the latest in food science and technology news

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a Sept. 15, 2009 report to the leadership of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, titled “Food Safety: Agencies Need to Address Gaps in Enforcement and Collaboration to Enhance Safety of Imported Food.”

Imported food makes up a substantial and growing portion of the U.S. food supply. To ensure imported food safety, federal agencies must focus their resources on high risk foods and coordinate efforts. In this context, GAO was asked to (1) assess how Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) are addressing challenges in overseeing the safety of imported food; (2) assess how FDA leverages resources by working with other entities, such as state and foreign governments; and (3) determine how FDA is using its Predictive Risk-Based Evaluation for Dynamic Import Compliance Targeting (PREDICT) system to oversee imported food safety. GAO analyzed CBP, FDA, and FSIS procedures, reports, and regulations and interviewed agency officials and key stakeholders.

The GAO found that the CBP, FDA, and FSIS have taken steps to address challenges in ensuring the safety of the increasing volume of imported food. For example, CBP maintains the system that importers use to provide information to FDA on food shipments; FDA electronically reviews food imports and inspects some foreign food production facilities to prevent violative food from reaching U.S. shores; and FSIS employs an equivalency system that requires countries to demonstrate that their food safety systems provide the same level of protection as the U.S. system. However, gaps in enforcement and collaboration undermine these efforts. First, CBP’s computer system does not currently notify FDA or FSIS when imported food shipments arrive at U.S. ports, although efforts are underway to provide this information to FDA for air and truck shipments. This lack of communication may potentially increase the risk that unsafe food could enter U.S. commerce without FDA review, particularly at truck ports. Second, FDA has limited authority to ensure importers’ compliance with its regulations. Third, CBP and FDA do not identify importers with a unique number; as a result, FDA cannot always target food shipments originating from high risk importers. Finally, CBP faces challenges in managing in-bond shipments—those that move within the U.S. without formally entering U.S. commerce—and such shipments possibly could be diverted into commerce.

The GAO recommends, among other things, that FDA seek authority from the Congress to assess civil penalties on firms and persons who violate FDA laws, and that the FDA Commissioner explore ways to improve the agency’s ability to identify foreign firms with a unique identifier. CBP and FDA generally agreed with GAO’s recommendations. FSIS provided technical comments only.

GAO report (pdf)

According to Reuters, as obesity among adolescents continues to rise, a report from the Institute of Medicine, an arm of the National Academies, has proposed updating school meal programs to meet nutritional needs and foster better eating habits, but recognized healthier, fresher ingredients would boost costs, especially at breakfast where fruit servings would increase. It estimated the changes could increase the cost of breakfast by as much as 25% and lunch by 9%. Under the new guidelines, most school food providers would need more government money to help pay for food, training, and equipment, the report said.

The Institute of Medicine conducted the review of the country’s school breakfast and lunch programs at the request of the Agriculture Department, which runs them. School meal programs provide 40 million meals daily and more than half of students’ food and nutrient intake during the school day. Officials at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) are updating the nutrition and meal requirements used for school meals. The framework, last updated in 1995, sets food and nutrient standards that must be met by school programs to qualify for cash reimbursements and food from the government. It will review the recommendations and develop requirements for participating schools.

The new guidelines would do away with the current approach that sets a minimum number of calories per meal in favor of establishing a range. For the first time an upper limit would be in place, with lunches, for example, not to exceed 650 calories for students in up to 5th grade, 700 for grades 6–8, and 850 for grades 9–12. The report backed a gradual lowering of sodium levels during the next 10 years and said schools should ensure half or more of the grains and breads they provide contain 50% or more whole grains. In addition, it proposed serving more fruit, with no more than half it as juice, and favored more servings of vegetables with a focus on leafy greens and orange vegetables rather than starchy vegetables such as potatoes. To keep saturated fat low, only 1% or fat free milk could be served.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a statement the USDA is “engaged in a thorough review of the IOM recommendations” and will make changes to its school food programs based on its findings.

Reuters article

Institute of Medicine report

With a fundamental interest in public advocacy, the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) recently reported on the top 10 riskiest foods regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The 10 ‘featured’ foods, many popular and healthy staples of the American diet, according to the report, accounted for nearly 40% of all foodborne illness outbreaks from 1990 to 2006. CSPI’s list in descending order: leafy greens, eggs, tuna, oysters, potatoes, cheese, ice cream, tomatoes, sprouts, and berries. In the latest ePerspective post, Phil Lempert, Editor of The Lempert Report and SupermarketGuru.com, questions the effect the report will have on consumers’ buying behavior. In his opinion, CSPI’s data is very misleading and will cause undue concern among consumers. What do you think? Share your opinion today by visiting IFT’s ePerspective.

ePerspective

Peanut butter sales set record despite Salmonella outbreak

According to the Associated Press, food makers processed more peanuts over the past year than nearly any other time on record despite a national Salmonella outbreak blamed for killing nine people and scaring consumers away from peanut products for months. Peanut farmers who once feared $1 billion in losses are chalking up their good fortune to a bad economy that has more people reaching for peanut butter as an inexpensive lunch. Agriculture Department numbers back up the theory. Peanuts processed for snacks—items such as sandwich crackers that were heavily recalled during the outbreak—were slightly down for the accounting year ending July 31. But peanuts used for peanut butter set an all-time record at 1.1 billion lbs, topping the previous year's total by 100 million lbs.

That was enough to make the year's overall peanut production the third-highest in history, missing the top mark set in 2005 by just a fraction of 1%, with nearly 2 billion lbs being processed. Industry leaders would not have predicted this outcome earlier this year after a Salmonella outbreak linked to the Peanut Corp. of America was blamed for sickening hundreds of people and led to one of the largest product recalls in U.S. history.

AP article

Americans dish on ethnic fare

With an expanding ethnic population calling the U.S. home, a new Mintel report shows sales of ethnic foods have climbed steadily since 2004, set to reach a record high of $2.2 billion in 2009. In addition, Mintel forecasts solid growth of nearly 20% from 2010–14.

Mexican/Hispanic foods represent the largest segment of the ethnic foods market with nearly two-thirds (62%) of sales. In fact, Mexican food has become so mainstream, it is hardly considered ethnic anymore. Nearly six in 10 respondents say they have cooked Mexican food in the past month. However, it’s the Asian and Indian food segments that are driving the market’s growth, with 11% and 35% growth, respectively, from 2006–08.

“Since 2005, there are over one million foreigners becoming legal permanent residents in the U.S. each year,” said David Browne, Senior Analyst at Mintel. “This escalating group is influencing the American palate and piquing Americans’ interest in new cuisines.”

According to Mintel, income is one of the strongest predictors of ethnic food cooking. In fact, 92% of respondents with household incomes more than $150,000 have cooked ethnic food in the past month. Young adults are also among the most adventurous when it comes to global cuisines. Some 91% of respondents aged 18–24 have cooked ethnic food in the same timeframe.

In addition to the growing diverse population, a resurgence in cooking and product innovation is helping to drive sales. Due to the economic downturn, the growing popularity of cooking shows, and a rise in international travel, more Americans are classifying themselves as ‘cooking enthusiasts’ and are having fun with cooking and experimenting with new flavors and foods. According to Browne: “Food manufacturers are answering the call of these new cooking enthusiasts by providing home cooks with ethnic sauces and seasonings to add with their own meat and vegetables or taking it a step further with meal solutions and pre-made meal kits.”

Press release

Acrylamide exposure may not be strongly affected by gender, age, ethnicity

A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives shows that gender, age, and race/ethnicity do not strongly affect acrylamide exposure. Data on the extent of exposure to acrylamide and its primary metabolite glycidamide are needed to aid in the assessment of potential health effects. The aim of this study was to assess human exposure to acrylamide and glycidamide in the general U.S. population through the measurement of hemoglobin adducts of acrylamide (HbAA) and glycidamide (HbGA).

HbAA and HbGA were measured in 7,166 subjects from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Stratified HbAA and HbGA data were reported by sex, age groups, race/ethnicity, and smoking status. Covariate adjusted geometric means for each demographic group were calculated using multiple regression analysis.

The researchers found that exposure to acrylamide, as indicated by the presence of HbAA or HbGA, was detectable in over 99% of all NHANES participants, indicating that most of the U.S. population is exposed to this chemical. However, the levels of HbAA or HbGA were not profoundly different among several population subgroups but differed highly among individuals, suggesting individual exposures being mainly affected by factors other than age, gender, or race/ethnicity. In addition, the relationship of levels of HbAA to HbGA could be useful in studying factors related to the metabolic conversion of acrylamide to the more toxic glycidamide.

The HbAA levels in children were modestly higher than those in two older age groups, and the HbGA levels in children were higher than those in all four older age groups even after adjustment for body size, cotinine, and gender. The higher levels in children may be explained due to the known larger intakes of food per body mass in children, particularly acrylamide-rich foods, such as French fries and potato chips. In addition, children have the highest HbGA/HbAA ratios, while adults age 60+ years have the lowest ratios. Further investigations are needed to assess possible health effects associated with acrylamide exposure in children.

HbAA and HbGA levels (pmol/g Hb) ranged from 3–910 and 4–756, respectively, with smokers having the highest levels overall. Tobacco smoke exposure in nonsmokers had a small but significant effect on HbAA and HbGA levels. The observed differences in acrylamide exposure between race/ethnic groups with Mexican-Americans having the highest HbAA and HbGA levels, and non-Hispanic blacks having the lowest HbGA levels and HbGA/HbAA ratios in nonsmokers and smokers, have not been described before.

Study (pdf)

Green tea may lower depression in elderly

A study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows that green tea consumption may lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in the elderly. Green tea is reported to have various beneficial effects (e.g., anti-stress response and anti-inflammatory effects) on human health. The aim of this study was to investigate the relations between green tea consumption and depressive symptoms in elderly Japanese subjects who widely consumed green tea.

The researchers conducted a cross-sectional study in 1,058 community-dwelling elderly Japanese individuals aged 70+. Green tea consumption was assessed by using a self-administered questionnaire, and depressive symptoms were evaluated by using the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale with 2 cutoffs: 11 (mild and severe depressive symptoms) and 14 (severe depressive symptoms). If a participant was consuming antidepressants, he or she was considered to have depressive symptoms.

The prevalence of mild and severe and severe depressive symptoms was 34.1% and 20.2%, respectively. After adjustment for confounding factors, the odds ratios (95% CI) for mild and severe depressive symptoms when higher green tea consumption was compared with green tea consumption of ≤1 cup/day were as follows: 2–3 cups green tea/day (0.96; 95% CI: 0.66, 1.42) and ≥4 cups green tea/day (0.56; 95% CI: 0.39, 0.81) (P for trend: 0.001). Similar relations were also observed in the case of severe depressive symptoms.

The researchers concluded that a more frequent consumption of green tea was associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in the community-dwelling older population.

Abstract

New survey shows Canadian eating habits in trouble

Registered Dietitians from Dairy Farmers of Canada in collaboration with Dietitians of Canada has released the results of a national survey that revealed that many Canadian adults are not consuming the recommended number of daily servings of any of the four food groups. It was also surprising that, for each of the food groups, a significant number of people reported not consuming any of that food group on the day prior to the survey. Registered Dietitians are warning this trend may have serious consequences on the nutritional health of Canadians.

The data, collected by IPSOS Reid from more than 2,000 people across Canada in August 2009 was analyzed by Registered Dietitians to provide a snapshot of what Canadian adults are eating and drinking during a 24-hr period. The results showed that:

• Consumption of all four food groups is far below recommended levels;
• A significant number of Canadian adults had not consumed any milk and alternatives or any vegetables and fruit on the day prior to the survey;
• Many Canadian adults report they have barriers to healthy eating;
• A majority of Canadian adults are not aware of the many health benefits of milk and alternatives and vegetables and fruit including their role in reducing the risk of some cancers, hypertension, and other chronic diseases; and
• When made aware of these important health benefits, Canadians report they are motivated to increase their intake of foods from these food groups.

“In addition to encouraging Canadians to include the recommended number of servings of the four food groups from Canada’s Food Guide, health professionals might also need to focus more on the reasons why these foods are important,” said Mary Sue Waisman, Manager, Public Affairs Communications, Dietitians of Canada. “For example, most Canadians don't seem to know about the role milk products and vegetables and fruits play in controlling blood pressure or lowering the risk of some cancers. If they did, it might just help them to choose additional servings of these products more often.”

Press release

Hardy new corn lines resist aflatoxins

Six new inbred maize lines with resistance to aflatoxin contamination have now been registered in the U.S. by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS). ARS plant pathologist Robert Brown and colleague Abebe Menkir, with the Ibadan, Nigeria-based International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, developed the lines. Brown works at the Food and Feed Safety Research Unit in the ARS Southern Regional Research Center in New Orleans, La.

The new lines are resistant to aflatoxins, which are toxins produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus after it infects agricultural commodities such as corn. Contamination of corn with aflatoxins causes financial losses for growers and is a potential health hazard to animals and humans. Found in soil, on crops, and in air, A. flavus infects susceptible crops before harvest, so host resistance is a widely explored strategy to eliminate aflatoxins. The collaborators first screened and then combined the top aflatoxin-resistant lines found in the U.S. with those found in Central and West Africa.

Brown has also used a highly effective and rapid “kernel screening assay” to separate resistant seeds from non-resistant ones. The six lines have demonstrated good resistance against aflatoxin accumulation in the researchers’ laboratory and field tests. After being certified “disease-free” for public release, the germplasm can be used in public or private breeding programs to develop aflatoxin-resistant corn lines for growers both nationally and internationally.

Press release

Danisco, DuPont Qualicon strengthen natural food safety

Danisco and DuPont Qualicon have joined forces in the U.S. to enhance natural food safety and shelf life extension. Drawing on patented protective cultures from Danisco and award winning detection system from DuPont Qualicon, the companies are exploring a potential tool for the early and accurate prediction of shelf life in naturally protected dairy products. The principles for shelf life prediction were confirmed by an extensive joint study guided by Robert F. Roberts of Penn State University.

Using nearly 500 samples, the study found that Danisco’s HOLDBAC YM protective cultures gave fresh fermented dairy products significantly longer protection against yeast and mold than other solutions, even under challenging conditions. At the same time, the DuPont Qualicon BAX System PCR Assay for screening yeast and mold was seen to detect mold up to 14 days earlier than other standard methods. The use of both solutions makes it possible to prolong product life while maintaining an all-natural positioning.

“The joint expertise of Danisco and DuPont Qualicon is the perfect recipe for securing added customer value,” said David Charest, Food Protection Vice President at Danisco. “Our Care4U platform for natural food protection solutions and DuPont Qualicon’s rapid PCR-based detection goes beyond securing a longer shelf life. It is also about improving the image of our customers’ brands through reduced consumer complaints and broader consumer perceptions of enhanced quality.”

Press release

DSM presents Nutrition Award 2009 to Holick, Bischoff-Ferrari

Royal DSM N.V. has announced that the DSM Nutrition Award 2009 for research on
Human Nutrition has been granted jointly to Michael F. Holick of Boston University and Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari of the University of Zurich, in recognition of their seminal contributions to research on vitamin D and its role in human nutrition and health.

An international judging committee, chaired by Manfred Eggersdorfer, Senior Vice President R&D, DSM Nutritional Products, selected Holick and Bischoff-Ferrari from among several candidates shortlisted by an international pre-selection committee. The award—which carries a cash prize of €50,000 that the two winners will share—was presented by Eggersdorfer and Mauricio Adade, President Human Nutrition & Health, DSM Nutritional Products, at the International Congress of Nutrition 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand on Oct. 6.

Michael Holick is renowned worldwide for his lifetime contribution to the basic understanding of the formation of vitamin D in the skin, the regulation of vitamin D absorption in the gut, and the metabolism and activation of vitamin D by liver and kidney. He also established the evidence that most human populations have a limited capacity to form vitamin D by sun exposure, thus resulting in a critical need for an adequate supply of vitamin D by diet and dietary supplements.

Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari is recognized for her significant contributions on the effects of vitamin D in the field of population health and her demonstration of a widespread vitamin D deficiency, particularly in the elderly. Already at this early stage of her career she has demonstrated the critical role of vitamin D in assuring muscle strength and bone health to prevent falls and fractures, thus redefining the vitamin D and calcium requirements of this growing segment of the population.

Press release

U.S. Dairy Export Council names Hilmar Ingredients Exporter of the Year

By demonstrating leadership in driving global demand for U.S. dairy exports, Hilmar Ingredients was recently named 2009 Exporter of the Year by the U.S. Dairy Export Council. Hilmar Ingredients has demonstrated on-going export sales success; a leadership role in driving global dairy demand; providing high-quality U.S.-produced products that fulfill worldwide trends; and a commitment to customer service and long-term investment in international markets. Today, Hilmar Ingredients’ whey protein and lactose products are exported to more than 40 countries across all continents.

A key to Hilmar Ingredients export success can be attributed to the company focus on customer service and customization. “That is something we do every day,” said Kevin Vogt, Vice President and General Manager of Hilmar Ingredients. “We have a strong interest in global business opportunities.” Although the domestic market remains the core business, exports are a significant contributor to the success of the organization as a whole and an integral component to Hilmar Ingredients overall growth. “We have logistical advantages to export markets because of our manufacturing locations in California and Texas. And we’ve gained a lot of experience over the years,” said Tony Pallios, Director of Sales.

Hilmar Ingredients

Cognis receives novel food approval for Tonalin CLA in China

Cognis Nutrition & Health has announced that the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China now recognizes Tonalin CLA as an approved Novel Food ingredient for use in dietary supplements and a broad range of foods and beverages. The Chinese government granted approval only for CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) that meets the high quality standards established by Cognis in its submission to the Ministry. Approval applies to both supplements and foods because both are regulated under the food category in China. The approved serving amount is up to 6 g a day of CLA. The Novel Food approval stipulates that CLA ingredients that do not meet the specifications established by Cognis cannot be sold or used in China.

“The fact that the Chinese government adopted our stringent specifications as the standard demonstrates their commitment to food safety and quality control,” said David Cai, Research Manager and Principal Scientist, Cognis Nutrition & Health, North America and Asia. “Cognis has certainly set the bar extremely high in China and this Novel Foods approval serves as further affirmation that Tonalin CLA is synonymous with high quality.”

Novel Food approval in China is similar to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration GRAS process. It is designed to evaluate if the new ingredient is safe to be used in supplements and foods. The evaluation is conducted by government-appointed experts from toxicology, nutrition, life science, food science, and related disciplines. In July 2008, Cognis achieved the FDA GRAS status for Tonalin CLA. Cognis also applied for Novel Food approval in Europe and expects to gain Novel Food approval there in 2010.

Press release

ConAgra to cut sodium levels

ConAgra Foods Inc. has announced its pledge to reduce salt across its portfolio of food products by 20% by 2015. Since 2006, the company has already removed more than 2 million lbs of salt from its products. Today’s pledge adds 8 million lbs of salt to the equation, with the company ultimately removing 10 million lbs of salt from American diets each year.

“Sodium reduction is part of our ongoing work to make food more nutritious,” said Gary Rodkin, ConAgra Foods CEO. “Americans need less salt in their diets, and they want less salt in their diets. We have the capability to meet consumer wants and needs—food people love not only because it tastes good, but also because it’s better for them.”

The scope of the ConAgra Foods’ salt reduction is broad and diverse, including as many as 20 brands, 160 product varieties (formulas), and all temperature categories in the supermarket. “ConAgra Foods has the ability to make an impact on sodium in a very broad way,” said Al Bolles, Ph.D., executive vice president, Research, Quality & Innovation, ConAgra Foods. “What that means is that we’ll need to use different techniques to keep or enhance the taste of all types of food in our portfolio, from Hunt’s tomatoes to Marie Callender’s convenient meals to Fleischmann’s table spreads. This is a definite challenge—but one that is very worthwhile and one we are confident that we can meet.”

The company will track its work in sodium reduction and make it publicly available each year through the ConAgra Foods Corporate Social Responsibility report, published at conagrafoods.com.

Press release

Scalzo promoted to Dean Foods Chief Operating Officer

Dean Foods has announced the promotion of Joseph Scalzo to the new position of Dean Foods Chief Operating Officer, effective Nov. 1. Scalzo is currently President and CEO of Dean Foods’ WhiteWave-Morningstar group. In his new role, Scalzo, 51, will oversee all of Dean Foods operating businesses, including Fresh Dairy Direct, WhiteWave, Morningstar, and Alpro, as well as key strategic functions including Worldwide Supply Chain, R&D, and Innovation.

“The appointment of Joe Scalzo as our Chief Operating Officer continues the company’s evolution from its roots as a consolidator to a best-in-class food and beverage company,” said Gregg Engles, Chairman of the Board and CEO. “Joe is an exceptional operator, whose level-headed financial discipline and collaborative leadership will be invaluable in building Dean Foods into a leading food and beverage company.”

With Scalzo’s promotion, Blaine McPeak, 43, President of Horizon and Silk is being promoted to President, WhiteWave Foods in Broomfield, Co. Blaine will lead Horizon, Silk Soymilk, International Delight, and Land O’Lakes cultured and liquid dairy products. This includes overseeing all functions, including marketing, research and development, supply chain, finance, and sales.

Press release

Extra credit reading

Private label Halloween candy sales frightful
While consumers are embracing private label brands in most categories, Halloween candy isn’t one of them. During the year, store brands make up an 8.1% share of candy sales, but in the weeks leading up to and including Halloween, the store brand average dips to 5.6%, per Nielsen.

Buca di Beppo serves free pasta to celebrate World Pasta Day
October 26 is official World Pasta Day and to mark the special occasion Buca di Beppo, the family-style Italian restaurant, is serving up a pasta promotion. On that day, all guests who purchase a Buca Small or Buca Large pasta or entree will receive a free serving of Spaghetti with your choice of meat sauce or marinara, plus guests will also receive a 16-oz package of Rummo-brand Italian pasta to take home and prepare at their leisure.

Jelly Belly launches gag gift candy site
Introducing gag gifts that will actually gag the recipient can be customized with your own message at MyBeanBoozled.com, a new site from Jelly Belly Candy Company. Personalized gifts of gruesome Jelly Belly BeanBoozled flavors will delight fans of the weird and wild in flavors of Canned Dog Food, Skunk Spray, Baby Wipes, and seven more wild jelly bean flavors to choose from.

McDonald’s on the rise in India
McDonald’s is expanding in India, adding 120 restaurants during the next three years. There is no beef or pork on the menu. Instead, McDonald’s offers vegetarian and chicken dishes, such as the mashed-potato sandwich, which costs 50 cents.

Senators propose country of origin labeling for dairy products

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Chair of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Food, Nutrition, and Family Farms, joined U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) and U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) to introduce the Dairy Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Act, S. 1783, which would extend mandatory country of origin labeling to dairy products.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) current COOL law went into effect requiring country of origin labeling of meats, produce, and nuts. The Dairy COOL Act would retain the exemption for processed foods, but require COOL labeling for dairy products including milk, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, and butter.

“This legislation will help American dairy farmers stand out in a crowded marketplace,” Franken said. “They need every tool at their disposal to weather the current dairy crisis. And this isn’t just about helping our farmers. When Minnesota families fill their shopping carts, they have the right to know what country their milk and cheese came from.”

The Washington DC-based International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) has said that introducing the labeling system for dairy products would reduce demand for dairy and cause US manufacturers to use more non-dairy ingredients.

“This legislation is misguided, because it would do nothing to help America’s dairy farmers,” said Jerry Slominski, IDFA Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs and Economic Policy. “Imposing additional labeling mandates on dairy products, which are not imposed on other processed foods, will reduce demand for dairy products and encourage food manufacturers to substitute vegetable-based or other protein ingredients instead of dairy ingredients.”

The National Milk Producers Federation also expressed opposition to the proposed legislation, pointing to ongoing industry and trade challenges stemming from current COOL requirements for meats.

Brown press release

IDFA press release

S. 1783

Food safety legislation update

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the “Food Safety Enhancement Act of 2009” on July 30, 2009. This bill, HR 2749, was sponsored by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chairman Emeritus John Dingell (D-MI), and other Democrats on the Committee, and it had strong bipartisan support.

U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Judd Gregg (R-NH) have also drafted food safety legislation titled the “FDA Food Safety Modernization Act” that will be considered by the Senate in late 2009 or early 2010. The draft bill, S. 510, also has bi-partisan support and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP) is expected to focus on passing food safety legislation after Congress has successfully passed legislation related to healthcare reform. The Senate must reconcile the House bill with their food safety legislation, and then vote to pass the bill. If passed, the President will then sign the bill into law.

What does this potential legislation mean for the food industry? The leading House and Senate bills have many similarities, including:

• All food facilities must develop and implement written preventive control plans;
• All food facilities must register with FDA and update their registration information regularly;
• FDA will accredit third-party agents to certify food facilities’ compliance with regulations and food safety tests may only be conducted by Federal laboratories or accredited non-Federal laboratories; and,
• FDA will have new enforcement authorities such as mandatory recall and records access.

However, there are many areas in the House and Senate’s leading bills that must be reconciled, which include:

• Food traceability requirements
• Recordkeeping requirements
• Mandatory reporting requirements
• Importer requirements
• Records access authority
• Fees on industry

There is still a long road ahead before food safety legislation is passed, but it’s not too early to start thinking about potential ramifications for the food industry and for your business, in particular. Consideration of USDA-related food safety legislation in Congress is not expected before early 2010.

HR 2749

S. 510

U.S. catfish industry urges USDA to ensure safety of imported catfish

The Catfish Farmers of America has launched an advertising and public safety awareness campaign urging the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) to enact a Congressionally approved law requiring all imported catfish to meet the same stringent health and safety standards as imported beef, poultry, and pork.

“We’ve launched this campaign because of the urgency of this health and safety issue,” said Joey Lowery, President of the Catfish Farmers of America. “We need Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to enact this law now. Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our families. U.S. catfish farmers fully support the toughest and widest-ranging regulations and inspections that will protect American consumers when it comes to catfish—both imported and domestic.”

The Catfish Farmers of America advertising campaign is targeting D.C.-based decision makers and opinion leaders. While the USDA currently inspects and ensures the safety of all meat and poultry products sold in the U.S., it does not inspect seafood. The inspection of seafood is conducted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Last year, 5.2 billion lbs of seafood were imported into the U.S. from foreign countries. However, the FDA inspected only 2% of all imported seafood, including catfish, according to the Government Accountability Office.

The Catfish Farmers of America started its “All Catfish Should Be Treated Equally” campaign this week because the administration has reached a critical point in the decision-making process for enacting the law. The U.S. Congress, responding to evidence of serious problems with the quality of imported catfish, voted to move catfish inspections and regulation from the FDA to USDA as part of the 2008 Farm Bill. USDA Secretary Vilsack, who has made food safety one of his top priorities, is now considering whether to require that all imported catfish meet USDA standards, or to include only Chinese “channel” catfish which are grown from young U.S. catfish stock.

Press release

Health Canada updates industry guide to include probiotics

Health Canada released its guidance document The Use of Probiotic Microorganisms in Food on April 22. This document provides guidance on the use of health claims for probiotics, as well as guidance on the safety, quality (stability), and labeling requirements for foods containing probiotic microorganisms. To assist industry in the application of this guidance document, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has updated Chapter 8, Health Claims, in the Guide to Food Labeling and Advertising to reflect Health Canada’s new guidance on probiotics. The updated Guide also includes a list of probiotic claims that are considered acceptable on food, without the need for further substantiation by the manufacturer or importer, along with conditions for their use.

It is the responsibility of all manufacturers and importers to ensure that their products comply with all relevant Canadian legislation. Labels, advertisements, and Web sites are expected to be in compliance with this new guidance on probiotics within six months—by May 2010. Products that do not meet the requirements at that time may be subject to enforcement action by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. However, immediate correction is expected in the case of food products containing probiotics that are represented for therapeutic use (i.e., carrying drug claims) of the label, advertisement, or Web site, wherever such a claim appears.

Information letter

Guidance document

Chapter 8, Health Claims

IFT conducts its biennial Employment & Salary Survey

Last week, IFT sent an email to current members and professional members in the U.S. to participate and answer the questions in the 2009 IFT Employment & Salary Survey. The survey is conducted via the Internet and should take less than 10 minutes to complete. Although the link to the survey in the email is personalized, all returns will be tabulated by an outside data processing firm, and the results will be kept confidential and not linked to individuals. Please complete the questionnaire as soon as possible; the deadline is Nov. 13, 2009. The survey results will be published in the February 2010 issue of Food Technology magazine.

Call for nominations: Achievement Awards, Marcel Loncin Research Prize, IFT Fellow

Through its awards program, IFT honors the many ways the food science and technology field makes a real difference. IFT is now accepting nominations for the 2010 award year for Achievement Awards, the Marcel Loncin Research Prize, and IFT Fellow.

Achievement Awards recognize individuals and teams for remarkable contributions in research, applications, and service and are designed for our colleagues in industry, academia, and government. The Marcel Loncin Research Prize honors and provides research funding to an IFT member or non-member scientist or engineer conducting basic chemistry/physics/engineering research applied to food processing and improvement of food quality. Election as an IFT Fellow is a unique professional distinction conferred for outstanding and extraordinary contributions in the field of food science and technology.

Deadline to submit an Achievement Award or Marcel Loncin Research Prize nomination is Dec. 1, 2009. Deadline for Fellow nominations is Feb. 1, 2010.

Submit a nomination for a deserving colleague today! For further information and a complete listing of IFT awards, visit www.ift.org/awards.

Three weeks left to submit session proposals for 2010 Scientific Program

Is this the year you accept IFT’s invitation to help shape the IFT Annual Meeting Scientific Program? With the submission process recently streamlined, a preliminary session proposal is all that is needed from you at this time, and if your proposal is tentatively accepted, you’ll be asked to provide details, including speaker information, at a later date.

Be an integral part of the information and sound science that the Scientific Program is known for. Submit your session proposal, technical research paper, or new products and technologies (NPT) abstract and help shape the Scientific Program at the 2010 IFT Annual Meeting. NPT abstracts are open to technology or performance innovations that were introduced between January 2008 and January 2010.

Submission Deadlines:
Session Proposals—Nov. 13, 2009, 4:00 p.m. CST
Technical Research Papers/Abstracts—Dec. 15, 2009, 4:00 p.m. CST
New Products & Technologies Abstracts—Jan. 12, 2010, 4:00 p.m. CST

Guidelines that describe IFT’s Scientific Program topic framework are posted at am-fe.ift.org. For more information, contact the Knowledge & Learning team at 312-782-8424.

Wellness 10 to address healthy functional foods market

Wellness 10
March 24–25, 2010
InterContinental Chicago O'Hare
Rosemont, Ill.

With between $20 billion and $30 billion in sales a year*, functional foods comprise about 5% of the overall U.S. food market and represent 35–50% of global sales. This sector is expected to continue to attract further financial investment, as consumers have an appetite for foods that may bolster natural defenses.

Wellness 10, powered by Food Technology magazine, is targeted to meet the needs of food scientists and product developers who want to leverage or penetrate this market. Conference presenters will share their perspectives so that you can gain practical applications that can help shape your next product.

For more information, visit ift.org/wellness.

IFT webcast to clarify what consumers look for on labels

What is Clean Labeling?
Oct. 28, 2009
12:00 –1:00 p.m. CST

Do you need to keep abreast of labeling regulations? Does your job require you to understand the legal requirements surrounding clean labeling, and anticipate consumer trends that impact what goes on the label?

If you answered “yes” to either question, you'll want to register for this relevant webcast that will help you to identify which terms and statements consumers look for on product labels, including “natural,” “organic,” and “free-of.” You'll benefit from the solutions offered on how to face challenges in writing ingredient statements, as well as making appropriate label declarations.

Our presenters, registered dietitian Susan Borra and Gary Dunlap of Edelman Public Relations, as well as Sarah Taylor Roller of Kelley, Drye & Warren, will clarify which ingredients must be declared on product labels, and offer solutions to the challenges that companies face concerning proprietary information. Specific case studies will also be presented to help you identify and understand current labeling regulations and legal requirements.

For more information, and to register, visit ift.org/knowledge. When registering, please enter this code: 1009EM1734

Online course focuses on incorporation of food safety in product development

It’s unlikely that food safety will disappear as a public health issue. That’s why from the initial concept stage to the final product, food manufacturers must be aware of quality assurance systems such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) to prevent product contamination.

The online course, “Incorporating Food Safety in Product Development,” will cover:

• Current food safety regulations
• Consumer concerns about food safety
• Process controls about food safety risks
• Lessons learned from product development case studies
• How to incorporate food safety within product development activities to include HACCP

Course faculty Ruth L. Petran of Ecolab, Inc; James S. Dickson of Iowa State University; Anne Sherod of The Schwan Food Co.; and Michelle Barry of The Hartman Group will present tools and techniques on ways in which to incorporate food safety throughout the entire product development process. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the key issues and considerations involved with HACCP quality management systems, as well as other programs.

For more information, visit ift.org/knowledge. When registering, please enter this code: 1009EM1735

http://www.ift.org/