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Natural Sweeteners Registering More On Moms’ Radar As Alternative To Sugar

January 14, 2010: 09:31 PM EST

Most mothers who do the basic food shopping for their families still choose sugar as the added sweetener for the home, but they’re not entirely happy about it, according to a consumer survey jointly conducted by a marketing consultancy and the maker of the stevia-based sweetener Reb-A. As many as 85 per cent of moms worry about how much sugar is consumed by their families, thanks to the obesity epidemic, but about the same number have doubts about non-natural alternative sweeteners. Not unexpectedly, Reb-A maker PureCircle says natural sweeteners like stevia are beginning to captures moms’ attention.

Joysa Winter, "Pure Circle survey shows moms have conflicted feelings about sugar", Functional Ingredients Magazine, January 14, 2010, © Penton Media, Inc.

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Research Firm Urges More Lower-Sodium Foods, Greater Sodium Content Awareness

January 14, 2010: 11:19 PM EST

Consumers are apparently both confused and concerned about what levels of sodium are acceptable in foods and beverages, a U.S. study has found. Though 65 percent express some concern about sodium intake, four out five do not know that the recommended daily intake of sodium is1500-2400mg. The study, by HealthFocus International (HFI), said food manufacturers need to provide “better options” to consumers looking for lower-sodium foods, and consumers need to boost their knowledge of what levels of sodium content are acceptable. Home cooking is not the problem, the study said. “It is very difficult … if you consume processed foods.”

Press Release, HealthFocus International, "HealthFocus® Study Reveals Information Gap Regarding Sodium Intake", Business Wire, January 14, 2010, © Business Wire

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DOJ Probe Of Monsanto’s Genetically Engineered Soybean Business Continues

January 14, 2010: 03:38 AM EST

Continuing its probe of Monsanto’s soybean business, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a civil investigative demand (CID) requesting information from Monsanto on its soybean traits business, primarily seeking a confirmation that farmers and seed companies will have access to the first-generation Roundup Ready genetic trait following patent expiry in 2014. The company, which said it is cooperating with DOJ, recently confirmed that Roundup Ready soybeans would remain available after patent expiry so that the soybean market is not disrupted. Farmers use Roundup Ready soybeans because they contain a gene that makes them immune to the herbicide Roundup.

"Monsanto Announces Continued Cooperation With the U.S. Department of Justice", Monsanto, January 14, 2010, © Monsanto Company

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Proposed Codex Standards Cover Infant Formula, Functional Food Ingredients

January 13, 2010: 08:26 PM EST

The U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention has proposed new voluntary standards for ensuring the quality and safety of several ingredients in infant formulas and various functional foods. If finalized after a 90-day comment period, the standards will be included in the Food Chemicals Codex, a collection of food ingredient criteria that guarantee products are free of harmful contaminants, consistent from batch to batch, etc. The proposed standards are for three nucleotides, present in breast milk and commonly added to infant formula, and two docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) oils, essential fish-derived omega 3 fatty acids often added to infant formula and functional foods.

Francine Pierson, "New Standards Enhance Quality And Safety Of Infant Formulas, Functional Foods", Medical News Today, January 13, 2010, © MediLexicon International Ltd

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Gerber’s New Ad Campaign Features Company’s Entire Product Line

January 14, 2010: 10:08 AM EST

A new ad campaign dubbed “The Gerber Generation,” launched in January TV spots, promotes the building of a healthier generation of kids with Gerber’s baby and toddler food products. According to Brandweek, the campaign showcases for the first time all of Gerber’s products and will eventually include TV, print and outdoor ads. A spokesman says the visual message of the ads represents a new generation of children of different backgrounds and ages who are saying that “their future health matters." Another new print ad debuting soon – "Dreaming of a Healthier World" – touts Gerber’s stage-based nutrition system for moms.

Elena Malykhina, "Meet the 'Gerber Generation'", BRANDWEEK, January 14, 2010, © Nielsen Business Media

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Green Tea Extract Quadruples Antioxidant Content Of Dried Apples

January 13, 2010: 01:58 PM EST

Dried apple pieces fortified with green tea extract -- equivalent to the catechin content of four cups of green tea -- had quadruple the amount of antioxidants (monomeric flavan-3-ols and procyanidins) as in non-fortified apple pieces, according to research jointly conducted in Italy and the U.S. The researchers detected no change in the antioxidant levels when the dried apple pieces were stored for a month at 86° F (30° C) and seemed to prevent undesirable browning. According to market researchers, the market for green tea extracts, currently valued at $44 million, will grow by 13 percent over the next seven years.

Vera Lavelli, Claudia Vantaggi, Mark Corey and William Kerr, "Formulation of a Dry Green Tea-Apple Product: Study on Antioxidant and Color Stability", Journal of Food Science Online, January 13, 2010, © Institute of Food Technologists®

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PepsiCo’s New Nutrition-Conscious Scientific Brain Trust Seeks Healthier Product Line

January 14, 2010: 04:27 AM EST

With the help of a dozen physicians and PhDs hired from leading health organizations, PepsiCo is rethinking its product line, both current and future, with a view toward making it either less unhealthy, Business Week reports. The company wants current products and new products to be less likely to increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease. One of the keys to this strategy is healthier ingredients that can work in a variety of products. For example, the availability of an all-natural zero-calorie sweetener derived from stevia led PepsiCo to devise several fast-growing brands, including the lower-calories orange juice Trop50.

Nanette Byrnes, "Pepsi Brings In the Health Police", Business Week, January 14, 2010, © BLOOMBERG L.P.

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UK Media Watchdog Bans Heinz Ad Because Of Unsubstantiated Health Claims

January 13, 2010: 03:01 AM EST

The UK's independent regulator of advertising across all media, including TV and the Internet, has banned a TV ad for Heinz Nurture infant formula and milk, ruling that the company made unsubstantiated health claims about the product’s ability to “nourish, protect and develop your baby.” Heinz explained its wording, noting that the "develop" claim, for example, came from the inclusion of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids that help develop the brain and eyes. But the Advertising Standards Authority was "concerned that the evidence submitted was not sufficiently robust to support the product's claims in relation to children's immunity and development."

Mark Sweney, "Heinz baby product ad banned over misleading claims", guadian.co.uk, January 13, 2010, © Guardian News and Media Limited

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America’s Obesity Rates Have Peaked, But At Dangerously High Levels

January 13, 2010: 04:09 AM EST

U.S. obesity rates have leveled off and stayed constant for five years among men and for 10 years among women and children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But, though the percentages are no longer rising, they have peaked at very high levels. About 34 percent of adult Americans are obese, more than double the level of three decades ago. Moreover, 17 percent of children are considered obese, three times higher than 30 years ago. African-American adults, the CDC says, have the highest obesity rates: 37 percent of men and 50 percent of women.

PAM BELLUCK, "Obesity Rates Hit Plateau in U.S., Data Suggest", The New York Times, January 13, 2010, © The New York Times Company

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Europe’s LeanGreenFood Network To Advance Sustainable Production Technologies

January 13, 2010: 09:38 AM EST

Based on the precept that food production must be sustainable and socially responsible, scientists from several European countries – Greece, Spain, France, Denmark, and the Netherlands – have created LeanGreenFood, an EU financed scientific network that will train food scientists in sustainable technologies and processes. The network will help educate young food scientists to rethink established food processes and use new technology. Enzyme technology, for example, can be used to extract and process ingredients in food based on natural sources, such as starch, pectin and proteins. The goal? Improved yields of biomasses, decreased water and energy consumption, less chemical use.

Lars Holm Rasmussen, "Lean green food -- sustainable food production", Press release, January 13, 2010, © University of Copenhagen

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Beta-Carotene: A Healthy, Versatile Food Product Ingredient

January 13, 2010: 12:48 AM EST

The colorful, oil-soluble antioxidant family known as carotenoids, especially beta-carotene, are not only healthy food ingredients, they are versatile as well, according to this Food Product Design article. Daily servings of beta-carotene-rich fruits and vegetables cut the risk of heart disease or cancer. In addition, beta-carotene has various attractive properties – good stability, for example – making it very useful in a wide array of food applications, including as a vibrant colorant. The article cautions food makers, however, about calling beta-carotene “natural,” because federal rules are very specific about how that term can be applied.

Lynn A. Kuntz, "Beta-Carotene's Bonanza", Food Product Design, January 13, 2010, © Virgo Publishing, LLC

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Polyphenols In Grape And Blueberry Juices Improve Memory Impairment – Studies

January 12, 2010: 10:05 PM EST

Adults who have experienced a decline in memory may be able to boost their cognitive function by daily drinking of Concord grape juice or wild blueberry juice, both of which contain anti-inflammatory compounds known as polyphenols that also influence neuronal signaling, U.S. researchers have found in separate studies. In a double-blind trial involving 12 older adults with memory decline who drank grape juice, the scientists measured significant improvements in verbal learning. In a second study, nine older adults with early memory changes who drank wild blueberry juice everyday showed improved paired associate learning and word list recall.

"Grape, Blueberry Juice Good for Brain Health", Food Design, January 12, 2010, © Virgo Publishing, LLC

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Vitamin D Plus Calcium Found To Significantly Reduce Risk Of Fractures

January 12, 2010: 08:49 AM EST

Researchers who analyzed data from seven global clinical trials involving 700,000 patients found that taking both daily calcium and vitamin D supplements cut the risk of bone fractures, no matter the age, sex, or fracture history of the patient. An osteoporosis group estimates that 80 percent of the 10 million Americans who have osteoporosis are women; four of 10 women over age 50 will fracture their hip, spine or wrist in their lifetime. "This study supports a growing consensus that combined calcium and vitamin D is more effective than vitamin D alone in reducing fractures," a researcher said.

J Robbins, B Abrahamsen, et al., "Patient level pooled analysis of 68 500 patients from seven major vitamin D fracture trials in US and Europe", British Medical Journal, January 12, 2010, © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.

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Study Links Three Monsanto GMO Crops To Animal Organ Damage

January 13, 2010: 04:41 AM EST

Three genetically modified maize (corn) variations have been linked to organ damage in mammals in a new French study. Mon 810, Mon 863, and NK 603, all developed by Monsanto, damaged the kidneys and liver, as well as the heart, adrenal glands, spleen and hematopoietic (blood cell) system. According to this Natural News report, Monsanto’s research prior to governmental approval was faulty. The study, conducted by a French genetic engineering research group and two universities, urged that import and export of the GMO crops be banned and GMO testing should include at least three animal species, not just rats.

Aaron Turpen, "Three Approved GMO Crops Linked to Organ Damage, New Study Shows", Natural News, January 13, 2010, © Natural News Network

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Popularity Of Kosher Foods Is Expanding, Thanks To Perceived Healthfulness, Quality

January 12, 2010: 02:13 AM EST

The market for kosher food is rapidly expanding among non-Jews, thanks in part to perceptions that kosher food products are healthier and less likely to be contaminated. One market researcher predicts that kosher foods could be a $17 billion market by 2013, with only 15 percent of sales attributed to religious purchases. The research group Mintel said the top reasons for buying kosher are quality and general healthfulness, though science doesn’t necessarily support those beliefs. As this New York Times article notes, scientific studies of poultry are “mixed when it comes to the relative safety of kosher meat.”

KIM SEVERSON, "For Some, ‘Kosher’ Equals Pure", The New York Times, January 12, 2010, © The New York Times Company

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America’s Obesity Problem Linked To Overuse Of Antibiotics

January 11, 2010: 06:04 AM EST

The lack of so-called good bacteria in the human digestive system – and not Big Macs or a lack of exercise – could be the key to the obesity epidemic in the United States, according to a medical school professor. Chronic antibiotic overuse is making kids fatter by destroying the good bacteria needed to efficiently digest food, he says, noting that “our ancestral microbes are disappearing." Those good bacteria residing in the gut and other places may also protect people from diabetes, asthma, and immune system problems, while bacteria on the skin may actually help prevent infections.

Matthew Herper, "Germs That Are Good For You", Forbes.com, January 11, 2010, © Forbes.com LLC™

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Flavanol-Rich Cocoa Shows Promise As A Skin-Care Ingredient

January 11, 2010: 08:10 AM EST

Cocoa, which has high levels of the antioxidant flavanol, offers some significant health benefits for the skin and its “potential in skin care formulas is promising,” according to this Inside Cosmeceuticals look at recent research on the subject. A 2006 study, for example, found that cocoa powder helped protect the skin from sun damage, improved blood circulation, and reduced roughness and scaling. A 2009 study found that consumption of chocolate rich in flavanols – but not conventional chocolate – protects the skin from sun damage. Another study, however, determined that cocoa butter did not prevent stretch marks in pregnant women.

"Sweetening Up For Healthy Skin", Inside Cosmeceuticals, January 11, 2010, © Virgo Publishing, LLC.

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Nutritionists Skeptical Of Health Benefits Of Functional Fibers Added To Foods

January 11, 2010: 06:46 AM EST

Many food products available today offer fiber content. But nutritionists and other health experts question whether added fiber has the same health benefits – lowering cholesterol, inducing regularity – as naturally occurring, or dietary, fiber found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and grains. Food manufacturers are adding what is called functional fiber, including lab-produced maltodextrin and polydextrose, to breads and yogurts. Other added fibers include inulin, soy hulls, oat fibers and sorghum fibers. But scientists wonder if these are as beneficial. "They help, but not that much,” says a nutritionist. “They don't have the same functionality of a whole grain."

Elena Conis, "All fibers may not be created equal", Los Angeles Times, January 11, 2010, © The Los Angeles Times

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Mangos Found To Be Effective Killer Of Breast And Colon Cancers

January 11, 2010: 06:31 AM EST

A new laboratory study by Texas researchers has found that mangos prevent and even stop certain colon and breast cancer cells. Noting that mangos are not high in antioxidants, compared with blueberries, acai and pomegranates, the researchers nevertheless tested mango polyphenol extracts on colon, breast, lung, leukemia and prostate cancers. Mangos showed some impact on the lung, leukemia and prostate cancers, but were most effective at killing breast and colon cancers, without harming normal cells. The researchers said they hope to conduct a small clinical trial among people with intestinal inflammation who are at greater risk of cancer.

Kathleen Phillips , "Mango effective in preventing, stopping certain colon, breast cancer cells", AgriLife NEWS, January 11, 2010, © Agri Life Communications

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Corn Refiners Caution Consumers About Retro Sodas Containing Cane Sugar

January 11, 2010: 07:55 AM EST

Although they are apparently a hit among consumers who have tried them, new cane sugar versions of Pepsi, Mountain Dew, and Dr. Pepper, complete with retro packaging, have got national corn refiners hopping mad. The refiners, of course, are the main promoters of high fructose corn syrup, which, they say, has the same nutritional value as refined sugar. They are warning consumers that ads claiming that cane sugar is better for you are just plain false. “Consumers should not be misled by marketing gimmicks,” said a corn refiners association spokesman. “They’re both identical on how the body handles them.”

Ray Scherer , "Sugary retro sodas go down smooth with consumers", stjoenews.net, January 11, 2010, © NPG Newspapers Inc, St. Joseph News-Press

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Expensive Weight Loss Programs Battle Cheaper DIY Dieting Options

January 11, 2010: 01:50 AM EST

High-priced diet programs are losing customers, thanks to inexpensive weight loss options and the availability of comfort foods during a stressful recession. The trend is having a negative effect – a sharp drop in growth rate – on the diet and weight loss industry, as three-fourths of dieters now follow a “do-it-yourself diet” devised at home.(The historic average is 70 percent.) According to this Advertising Age article, high-priced diet programs like Weight Watchers and Nutrisystem are making price and other concessions to maintain market share in a battle against cheaper DIY diet options offered by fast food companies and packaged food producers.

Emily Bryson York , "What the Weight-Loss Biz Has in Store for 2010", Advertising Age, January 11, 2010, © Crain Communications

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Datamonitor Forecasts Ten Key Packaged Goods Trends In 2010

January 11, 2010: 12:58 AM EST

Market research firm Datamonitor sees ten key trends in packaged products emerging in 2010, including a greater emphasis among food companies on “free range” (humanely raised) meat and poultry products. Also on the radar, as reported in this FoodWeek Online article: innovative biodegradable plastics that could help reverse the negative image of plastic water bottles; new superfruits like baobab and borojo; greater use of sustainable ingredients such as bamboo; new “wearable skincare” products like skin-enhancing bedding; the rise of protein-enhanced exercise recovery drinks like Muscle Milk; and the greater availability – in fact, a doubling – of gluten-free food products.

"Ten trends to watch in packaged goods in 2010: USA", FoodWeek Online, January 11, 2010, © Octomedia pty ltd

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New York-Led Initiative Proposes Salt Content Targets For Packaged, Restaurant Foods

January 11, 2010: 05:13 PM EST

Americans are consuming double the safe amount of salt each day – putting them at risk for hypertension, heart attack, and stroke – thanks mainly to salt added to restaurant and packaged foods, according to the National Salt Reduction Initiative. Noting that 80 percent of the salt Americans ingest comes from sources over which they have no control, the group proposed voluntary salt content targets in 61 kinds of packaged food and 25 classes of restaurant food, and said some popular commercial foods already meet these targets. The NSRI is a New York City-led partnership of cities, states and national health organizations.

"Health Department Announces Proposed Targets for Voluntary Salt Reduction in Packaged and Restaurant Foods", NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, January 11, 2010, © The City of New York

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Food Companies Find That Stealth Is A Viable Strategy In Salt Reduction

January 11, 2010: 08:34 AM EST

Cutting salt is a major challenge for food companies, often requiring complete reformulation of products using more costly salt substitutes. And when it’s accomplished, consumers still associate “lower salt” with “no flavor.” So, with pressure to trim sodium content mounting, food companies are adopting stealth as their strategy. Gradual and quiet seem to be the key words, this Wall Street Journal article notes. Why? Consumers adjust well to less salt, as long as it’s done slowly. Campbell Soup Co., for example, took eight years to trim the sodium content of its V8 vegetable juice by 32 percent.

ILAN BRAT AND MAURICE TAMMAN, "Food Makers Quietly Cut Back on Salt ", The Wall Street Journal, January 11, 2010, © Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

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Coca-Cola’s Juices Snag Market Lead From PepsiCo’s Brands

January 10, 2010: 06:17 AM EST

Coca-Cola Co.'s juice division, which includes the Minute Maid and hugely successful Simply brands has grabbed the market lead from PepsiCo's Tropicana and Dole brands and has no plans to relinquish it. The company’s five-year strategy is to boost market share by 50 percent with a focus on younger and health-conscious consumers, new products, new packaging and a new ad campaign. And though soft drinks remain the king of the beverage industry, analysts say the juice business is poised for major growth. Last year, juice sales improved for the first time since 2001, thanks to less consumer concern about carbohydrates.

JENNIFER LATSON, "Juicing up the brands", HOUSTON CHRONICLE, January 10, 2010, © The Houston Chronicle

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More Labeling By Food Companies Might Be The Solution To The Obesity Epidemic

January 11, 2010: 04:28 AM EST

Obesity has supplanted smoking as America’s major health issue, says Forbes editor Michael Maiello, and big farming and food companies like Archer Daniels Midland, Monsanto, Tyson, and McDonald's have replaced the tobacco companies as the key villains. But tackling the obesity epidemic requires much different tactics from those used to fight smoking. There’s no key issue in obesity like second-hand smoke, for example. Maiello says what is really needed is something the food industry hates: more disclosure. Use pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and genetic modifications, but tell people about it so they can make intelligent food choices. That means more labeling.

Michael Maiello, "Big Fat America", Forbes.com, January 11, 2010, © Forbes.com LLC™

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As The Recession Grinds On, Food Marketers Should Study These Consumer Trends

January 11, 2010: 01:42 AM EST

With more penny-pinching U.S. consumers cooking and eating at home – 67 percent of Americans did so in the year ending February 2009 – food marketers who focus on more sophisticated home food preparation should be big winners, according to this exhaustive Food Technology overview of industry trends. Look for increased demand for restaurant-style convenience foods, flavored basic meal ingredients, and upscale home-entertaining food options (28 percent of shoppers entertain regularly at home). Consumers who want to “live vicariously” through their food will continue to make gourmet and ethnic foods – Spanish, Hawaiian, Tex-Mex, Greek, Caribbean, and Mediterranean – vital elements of their daily menus. The article also notes that although consumers are more aware of how important food is to their health, they aren’t necessarily going to pay top dollar for it.

A. Elizabeth Sloan, "State of the Industry Report: What, Where and When America Eats", Food Technology, January 11, 2010, via Food Technology, © Institute of Food Technologists

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Diet, Weight Loss Firms Have A Big Advantage In Building Robust Social Network Sites

January 9, 2010: 07:55 AM EST

While diet brand and weight loss companies have succeeded mightily in creating vibrant social networking Web sites along the lines of MySpace and Facebook, other companies, including Coca-Cola and Wal-Mart, have failed, according to Brandweek. For example, the Atkins diet online community added a million consumers in 2009, while Nutrisystem’s online community has 4.6 million participants, up from one million in June 2007. One expert says the main reason for the success of dieting and weight loss sites is a “built-in advantage… some kind of currency to connect with each other.” Losing weight and staying fit provide that common social value.

Elaine Wong, "Diet Firms Score Where Coke, Walmart Fumbled", Brandweek, January 09, 2010, © Nielsen Business Media

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Nutrient Cocktail Shows Potential For Improving Memory In Alzheimer’s Patients

January 8, 2010: 02:43 PM EST

A mixture of nutrients developed at MIT may improve memory in Alzheimer’s patients by stimulating growth of new brain connections called synapses, large numbers of which are lost in early stages of the disease. Researchers found in a clinical trial of 225 Alzheimer’s patients that verbal memory improved after 12 weeks of drinking a cocktail of three natural nutrients – uridine, choline and the omega-3 fatty acid DHA (all found in breast milk) – plus B vitamins, phospholipids and antioxidants. The three main nutrients in the mixture are precursors to the fatty molecules that make up brain cell membranes, which form synapses.

Philip Scheltens, Patrick J.G.H. Kamphuis, et al., "Efficacy of a medical food in mild Alzheimer's disease: A randomized, controlled trial", Alzheimer's & Dementia, January 08, 2010, © The Alzheimer's Association

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Industry Forecasters See Growing Consumer Awareness Of, And Concern About, GMO

January 8, 2010: 10:28 AM EST

The growth of organic foods that ban ingredients containing genetically modified organisms (GMO), and the emergence of the local and green product categories, could signal even more aversion among consumers toward genetic modification, says the director of the Institute for Responsible Technology. Citing forecasts published in Supermarket News, Jeffrey Smith says consumers are growing more concerned about the content of the foods they eat and are becoming increasingly aware – and wary – of GMOs. It’s likely, he says, that, like fat and carbs, GMOs “may finally burst through into the public awareness and join their ranks.”

Jeffrey Smith, "Supermarket News Forecasts Non-GMO Uprising", The Huffington Post, January 08, 2010, © HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.

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Bland Compounds That Activate The Tongue’s Calcium Channels Can Enhance Flavors

January 8, 2010: 01:42 PM EST

Sounds like the food industry’s Holy Grail: substances that make bland, potentially healthier food – without sugar or salt – taste good. But scientists say it’s possible, thanks to so-called calcium channels found on the tongue. It is well known that some molecules trigger specific taste buds (salty, sweet, bitter, etc.), but apparently bland substances can also help enhance flavor. In this study, various compounds that activated the calcium channels in cells were diluted in salt water, sugar water, etc. Turns out the molecules that induced the most calcium receptor activity also elicited the strongest flavors in taste tests with volunteers.

Takeaki Ohsu, Yusuke Amino, et al., "Involvement of the Calcium-sensing Receptor in Human Taste Perception", Journal of Biological Chemistry, January 08, 2010, © American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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U.K. Science Panel Urges More Research Into Risks Of Using Nanotechnology In Food

January 7, 2010: 08:13 PM EST

Although nanotechnology has been touted as a way to make better cosmetics and tastier, healthier foods, a British science committee says a scarcity of scientific research means that the potential benefits and risks of its use in food are largely unknown. Without such research, food safety authorities around the world are unable to properly regulate products containing nanoparticles. The science panel said the $410 million global market for nanotechnology in food could reach $5.6 billion by 2012. "It is important that detailed and thorough research into potential health and safety implications ... is undertaken now,” the panel chairman said.

Kate Kelland, "Report calls for research on nanoparticles in food", Reuters, January 07, 2010, © Thomson Reuters

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Calorie Content Of Restaurant And Frozen Diet Meals Is Much Higher Than Reported

January 7, 2010: 02:38 AM EST

Researchers who analyzed the calorie content of frozen supermarket diet meals and food sold at ten chain restaurants found significantly higher calories on average than the companies claimed. The calories in 29 meals or other menu items at restaurant chains such as Ruby Tuesday’s and Wendy’s averaged 18 percent higher. Meanwhile, Lean Cuisine, Weight Watchers, etc., had eight percent more calories than labels reported. Some foods tested, however, actually had fewer calories than reported. Researchers said restaurants and food companies are not trying to mislead customers: most differences are due to variations in ingredients, portion sizes and testing methods.

Lorien E. Urban, MS, Gerard E. Dallal, PhD, et al., "The Accuracy of Stated Energy Contents of Reduced-Energy, Commercially Prepared Foods", Journal of the American Dietetic Association, January 07, 2010, © American Dietetic Association

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Monsanto’s SDA Omega-3 Soybeans On The Verge Of Commercialization

January 6, 2010: 07:22 PM EST

Among Monsanto’s eleven R&D pipeline projects advancing toward the marketplace is one with “direct consumer dietary benefit,” the company announced. SDA omega-3 soybeans, which are at the phase that directly precedes commercialization, offer a sustainable, land-based source of the omega-3 fatty acid that converts to the heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acid EPA found in fish oil, the company says. Thanks to a Generally Recognized As Safe notice from the FDA, food companies can test the oil from SDA omega-3 soybeans in food products for future launch. Monsanto’s R&D pipeline also includes other soybean projects, as well as canola and cotton projects.

"Monsanto Announces Record 11 Project Advancements in Annual Research and Development Pipeline Update", Press release, Monsanto, January 06, 2010, © Monsanto Company

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Reb-A Set To Supercharge The “Natural” Sweetener Market

January 6, 2010: 01:05 PM EST

The sweetener industry apparently has its “first commercially viable, natural, zero-calorie product that tastes like sugar,” according to this NeutraceuticalsWorld analysis. After two decades of research, and favorable FDA rulings, stevia-based sweeteners, particularly Reb-A , are rapidly capturing the interest of consumers and food and beverage makers. Reb-A, an industry exec says, is “one of the sweetest and best-tasting steviol glycosides found in the stevia leaf.” Market researcher Mintel predicts that the value of U.S. retail sales of stevia and Reb-A in tabletop sweeteners and in foods and beverages could expand to $2 billion by the end of 2011.

Lisa Schofield, "‘Natural’ Sweeteners: The Reb-A Factor", NutraceuticalsWorld, January 06, 2010, © Rodman Publishing

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Restaurants, Food Companies Significantly Under-report Calories Of Side Dishes, Entrees

January 6, 2010: 05:57 PM EST

After checking the calories of side dishes and entrees from U.S. sit-down chain restaurants, fast food restaurants and supermarket frozen meals, researchers reported that the average stated calorie content was 18 percent less than what scientific analysis found. Two side dishes, the researchers said, surpassed restaurant calorie claims by almost 200 percent. On average, the calorie info of packaged food companies was eight percent less than what the researchers found. “If people use published calorie contents for weight control, discrepancies of this magnitude could result in weight gain of many pounds a year,” one researcher said.

Lorien E. Urban, Gerard E. Dallal, et al., "The Accuracy of State Energy Contents of Reduced-Energy, Commercially Prepared Foods", Journal of the American Dietetic Association, January 06, 2010, © American Dietetic Association

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Nordic Naturals’ Effervescent Fish Oil Promises Fast Absorption Of Omega-3s

January 5, 2010: 03:00 AM EST

The “plop, plop, fiz, fizz” concept, usually associated with an effervescent antacid brand, has now been applied to omega-3 fish oil. U.S. company Nordic Naturals recently introduced Omega-3 Effervescent, an orange-flavored, water-soluble drink mix packaged in single-serving packets delivering 500 mg of EPA and DHA, plus 1200 IU of vitamin D3. According to the company, the product contains arctic cod liver oil, which has high DHA content and naturally occurring vitamins A and D. The company says the effervescent technology allows absorption of omega-3s into the bloodstream in as little as 15 minutes, much faster than other fish oil supplements.

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New Nestlé Biscuit R&D Center In Chile Hopes To Innovate And Renovate Products

January 5, 2010: 03:50 AM EST

Nestlé has opened a research and development center for biscuits and cereal-based snacks in Santiago, Chile. The company says the new center, staffed by specialists in nutrition, engineering, product development and quality control, will focus on innovation and renovation of products. A key goal is to reduce sugar and fat levels to make biscuits lighter while maintaining taste and texture. According to the company, R&D Santiago will also develop biscuits with bioactive ingredients to improve digestive health and fortified products to address local micronutrient deficiencies. About sixty percent of Nestlé’s $1.4 billion biscuit in 2008 was centered in Latin America.

"Nestlé opens global R&D Centre to develop new generation of biscuits ", Press release, Nestlé, Santiago, Chile, January 05, 2010, © Nestlé

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Compounds Found In Pomegranates Suppress Hormone-Dependent Breast Cancer

January 5, 2010: 11:51 AM EST

Certain phytochemicals found in fruits such as pomegranates suppress the production of the female hormone estrogen, thereby preventing the proliferation of breast cancer cells and the growth of estrogen-responsive tumors, according to a laboratory study. The enzyme aromatase, which converts androgen to estrogen, plays a key role in breast carcinogenesis. Pomegranates contain anti-aromatase compounds known as ellagitannins that have the potential to prevent estrogen-responsive breast cancers. The researchers cautioned that the high levels of phytochemicals used in the study might not be achievable in humans because ellagitannins “are not well absorbed into blood when provided in the diet.”

Lynn S. Adams, Yanjun Zhang, et al., "Pomegranate Ellagitannin–Derived Compounds Exhibit Antiproliferative and Antiaromatase Activity in Breast Cancer Cells In vitro", Cancer Prevention Research, January 05, 2010, © American Association for Cancer Research

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St. John’s Wort Shown Useless For Irritable Bowel Syndrome

January 4, 2010: 05:50 PM EST

While antidepressants are often used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the herbal antidepressant supplement St. John’s wort, which has been shown helpful in depression and certain pain syndromes, is apparently useless, according to new research. IBS affects the colon and commonly causes cramping, abdominal pain, bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation. About 58 million people, mostly women, suffer from IBS. In this clinical trial involving 70 participants with IBS – half receiving St. John’s wort and half a placebo for three months – the placebo group actually fared better than the herbal supplement group.

Yuri A Saito, Enrique Rey, et al., "A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of St John's Wort for Treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome", The American Journal of Gastroenterology, January 04, 2010, © The American College of Gastroenterology

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Citicoline Shown To Play A Role In Reducing Cravings For High-Calorie Foods

January 4, 2010: 05:51 AM EST

A vitamin-like nutrient called citicoline might be a new aid in combating poor appetite control, new research has found. In a six-week study, U.S. scientists showed photos of high-calorie foods to 16 healthy men and women given either 500 mg or 2,000 mg doses of citicoline a day. They then measured appetite, weight, and brain response (using MRI) to the images. High-dose citicoline participants showing the greatest activation of key appetite-related regions of the brain experienced the biggest drop in appetite. The researchers concluded that citicoline does seem to reduce cravings for high-calorie foods and increase feelings of satiety.

William D.S. Killgore, PhD, Amy J. Ross, PhD, et al., "Citicoline affects appetite and cortico-limbic responses to images of high-calorie foods", International Journal of Eating Disorders, January 04, 2010, © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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Gazing Into The Food And Beverage Industry Crystal Ball: Status And Trends

January 4, 2010: 04:56 AM EST

Noting that the food and beverage industry really comprises nine interconnected sub-industries, the editors of FoodProcessing.com recently looked into their crystal ball to forecast the future of each separate subcategory: bakery and bread, beverages, breakfasts and cereals, confectionery, dairy, frozen foods, fruits and vegetables, meat and poultry, and salty snacks. For example, they expect whole grains, fiber, added calcium, organic, all-natural, HFCS-free, and gluten-free products to do well in 2010. And because see-sawing milk prices is the major issue in dairy – which impacts other food categories – industry execs have a simple wish for 2010: stable, rational prices for raw milk.

Diane Toops, News & Trends Editor, and Dave Fusaro, Editor in Chief , "Look Into the Future: The State of Food & Beverage Industry", FoodProcessing.com, January 04, 2010, © Food Processing

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Special K Ad Campaign Focuses On Healthy Lifestyle, Not Product Pictures

January 4, 2010: 07:52 AM EST

Kellogg recently launched an unusual ad campaign for its Special K cereal. The ads are unusual because they feature the target market – women looking to lose weight – but don’t show the product. In addition, even though the campaign began early in January, the theme was not “making a resolution” to lose weight – New Year’s resolutions don’t resonate with women, Kellogg found – but instead “starting a healthy lifestyle.” That lifestyle includes the “challenge:” shed pounds by eating Special K twice a day, not just at breakfast. “Our mission is to go along with women for their whole day,” says an exec.

ANDREW ADAM NEWMAN, "Pitching a Product, Without Showing It", The New York Times, January 04, 2010, © The New York Times Company

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Study Finds That Xanthigen Shows Promise As Weight-Loss Supplement

January 1, 2010: 06:53 PM EST

Russian and U.S. scientists report that obese women who ingested the food supplement Xanthigen-600 (300 mg of brown marine algae-derived fucoxanthin and 300 mg of pomegranate seed oil) lost a significant amount of weight during a 16-week placebo-controlled clinical trial. Fucoxanthin is a carotenoid rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Women with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) lost an average of 12 pounds, while others lost 11 pounds. The scientists also noted decreases in waist size, body fat, and liver fat. “This product may be considered a promising food supplement in the management of obesity,” the researchers conclude.

M. Abidov, Z. Ramazanov, R. Seifulla & S. Grachev, "The effects of Xanthigen™ in the weight management of obese premenopausal women with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and normal liver fat", Journal of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, January 01, 2010, © Blackwell Publishing Ltd

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Food Shoppers Will Continue To Mind Their Health, And Pocketbooks, In 2010

December 31, 2009: 08:07 AM EST

“Added value” is the theme for health and food trends in 2010 as consumers now known as "recessionistas" continue to look for ways to cut back on calories while saving money, according to an association that represents the low-calorie, reduced-fat food industry. Clipping coupons and finding the best prices on healthier foods will remain in vogue, along with calorie counting and finding easy, inexpensive ways to exercise. The group’s list of five key trends also includes a continued interest in natural foods, including those sweetened with stevia. "Consumers are considering their health and their pocketbooks,” the group says.

""Recessionistas" and Calorie Counters Lead 2010 Health Trends", Calorie Control Council, December 31, 2009, © Calorie Control Council

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Review Of Scientific Studies Finds Organic Foods Safer And Healthier

January 1, 2010: 12:05 AM EST

An exhaustive French review of scientific studies has found that organically grown food – whether from plants or animals – is safer and more nutritious than conventionally grown. Organic food contains almost no pesticide residues; organic vegetables contain half as many nitrates; and levels of harmful mycotoxins (from molds) on organic cereals are comparable to conventional cereals. Regarding nutrition, organic plant foods have more dry matter, minerals (iron and magnesium) and antioxidants such as phenols and resveratrol. Organic animal products have more polyunsaturated fatty acids. The author proposes several “improvements [in] organic production to achieve sustainable food production for humans in the near future.”

Denis.Lairon, "Nutritional quality and safety of organic food. A review", Journal Agronomy for Sustainable Development, January 01, 2010, via Journal Agronomy for Sustainable Development, © INRA, EDP Sciences

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Affordability, Nutrition, Innovation Are Key Food Buying Trends In 2010 - Forecast

December 30, 2009: 05:58 AM EST

A consumer trends forecast from a marketing agency finds that, thanks to more women in the workplace, men are playing a larger role in domestic issues – food shopping, cooking, etc. Other trends: beverages of all kinds reformulated with less sugar; many new affordable organic foods; pragmatic rather than pricey restaurant and grocery choices, like affordable noodle bowl and tacqueria restaurants, grab-and-go grocery choices; new products with twists on kids' favorites like gourmet PB&Js and Asian-influenced easy lunches. A key trend, according to the agency: “Counting calories alone will not be as important as assessing the quality of those calories.”

"Our 2010 Consumer Trends Forecast: The New SHEconomy", The Fresh Ideas Group, December 30, 2009, © The Fresh Ideas Group

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Key Word For Kraft’s New Food Product Flavors Is “Bolder”

December 30, 2009: 03:11 AM EST

Kraft Foods says it paid attention to restaurant flavor trends when it developed more than 20 new “bolder” products. The company is unveiling nuts, mayonnaises, and cheeses that reflect consumer interest in Italian-inspired and Mexican – read “hot and spicy,” as in chipotle and garlic – flavors. Kraft also gave a nod to berry-infused foods, so berries abound in the Planters NUT-rition line that includes antioxidant and omega-3 varieties. Its survey of restaurants found bacon to be a fast growing menu item. The result? New Oscar Mayer Applewood Smoked Bacon. Kraft is also adding several portion-controlled options to its product line.

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Phony Health, Ingredient Claims “Defraud” Consumers, CSPI Charges

December 29, 2009: 02:36 AM EST

Despite an increase in the number of warning letters sent by the FDA, the Center for Science in the Public Interest still sees a slew of “false claims, ingredient obfuscations, and other (food) labeling shenanigans” by many big food companies. On one of its cereals Kellogg, for example, “deliberately misreads” an Institute of Medicine report to say that consumers can eat more than four ounces of added sugar a day. Calling for federal reforms, the consumer watchdog says food companies “continue to confuse or defraud consumers about the health effects, ingredients, or ‘natural’-ness of their products.”

"CSPI Urges FDA Crackdown on False & Misleading Food Labeling", Center for Science in the Public Interest, December 29, 2009, © Center for Science in the Public Interest

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Nestlé India Has Firm Grip On Country’s Noodles, Infant Foods Markets

December 28, 2009: 08:00 AM EST

According to Livemint.com, Switzerland’s Nestlé India Ltd. has a tight lock on the India’s $331 million baby foods and $287 million noodles markets, giving it stronger volume growth and higher profit margins than competitors over the past five years. But gross margins slipped due to rising costs, smaller price increases, and the promotion of small packs. In the baby foods arena, the Indian government’s strict regulations, including a ban on infant formula advertising, make the country a tough market. Nevertheless, the infant food and nutrition space will grow 10-12 percent and “Nestlé is well placed to capture growth …”

Motilal Oswal, "Nestle to remain market leader in baby food and noodles segments", Livemint.com, December 28, 2009, © HT Media

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