VAVA presented a claim against 37 companies who produced Agent Orange, among them being Dow Chemical and Monsanto, in January 2004.

The claim specifies that the production of dioxin and other toxic substances used as weapons by US military forces against Vietnam has a direct link with extreme health problems and deformities of three millions of people in this country.

In 2005, VAVA’s initial case was rejected as the court determined there were no legal grounds for the trial.

The US has compensated its own army veterans who have developed certain cancers since serving in Vietnam, but little has been done for the Vietnamese.

In 1999, 20,000 South Koreans filed a lawsuit in Korea and in January 2006, the Korean Appeals Court ordered Monsanto and Dow to pay $62 million in compensation to about 6,800 Koreans.

The Hai Bluhm, a Vietnamese person seeking asylum in Potsdam, Germany is heavily signed by agent orange. He is one of the witnesses which will be heard by the court. The appeal is launched against the chemical factories of the defoliant because the constitution of the united States of America does not allow in this case action lawsuit to be been filed against the US Government. [2]

[1] Thanhnien News: Public support raised for Agent Orange lawsuit
http://www.thanhniennews.com/features/?catid=10&newsid=28991

[2] Spiegel Online: Todesregen, Prozessflut und ein Tropfen Hoffnung. Marina Mai. 14.06.2007.
http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/0,1518,488299,00.html

14.06.2007 Pre-storage treatment reduces scald losses on organic apple[1]
Low-oxygen atmosphere for seven days at 20°C prior to cold storage extends shelf life of organic fruit and vegetable according to Edna Pesis. Only 10% of apples were lost due to scald after 8 month of cold storage. Pesis says that ware which had not been pre-storage treated was completely lost under the same condition.

According to the article of Pesis published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture and reported on in Chemistry & Industry, storage of avocados, tomatoes and other organic produce may profit from this technique.

Conventional produce can be treated with chemicals, but no artificial chemicals are used for organics during processing. Treatment of organic apples with a solution of the antioxidant diphenylamine (DPA) is being used for years to reduce scald. This treatment may now be substituted by the none-chemical pre-storage treatment of Pesis.

[1] Foodnavigator: Oxygen treatment found to extend shelf life. 11.06.2007
http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?id=77240

13.06.2007 Protein and vaccines from methane from the North Sea fields. [1]
The Norway company Norferm in Tiedbergodden expands its capacity 8 000 to 40 000 t/year of bioprotein using methane gas from Heidrun field in the Norwegian Sea as raw ware. [1]

The BioProtein from Norferm is produced by fermentation of methane, oxygen, ammonia and minerals together with methanotrophic bacteria Methylococcus capsulatus. The resulting product contains 70% of crude protein and can be used as feed for chicken, swine, pets an fish. [2]

The University of Bergen, together with Norferm developed the technology of the fermenter of methane. Other projects are running to bring Methylocuccus capsulatus to produce oral vaccines. [3]

Methane a greenhouse gas.[4]
Methane (CH4) is a greenhouse gas that remains in the atmosphere for approximately 9-15 years. Methane is over 20 times more effective in trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide (CO2) over a 100-year period and is emitted from a variety of natural and human-influenced sources. Human-influenced sources include landfills, natural gas and petroleum systems, agricultural activities, coal mining, stationary and mobile combustion, wastewater treatment, and certain industrial process.
Methane is also a primary constituent of natural gas and an important energy source. As a result, efforts to prevent or utilize methane emissions can provide significant energy, economic and environmental benefits.

[1] Robert Winder: Methane to biomass. Cheistry and Industry 06 Septempmber 2004 Issue 17 p 19
http://www.chemind.org/CI/searchresults.jsp

[2] Norferm: BioProtein. A single cell protein from methane
http://www.google.de/url?sa=t&ct=res&cd=3&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.biotekforum.no
%2Fpublic%2Fdocuments%2Fevent%2F130%2FPresentasjon%2520Gunnar%2520Kleppe
%2C%2520Norferm.ppt&ei=oTRwRvyYJZHuQarnvZ8D&usg=AFQjCNEy
_lBM9jlgJipYnxPNMgaBqqsHGA&sig2=pDyO-08GOIWzcutQE9-Ehg

[3] University of Bergen: Exploiting a gaseating bacteria
http://www.uib.no/elin/elpub/uibmag/en02/bacteria.html

[4] US EPA: Methane
http://www.epa.gov/methane/

13.06.2007: Leptin in new UK baby food  [1]
UK  will launche a new infant formula with leptin  intended to protect from obesity and diabetes into adulthood. Leptin is present in milk but not in infant formulas. Adding leptin could restore natural composition of baby food.
Researcher Claire J. Stocker and colleagues 2007 found that leptin supplements to rats early in life offers permanent protection against obesity and diabetes in adulthood. [2]

According to the researchers leptin's role in infancy hardwires the body's energy balance settings. They believe that the decision to be fat or thin may even be made before birth, during pregnancy. Offspring of leptin-treated mothers remain lean even when fed a fat-laden diet. The researchers want to extend this to the pet market to avoid diabetic and fat dogs and cats. [1]

Leptin is produced by the placenta. Leptin levels rise during pregnancy and fall at parturition. A supplementation of leptin during pregnacy is therefore not necessary [3]

Although leptin is a circulating signal that reduces appetite, in general, obese people have an unusually high circulating concentration of leptin. These people are said to be resistant to the effects of leptin, in much the same way that people with type 2 diabetes are resistant to the effect on insulin. Thus, obesity develops when people take in more energy than they use over a prolonged period of time, and this excess food intake is not driven by hunger signals, occurring in spite of the anti-appetite signals from circulating leptin. The high sustained concentrations of leptin from the enlarged fat stores result in the cells that respond to leptin becoming desensitized. [4]

[1] The Society of Chemical IndustryNew formula for fit future. Baby food offering lifetime protection against obesity could be in the supermarket soon, Lisa Melton reports. Chemistry & Industry magazin
http://www.soci.org/SCI/general/2007/html/ge610.jsp

[2]Stocker, Claire J.; Wargent, Ed; O'Dowd, Jackeline; Cornick,Claire; Speakman, John R.; Arch, Jonathan R.S.; Cawthorne, Michael A.: Prevention of diet-induced obesity and impaired glucose
tolerance in rats following administration of leptin to their mothers. American Journal of Physiology - Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00676.2006
http://ajpregu.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/292/5/R1810

[3] Zhao J, Townsend KL, Schulz LC, Kunz TH, Li C, Widmaier EP (2004). "Leptin receptor expression increases in placenta, but not hypothalamus, during gestation in Mus musculus and Myotis lucifugus". Placenta 25 (8-9): 712–22.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=15450389

[4] Wikipedia, the free enzyclopedia: Leptin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptin

12.06.2007: Detection of L and D amino acids to study modified composition of new GM plants. [1]

Miguel Herrero and colleagues 2007 presented a new technique detecting significant differences          % D-aa values for the different conventional varieties (Aristis, Tietar, and PR33P66 maize).

The transgenic maize Tietar-Bt with the new inserted Cry1Ab transgene presented % D-aa values which were similar to conventional maize Trietar. According to the authors this indicates that, in these maize samples, no metabolic pathway were modified in Trietar-BT.

The method is based on changes of the “L” or “D” form of amino acid (the so called chiral amino acids). Such changes may affect nutritional quality and digestibility. The method combines micellar electrokinetic chromatography with a chiral selector and laser-induced fluorescence to investigate the prevalence of L- and D-amino acids.
The authors suggest this new method to be used as proof of substantial equivalence of GM maize and conventional plants.


[1] Herrero, Miguel; Ibanez, Elena; Martin-Alvarez, Pedro J.; Cifuentes, Alejandro: Analysis of Chiral Amino Acids in Conventional and Transgenic Maize Analytical Chemistry; 2007; ASAP Article; DOI: 10.1021/ac070454f
http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/searchRedirect.cgi/ancham/asap/abs/ac070454f.html

12.06.2007: China stops bio ethanol production from food and starts using Lignin and cellulose as raw material[1]

Biofuels are currently manufactured from food crops including corn, wheat, sugar, cassava, sweet sorghum, and oilseeds.The Chinese government fears shortage of food in these items due to biofuel demand which could increase food prices and issued a moratorium on these sources.
China produces about one million tons of Ethanol annually from three million tons of corn. Non-food crops, such as cassava and drought-tolerant sweet sorghum will now have to be used for the production of bio-ethanol.
Due to the great demand, China imports cassava from Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia

Lignocellulose ethanol plant in China [2]
Cellulosic ethanol can be produced from almost any organic matter, including agricultural waste, grasses, sewage, sludge, switchgrass, plant stalks, trees and straw. Cellulose and lignin cannot be digested by humans, the production of cellulose does not compete with the production of food. Transforming them into ethanol using efficient and cost effective hemi(cellulase) enzymes or other processes might provide as much as 30% of the current fuel consumption in the US—and probably similar figures in other oil-importing regions like China or Europe.
There are two ways to produce ethanol from cellulose:
1.Cellulolysis processes which consist of hydrolysis on pretreated lignocellulosic materials followed by fermentation and distillation.
2.Gasification that transforms the linocellulosic raw material into gaseous carbon monoxide and hydrogen. They are then fed into a special kind of fermenter or to a catalyst bed.
They both include fermentation and distillation as final steps.

[1]FoodNavigator: China blocks food for biofuel
http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?n=77283-ethanol-biofuels-corn

[2] Wikipedia, the free enzyclopedia: Cellulosic ethanol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulosic_ethanol

12.06.2007: Trans Fat Holdouts Remain in Supermarkets, Despite Labelling  [1]
Though trans fat-labeling rules spurred many companies to remove most of the partially hydrogenated oil from most of their processed foods, hundreds of foods still contain the discredited,

heart-attack-inducing ingredient, according to a limited supermarket survey conducted by the nonprofit Center for Science in the Public Interest.

Since 2004, CSPI has been urging the FDA to prohibit the use of partially hydrogenated oils in food. Unfortunately, though, the agency that took ten long years just to include trans fat on food labels hasn’t taken action on CSPI’s petition. While the FDA rejected CSPI’s petition to require restaurants to disclose the presence of trans fat and still considers the ingredient “generally recognized as safe,” out, but those measures exempt packaged foods sold in their original wrappers.

Meanwhile The States of New York City; Philadelphia; Montgomery County, Maryland; and Brookline, Massachusetts working on their own require restaurants to phase out their use of partially hydrogenated oils

According to CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson  everyone is so used to seeing “0g Trans Fat” claims on food labels that it’s tempting to think the problem is solved. While labeling has been a great success, it clearly hasn’t been enough to get every company on board for every product.

The American Heart Association says Americans should consume no more than 2 grams of trans fat per day, which is about as much as someone would get from naturally occurring trans fat.

Alternatives to trans fatty acids [2]
Frying with soya oil which is not hydrogenated reduces the shelf life considerably because of the high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids which are readily oxidised. Using rape seed oil also known as canola, solves this problem. Rape seed oil is similar to the Mediterranean olive oil. It has plenty of monounsaturated fatty acids which are less reactive with oxygen. Change from hydrogenated soy oil to rape seed oil or fractionated palmoil and reduction of desodorising temparature during refining of edible oil and fats solves the problem.
The phase out of trans- fatty acids in Europe was completed in just a few years. FDA, however does not move, while the government of States and many enterprises like Unilever banned trans-fatty acids.
The retailer chains are in the responsibility to look after food safety of the products they sell and should demand trans-fatty acid status of the produces they deliver.
The consumer should reject all products which are not labelled as trans-free.

The FDA Guide [2]
Trans fatty acids should be listed as "Trans fat" or "Trans" on a separate line under the listing of saturated fat in the nutrition label. Trans fat content must be expressed as grams per serving to the nearest 0.5-gram increment below 5 grams and to the nearest gram above 5 grams., the content, when declared, must be expressed as "0 g."

FDA issued a final rule on July 11, 2003 (68 FR 41434) to require food labels to bear the gram amount of trans fat Any product that is initially introduced into interstate commerce on or after January 1, 2006 must be labeled with trans fat. Sources of trans fat include partially hydrogenated oil and some animal-based foods. Examples of exemptions are discussed by the FDA. [3]

According to the CSPI labelling was a good thing, but the FDA should finish the job and begin a regulatory process that would phase out partially hydrogenated oils altogether, or limit their use to minuscule amounts.


[1] CSPI: Trans Fat Holdouts Remain in Supermarkets, Despite Labeling
http://www.cspinet.org/new/200706112.html

[2] OurFood: Food What is it?: Deep frying oil and shortenings
http://www.ourfood.com/Food_what_is_it.html

[3] Food Labelling: Trans Fatty Acids in Nutrition Labelling, Nutrient Content Claims, and Health Claims Small Entity Compliance Guide. December 30, 2005
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/transgui.html

[4] Requesting an Extension to Use Existing Label Stock after the Trans Fat Labeling Effective Date of January 1, 2006
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/transgu3.html

10.06.2007: Vitamin D3 and calcium supplementation reduces all-cancer risk in women [1]
Joan M. Lappe and colleagues in a study of supplementation of 1,400-1,500 mg calcium and 1,100 IU vitamin D3 over 4 years the calcium/vitamin D3 group experienced a 60 per cent decrease in their cancer risk compared to the group taking placebos, but did not change significantly for the group receiving only calcium.
The authors concluded that mproving calcium and vitamin D nutritional status substantially reduces all-cancer risk in postmenopausal women.

[1] Lappe, Joan M.; Travers-Gustafson, Dianne; Davies, K. Michael; Recker, Robert R.; and Heaney, Robert P.: Vitamin D and calcium supplementation reduces cancer risk: results of a randomized trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. June 8, Volume 85, Issue 6, Pages 1586-1591
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/85/6/1586

10.06.2007: Green Tea reduces colorectal cancer risk in women. [1]
Tea and its constituents have shown anticarcinogenic activities in in vitro and animal studies. Epidemiologic studies, however, have been inconsistent.

Green tea contains between 30 and 40 per cent of water-extractable polyphenols, such as epigallocatechin gallate, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, and epicatechin., while black tea contains between 3 and 10 per cent.

Gong Yang assessed green tea consumption and colorectal cancer risk and rectal cancers.
The researchers found an inverse dose-response relationship between the amount of tea consumed and duration in years of lifetime tea consumption This study suggests that regular consumption of green tea may reduce colorectal cancer risk in women.

Comment of OurFood: Drinking green tea without sugar is delicious. Ice-green tea without sugar or sweetener is excellent to avoid thirst on a hot summer day. For those who cannot live without sweetness added orange juice fits the taste. Avoid these industrial ice-teas with plenty of sugar and fructose-glucose syrup caloric bombs . Green tea should always preferred to black tea. Enzymatic activity destroyed most of the black tea polyphenols which are still present in green tea.

Yang, Gong; Shu, Xiao-Ou; Li, Honglan; Chow, Wong-Ho; Ji, Bu-Tian; Zhang, Xianglan; Gao, Yu-Tng and Zheng, Wei: Prospective Cohort Study of Green Tea Consumption and Colorectal Cancer Risk in Women. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention. Volume 16, Pages 1219-1223, doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-07-0097
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/16/6/1219

10.06.2007: Obesity control reducing energy density of foods [1]
Julia Ello-Martin and colleagues 2007 assessed as reduction diet the reduction of fat compared with  the reduction of fat added with higher intake of fruits and vegetables during 1 year.

For both groups no goals for energy or fat intake were assigned; the participants could eat ad libitum.
The low fat and high intake of fruits and vegetables group, had a lower dietary energy density,a higher weight loss (7,9 kg/1 y), and less hunger than did the low fat group (6,4 kg/1y) with variation of +- 0,9 kg for both.

The authors concluded that the reduction of dietary energy density, combining increased fruit and vegetable intakes with decreased fat intake, is an effective strategy for managing body weight.

Commentary of OurFood: Reducing fat in dairy products, convenience foods and fried products such as french fryies fish sticks, croissants, forget about oily dressings and sugar-glucose energy bars to sweeten your calories, adding fruits and vegetables to your menu is the right way.
Instead of roasting lean beef or chicken breast in your pan using plenty of oil, you can cook it using water and zero oil. Gourmet add some wine instead of water. If you add a tomato salad on vinegar you meet the Juilia Ello-Martin specifications.

[1] Ello-Martin, Julia A.; Roe, Liane S.; Ledikwe, Jenny H.; Beach, Amanda M. and Rolls, Barbara J.: Dietary energy density in the treatment of obesity: a year-long trial comparing 2 weight-loss diets. Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, Jun 2007; 85: 1465 - 1477.
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/85/6/1465?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits=10&RESULTFORMAT=&fulltext=1586&searchid=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&volume=85&issue=6&resourcetype=HWCIT

10.06.2007: Contaminants in food [1]
The European Commission noted on the 7. June 2007 what has been undertaken to reduce contaminants in food.

According to the definition adopted by the EU, contaminants are substances that have not been intentionally added to food. These substances may be present in food as a result of the various stages of its production, packaging, transport or holding. They also might result from environmental contamination.

Some contaminants have already studied by food safety authorities, such as mycotoxins (aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, fusarium-toxins, patulin), metals (cadmium, lead, mercury, inorganic tin), dioxins and PCBs, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), 3-MCPD and nitrates.

Ongoing investigations are:
Acrylamide - The Commission will collect data concerning surveys of acrylamide made by member states over three years between 2007 and 2009. [2]

Organotins - chemicals which can be found in water systems due to their presence in paints as anti-biofouling agents e.g. used on the hulls of ships and marine apparatus. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued an opinion on the health risks to consumers associated with exposure to organotins in foodstuffs. Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) has recently adopted an opinion on the risks to health and the environment associated with the use of 4 organotin compounds. In this opinion food and non-food exposure routes were assessed. More informations are available at the EFSA opinion, SCOOP Report [3]

Furan - has been identified in a number of foodstuffs that undergo heat treatment such as canned and jarred foodstuffs. A report on provisional findings on furan in food has been compiled by EFSA. [4] EFSA is currently collecting more data on furan .e.g. on its mode of formation, levels in food and toxicity. [5]

Ethyl carbamate - a compound that can naturally occur in fermented foods and beverages. It often occurs in alcoholic beverages (in particular stone fruit brandies). Ethyl carbamate is formed by ethanol and certain precursors in the fruit mash under the influence of light during the distillation process. EFSA is currently collecting data on the presence of ethyl carbamate.

[1]EU Commission, Food Safety from Farm to Fork: News Archive: Contaminants of food. 07.06.2007
http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/chemicalsafety/contaminants/index_en.htm

[2] Commission Recommendation of 3 May 2007 on the monitoring of acrylamide levels in food (notified under document number C(2007) 1873)
http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/chemicalsafety/contaminants/ciaa_acrylamide_toolbox.pdf

[3] EFSA opinion, SCOOP Report Assessment of the dietary exposure to organotin compounds of the population of the EU Member States
http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/chemicalsafety/contaminants/scoop_3-2-13_final_report
_organotins_en.pdf

[4] EFSA Report of the CONTAM Panel on provisional findings on furan in food. 22 December 2004.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/contam/contam_documents/760.html

[5] Recommendations on the monitoring of the presence of furan in foodstuffs.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:32007H0196:EN:NOT

09.06.2007: Bitter apricot kernel warning [1]
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment says that bitter apricot kernels can lead to poisoning. These kernels are being sold increasingly on the Internet. In some cases it is claimed that they can help to fight cancer.[2] However, there is no scientific evidence to back this claim. [3] [4]

According to the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessmenuite bitter apricot kernels have a high natural level of amygdalin. During digestion hydrocyanic acid is released from the glycoside which can lead to severe, acute poisoning. At high doses it can even prove fatal. Hence, bitter apricot kernels may involve health risks. Eating just a few kernels can already lead to the onset of acute poisoning symptoms. [1]

Consumers should not, therefore, eat more than one or two bitter apricot kernels a day or even none at all for precautionary reasons. Unsubstantiated health claims, which could encourage desperate sick people to buy them, are irresponsible. [1]

Amygdalin (called here vitamin B17)has been studied by FDA in USA and found useless to fight cancer.[5]

The claim cancer cells have within them an enzyme which unlocks the poison in the amygdalin, and in this way the cancer cells are destroyed. Normal, healthy cells do not have this enzyme. Is not backed by any study. [4]

Acute cyanide intoxications may arise from eating apricot kernels, choke cherries, and other stone fruit kernels with high concentrations of cyanogenic glycosides. Inadequately prepared cassava, when constituting the major part of the diet, may be hazardous. Amygdalin is also present in some sorts of cassava [5]



[1] German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment BfR: Bitter apricot kernels can lead to poisoning
http://www.bfr.bund.de/cd/template/index_en

[2] CEM Food.C. Ltd:
http://www.apricotkernels.org/main.htm

09.06.2007: Wheat-based glucose syrups including dextrose not of allergen concern [1]
Since wheat is relevant both as a source of epitopes known to induce coeliac disease and as a source of allergens triggering wheat allergy, it is appropriate to investigate wheat products, namely wheat starch hydrolysates, for their potential to induce coeliac disease or trigger wheat allergy.

The Association des Amidonneries de Cereales de l´Union Europeenne AAC provides information on wheat starch hydrolysates, particularly concerning the potential effects of wheat-based glucose syrups including dextrose in coeliac disease and wheat allergy. The history of safe use of wheat-based glucose syrups including dextrose is claimed based on the safe use of wheat starch-based gluten-free diet in coeliac disease. .

Wheat-based glucose syrups including dextrose may contain low levels of proteins and peptides. It is not known at which levels of intake glucose syrups including dextrose would cause allergic reactions in wheat-allergic individuals. Nevertheless, taking into account all the scientific information provided and in particular the levels of wheat proteins reported in glucose syrups including dextrose, the Panel considers that it is not very likely that this product will trigger a severe allergic reaction in susceptible individuals.

For coeliac disease, assessment of the evidence provided including a new clinical study indicates that wheat-based glucose syrup is unlikely to cause an adverse reaction in individuals with coeliac disease provided that the (provisional) value of gluten considered by Codex Alimentarius for foods rendered gluten-free is not exceeded.

The Codex Standard for Gluten-Free Foods (Codex Stan 118-1983) specifies that the nitrogen content of food ingredients derived from gluten containing cereals may not exceed 0.05 g per 100 g on a dry basis (or 0.31 % protein/ds, Nx6.25), when they are used in a gluten-free food. [2]


[1] EFSA: Opinion of the NDA Panel related to a notification from AAC on wheat-based glucose syrups including dextrose pursuant to Article 6, paragraph 11 of Directive 2000/13/EC. 6.6.2007.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/nda/nda_opinions/food_allergy/ej488
_glucose_syrups.html

[2] Codex Stan 118 Standard for Gulte-Free Foods 1983
http://www.codexalimentarius.net/download/standards/291/CXS_118e.pdf

09.06.2007: D-apha tocopherols, phytosterols and phytosterol esters derived from soybean oil not of allergen concern  [1] [2]
Soy is a common dietary constituent and allergic reactions to soy proteins are well described. Soy allergy prevalence studies are lacking, estimated prevalences are about 0.5% in the general population with about 3-6% of allergic children being allergic to soy proteins. Clinical reactions are similar to those observed with other major food allergens, such as milk, egg or peanut and include systemic anaphylaxis.

The ADM and Cargill asked for an exemption of allergy warning for natural mixed tocopherols (vitamin E, E306) and a range of D-alpha tocopherols acetate and succinate derived from vegetable oil (soybean oil). Natural mixed tocopherols are mainly used as antioxidants in fatty foods at a concentration of about 50 mg/kg (referring to the fat fraction of the specific food). Natural mixed tocopherols are also used as dietary supplements.

The application covers phytosterol esters produced from vegetable oil (soybean oil). Phytosterol esters are currently commercially available in selected foods in several EU countries. The EU regulations limit exposure to a maximum of 3 grams per day of phytosterols through labelling requirements and maximum concentrations in certain food categories in order to avoid intakes above the recommended limits from multiple sources of intake. Plant sterols under consideration are derived from soybean oil deodorised distillates.

Considering the information provided by the applicant regarding the starting material, the subsequent production process, and the demonstration of low residual protein content, the Panel of the European Food Safety Authority considers that it is unlikely that natural mixed tocopherol/D-alpha tocopherols from soybean sources and vegetable oils derived phytosterols and phytosterol esters from soybean sources will trigger a severe allergic reaction in susceptible individuals.
The mixed tocopherols from soybean will therefore exempted from labelling of allergy warning

[1] EFSA: Opinion of the NDA Panel related to a notification from Cognis, ADM and Cargill on natural mixed tocopherols (E306), natural D-alpha tocopherol, natural D-alpha tocopherol acetate and natural D-alpha tocopherol succinate from soybean sources pursuant to Article 6, paragraph 11 of Directive 2000/13/EC. 6.6.2007
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/nda/nda_opinions/food_allergy/ej485
_tocopherols.html

[2] EFSA: Opinion of the NDA Panel related to a notification from Cognis, ADM and Cargill on vegetable oils-derived phytosterols and phytosterol esters from soybean sources pursuant to Article 6 paragraph 11 of Directive 2000/13/EC. 6.6.2007
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/nda/nda_opinions/food_allergy/ej486
_phytosterols.html

09.06.2007: Mustard seed oil (allyl isothiocyanate) not exempted from labelling as allergen [1]
Mustard and products thereof are included in the list of the Annex IIIa of the Directive 2003/89/EC [2].
Manufacturing process of mustard oil
Mustard seed from Brassica juncea are ground, tap water is added and the slurry is incubated at 50°C for 30 minutes. The allyl isothiocyanate is released from its precursor by the enzyme myrosinase. The oil is obtained by steam distillation under reduced pressure. The mustard oil is separated from water by centrifugation and dried with sodium sulphate and filtered.

Allergic reactions of mustard
Mustard is known to trigger allergic reactions or intolerances in sensitive individuals and was therefore included in this list and must be labelled..
International Flavours & Fragrances (IFF) requested the European Commission exempt mustard oil from labelling European Food Safety Authority to evaluate the scientific data and came to the following conclusion:

Arguments of IFF regarding safety of mustard  seed oil
IFF claims that mustard seed oil is not likely to trigger adverse reactions on the basis of two arguments: 1) the typical low levels of mustard oil in foods, and 2) the in vitro demonstration that proteins are not present in amounts higher than 1.5 microg/g in five samples of mustard seed oil analysed with an ELISA test developed by the applicant.

The applicant did not take into account the known toxicity of allyl isothiocyanate and its role in causing allergic contact dermatitis, or the possibility that proteins not detectable with the ELISA test could cause an IgE-mediated reaction (Lerbaek et al., 2004; Kohl and Frosch, 1990).
The main volatile component of mustard seed oil is allyl isothiocyanate (97-100%). which has been classified as toxic by inhalation, in contact with the skin and if swallowed, and irritating to eyes, respiratory system and skin

Allergic reactions to mustard, including severe anaphylactic reactions, are well documented in
clinical and laboratory studies. Mustard allergy may account for 1-7% of all food allergies with
regional variations.

Mustard allergens are resistant to heat and to enzymatic degradation, and therefore are not markedly affected by food processing. The major mustard allergens identified are Sin a 1, belonging to the 2S
albumin family, and Bra j 1, also from the 2S albumin family, with a MW . A new major allergen in mustard seeds has been recently isolated and identified, an 11S globulin called Sin a 2 with a MW of 51 kDa (Palomares et al., 2005), but not all mustard allergens and their occurrence in different species are known. [3] [4]

In addition, allyl isothiocyanate is a major skin-sensitizing agent (non IgE-mediated mechanism),
Mustard protein allergic individuals may react to the protein content of the oil. Individuals sensitised to the skin-sensitising component allyl isothiocyanate may react to oil even in the absence of mustard proteins (Lerbaek, 2004).

Conclusions
Taking account of the potential allergen content and well documented clinical allergic reactions in individuals sensitive to mustard (NDA, 2004a), it is appropriate for the Panel to assess the likelihood that mustard seed oil may cause an allergic reaction in mustard-allergic individuals.
Mustard oil (allyl isothiocyanate) will therefore not be exempted from labelling as allergen.

[1] Opinion of the Scientific Panel NDA related to a notification from IFF on mustard seed oil pursuant to Article 6, paragraph 11 of Directive 2000/13/EC.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/nda/nda_opinions/food_allergy/nda_op_ej481
_mustardseedoil.html

[2] Directive 2003/89/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 November 2003 amending Directive 2000/13/EC as regards indication of the ingredients present in foodstuffs.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2003:308:0015:0018:EL:PDF

[3] NDA (Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies) (2004a). Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies on a request from the Commission relating to the evaluation of allergenic foods for labelling purposes. The EFSA Journal 32, 1-197.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/nda/nda_opinions/food_allergy/341.html

[4] NDA (Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies) (2004b). Opinion of the NDA Panel related to a notification from IFF on mustard seed oil pursuant to Article 6 paragraph 11 of Directive 2000/13/EC. The EFSA Journal 157, 1-6.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/nda/nda_opinions/food_allergy/764.html

08.06.2007: Calcium supplements and excessive consumption of dairy products may increase the risk of prostate cancer in smokers, according to a study related to the ATBC study [1]

Calcium is reported to be the biggest seller supplement claiming that high dietary intakes of calcium and dairy products  reduce prostate cancer risk.

Mitrou and colleagues 2007 in a study concerning dietary intakes of calcium and dairy products in relation to risk of prostate cancer in the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene (ATBC) Cancer Prevention Study in smokers, found that calcium intake of more than 2,000 mg/day was associated with a marked increase in prostate cancer risk. Total dairy intake was also positively associated with risk of prostate cancer, but eliminating calcium from the data no risk of prostate cancer was found being calcium the pro-cancer agent of dairy products.

According to the authors intake of calcium or some related component contained in dairy foods is associated with increased prostate cancer risk.

[1] Mitrou, Panagiota N.; Albanes, Demetrius; Weinstein, Stephanie J.; Pietinen, Pirjo; Taylor, Philip R.; Virtamo, Jarmo; Leitzmann, Michael F.: A prospective study of dietary calcium, dairy products and prostate cancer risk (Finland). International Journal of Cancer. DOI: 10.1002/ijc.22553 Published Online: 2 Feb 2007 1 June 2007, Volume120, Issue 11, Pages: 2466-2473
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/114110091/ABSTRACT

08.06.2007: Desert Locust  [1]
Yemen is facing its worst Desert Locust outbreak since 1993, FAO warned on 6 June 2007. An intensive survey and aerial control campaign using helicopters needs to be mounted to avoid massive locust infestations and serious damage to food crops.

If locust infestations are not controlled in time, agricultural crops in Wadi Hadhramaut and other areas including the Sana’a highlands will be at risk

Locusts are migratory grasshoppers that often travel in vast swarms. A Desert Locust lives about three to five months. The life cycle comprises three stages: egg hopper and adult.

Eggs hatch in about two weeks, hoppers develop in five to six stages over a period of about 30-40 days, and adults can mature within three weeks. Swarms can travel from 5 to 130 kilometres or more in a day with the wind.

A Desert Locust adult can consume roughly its own weight in fresh food per day -- about two grams. A very small part of an average swarm eats the same amount of food in one day as about 500 people.

Control [2]
The Desert Locust is a difficult pest to control. Early warning and preventive control is the strategy adopted by locust affected countries in Africa and Asia to try to stop locust plagues from developing and spreading.FAOsDesert Locust Information Service (DLIS) in Rome, Italy monitors the weather, ecological conditions and the locust situation on a daily basis.Results and warnings are available on the FAOs Locust Watch web site. FAO also provides information.
An ecological method to control Desert Locust is with natural enemies. These include predatory anand parasitic wasps and flies, predatory beetle larvae, birds and reptiles, but are not sufficient to control great swarms Another old African method is by putting poisonous or aromatic plants next to the crop they are trying to protect.

Organophosphate [2]
At present the primary method of controlling desert locust infestations is with organophosphate insecticides applied in small concentrated doses by vehicle-mounted and aerial sprayers. The insecticide must be applied directly to the insect.
Biopesticides include fungi, bacteria, neem extract and pheromones. The effectiveness of many biopesticides equals that of conventional chemical pesticides. They are usually harmless to other creatures and the environment.

Biological control [2]
A biological control product is Green Muscle. It is based on a naturally occurring entomopathogenic fungus which is a fungus which infects fungus Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum This fungus infects many groups of insects. It is harmless to humans and other mammals and birds. It is recommended for use mainly against hoppers, the wingless early stages of locusts. it allows the natural enemies of locusts and grasshoppers to continue their beneficial work. Biopesticides are also safer to use in environmentally sensitive areas such as national parks or near rivers and other water bodies.

Green Muscle was developed under the LUBILOSA project Pathogens have the advantage that they can be produced in artificial culture in large quantities and be used with ordinary spraying equipment. The fungal spores are sprayed in oil. Oil-based formulations allow the application of fungal spores under dry conditions such as found in deserts.

Most insects living near the soil have evolved natural defenses against entomopathogenic fungi like M. anisopliae. This fungus is therefore locked in an evolutionary battle to overcome these defenses, which has led to a large number of strains that are adapted to certain groups of insects. Some strains are so specific that they have attained variety status, like Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum, which almost exclusively infects grasshoppers.[3]

The use of Metarhizium anisopliaein the control of malaria mosquitos coating mosquito nets or cotton sheets attached to the wall with them.is under investigation. [3]

[1] Yemen is facing worst locust outbreak in nearly 15 years
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000590/index.html

[2] Wikipedia, the free enzyclopedia: Desert locust
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_locust

[3] Wikipedia, the free enzyclopedia: Metarhizium anisopliae
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metarhizium_anisopliae

07.06.2007: Heptachlor in feed with fishmeal[1]
According to the EFSA Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain heptachlor was commercially introduced as a non-systemic contact insecticide in 1945. It was also a major constituent (about 10 %) of technical chlordane. Heptachlor was used for agricultural purposes, soil and seed treatment, wood protection and termite- and household insect control. It has been banned for use in the European Union since 1984 and in most other countries worldwide because of the persistency in the environment of the two break-down products heptachlor epoxide and photoheptachlor.

All these compounds are lipophilic and particularly heptachlor epoxide and photoheptachlor tend to accumulate in the food chain.

Toxicity
Heptachlor shows moderate acute toxicity and heptachlor epoxide and photoheptachlor are more toxic than heptachlor. In mammals, the main target organs are the nervous system and the liver, but also the reproductive and the immune system are affected. Heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide cause liver tumours in mice, but are not genotoxic. Heptachlor is classified by IARC as possibly carcinogenic to humans (group 2B). Heptachlor is moderately or highly toxic to fish exposed via water, but no data from oral studies have been found.

Food chain
Amongst the species studied, the domestic hen is the most sensitive species and egg production and hatchability are the critical endpoints. Total heptachlor (sum of heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide) is not frequently found in feed commodities. When present, it is mostly in fish derived products and only very infrequently in feed materials of plant origin. Heptachlor epoxide is the predominant contaminant.
Human exposure to heptachlor
The present dietary exposure of the adult population to total heptachlor is below 1 ng/kg b.w. per day, which is two to three orders of magnitude below the tolerable daily intake of 0.0001 mg/kg b.w. as established by WHO in 2006.

Recommendations
To reduce human exposure to heptachlor Scientific Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain recommends to increase surveillance of feed :

- the Besides heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide, the analyses of feed samples, especially of marine origin, should also include the determination of photoheptachlor.
- In the clean-up of samples, treatment with sulfuric acid must be avoided in order to prevent the decomposition of the analytes.
- Inter-comparisons performed on biological samples revealed large discrepancies in the performance of laboratories, indicating scope for improvement of the analytical methods.
- Toxicity and kinetic studies in fish exposed to heptachlor and heptachlor epoxide via the diet are lacking and should be conducted.
- The Members States are requested by the Commission to report the results of their monitoring programmes on undesirable substances in animal feed.
- Special attention should be paid to the control of feed materials coming from areas of the world where heptachlor has recently been or still is used.

[1] EFSA: Opinion of the Scientific Panel CONTAM related heptachlor as an undesirable substance in animal feed. Published 5 June 2007
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/contam/contam_opinions/ej478_heptachlor.html

07.06.2007: Bioavailability and food safety of L pidolic acid salts [1]
According to the Scientific Panel AFC of the European Food Safety Authority, the bioavailability of calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc are absorbed from their L-pidolic acid salts is comparable to that from other water-soluble and dissociable salts permitted to be used in food supplements and foods intended for particular nutritional uses.

The use of calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc L-pidolic acid salts as source of these minerals for nutritional purposes to food supplements is of no safety concern at the maximum use levels of L-pidolic acid of 3 g/day.

[1] Opinion of the Scientific Panel AFC related to Calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc L-pidolate as sources for calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc added for nutritional purposes to food supplements and to foods intended for particular nutritional uses.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/afc/afc_opinions/ej495-503_pidolates.html

07.06.2007: Vaccination against avian influenza of H5 and H7 subtypes in domestic poultry and captive birds [1]
Control measures of the HPAI strain of H5N1 are based on eradication of infected flocks, but increasingly more countries supplement these measures by the use of vaccination which is becoming important to control and prevent the propagation of the disease.

The opinion of the European Scientific Panel on Animal Health and Welfare is intended to support the Commission in the further developments of a vaccination policy and was adopted on 11 May 2007.

According to this opinion, the current EU authorised AI vaccines for poultry such as chickens and ducks meet the relevant quality standards and are thus, safe and effective to be used. However, for other poultry and captive bird species the level of effectiveness of current AI vaccination is not sufficiently known and therefore additional data on the immunogenicity and effectiveness of current and future AI vaccines should be generated.

In general, the use of AI vaccines in poultry should be defined in advance dependant on the epidemiological situation, geographical area and overall risk perception as a preventive, emergency or in endemic situations.
Vaccination may also reduce transmission of AI virus amongst captive and wild birds, having also major benefits for animal welfare as vaccination will prevent them from contracting the disease, death and from being culled during eradication measures.

Silent spread of AI viruses can occur after vaccination, and therefore serological monitoring with
DIVA based strategies will be required to detect AI virus transmission after vaccination (shedding of the virus without presenting symptoms of the disease).

Vaccination programmes using vaccines authorised by the competent authority may reduce the potential for human and other mammalian cases of HPAI, where the disease may become endemic. The use of EU authorised vaccines per se is recommended because is safe and has no negative effect on poultry products for consumers.

On the evaluation of laboratory testing methods for surveillance of vaccinated flocks (in particular DIVA strategy), it is concluded that to date only conventional inactivated and recombinant live-vectored vaccines are available for use and can be coupled with a suitable companion diagnostic test.

An intrinsic problem of the DIVA principle is that infections with all AI subtypes (including non H5 and H7) may interfere.

The "DIVA" (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) a control strategy for avian influenza infections in poultry is based on the use of an inactivated oil emulsion vaccine containing the same haemagglutinin (H) subtype as the challenge virus, but a different neuraminidase (N). [2]

The "ad hoc" serological test based on the detection of specific anti-N1 antibodies. "DIVA" control strategy may represent a tool for the control of avian influenza infections in poultry to differentiate between vaccinated and naturally infected birds. [2]

[1] Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Animal Health and Welfare on a request from the Commission related with the vaccination against avian influenza of H5 and H7 subtypes in domestic poultry and captive birds. Published 6 June 2007.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/etc/medialib/efsa/science/ahaw/ahaw_opinions/ej489_ai
_vaccines.Par.0002.File.dat/ahaw_op_ej489_AI_Vaccination_summary_en.pdf

[2] Capua, I.; Terregino, C.; Cattoli, G.; Mutinelli, F.; Rodrigues, J.F.: Development of a DIVA (Differentiating Infected from Vaccinated Animals) strategy using a vaccine containing a heterologous neuraminidase for the control of avian influenza. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids
=12745380&dopt=Abstract

06.06.2007: Folic acid increases the risk of some types of tumours [1]
Bernard Cole and colleagues 2007 found in a study that folate, when administered as folic acid for up to six years, does not decrease the risk of adenoma formation in the large intestine among individuals with previously removed adenomas.

Another study by Schernhammer and colleagues 2007 (See www.ourfoo-news.com 03.06.2007: Supplements with vitamin B may be harmful) came to similar conclusion in relation to pancreatic cancer. [2]

In the study of Cole participants were randomly assigned to receive 1 mg/day of folic acid or placebo and to receive aspirin or placebo and were then examined three and six or eight years later.

The researchers concluded that folic acid at 1 mg/d does not reduce colorectal adenoma risk. Further research is needed to investigate the possibility that folic acid supplementation might increase the risk of colorectal neoplasia.

Cornelia Ulrich and John Potter in an editorial said that folic acid promoted growth of carcinogenic lesions and calls of health professionals to rely carefully on multiagent chemoprevention and not to forget diet. [3]

The study of Schernhammer and the study of Cole may be a warning for excessive consumption of supplementation of the vitamin B group. Both studies call for more studies.

Mandatory fortification of certain foods with folic acid in the US and Canada were introduced in 1998 to reduce the incidence of pregnancies affected by neural tube defects.

Andrew Shao US dietary supplements industry association, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) says that the benefits of folic acid are well-documented, particularly in the area of reducing the risk of neural tube birth defect. There is also promising scientific evidence for folic acid in reducing the risk of congenital cardiovascular defects, stroke and Alzheimer's disease. [4]

[1] Cole, B.; Baron, J.; Sandler, R.; Haile, R.; Ahnen, D.; Bresalier,R.; McKeown-Eyssen, G.; Summers, R.; Rothstein, R.; Burke, C.; Snover,D.; Church, T.; Allen, J.; Robertson, D.; Beck, G.; Bond, J.; Byers, T.; Mandel, J.; Mott, L.; Pearson, L.; Barry, E.; Rees, J.; Marcon, N.; Saibil, F.; Magne Ueland, P.; Greenberg, E.: Folic Acid for the prevention of colorectal adenomas. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) 6 June 2007, Volume 297, Issue 21, Pages 2351-2359
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/297/21/2351

[2] Schernhammer. Study on folate and pancreatic cancer
http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/67/11/5553

[3] Ulrich, Cornelia M.; Potter, John D.: Folate and Cancer - Timing is everything. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) 6 June 2007, Volume 297, Issue 21, Pages 2408-2409
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/297/21/2408

[4] CRN Emphasizes Importance of Folic Acid Benefits
http://www.crnusa.org/PR07_CRN_JAMA-FOLIC060707.html

06.06.2007: Antimicrobial drug-resistant Escherichia coli from humans and poultry products[1]
According to Johnson and colleagues 2007 the food supply, including poultry products, may transmit antimicrobial drug-resistant Escherichia coli to humans. Drug-resistant human isolates from US population were phylogenetic and virulence gene profile similar to poultry isolates, and drug-susceptible and drug-resistant poultry isolates were largely indistinguishable.

The authors concluded that human-source drug-resistant fecal E. coli isolates more likely originated in poultry than in humans, whereas drug-resistant poultry isolates likely derive from drug-susceptible poultry isolates. However, avoidance of poultry consumption may not reliably provide personal protection.

[1] Johnson JR, Sannes MR, Croy C, Johnston B, Clabots C, Kuskowski MA, et al.: Antimicrobial drug-resistant Escherichia coli from humans and poultry products, Minnesota and Wisconsin, 2002-2004. Emerg Infect Dis . 2007 Jun 6.
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/13/6/838.htm

06.06.2007 Acidification of the North sea induced by atmospheric CO2 [1]
Blackford and Gilbert 2007 describe a coupled carbonate system–marine ecosystem–hydrodynamic model. According to the researchers the biological activity in the benthic, the region near the ground, as well as pelagic, the deep water, is an important factor in this variability.

The acidification of the region due to increased fluxes of atmospheric CO2 into the marine system is calculated and shown to exceed, on average, 0.1 pH units over the next 50 years and result in a total acidification of 0.5 pH units below pre-industrial levels at atmospheric CO2 concentrations of 1000 ppm.

The potential for measurable changes in biogeochemistry are demonstrated by simulating the observed inhibition of pelagic nitrification with decreasing pH.
Scientists believe that further decreased pH of the North Sea water will destroy corals and biological system of the coastal and deeper regions.

[1] Blackford, J.C.; Gilbert, F.J.: pH variability and CO2 induced acidification in the North Sea. Journal of Marine Systems, Vol 64 Jan 2007 ppg 229-241
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science

06.06.2007: Human Alveolar Echinococcosis  [1]
According to Schweiger and colleagues 2007 human alveolar echinococcosis, a hepatic disorder that resembles liver cancer, is a highly aggressive and lethal zoonotic infection caused by the larval stage of the fox tapeworm, Echinococcus multilocularis Humans and intermediate host animals acquire the infection by ingesting E. multilocularis eggs in contaminated food or water or by having close physical contact with infected foxes, dogs, or host faeces.

Annual incidence of human alveolar echinococcis increased recently in zwitzerland.with fox population highly increasing. The authors warn from an emerging epidemic of AE. Future trends will depend on the intensity of present and future contamination of the environment with E. multilocularis eggs as well as on the number of susceptible persons exposed to the parasite.

Increasing fox population has increased the infection pressure for a large part of the human population such as coyotes in the United States and Canada, as suitable definitive host of E. multilocularis have become established in suburban areas with moderate to dense human populations, and other canids such as domestic dogs as definitive hosts.

The authors conclude that public health authorities in echinococcosis-endemic areas should establish coordinated systems of continuous surveillance and risk assessment, combined with measures to reduce illness and death from AE in human populations They suggest control strategies,such as deworming of foxes and other wild canids by using anthelminthic baiting. target suburban areas that have high human and wild canid population densities.

[1] Schweiger A, Ammann RW, Candinas D, Clavien P-A, Eckert J, Gottstein B, et al. Human alveolar echinococcosis after fox population increase, Switzerland. Emerg Infect Dis. 2007 Jun 2007
http://www.cdc.gov/EID/content/13/6/878.htm

06.06.2007: The role of meat and bone meal (MBM) in the epidemiology of BSE [1]
Mathilde Paul and colleagues 2007 studied the role of meat and bone meal (MBM), animal fat and dicalcium phosphate (DCP) after the feed ban on the risk for BSE epidemics.

In France, meat-and-bone meal (MBM) has been banned from cattle feed since July 30, 1990. However, through January 1, 2007, 957 cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) have been detected in cattle born after the ban.
Meat bone meal (MBM)

According to the authors the source of infection in cattle born after the MBM ban still involves MBM. The BSE agent may have entered cattle feed by cross-contamination with feed for monogastric species (pigs and poultry) in which MBM was still authorized until November 2000. Cross-contamination could have occurred within factories, during feed delivery to the farm, or on mixed farms that have cattle and pigs or poultry. The authors raise the question of effectiveness of the ban that was initially restricted to bovines and belatedly extended to other species to reduce cross-contamination.

The role of MBM as a source of BSE after the ban of MBM for cattle is well documented through cross-contamination in feed factories. The authors found that the total ban of MBM for farm animals in November 2000 was essential for controlling the spread of BSE.

Other animal by products
Animal dicalcium phosphate (DCP)
According to Paul and colleagues, together with other studies say that the implication of animal DCP as a source of BSE, if it existed, should have been marginal.
In contrast, a risk analysis by the European Food Safety Agency [2] considers the potential role of animal DCP in cattle infection as to be of the same order of magnitude as the residual risk from cross-contamination with MBM.

Animal fat in milk replacers
This study cannot exclude a minor effect of animal fat in milk replacers because of the solubility of prions and the possible contamination with protein impurities by contact with other infectious materials at the slaughterhouse. Animal fat is incorporated in cattle feed in milk replacer and in proprietary concentrates.

The authors point to the fact that in current context of the decreasing epidemic, economic pressure is increasing to release the ban of MBM in feed for monogastric species.

[1] Paul, Mathilde; Abrial, David; Jarrige, Nathalie; Rican, Stéphane;Garrido, Myriam; Calavas, Didier; Ducrot Christian:Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and Spatial Analysis of the Feed Industry. Emerging Infectious Diseases, Volume 13, Number 6–June 2007
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/13/6/867.htm

[2] Opinion of the Scientific Panel BIOHAZ on the "Quantitative assessment of the residual BSE risk posed by di-calcium phosphate (DCP) and tri-calcium phosphate (TCP) from bovine bones used as an animal feed additive or as fertiliser". 16. March 2006
www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/biohaz/biohaz_opinions/1440.html

05.06.2007: Strategies to reduce person-to-person transmission during epidemics[1]
Seto and colleagues 2007 studied the spinach Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli O157) outbreak in the United States in 2006 with 173 cases and one death.

During the spread of the disease the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Food and Drug Administration advised consumers not to eat spinach as the primary strategy for protecting against foodborne transmission of E. coli O157. No warnings, however, were issued regarding the prevention of person-to-person (secondary) transmission.

The authors assume that a combination of possible intervention strategies to interrupt secondary transmission would have a range of possible levels of effectiveness in epidemics like this. These strategies would include strongly recommending handwashing, avoiding contact with persons with diarrhea, meticulously preparing food, and avoiding work or school when ill with any gastrointestinal sign or symptom.

The researchers found in this study that an intervention such as a campaign to encourage handwashing and isolation of persons with diarrhea can substantially reduce secondary transmission. Even if a campaign were initiated relatively late in the outbreak, the number of cases would be reduced. Such advice was not a focus of the public health messages disseminated for the 2006 E. coli O157 outbreak. The interruption of secondary transmission might have had a useful role as an additional tool in managing this outbreak.

Public Health Implications
Public health strategies for preventing secondary transmission could include public media campaigns reminding the population of the importance of handwashing, avoiding contact with feces, minimizing nonessential contact with persons with diarrhea, meticulous care when preparing and consuming food, and staying at home from work or school when having any diarrhea during the outbreak period. Messages for all of these strategies can be delivered inexpensively to large or targeted populations through a variety of media (television, radio, print, Internet).

Conclusion
The authors conclude that health officials should consider rapidly delivering widespread public health messages with specific advice on how to interrupt secondary transmission of E. coli O157. Such an intervention, even if only modestly successful, could meaningfully reduce the number of cases.


[1] Seto EYW, Soller JA, Colford JM Jr. Strategies to reduce person-to-person transmission during widespread Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak. Emerg Infect Dis [serial on the Internet]. 2007 Jun.
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/13/6/860.htm

05.06.2007: Report on Epidemiological analysis of the 2006 bluetongue virus serotype 8 epidemic in north-western Europe updated in June 2007. [1]
Bluetongue (BT) is an arthropod-borne viral disease caused by the BTV-serotype 8 (BTV-8) It affects domestic and wild ruminants, particularly certain breeds of sheep. It is a severe clinical disease, including mortality which rapidly spread in north-western Europe in 2006 . It affected cattle and sheep holdings in Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg, and The Netherlands.

The main findings reported by the EFSA bluetongue working group
Statistical modelling showed that the initial infection occurred in the area close to Maastricht.
The source of the introduction of BTV-8 could not be identified and the exact origin and route of the introduction of BTV-8 thus far remains unknown. However, the absence of legal import of ruminants from outside the EU into the Area of First Infection and the absence of BTV-8 from southern Europe suggest that the introduction of the BTV-8 infection into north-western Europe is likely to have occurred via a other than through import of infected ruminants.
Specifically, the potential for Culicoides to be imported along with or independently of the import of animals, plants or other ‘materials’ merits further study.

Monitoring
Sheep flocks should be monitored by a system based on clinical signs, as PCR in affected sheep is often negative.
Cattle monitoring system based on serological surveillance is being recommended.

Culicoides as a vector of BTV
The BTV-8 virus was found to be present in vectors (Culicoides species) which are endemic to north-western Europe. C. imicola, which is thought to be responsible for at least 90% of BTV transmission in the Mediterranean Basin, was not found in the affected region. Indigenous Culicoides found to be PCR-positive were C. dewulfi (a species breeding exclusively in the dung of cattle and horses) and C. obsoletus / C. scoticus.

In all likelihood this persistent activity of adult Culicoides owes much to the mild temperatures that have continued to prevail across northern Europe during the winter of 2006/2007.

Local spread was modelled and found to occur at a rate of about 2 km per day or approximately 15 km per week and equals the flight distances covered by Culicoides.

Wind may affect spread over long distances. In particular, the density of the observed wind events contributed, at least in part, to explaining the spread of BTV

Conclusion
The report concludes that changes in climatic conditions coupled with increased worldwide traffic might increase the risk in the appearance and the establishment of diseases in parts of Europe that were thus far exotic to those regions.

[1] European Food Safety Authority: Report on Epidemiological analysis of the 2006 bluetongue virus serotype 8 epidemic in north-western Europe.
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/in_focus/bluetongue/bluetongue_report_s8.html

05.06.2007: Greater potential of CWD-infected deer than elk to transmit the disease to other species [1]
Brent L. Race and colleagues 2007 studied the potential for cross-species transmission of chronic wasting disease (CWD) of deer and elk. According to he researchers CWD prevalence in wild elk is much lower than its prevalence in wild deer. The researchers found that the quantification of prion protein from tonsil and retropharyngeal lymph nodes showed much higher levels of PrPres in deer than in elk, suggesting that CWD-infected deer may be more likely than elk to transmit the disease to other cervids and have a greater potential to transmit CWD to noncervids.

The high presence of PrPres in deer lymphoid tissues suggest that infectivity might also be present in other peripheral tissues such as intestine, kidney, or salivary glands, which could possibly lead to excretion or secretion of infectivity in faeces, urine, or saliva. in confined settings, where animal-to-animal contact increases.

CWD transmission to humans
Earlier studies have not shown any evidence for transmission of CWD to humans. CWD has been transmitted to cattle by intracerebral but not by oral inoculation, and no reports have found that co-pasturing of CWD-infected deer or elk with cattle has resulted in transmission. Raymond and colleagues 2000 [2] found in vitro assays designed to test the susceptibility of humans or cattle to CWD suggested a very low probability of transmission to humans. Raymond suggests that there might be a barrier at the molecular level that should limit the susceptibility of non-cervid species to CWD.

Sheep might cross CWD species barrier
Race and colleagues suggest that among livestock, sheep might be a possible target for CWD infection in appropriate situations such as co-pasturing. Also, a CWD agent from putatively infected sheep could have a host range not usually associated with CWD and might cross species barriers more readily than CWD from cervids. Thus, if CWD continues to expand in deer and elk populations, the possibility of transmission to noncervid species will require continued surveillance.

[1] Race, Brent L.; Meade-White, Kimberly D.; Ward, Anne; Jewell, Jean; Miller, Michael W. Williams, Elizabeth S.; Chesebro, Bruce; Race, Richard E. :Levels of Abnormal Prion Protein in Deer and Elk with Chronic Wasting Disease. Emerging Infectious Diseases. Volume 13, Number 6-June 2007
http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/13/6/824.htm

[2] Raymond GJ, Bossers A, Raymond LD, O'Rourke KI, McHolland LE, Bryant PK 3rd, et al.: Evidence of a molecular barrier limiting susceptibility of humans, cattle and sheep to chronic wasting disease. EMBO J. 2000 Sep 1;19(17):4425-30.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids
=10970836&dopt=Abstract

04.06.2007: Prickly pear cactus pads may control diabetes in Mexico[1]
Nopales are made from the young stem segments of prickly pear cactus, peeled to remove the spines. Opuntia ficus indica and other cactuses are cultivated in Mexico. Nopales are very rich in insoluble and especially soluble dietary fibre. They are also rich in vitamines and minerals.

Nopales reduces the glycemic effect of a mixed meal according to Bacardi-Gascon and colleagues 2007 who studied the effect of the cactus pear nopales on blood sugar levels when eaten with regular Mexican fodder like burritos and quesadillas. Bacardi-Gascon and colleagues concluded that Mexican patients could use nopales as a culturally based choice for the management of diabetes. [2]

Caterpillars of the Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg), known as the Prickly Pear Moth feed on the pads (cladodes) of cactus and may endanger yelds. [3]

[1] Wikipedia, the free enzyclopedia: Nopal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nopal

[2] Bacardi-Gascon, Montserrat; Duenas-Mena, Dulce; and Jimenez-Cruz, Arturo:Lowering Effect on Postprandial Glycemic Response of Nopales Added to Mexican Breakfasts
Diabetes Care 2007, Volume 30: 1264-1265.
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/extract/30/5/1264

[3] USDA National Agricultural Library: Invasive Species: Cactus Moth http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/animals/cactusmoth.shtml

04.06.2007: Fifth Annual CJD Foundation Family Conference [1]
The fifth annual CJD Foundation Family Conference, July 6-8 in Washington, D.C. and also join our advocacy visits to the Hill on July 9. Check http://www.cjdfoundation.org/headlines.php?ptime=1166193255 website for the Program, and other information about this event.

Some of the problems the foundation looks after are:
Reduction of BSE tests on US cows  [2]
Over the last few years, a type of Acquired CJD called variant (vCJD) has been identified in young people. vCJD has been linked to ingestion of beef tainted with BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy), most cases have occurred in the United Kingdom. Testing cows being slaughtered helped to reduce the risk of vCJD.

However, according to Florence's Newsletter, the USDA tests so few cows it would be impossible for anyone to know how prevalent U.S. BSE really is. Cattle testing was increased from 40,000 per year to 375,000 for an 18 month period following the discovery - there are 35 million cattle slaughtered for the U.S. food supply each year.  [2]
The Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns was asked last July by a commission leaded by the CDJ Disease Foundation that the increased number of BSE testing should not be cut back but instead that it be increased. One week after this petition USDA cut back to the previous 40,000. [2]
In a letter to Florence at Creutzfeld-Jacobs Disease Foundation dated October 3, 2006 Mr. Johanns stated.... "With regard to USDA's activities, it is important to understand ...USDA's BSE surveillance is being conducted not as a food safety measure but rather as a monitoring effort designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the United States' BSE safeguarding measures with respect to animal health".
According to Florence it is difficult to understand how human risk from infected meat takes a back seat to what appears to be a policy benefiting specific special interest groups. [2]
A statement released yesterday reported that Japan and South Korea will soon be opening their borders to our cattle again based on the U.S. upgraded rating from the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) from "possible risk" to "controlled risk". The USDA's Chief Veterinary Office Dr. Ron DeHaven serves as the U.S. official delegate to the OIE. Through the OIE decision the USDA is now able to avoid accountability at all costs, even those directly related to human lives. [2]

[1]Annual Family Conference Schedule Tentative Schedule July 6 --9, 2007
http://www.cjdfoundation.org/headlines.php?ptime=1166193255

[2] May Newsletter by wanda May 30, 2007 02:03 PM News; May 23, 2007
http://www.cjdfoundation.org/headlines.php?ptime=1167759120

04.06.2007: New-Zealand GM cow produces skim milk [1]
In an article by Cath O'Driscoll in Chemistry and Industry genetic modification of cows to produce skim milk is reported. The authors claim that special genes could be used to breed herds of animals producing only skimmed milk.
The authors say that a commercial herd will be available by 2011. The research is being done by the biotech firm ViaLactia at the dairy co-operative Fonterra which already makes milk from one of the GM cows which was named Merge. The new GM cow will fit very well into the good selling market of low fat products.

According to the authors this could reduce the surplus of cream and there would be no need for disposal. However, the cream is used to make butter and other products such as ice cream, confectioneries,and bakeries. There is no need for a genetic modification of cows to produce skimmed milk. The dairy industry does this with powerful centrifuges.
Another exciting development of their cows they are working on is to produce a GM cow which
gives butter that is spreadable straight from the fridge. Experiments to soften butter using special feed are not so successful as the change to GM cows.

[1] O'Driscoll, Cath: Skimmed milk straight from the cow. Chemistry and Industry 28 May 2007 - Issue No 10 - Page 11
http://www.chemind.org/CI/viewissue.jsp?dateOfIssue=2007-05-28&currentIssueType=News&pt=CI

03.06.2007: The White Paper on nutrition, overweight and obesity [1]
The white paper on A Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity related health issues was adopted by the European Commission on 30.05.2007. It is based on the EU Platform for Action on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, initiated in 2005, and green paper on promoting healthy diets and physical activity 2005. The paper contains principles for action and partnership approach. It focuses better-informed consumer, allowing them to make informed, evidence-based decisions about what foods to buy to tackle obesity. [1]

The Commission's preference, at this stage, is to keep the existing voluntary
approach at EU level due to the fact that it can potentially act quickly and effectively to tackle
rising overweight and obesity rates. [1]

Voluntary efforts to ensure adverts aimed at children should be combined with rules at the level of individual member states, such as those recently implemented by the Office of Communication in the UK. Industry has already taken important steps but these have not always been uniform across products and Member States. Some Member States are encouraging reformulation of foods, for example in terms of their levels of fat, saturated and trans fats, salt and sugar. [1]

All these reformulations (and there are only few of them) took place under heavy pressure of consumer associations or retailers fearing bad publicity.

The CIAA has fought against being seen as a scapegoat for obesity and welcomes the White Paper, enforcing physical exercise to reduce obesity, and refers to its own Brochure [2] [3]

Eurocommerce, speaking for its members, welcomes the White Paper stressing the importance of education programme in schools, since nutrition and healthy lifestyle education should start at an early age.

The European Consumers Organisation BEUC, however, says the White Paper is disappointing because it relies on revision of nutritional labelling. Advertising of food for children is mentioned vaguely about partnerships and voluntary measures, with a review in 2010.
BEUC says what consumers urgently need is simple and understandable on-pack labelling to help them make the most appropriate nutritional choices, since they cannot rely on advertising. Promotion of foods high in fat, sugar and salt for children exerts pressure on parents, but the solution, relies on the source of pressure on advertising. [5]

[1] White Paper on a Strategy for Europe on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity related health issues
http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/nutrition/keydocs_nutrition_en.htm

[2] CIAA statement on Commission's White Paper on Nutrition, Overweight and Obesity. CIAA News 31.05.2007.
http://www.ciaa.be/pages_en/press_area/news_list.asp

[3] CIAA Brochure: Promoting balanced diets and healthy lifestyles.
http://www.ciaa.eu/pages_en/documents/brochure_detailed.asp?brochure_id=47

[4]Eurocommerce Commerce welcomes the White Paper establishing an EU strategy to fight against obesity. Brussels, 30 May
http://www.eurocommerce.be/content.aspx?pageId=40895

[5]beuc: The White Paper is like many slimming regimes - built on false hopes and unrealistic expectations
http://docshare.beuc.org/Common/GetFile.asp?ID=23227&mfd=off&LogonName=Guesten

03.06.2007: Supplements with vitamin B may be harmful  [1]
It is known that folate deficiency induces DNA breaks and may alter cellular capacity for mutation and epigenetic methylation.

However, Schernhammer and colleagues 2007 found that supplements did not reduce the risk of cancer. B vitamins from multivitamin pills increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer by 139 per cent.

The mechanism of the different effect from vitamin from supplements and the effect of vitamins absorbed from food is unknown.

The authors suggest that the growth of a dormant tumor may be stimulated by folate and other similar vitamins, especially in case if a person with chronic shortage of these nutrients in his diet suddenly starts taking multivitamins in an effort to become healthy. Similar results have been found studying oestrogen-rich soy. Women eating soy all life long reduced the risk of breast cancer, but those who suddenly started to eat soy did increase the risk.

In this study nonusers of multivitamins were found to have a modest inverse trend between folate, PLP, and B12 and pancreatic cancer risk. This has not been observed among people using multivitamin supplement and among those who obtain these factors exclusively through dietary sources, there may be an inverse relation between vitamin B and the risk.

The authors advice is to maintain a normal weight and eat their fruit and vegetables to avoid pancreatic cancer. Liver, wholegrain cereals, dairy products and green vegetables are good sources of B vitamins.

[1] Schernhammer, Eva; Wolpin, Brian;Rifai, Nader; Cochrane, Barbara; Manson, Jo An; Ma, Jing; Giovannucci, Ed; Thomson, Cynthia; Stampfer, Meir and Fuchs, Charles: Plasma folate, vitamins B6, B12, and homocysteine and pancreatic cancer risk in four large cohorts Cancer Research 1 June 2007, Volume 67, Issue 11 5553-5560.
http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/67/11/5553

03.06.2007 Antimicrobial silver as antimicrobial agent in packaging materials
To increase shelf life of food products a line of styrene copolymers using silver-based antimicrobial ingredients from Agion were developed by BASF providing continuous protection from microbes by releasing silver ions to the surface of the product at a slow and steady rate
Silver is already being incorporated in plastics, such as used in refrigerators, water filtration, cutting boards, cellphones, keyboard and clinical devices turning the surfaces self sanitising. [1]

European cheese coating with silver ions
According Ag POLYMER an antimicrobial cheese polymer coating with silver-ion zeolite ist intended to coat cheese and protect it from microbes in the European dairy industry. [2]

Agion's silver antimicrobial ingredient has been approved for food and water contact by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Food Safety Agency.It is a notified existing substance under the EU's directive European Biocidal Products Directive (BPD) and listed for use as an indirect food contact substance with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). [3]


[1] Agion Antimicrobial: BASF forms exclusive partnership with Agion Technologies. Press release May 25, 2007.
http://www.agion-tech.com/NewsAndEvents.aspx?id=776

[2] Agion Technologies and AgPOLYMER Introduce Antimicrobial Cheese Coating Polymers Press release April 24, 2007
http://www.agion-tech.com/NewsAndEvents.aspx?id=742

[3] Agion: Regulatory guidance
http://www.agion-tech.com/CustomerPrograms.aspx?id=120

02.06.2007: FTC Children's Exposure to TV Advertising Report [1]    
The research looks at television ad exposure for children in the year 2004 and compares it to similar research from 1977. The report also finds that children are not exposed to more food ads on television than they were in the past, although their ad exposure is more concentrated on children’s programming. This means that it turns out to be more refined, concentrating on the susceptible group of children aged 2-11 years.

FTC says that food ads account for 22 percent, and hildren get approximately half of their food advertising and about one-third of their total television advertising exposure from programs in which children are at least 50 percent of the audience.

According to the FTC Report the winner of most frequent food ads was "Restaurants and Fast Food" (Last of the133 pages). [2]

The CSPI comments this report and says that the 2004 findings are no cause for much celebration. As parents know, television is just a one slice of an ever-expanding pie of food marketing aimed at kids. CSPI sees the future that food advertisers are engaging in a massive, sophisticated multimedia campaign to get kids to eat junk food. It's a campaign that uses in-school marketing, games on websites, licensed "spokescharacters" on food packages, and other tactics. It's a campaign that helps fuel the skyrocketing rates of childhood obesity and diabetes. There's virtually no encouragement at all to eat healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. And that kind of corporate irresponsibility is why parents are increasingly looking to Congress and even the courts to help protect kids' health. [3]

The activity of the UK government banning completely junk food from children TV is a good step forward to avoid children obesity.[4]

To promote healthy foods the CSPI proudly presents:
    Ten foods you should NEVER eat
            http://www.cspinet.org/nah/10foods_bad.html
                            Ten superfoods for better health
                                        http://www.cspinet.org/nah/10foods_good.html

[1] Federal Trade Commission. Protecting America's Consumer: Children not seeing more food ads on Television. Release 01.06.2007
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/06/childrenadsstudy.shtm

[2] Federal Trade Commission:The Report June 1, 2007
http://www.ftc.gov/os/2007/06/cabecolor.pdf

[3] CSPI Food Marketers Rely less on TV in Favour of Other Marketing, Says CSPI about FTC Report. Friday, June 1, 2007
http://www.cspinet.org/new/200706012.html

[4] 26.02.2007: OFCOM UK advertising regulations far better than US self regulation.
http://www.ourfood-news.com/Archives_February_2007.html

01.06.2007 Eating regularly in some fast-food chain outlets is unsafe in many parts of the world according to a study presented at the 15th European Congress on Obesity Budapest. [1] [2]
Food quality and portion sizes need to be improved dramatically, according to the Copenhagen University research group, led by Prof Steen Stender, who found major variations in the quality of products offered by the same chains across 35 countries.
Fast foods examined in the global survey were found to have not just a high fat content, but also up to 17 times the level of trans-fatty acids legally permitted in Denmark, which introduced a ban in 2004. Business directors deliberately breaching the Danish restriction could face stiff fines and up to two years in jail.
Countries with unsafe foods
Eastern Europe fared particularly badly in the survey with Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland and the Czech Republic topping the table with levels of unhealthy trans-fats accounting for 29-34% of the fat content.
Countries meeting the Danish standard
Fast food in India, Russia, Spain and in Scotland met the Danish standard requiring less than 2% of the total fat content in a product to be trans-fats.

Wide discrepancies with McDonald's food
Checks on McDonald's also revealed wide discrepancies, with the highest percentage of trans-fats found in Oman at 20%. In the United Kingdom, samples in London, Glasgow and Aberdeen reached 15-16%, with levels of 14-15% in Hong Kong, Poland and South Africa, compared to 14-16% found in US outlets.
After analysing 74 samples of French fries and fried chicken (nuggets/hot wings) bought in McDonalds and KFC outlets in 35 countries in 2005 and 2006, they concluded that the idea that a typical fast-food meal was the same worldwide was "a myth".

According to Prof Arne Astrup the companies selling foods with high levels of trans-fat disregard customers' health. They will only really respond when there are regulations as tough as they are in Denmark.

Recommendations to Fast Food chains
The authors suggest fast food chains should provide reliable nutritional information, which requires better standardisation of the foods used and recommend suppliers take action to reduce portions to "normal" sizes and eliminate industrially produced trans fat, as well as offering burgers made of lean meat, whole grain bread/buns, fat-reduced mayonnaise, add more vegetable, lower-fat fried potatoes and reduced-sugar soft drinks.

[1] 15th European Congress on Obesity Budapest, Hungary April 22-25 2007: Fast Food Health Lottery- Frequent Consumption "Unsafe" warns Obesity Experts.
http://www.iotf.org/documents/TuesdayTransfatpressreleaseembargo24th.pdf

[2]EASO Budapest
http://www.eco2007.org/

01.06.2007: TV Junk Food advertising ban
The junk food advertising ban in UK should be introduced all over Europe to tackle the obesity problem. Two recent studies confirmed TV adds influencing children nutritional habits.

The Campden and Chorelywood report on children's food choice [1]
Campden and Chorelywood Food Research Association (CCFRA) has published a review that aims to bring together all the research on triggers for children's food choices - be it biological or physiological, or related to taste, hunger, appearance, family habits, schools, advertising, cost and availability. This report supports UK government efforts to reduce children TV advertising of high fat, sugar and salt foods.

The Liverpool University 2007 obesity study [2]
In a study conducted by Dr Jason Halford and colleagues from the University of Liverpool, a group of 60 children of varying weights, aged between nine and eleven years was shown a series of both food television adverts and toy adverts, followed by a cartoon. Food intake following the food adverts was significantly higher compared with the toy adverts in all weight groups, with the obese children increasing their consumption by 134%; overweight children by 101% and normal weight children by 84%.

The researchers concluded that food TV advertising has a profound effect on all children's eating habits, doubling their consumption rate. The TV ban is still not full effective because many children still watch in the evening when the ban does not apply. It will therefore be necessary to extend the ban for later hours. This study presented at the 15th European Congress on Obesity 22-25 May 2007 in Budapest helps to back up the UK efforts to ban TV junk food advertising

[1]CCFRA Review No. 53 (2007): Issues in children's food choices: methods for sensory and consumer research.
http://www.campden.co.uk/scripts/fcp.pl?words=children+advertising&wt=be&bl
=or&d=/publ/pubfiles/r53.htm

[2]University of Liverpool: TV food adverts increase obese children's appetite by 134%. Press release 24.05.2007.
http://www.liv.ac.uk/newsroom/press_releases/2007/04/obesity_ads.htm