Top Stories
Study predicts all U.S. adults overweight in 40 years
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A government-funded study projects that if current trends continue, 40 years from now every adult in the United States could be overweight.
The findings, published in the journal Obesity, show that already, two-thirds of the population is overweight. By analyzing government and survey data collected from the 1970s to 2004, researchers predict 86 percent of American adults will be overweight by 2030, with an obesity rate of 51 percent. By 2048, all U.S. adults could be considered mildly overweight.
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Reuters Article |
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Food recycling program highlights waste
An Irish initiative to recycle kitchen scraps in Belfast shows that households are wasting about 4kg of food every week.
The program collected more than 40 tons of food waste from 7,000 homes. People were allowed to recycle food leftovers such as meat and fish, dairy products, fruit and vegetables, bread, rice and beans, and tea and coffee grounds. While it helped the city achieve its highest recycling rates ever, it also raised concern about how much food gets thrown out without being consumed.
BBC Article
Research Briefs
Research shows organic may not be more nutritious
A new study published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture found no difference between organically and conventionally grown fruits and vegetables.
The study, which compared produce grown three different ways, “does not support the belief that organically grown foodstuffs generally contain more major and trace elements.” Researchers found no evident trend towards differences in element content of food or diets in rats due to the use of different cultivation systems, and differences between harvest years exceeded those seen between cultivation methods.
Journal Abstract
Broccoli could reverse diabetes damage
Researchers in the United Kingdom have found that eating broccoli can increase enzymes that protect heart blood vessels.
The compound sulforaphane, found in broccoli, was shown to be beneficial to heart health, helping to counter the damage of vascular disease caused by diabetes.
The study, conducted at the University of Warwick, appears in the August issue of the journal Diabetes.
Abstract
Survey: Consumers view eating a risk
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration released the results of their 2006 consumer telephone survey. The random survey asked 4,539 English- or Spanish-speaking adults questions relating to food safety, including food-handling habits, perceptions regarding foodborne illness risks, food allergies, and food consumption habits.
Results showed that consumers believe eating at a restaurant puts them at more risk of contracting foodborne illness than eating at home. When asked how common is it for people to get food poisoning from restaurant food, 56 percent said it was more common than from food prepared at home, and 28 percent said it was about the same.
When asked their perceptions on food contamination by microorganisms, 31 percent considered it a serious food safety problem, while 57 percent thought it was somewhat of a food safety problem.
Perceptions of the dangers related to raw foods varied. Sixty-three percent of respondents considered it very likely that raw chicken could make them sick, but only 38 percent thought the same of raw beef. Thirty-four percent said they believe it’s very likely that raw eggs could make them sick. For fruits and vegetables, 43 percent said they were not at all likely to get sick from raw fruits and 41 percent said the same about vegetables.
The message about the importance of hand washing is getting through. Seventy-five percent said they always wash their hands with soap before they prepare food, and 19 percent said they did it most of the time.
Survey Results
Food industry future looks “negative”
With commodities prices expected to rise in 2009, Moody’s Investors Service projected a negative financial outlook for the food industry.
The firm believes the increasing commodities prices will cause profit margins to continue to contract. This is expected to be particularly difficult for meat producers and other areas of the industry where passing on costs to consumers is limited according to pricing power.
For more information, visit Moody’s.
Study shows hemp food products do not cause intoxication
New research finds that food and cosmetic products made from hemp do not contain levels high enough to intoxicate or cause failed drug tests.
The study, published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology, is part of a U.S. military initiative to investigate the claims by military personnel who fail marijuana drug tests that they came in contact with Tetra Hydrocannabinol (THC) by ingesting legal hemp products. The vast majority of the tests did not detect any THC, the main psychoactive compound present in marijuana, in hemp food products.
The tests also indicated that THC levels in currently marketed hemp products are significantly lower than in those products available before 2003 and reported in previous studies.
Journal Abstract
Company News
Mary Wagner joins Mars Botanical
Mars Botanical appointed Mary Wagner its general manager and chief technology officer.
In her new position, Wagner will be responsible for managing the Mars Botanical business, including developing a supply chain for high cocoa flavanol cocoa beans, as well as oversight for portions of the Mars, Inc. global cocoa flavanol research and development portfolio. “The opportunity to work on this leading-edge science, bringing some of these learning’s to fruition for consumers while drawing on my previous flavanol experience, is what really energized me about this opportunity,” said Wagner.
Wagner previously served as chief technology and quality officer at E & J Gallo Winery in Modesto, Calif. With more than 25 years of food industry experience in research and development, product innovation, and quality assurance, she is an exciting new addition to the company, said Richard Ware, corporate vice president of technology at Mars, Inc.
“Mary is a well-respected leader in the industry,” he said. “Her broad-based experience, including leadership stints with the Institute of Food Technologists and the National Wine and Grape Initiative, will add significant depth to the work being done by Mars, Incorporated on behalf of consumers.”
Prior to Gallo, Wagner spent four years as chief technology and quality officer at Taco Bell Corp. She has also held positions in research and development management for Gorton’s, General Mills, and Unilever.
Mars Botanical is based in Rockville, M.D.
http://www.marsbotanical.com/.
FTC to hold hearings on Whole Foods--Wild Oats Merger
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission will hold full administrative hearings on the 2007 merger between Whole Foods Markets Inc. and Wild Oats Markets Inc.
Fearing the merger will inhibit competition in the natural and organic products industry, the commission launched an antitrust challenge to the $565 million deal. A federal appeals court upheld the challenge.
Wall Street Journal Article
Minnesota companies take on food trends
As more food companies focus on creating new products and devising innovative approaches to old ones, Minnesota is becoming a center of change.
A recent feature by the Pioneer Press highlights the increasing influence of Minnesota companies within the food industry. Ted Labuza, a food-science professor at the University of Minnesota, said the companies are focusing on these top trends: food safety, foods that improve health, and foods that fight obesity.
Among the leaders in food safety, Labuza cited Hormel Foods’ use of ultra-high pressure for meat pasteurization. “We're talking about pressure that would crush a submarine,” he said. The process kills the pathogens while maintaining the integrity of the meat.
On the healthy foods front, Cargill is working with stanol esters, natural compounds that keep cholesterol from being absorbed by the body. “At least 50 clinical studies have shown that using it can reduce your cholesterol 15 to 25 percent,” said Labuza, who speaks from personal experience. “I can testify to that, because it really worked.”
Labuza said Cargill is also one of “about 18 different companies that came up with new and novel ways to make fats without trans fats in them.”
Article
CAST Publications offers free books in bulk
The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) is offering several of its earlier publications (in boxed quantities of 45 to 400+ copies per box) for free (exlcluding a small shipping fee). Each publication will be distributed in full-box quantities only.
Surplus titles include:
- Food Fats and Health
- Grazing on Public Lands
- Water Quality: Agriculture’s Role
- Naturally Occurring Antimicrobials in Food
- Contribution of Animal Products to Healthful Diets
- Preparing U.S. Agriculture for Global Climate Change
A complete list of available publications is available at http://www.cast-science.org/.
Extra Credit Reading
A Royal slap
The Prince of Wales spoke out about his belief that growing genetically modified crops could lead to a global environmental disaster.
I can haz rats?
An Indian official believes the key to solving the crisis of rising food prices is by eating rats.
Gold-medal food
Olympic athletes and attendees have wide variety of options when it comes to food in Beijing.
Food pantries feel food crisis pinch
One Chicago-area food pantry talks about current difficulties in providing food to those in need.
Even faster food
New software allows fast food chains like Burger King to serve food up to five seconds quicker than before.
Regulatory News
Three meat companies announce beef recalls
Fears of possible Escherichia coli O157:H7 contamination has led two companies in California and one in Nebraska to recall beef products.
Renna's Meat Market, Fresno, Calif., recalled approximately 780 pounds of various sizes of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The products, which bear the establishment number “EST. 27365” inside the USDA mark of inspection, were distributed to several restaurants and were available for direct purchase to consumers at retail establishments in the Fresno area between Aug. 5, 2008, and Aug. 9, 2008.
Nebraska Beef Ltd., Omaha, Neb., recalled approximately 1.2 million pounds of primal cuts, subprimal cuts and boxed beef produced on June 17, June 24, and July 8, 2008. The shipping containers and product labels bear the establishment number “EST. 19336” inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as the brand “Coleman Natural.” Since the products were sent to establishments and retail stores nationwide for further processing, the products available for consumer purchase may not show the establishment number.
S&S Foods LLC, Azusa, Calif., recalled approximately 153,630 pounds of frozen ground beef products packaged in 30-pound boxes marked “742798 MFST, 100% GROUND BEEF BULK, 80/20, 1LB. BRICK.” The products bear the establishment number “EST. 20375” inside the USDA mark of inspection with a case code beginning “06238” printed on the side of the box. This product was intended for food service and institutional use and not for direct retail purchase.
For more information, view the FSIS releases at:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_031_2008_Release/index.asp
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_029_2008_Release/index.asp
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_027_2008_Release/index.asp
USDA releases latest food and agriculture statistics
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service published its most recent statistical indicators in Agricultural Outlook magazine.
The tables include data on individual commodities, the general economy, agricultural trade, farm income and expenses, farm prices, food prices and expenditures, and other statistical indicators of the food and agriculture system.
All the tables are posted at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/Agoutlook/AOTables/
IFT & Meeting News
IFT Comments on FDA’s Food Protection Plan
On July 31, IFT submitted comments on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Protection Plan. The comments were developed through a working group of several members.
The comments made a number of recommendations, addressing corporate responsibility for food safety management; HACCP and HACCP prerequisite programs; outreach and education on implementation of food safety management systems; collaboration with other agencies, academia and industry; country-specific information on food safety programs; scientifically-based third party audits; further development of international food safety programs; food defense along with food safety, as integral and integrated components of food protection; among other topics.
Download Comments (pdf)
IFT Joins USP
IFT became a member of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Convention for the period of 2005 - 2010. The convention forum is held once every five years. USP is an official public standards setting authority for all prescription and over–the–counter medicines and other health care products manufactured or sold in the United States. USP also sets widely recognized standards for dietary supplements and food ingredients, which are published in the widely recognized Food Chemical Codex (FCC) reference. USP's standards are recognized and used in more than 130 countries around the globe.
For more information visit http://www.usp.org/aboutUSP/.
Only 2 days left to submit proposals for Wellness 09
Wellness 09 - At the Forefront of Food and Health
March 25-26, 2009
Chicago, Illinois
Don't miss your chance to help shape the content for this conference, identify new marketplace opportunities, and share best practices at this unique event designed for anyone involved in developing healthful food products. IFT invites you to submit a proposal and contribute to the exchange of information at Wellness 09. The deadline for submissions is Friday, August 15, 2008, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time.
Designed for R&D professionals, brand and marketing managers, new business developers, purchasing directors, regulatory managers and consultants, this event will help attendees explore "track" areas related to these consumer needs: Consumer Lifestyles & Demographics, Health Issues, Optimization & Performance. As more and more Americans amend their diets to improve health, food industry professionals must keep current with the issues and new technologies that are shaping the landscape of the wellness marketplace. For more information visit, ift.org/ftpc.
Webcast topics borrow from headlines
Register for webcasts to keep current and leverage End-of-Summer discount.
Minimally Processed Foods and Their Safety
August 25, 2008, 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. CST
While minimally processed foods satisfy the increasing market demands for foods with fewer preservatives, higher nutritive value, and fresh sensory attributes, there is a greater food safety risk if they are improperly handled. This webcast explores innovative preventative solutions to food-borne diseases from the perspectives of the producer, the handler, the consumer, the food preparer, and the food researcher.
Are you up-to-date on the safety of minimally processed foods and the challenges that organizations face in producing them? Take this opportunity to hear what the experts are saying about what's driving demand for these products.
Section 912: Potential Threat to Food Innovation
September 24, 2008, - 12:00 - 1:30 pm., CST
Is Section 912 a potential threat to food innovation? Tucked into a law recently passed by Congress is a little known prohibition that represents a shift in the dividing line between foods and drugs, and threatens to present significant hurdles for anyone involved in product development. This webcast will offer you a detailed introduction to the Section 912 prohibition, opportunities to consider the issues that it raises, and insights on how to incorporate a Section 912 analysis into product development planning.
The provision, known as Section 912, is now in effect and prohibits the addition to a food of an approved drug. It also prohibits the addition of a drug for which substantial clinical trials have been executed and made public.
Visit ift.org/knowledge for more information on these webcasts as well as end-of-summer discounted pricing!
When registering, please enter this code 0808EM1239.
Education survey now live and ready for your input
Won't you share your thoughts about IFT courses, webcasts and events with us so that we can offer educational programming that continues to meet your needs? Complete a short online survey by Friday, August 20 at 12:00 p.m. Central Time. Your input is of course kept confidential, but if you opt to share your name with us, we'll enter you in a raffle to win free or discounted registration to Wellness 09 ($995 value), a live webcast of your choice ($195 value), a short course ($365 value), or another educational offering. Winners will be announced by August 31, 2008 in this newsletter. |