1 could be readily transmitted from person to person. They took an H5N1 strain of virus and mixed through reverse genetics in the laboratory with strains from H3N2, which is the most common regular influenza virus circulating in the world today.
Their results indicate that simple combinations of genes from both parent viruses have not led to enhanced transmissibility in animal models.
For more, see the CDC press release.
Kashi launches first probiotic cereal
8/01/2006-The Kashi(R) Company has launched what it claims is the first probiotic digestive wellness cereal and the first shelf-stable probiotic food on the market: Kashi Vive(TM). According to the company's press release, the cereal is "the first and only nonperishable probiotic product of its kind to be specially formulated to balance, purify and strengthen the digestive system." "We are thrilled to introduce the very first shelf-stable probiotic product that aids the digestive system well beyond the traditional inclusion of fiber," says Sarah Lowrey, nutritionist for Kashi. "Digestive ailments, ranging from constipation to colon cancer, affect more than 70 million Americans. We recognized that nonperishable food products capable of promoting digestive health beyond just regularity were not available in the marketplace. We are confident that Kashi Vive cereal will meet the consumer demand for foods that not only taste great, but also provide short- and long-term digestive health benefits." Probiotics are good bacteria in food that help crowd out bad bacteria in the intestine, as well as provide health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Research shows that probiotics enhance nutrient absorption, aid digestion, and provide relief for digestive discomforts such as ulcers, IBS, and diarrhea. Kashi says the cereal will benefit the digestive system in three ways. First, Lactobacillus probiotics improve the balance of good and bad bacteria in the digestive system. The active probiotic cultures become live and active in the body and can thrive in the human intestine over an extended period of time. Kashi Vive cereal contains one billion probiotics per serving, which is comparable to common dietary supplements. In addition, ginger in the cereal eases and calms digestive ailments such as indigestion. Secondly, fiber and natural broccoli extracts in the cereal will act to purify the digestive tract and liver. Fiber helps to maintain regularity and flush harmful toxins from the intestines while broccoli extract supports the liver's role in detoxification and cleansing of the blood. And third, the cereal contains 20 percent of the daily recommended values for calcium and vitamin D. The cereal's "comprehensive blend of nutrients" has been shown to aid in the regeneration and strengthening of healthy intestinal cells, which are an important part of a well-functioning digestive system. "While the proven benefits of probiotics have already been embraced by many Asian and European countries, most American consumers have heard very little about the benefits of probiotics and, until now, have had access to only a handful of perishable dairy-based products containing live and active probiotic cultures," notes Lowrey. Kashi Vive cereal will be sold in 12-oz. boxes.
Kraft sells Minute Rice brand and assets
8/01/2006-Kraft Foods Inc., has agreed to sell its Minute Rice brand and assets to Ebro Puleva, S.A., a rice producer and distributor based in Spain, for approximately $280 million. The Minute Rice brand had net revenues of approximately $90 million in 2005. "Our decision to sell Minute Rice is part of a broader effort at Kraft to focus our portfolio," said Dave Johnson, president, Kraft North America Commercial. "While Minute Rice is a great brand, our focus is on businesses in which we believe we have a sustainable competitive advantage." The sale includes the Minute brand, as well as certain manufacturing equipment. The sale is expected to generate a one-time gain of $0.10 per share and ongoing dilution is expected to be $0.01 per share, neither of which was included in Kraft's July 24, 2006 earnings guidance. The gain will be recognized upon closing, which is subject to regulatory approval.
Timing of food consumption activates genes in brain
8/01/2006-Giving up your regular late-night snack may be hard, and not just because it's a routine. The habit may cause a genetic change in an area of the brain to expect food at that time, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center have discovered. By training mice to eat at a time when they normally wouldn't, the researchers found that food turns on body-clock genes in a particular area of the brain. Even when the food stopped coming, the genes continued to activate at the expected mealtime. "This might be an entrance to the whole mysterious arena of how metabolic conditions in an animal can synchronize themselves with a body clock," said Dr. Masashi Yanagisawa, professor of molecular genetics and senior author of the study. UT Southwestern researchers led by Dr. Masashi Yanagisawa (left), professor of molecular genetics and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator, and including S. Clay Williams, an HHMI research specialist, found in mice that food turns on body-clock genes in a particular area of the brain. Even when the food cycle was interrupted, the genes continued to activate at the expected mealtime. The UT Southwestern researchers report their findings in the Aug. 8 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. For more, see the UT Southwestern press release.