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31.05.2007 UK
food sector is the world leader in food health and environment
movement, an example to be looked upon by the leaders of the G 8 meeting [2]Wikipedia, the free enzyclopedia: Carbon footprint. [3] Daily Mail: Stores draw up official carbon footprint guide to every item we buy. News 30.05.2007 30.05.2007: The blue ear disease [1] It
is a very common pig disease known for many years in Europe and USA in
the mid 80s, from were it spread to other countries, such as to the
Cape. China is being seriously hit by the disease, because pork is a
staple food and meat is lacking on the markets and the government wants
to release frozen stocks. [2] Human infectivity of blue ear disease [3] [2] ŧhe cape gateway: Blue ear disease in pigs: Possible source further invvestigation [3] The pig site.com: Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) [4] WHO: Avian Influenza, Situation in China, Update 2 30.05.2007 [5]
Ministry of Commerce of the People´s Rpublic of China: Continuous price
hikes for meat, eggs likely to affect CPI Thursday,May 24,2007 30.05.2007:The role of tomato products and lycopene in the prevention of prostate cancer [1] 29.05.2007 The legend of dietary fibre 27.05.2007 Salmonella in fresh basil [1] Sources of contamination of herbs, spices and vegetables [2] Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) standard in food industry The
research supports a nested study published recently in The American
Journal of Clinical Nutrition that reported that an increased selenium
intake in combination with a daily multivitamin may reduce the risk of
prostate cancer by about 40 per cent. The
authors conclude that our diets typically contain safe levels of
vitamins, but high-level antioxidant supplements could potentially
upset an important physiologic balance. The
author conclude that Lawson and colleagues add to the growing evidence
that questions the beneficial value of antioxidant vitamin pills in
generally well-nourished populations and underscore the possibility
that antioxidant supplements could have unintended consequences for our
health, [2] [2]
Bjelakovic, Goran and Gluud, Christian: Surviving Antioxidant
Supplements Editorial. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2007
99(10):742-743; doi:10.1093/jnci/djk211
The
UK government launched the OFCOM media advertising ban for unhealthy
foods targeted to children. Another great job was the introduction of
the "traffic light" labelling marking with green, amber and red colours
the important constituents of foods.
Another path-breaking action of
the UK government is to launch the "carbon footprint" label. This will
be a real step forward reducing carbon emission.
The voluntary
labelling scheme will help companies to measure the greenhouse gases
associated with their their products and reduce them. Labelling will
give the consumer the possibility to choose between environment
friendly and those who do not carry such label because they have a high
land, sea and air transport or not effective processing system, as well
as waste from packaging and discarded products. [3]
Carbon
footprint is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide or CO2 emitted
through the combustion of fossil fuels; in the case of an organization,
business or enterprise, as part of their everyday operations; in the
case of an individual or household, as part of their daily lives; or a
product or commodity in reaching market. In materials, is essentially a
measure of embodied energy, the result of life cycle analysis. [2]
According
to the UK environment minister Ian Pearson products will display labels
showing the greenhouse gas emissions created by their production,
transport and eventual disposal, similar to the calorie or salt content
figures on food packaging. [3]
The pilot scheme from the Carbon
Trust is being tested by several retailers. It calculates the carbon
footprint for one item that can be purchased by the consumer, including
both the product and the packaging and transport.
The Carbon
Trust and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
(Defra) are linked with the BSI British Standards in the development of
the standard. According to Defra the benchmark method will be the start
of an internationally agreed standard for measuring embodied greenhouse
gas emissions. [1]
Just call to your attention the transport of
yoghurt from the south of Europe to the north labelled as “organic”
produce, or bottled water being transported throughout Europe. A fair
labelling of the carbon footprint will help you to choose foods which
are good to you and the environment.
This is a great job of
the UK government and a great award for the retailers which enforce
these activities on their suppliers toward healthy foods and friendly
to the environment
Mr. Bush should say yes to such activities on
his G8 meeting in Germany which is worth 100 million Euro to secure his
person for just a few days.
[1] Carbon Trust
http://www.carbon-label.co.uk/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon\_footprint
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=458625&in_page_id=1770
Chinese
officials say million pigs are dying in China killed by the epidemic on
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), or blue ear
disease, which is caused by a virus in the arterivirus family. This
disease is known as post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome PMWS in
Europe, and as the porcine circovirus associated disease PCVAD in USA.
The mortality is known to be up to
50% caused by the porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2), but has declined
now to 1-2% in the nursry due to hygiene strategy and the porcine
circovirus type 2 vaccine, but it is still up to 9% in finisher.
According
to Albert Osterhaus, a virology expert at the Erasmus University
Medical Centre in Rotterdam, an international centre for blue ear
disease, there are no indications that spread to humans can happen.
Many viral infections that do occur in certain animal species are
restricted to that particular species. A mutation to a variety which
could be infectious to human, so as feared about the H2N5 virus of
avian influenza, however, is highly unlikely.
Symptomatic
The
virus causes still-births, fever, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, redness
of the skin and mortality rates of up to 50 percent on some farms.
The
ears of affected pigs turn blue. The virus invades and multiplies in
the white blood cells which die later on in the lung tissue of the
pigs. Up to 40% of the macrophages are destroyed reducing the defence
mechanism and allows bacteria and other viruses to proliferate. The
virus mutates quickly turning the production of vaccines difficult, but
vaccination in Guangdong will start soon.
Rules for pig slaughterhouses in China
According
to China´s Ministry of Commerce, the draft rules for pig
slaughterhouses demand that a slaughterhouse must be licensed and
approved by local governments and environmental bureaux, and must be
located away from drinking water supplies, residential districts and
public areas. [5]
Transmission
Direct
pig to pig transfer is not common; the transmitting agent is
Hematopinus suis, the swine louse. The diagnosis is the Virus isolation
The control of the disease is the elimination of lice and hygiene
measures.
Chinese officials believe that carcasses thrown into
rivers may have been responsible for the spread of the disease to the
surrounding areas. Infected pigs were raised by individual rural
farmers applying poor hygiene measures rather than industrialized pig
farms.
Endemic areas include Africa (South of the Sahara), Spain,
and Portugal. The outbreaks in the Dominican Republic , Haiti, and Cuba
have beenn reported. In China the desease appeared in the mid-90s, and
in 2004 in the Cape Flats.
The blue ear disease virus not to be compared with the avian flue H5N1 and H7N1 virus [4]
Despite
the economical impact, the blue ear virus does not menace mankind so as
the H5N1 virus of the avian influenza does. China reports a new case of
human infection with the H5N1 virus which was confirmed on the
30.05.2007. There had been no contact with sick birds prior to becoming
unwell. Close contacts have been placed under medical observation and
all remain well.
Of the 25 cases confirmed to date in China, 15 have
been fatal. In UK two human infections with the less deadly variant of
H7N1 were reported.
[1] World Organization for Animal Health : Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome in China (People’s Rep. of)
http://www.oie.int/eng/en_index.htm
http://www.capegateway.gov.za/eng/pubs/news/2004/jun/76376
http://www.thepigsite.com/pighealth/article/142/porcine-reproductive-and-respiratory-syndrome-prrs
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2007_05_30/en/index.html
http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/newsrelease/commonnews/200705/20070504703699.html
Etminan
and colleagues 2004 determined whether intake of tomato products
reduces the risk of prostate cancer using a meta-analysis. The
researchers concluded that tomato products may play a role in the
prevention of prostate cancer. However, this effect is modest and
restricted to high amounts of tomato intake. Further research is needed
to determine the type and quantity of tomato products with respect to
their role in preventing prostate cancer.
[1]
Etminan, M.; Takkouche, B.; Caamano-Isorna F.: The role of tomato
products and lycopene in the prevention of prostate cancer: a
meta-analysis of observational studies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers
Prev. 2004 Mar;13(3):340-5.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list
_uids=15006906
The British surgeon Denis Burkit, working in an hospital in Uganda, developed
the theory that Dietary fibre could reduce the colorectal cancer risk
and other diseases, because Africans consumed more fruit and vegetables
as found in western diet. As a tribute to his outstanding contributions
in the fields of medicine, nutrition and health the Kellogg Company of
Great Britain Limited initiated the Denis Burkitt Study Awards in 1994.
[1]
In an article in Zeit Wissen 5, 2006 Eva-Maria Schnurr
looks at the evolution of the theory of dietary fibre and colorectal
cancer. In the 80s bran was added to cereals, yoghurt and even
beverages in the hope to reduce risk of colorectal cancer. This theory
is not being maintained any more by many scientists. According to the
article from Eva-Maria Schnurr the English scientist Burkit, developing
the initial theory of fibre to reduce colorectal cancer did not
consider the age of the people he considered for his work, most of them
died so early that no cancer could show up. [2]
Doubts about the theory came up due to the findings of a series of researches on this matter:
Wheat Bran fibre Trial: Wheat bran fibre does not reduce risk of recurrent colorectal adenoms [3]
Alberts
and colleagues 2000 found in the Wheat Bran fibre Trial that a dietary
supplement of wheat-bran fibre (of 13,5 g fibre in two to three cups of
cereal per day) does not protect against recurrent colorectal adenomas.
Polyp Prevention Trial [4]
According
to their authors, the Polyp Prevention Trial provided no evidence that
adopting a low-fat, high-fibre fruit- and vegetable-enriched eating
plan reduces the incidence of colorectal cancer.
The position of the National Institutes of Health related to dietary fibre [5]
The
National Institutes of Health in a release comments the findings of the
Wheat Bran Fibre Trial and the Polyp Prevention Trial: "The results
provided no evidence that the particular dietary interventions employed
(i.e., a low-fat, high-fibre, high-fruit and -vegetable eating plan or
a high-fibre cereal supplement) in the particular population studied
(individuals who had had one or more polyps removed at colonoscopy)
were effective in preventing the recurrence of polyps. However, overall
evidence suggests that a low-fat, high-fruit and - vegetable,
high-fibre diet has benefit in reducing the risk of many chronic
diseases - heart disease, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and others.
This trial specifically looked at the effect of diet on the growth of
new colorectal polyps in people who had already had a polyp removed. A
healthy diet does not replace the need for people with a history of
polyps to have regular checkups."
Wheat-bran fibre does not protect against colorectal adenomas [6]
Jacobs
and colleagues 2006 assessed the epidemiologic evidence that cereal
fibre protects against colorectal cancer is equivocal, with a
supplementation of 13.5 g per day of wheat-bran fibre to reduce the
rate of recurrence of colorectal adenomas. The authors found that a
dietary supplement of wheat-bran fibre does not protect against
recurrent colorectal adenomas.
The
Women's Health Initiative (WHI) found no link between reduction of
colorectal cancer and high fruit, vegetables and whole grain intake [7]
The
clinical trials of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) were designed to
test the effects of postmenopausal hormone therapy, diet modification,
and calcium and vitamin D supplements on heart disease, fractures, and
breast and colorectal cancer.
The WHI trial also reported no link
between a diet low in fat, and high in fruit, vegetables and
whole-grain intake. This study was restricted to women and appears to
agree with the results from Arizona.
The
Women's Health Initiative (WHI) found no link between supplementation
of calcium and vitamin D and reduction of colorectal cancer [8]
Higher
intake of calcium and vitamin D has been associated with a reduced risk
of colorectal cancer in epidemiologic studies and polyp recurrence in
polyp-prevention trials. However, randomized-trial evidence that
calcium with vitamin D supplementation is beneficial in the primary
prevention of colorectal cancer is lacking.
However, the
authors conclude that daily supplementation of calcium with vitamin D
for seven years had no effect on the incidence of colorectal cancer
among postmenopausal women. The long latency associated with the
development of colorectal cancer, along with the seven-year duration of
the trial, may have contributed to this null finding. Ongoing follow-up
will assess the longer-term effect of this intervention.
Wheat Bran fibre Trial and the Polyp Prevention combined suggest benefit of fibre for men, but not women [9]
Elisabeth
Jacobs and colleagues 2006 combined the Wheat Bran fibre Trial and the
Polyp Prevention Trial, Both studies separately presented no link
between dietary fibre and the risk of colon cancer, but pooled together
a benefit of fibre was noted for men, but not women.
According to Jacobs the conflicting results from other studies can be explained by the difference in benefits between the sexes.
Warning about too much fibre intake [10]
According
to Goodlad the benefits of fibre have been attributed to its binding to
bile acids but fibre can also bind various other harmful materials.
Vegetable fibre has several times more galactose than cereal fibre and
this high galactose content will inhibit binding of mitogenic galactose
binding lectins, such as peanut agglutinin, which has been shown to
stimulate cell proliferation in the human colon. Goodlad concludes that
fermentable fibre and resistant starch can give origin to colorectal
adenomes.
Increases in tumour in rats following supplementation
with fibre-like substrates such as resistant starch have also been
reported. Williamson and colleagues 1999 conclude that it is possible
that any increased risk posed by resistant starch is restricted to
carriers of germline mutations in APC (adenomatous polyposis (Apc)
gene). [12] [13]
Another theory says that soluble fibre and
excessive cereal fibre are being added to probiotic and functional
foods as well as drinks by the producers trying to profit from a new
wave toward high fibre foods. This may lead to a negative health effect
as excessive fibre may lead to gas which can drive bacteria back to the
small intestine where they may cause erosion of the gut.
Goodlad
reinforces the advice that fibre is still an important aspect of a diet
and in the diet fibre should come from fibre-rich food such as fruits
and vegetables and less so from cereals, to have a balanced diet and
everything in moderation,and that exercise and avoiding obesity is
important.
The Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School Report 1999 [11]
Fuchs
and colleagues 1999 found no association between the intake of dietary
fibre itself and the risk of colorectal cancer. The researchers
measured the contributions of dietary fibre from cereals, fruits, and
vegetables. Only fruit fibre was associated with an appreciable but not
significant reduction in risk. In contrast, greater consumption of
vegetable fibre was associated with a small increase in the risk of
colorectal cancer.
Nurses' Health Studie found no link between Fibre and colon cancer [14]
Nurses'
Health Studie in USA observed 76 947 nurses starting in 1976 over 16
years. And the Nurses' Healt Study II started in 1989 could not find a
link between dietary fibre and colorectal cancer.
Limitations of Studies [15]
The validity of the results were questioned on account of the poor compliance with the dietary intervention in the WHI trial.
Limitations
of the wheat bran Fibre and the polyp prevention trial had a follow- up
period of only two to four years, ting into consideration that the
latency period of the cancer is between 10 and 20 years. Another
limitation with this new-pooled analysis is the use of polyps, as a
marker for actual cancer.
Total dietary fibre does not protect against colorectal cancer , but whole grain does [16]
In
2007 Schatzkin and colleagues found in a large prospective cohort
study, that total dietary fibre intake was not associated with
colorectal cancer risk, whereas whole-grain consumption was associated
with a modest reduced risk.The association with whole grain was
stronger for rectal than for colon cancer.
Dietary fibre and Risk of Colorectal Cancer in the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study [17]
Wakai
and colleagues 2007 found no differences in the strength of
associations with the risk between water-soluble and insoluble dietary
fibre. For food sources of fibre, bean fibre intake was somewhat
inversely correlated with colorectal cancer risk.
This might point
to the findings that soluble fibres from fruit and vegetable have shown
to be protective towards colorectal cancer and insoluble cereal fibre
tends to increase the risk of cancer in humans.
The authors
concluded that dietary fibre my be protective against colorectal
cancer, mainly against colon cancer, however, the role of dietary fibre
in the prevention of colorectal cancer seems to remain inconsistent,
and further investigations in various populations are being suggested
by the authors.
The weak point of the Women's Health Initiative [18]
Martinez
and Jacobs in an editorial in 2007 point out that most prospective
studies of colorectal cancer and calcium intake suggests a threshold
effect in that risk reduction is seen at intakes of approximately
600–1000 mg/day, with no further protection beyond these levels. These
findings might explain the null effects observed in the Women's Health
Initiative, in which women received a total calcium intake of
approximately 2150 mg/day, levels that, based on the prospective data,
are consistent with no effect. Martinez and Jacobs rise again the
question of whether calcium supplementation could protect individuals
with low or moderately low baseline intakes of calcium.
Matinez and
Jacobs also note that according to Grau and colleagues 2007 [19] the
protective effect of calcium supplementation for colorectal adenoma
recurrence extends as long as 5 years after cessation of
supplementation and that this effect is slightly stronger than that
observed during the intervention phase.
Influence of the colorectal cancer behavioural risk factors of individuals [20]
Individuals
who were not adherent to screening reported having a greater number of
risk factors than adherent individuals. Risk factors were considered in
this study to be low physical activity, low fruit and vegetable intake,
and low intake of multivitamins.
The authors conclude that there is
a need to develop interventions to modify the colorectal cancer
behavioural risk factors that are common among screening-adherent and
nonadherent individuals.
The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study [20]
The
European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)
study, found a very strong association between a high fibre intake and
a reduction in the instance of colorectal cancer. People who ate more
than 35 g of fibre a day had a 40 per cent reduced risk than those who
consumed only 15 g.
Colon cancer aetiology:
- The hypothesis
that a diet high in fibre reduces colorectal cancer risk has been
corroborated in the EPIC study. Our findings were published in parallel
with the results from the PLCO cohort of the NIH-NCI. In that study, a
similar protective effect of fibre on colorectal cancer polyps was
observed. Together, these results indicate that fibre is protective
both for the development of adenomatous polyps and for their malignant
transformation.
- The hypotheses that consumption of red and
processed meat increases colorectal cancer risk while intake of fish
decreases risk is strongly supported by the EPIC results.
-
The combination of these four dietary factors (i.e. fibre, fish, red
and processed meats) plays a major role in colorectal cancer aetiology
in addition to alcohol intake, obesity and low physical activity.
Summary of Scientific Activity on Colon Cancer in the EPIC Study [20]
Lancet
2003, Bingham and colleagues found an inverse relation of dietary fibre
with colorectal cancer incidence with the greatest protective effect in
the left colon, and least in the rectum. No food source of fibre is
significantly more protective than others.
Bingham and colleagues 2004 confirmed the above findings after adjustment for folate and with a longer follow-up.
Cancer
Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2004, Jenab et al: Higher nut and seed intake
is not significantly associated to the risk of colorectal, colon, and
rectal cancers in men but did show an inverse association with colon
cancer in women.
Norat T et al, provisionally accepted 2004:
High consumption of processed and/or red meat is associated with an
increase in colorectal cancer risk, not explained by the substitution
of fish by red meat and is less apparent in high fibre consumers. Fish
consumption is significantly inversely associated with risk while there
is no association with poultry.
Riboli E et al, Paper in
preparation: Intake of milk and cheese was significantly associated
with reduced colorectal cancer risk. The data suggested an inverse
association for yoghurt. Dietary calcium and calcium from dairy
products are also significantly inversely associated.
The marketing of fibre
Dietary
fibre components such as pectins, gums, cellulose and others, used as
functional ingredients by the food industry are being used in marketing
strategy to claim high fibre benefits.
The search for new fibre sources [21]
Lecumberri
and colleagues analysed the extract of cocoa husk extract, a waste
product of chocolate production. The researchers found that it
contained about 50% of dietary fibre, together with 1.32 % of soluble
polyphenols and 4.46 % condensed tannins antioxidant capacity. 80 per
cent of the total dietary fibre were insoluble and ten per cent of the
total dietary fibre were soluble fibre, The glucose retardation index
of cocoa fibre were similar to other natural commercial insoluble
fibres. Another good characteristic of cocoa husk extract ingredient is
its nearly 10 per cent of soluble fibre found as pectic substances.
This is higher than the amount offered by dietary fibre from cereal
brans.
Dietary guidelines recommend a minimum daily intake of
dietary fibre (DF) of 25 g (equivalent to 12.5 g dietary fibre per 1000
calories consumed), which is considerably higher than the estimated
intakes in Western countries, dietary fibre components like pectins,
gums, cellulose and others have been used as functional ingredients 15
Dietary fibre from cocoa suitable for low-calorie, high-fibre foodes preparations [21]
Elena
Lecumberri and colleagues 2007 studied the composition and dietary
fibre obtained from cocoa bean hus, a waste product from cocoa. This
product contained 60.54% of total dry matter as dietary fibre, where
80% of these are insoluble fibre and 10 % are soluble dietary fibre and
polyphenolic compounds (1.32% soluble polyphenols and 4.46% condensed
tannins) The glucose retardation index of cocoa fibre were similar to
other natural commercial insoluble fibres.
The authors conclude
that the antioxidant capacity of this fibre-rich cocoa powder and its
physico-chemical properties render it a suitable product to be used in
the preparation of low-calorie, high-fibre foods like chocolate
cookies, chocolate cakes, dietetic chocolate supplements, etc. where
the colour and flavour of this cocoa fibre might be advantageous
[1] British Nutrition Foundation: The Denis Burkitt Study Award 2007
http://www.britishnutrition.org.uk/home.asp?siteId=43§ionId=361&subSectionId
=353&parentSection=299&which=1
[2] Schnurr, Eva-Maria: Unnützer Ballast für den Darm. Die ZEIT Wissen 05/2006. 16.08.2006 pg 20-21
http://www.zeit.de/zeit-wissen/2006/05/Titel_K-Ballaststoffe.xml
[3]
Alberts, D.S.; Martinez, M.E. ; Roe, D.J.; Guillen-Rodriguez, J.M.;
Marshall, J.R.; van Leeuwen, J.B.; Reid, M.E.; Ritenbaugh, C.; Vargas,
P.A.; Bhattacharyya, A.B.; Earnest,D.L.; Sampliner, R.E.; Parish, D.;
Koonce, K.; Fales, L. and The Phoenix Colon Cancer Prevention
Physicians' Ne: Lack of Effect of a High-fibre Cereal Supplement on the
Recurrence of Colorectal Adenomas. N. Engl. J. Med., April 20, 2000;
342(16): 1156 – 1162.
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/342/16/1156
[4]
Schatzkin, Arthur and Others: Lack of Effect of a Low-Fat, High-fibre
Diet on the Recurrence of Colorectal Adenomas. The New England Journal
of Medicine Volume 342:1149-1155 April 20, 2000 Number 16
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/342/16/1149
[5] National Institutes of Health: The Polyp Prevention Trial and the Wheat Bran fibre Study
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/apr2000/nci-19a.htm
[6]Jacobs,
Elizabeth T.; Giuliano, Anna R.; Roe, Denise J.; Guillén-Rodríguez,
José M. ; Hess, Lisa M. ; Alberts, David S. and Martínez, María Elena:
Intake of Supplemental and Total fibre and Risk of Colorectal Adenoma
Recurrence in the Wheat Bran fibre Trial
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/11/9/906
[7] National Institutes of Health: The Women's Health Initiative (WHI)
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/new/press/06-02-15.htm
[8]
Jean Wactawski-Wende, Jean and others for the Women's Health Initiative
Investigators: Calcium plus Vitamin D Supplementation and the Risk of
Colorectal Cancer. New English Journal of Medicine Volume
354:684-696Febraury 16, 2006 Number 7.
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/354/7/684
[9]
Jacobs, Elizabeth T.; Lanza, Elaine; Alberts, David S.; Hsu,
Chiu-Hsieh; Jiang, Ruiyun; Schatzkin, Arthur; Thompson Patricia A. and
Martínez, María Elena.: fibre, sex, and colorectal adenoma: results of
a pooled analysis Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2006; 83(2):
343 - 349.
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/83/2/343
[10] Goodlad, R.A.: Dietary fibre and the risk of colorectal cancerGut, May 2001; 48: 587 - 589.
http://gut.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/48/5/587?maxtoshow=&HITS=10&hits
=10&RESULTFORMAT=&author1=Goodlad&andorexactfulltext=and&searchid
=1&FIRSTINDEX=0&sortspec=relevance&resourcetype=HWCIT
[11]
Fuchs, Charles S.; Giovannucci, Edward L.; Golditz, Graham A.; Hunter,
David J.; Stampfer, Meir J.; Rosner, Bernard.; Speizer, Frank E. and
Willet, Walter C.: Dietary fibre and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer and
Adenoma in Women. New England Journal of Medicine. Volume 340:169-176
January 21, 1999 Number 3
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/abstract/340/3/169
[12]
Bonithon-Kopp 2000 Bonithon-Kopp C, Kronborg O, Giacosa A. , et al.
Calcium and fibre supplementation in prevention of colorectal adenoma
recurrence: a randomised intervention trial. Lancet, 2000;356:1300-1306.
[13]
Williamson S.L.; Kartheuser A.; Coaker J. ; Kooshkghazi M.D.; Fodde R.
; Burn, J.; Mathers C.C.: Intestinal tumorigenesis in the Apc1638N
mouse treated with aspirin and resistant starch for up to 5 months.
Carcinogenesis 1999 May;20(5):805-10
http://carcin.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/20/5/805
[14]Harward School of Public Health: Fruits and vegetables.
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/fruits.html
[15] Wikipedia, the free enzyclopedia: Nurses' Health Study
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nurses'_Health_Study
[16]Schatzkin,
Arthur; Mouw, Traci; Park, Yikyung; Subar, Amy F; Kipnis, Victor;
Hollenbeck, Albert; Leitzmann, Michael F. and Thompson, Frances E.:
Dietary fibre and whole-grain consumption in relation to colorectal
cancer in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 85, No. 5, 1353-1360, May 2007
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/85/5/1353
[17]
Wakai, K., Date, C., Fukui, M., Tamakoshi, K., Watanabe, Y., Hayakawa,
N., Kojima, M., Kawado, M., Suzuki, K., Hashimoto, S., Tokudome, S.,
Ozasa, K., Suzuki, S., Toyoshima, H., Ito, Y., Tamakoshi, A., for the
JACC Study Group, (2007). Dietary fibre and Risk of Colorectal Cancer
in the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers
Prev. 16: 668-675
http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/16/4/668
[18]
Martínez, María Elena and Jacobs , Elizabeth T.: Calcium
Supplementation and Prevention of Colorectal Neoplasia: Lessons From
Clinical Trials. JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2007
99(2):99-100; doi:10.1093/jnci/djk025
http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/99/2/99
[19]Grau
MV, Baron JA, Sandler RS, Wallace K, Haile RW, Church TR, et al.
Prolonged effect of calcium supplementation on risk of colorectal
adenomas in a randomized trial. J Natl Cancer Inst 2007;99:129–36.
[20]European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition: Key findings
http://www.iarc.fr/epic/Sup-default.html
[21]
Lecumberri, E; Mateos, R.; Izquierdo-Pulido, M.; Ruperez, P.; Goya, L.;
and Bravo, L.: Dietary fibre composition, antioxidant capacity and
physico-chemical properties of a fibre-rich product from cocoa
(Theobroma cacao L.). Food Chemistry (Elsevier). Volume 104, Issue 3,
Pages 948-954, doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.12.054
[22] Kushi,
L. H., Byers, T., Doyle, C., Bandera, E. V., McCullough, M., Gansler,
T., Andrews, K. S., Thun, M. J., The American Cancer Society 2006
Nutrition and Phy, (2006). American cancer society guidelines on
nutrition and physical activity for cancer prevention: reducing the
risk of cancer with healthy food choices and physical activity.. CA
Cancer J Clin 56: 254-281
http://caonline.amcancersoc.org/cgi/content/abstract/56/5/254
The
FSA is advising people who may have bought certain batches of fresh
packets of basil from ASDA, Sainsbury's and Somerfield stores not to
eat them. This is because of possible salmonella contamination, which
can cause diarrhoea and sickness.
Two samples from ASDA stores
in Peterlee and Bishop Auckland tested positive for salmonella. Two
positive samples came from Sainsbury's stores in Swindon and Gateshead,
and the fifth from a Somerfield store in Harpenden.
This reminds the Salmonella affair from paprika powder of the German company Fuchs, the spinach disaster in USA and others.
The
natural reservoir of Salmonella spp. is the intestine of animals,
including humans. Salmonella spp. can, however, be isolated from very
different sources. The bacteria are robust, and can survive in the
environment, including the food-processing environment, and in feed and
foods for prolonged periods
Salmonella spp. are common in pig,
poultry and cattle production as well as in horses, and, typically, the
animals are healthy carriers. The bacteria are spread among farm
animals through contact with other farm animals, wild birds or rodents,
through contaminated feed or water, or through infected utensils,
equipment or workers.
During the growth, treatment, transport,
packaging or production processes there are several factors which may
cause the contamination of spices and herbs, which are:
Growth and harvest Excreta is one of the major
contaminants which may carry Salmonella. The presence of rodent, animal
or bird excreta/urine renders a spice unclean. An important source of
contamination of spices, vegetables and feed is the use of improper
treated manure. Another hazard is the irrigation of the fields with
water from water reservoirs with sewage contamination. 
Other
methods to reduce the presence of Salmonella in environment such as the
oral administration of commercial preparations of the intestinal
microflora or anaerobic cultures of gut microorganisms from mature,
Salmonella-free birds, early after hatching to young chicks can prevent
intestinal colonisation of Salmonella. This reduces the Salmonella
charge of manure of manure and environment.
Processing and Packaging
Open air drying used to dry paprka is a source of contamination by birds and other animals.
Inadequate cleaning and sanitising of equipment of packer
PackagingAccording to the EU Directive on
Hygiene for Foodstuffs (93/43/EC), the HACCP system must be the basis
for safety procedures for all foods. All food processors that process,
treat, pack, transport, distribute or trade foodstuffs. are legally
bound to have a HACCP plan The processors of herbs and spices should
rely on the HACCP system and develop their sanitising program. Inadequate cleaning of equipment 
[1] FSA: Agency issues warning on salmonella contamination in basil
http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2007/may/warningbasil
[2]
Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CPI):
Spices and Herbs. A Survey of The Netherlands and other Major Markets
in the European Union. March 1999.
http://www.upbusiness.net/upbusiness/docs/mercados/2.pdf
26.03.2007: Warning about high levels of multivitamins increasing the risk of prostate cancers. [1]
Karla
Lawson in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study
found that regular multivitamin use has no effect on prostate cancer.
High levels of multivitamins along with other supplements have
increased the risk of advanced and fatal prostate cancer by 32%. The
risc was strongest in men with a family history of the disease, or
amongst men took additional micronutrient supplements, including
beta-carotin, selenium, or zinc.
Goran Bjelakovic and
Christian Gluud comment the study of Lawson and explain that reactive
oxygen species in moderate concentrations are essential mediators of
reactions by which the body gets rid of unwanted cells. The antioxidant
supplements decreases free radicals. This may interfere with essential
defensive mechanisms for ridding the organism of precancerous and
cancerous cells.
Liz Baker, from the British charity Cancer Research
UK commented the researche saying that It's still not entirely clear
what factors can affect a man's risk of developing prostate cancer. And
there is conflicting evidence on the pros and cons of vitamin
supplements. She refers to the benefits of vitamins that naturally
occur in our food, and encourages consumers to eat a diet rich in
fibre, vegetables and fruit, and low in red and processed meat. [3]
The results were challenged by Daniel Fabricant of the Natural Products Association (NPA). [4]
The VITAL study [5]
Chris
Slatore and colleagues of the University of Washington School of
Medicine in Seattle presented the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) study.
No statistically significant relationships between different types of
supplements and lung cancer were found in this study.
This study of
more than 75,000 adults found that taking supplemental multivitamins,
vitamin C and E and folate do not decrease the risk of lung cancer.
The
study, which also did not find any increased lung cancer risk from the
supplements, is one of the most detailed, prospective observational
studies to look at the effect of vitamin supplements instead of
vitamins from foods on lung cancer risk.
This confirms foregoing studies which suggest that vitamin supplementation mightnot be as healthy as believed.:
The CARET study 1996 [6]
In
1996, a large study known as the CARET study which was looking into the
effects of the dietary supplements beta-carotene and retinol (vitamin
A), was halted after the supplements were found to increase lung cancer
risk, particularly among smokers. That study, and others, encouraged
researchers to look more deeply into the relationship between
supplements and lung cancer, Dr. Slatore said.
Beta-Carotene, vitamin E or vitamin A increasing risk of death American Medical Society February 2007 [6]
Supplements
have been getting a lot of attention this year. In February, the
Journal of the American Medical Association published an overview of
studies that found that supplements of beta-carotene, vitamin E, or
vitamin A slightly increases a person's risk of death.
The recommendation of the National Cancer Institute related to supplements [6]
The
recommendations of the NCI are: “The results of the Physicians' Health
Study showed no benefit or harm to nonsmokers who took beta carotene
every other day for 12 years. The results from CARET and the ATBC Study
do not provide information about the effects of beta carotene
supplements on non-smokers.
NCI does not make recommendations as to
whether Americans should take supplements. For those who wish to reduce
their risk of cancer, NCI advises that it is prudent to adopt a low-fat
diet containing plenty of fruits, vegetables, and grains.
In a
comment from Daniel Fabricant from the Natural Products Association the
findings reported at the American Thoracic Society 2007 International
Conference, on Monday, May 21, suggesting that taking supplemental
multivitamins, vitamin C and E and folate do not decrease the risk of
lung cancer were questioned. [7]
[1] Lawson, Karla, A.; Wright,
Margaret E.; Subar, Amy; Mouw, Traci; Hollenbeck, Albert; Schatzkin,
Arthur; Leitzmann, Michael F.: Multivitamin Use and Risk of Prostate
Cancer in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study.
Journal of the National Cancer Institute
Volume 99, Issue 10, Pages 754-764; doi:10.1093/jnci/djk177
http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/99/10/754
http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/99/10/742
[3] BBC News: Multivitamin prostate warning
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6657795.stm
[4]
Fabricant, Daniel: Natural Products Association Questions Conclusions
of New Study on Multivitamins and Prostate Cancer. May 15, 2007
http://www.naturalproductsassoc.org/site/News2?abbr=pc_&page=NewsArticle&id=8731
[5] Science Daily: Some Vitamin Supplements Don't Protect Against Lung Cancer. May, 21, 2007
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070521113628.htm
[6] NCI Beta Carotene trials}The National Cancer Institute: Questions and Answers About Beta Carotene Chemoprevention Trials.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Prevention/betacarotene
[7] Fabricant, Daniel: Natural Products Association Challenges New Study on Lung Cancer and Vitamin Use May 21, 2007
http://www.naturalproductsassoc.org/site/News2?abbr=pc_&page=NewsArticle&id=8751
25.05.2007: Pyrrolizidine alkaloids as undesirable substances in animal feed. [1]
The
European Food Safety Authority released an opinion concerning
pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) , a group of more than 350 individual
compounds that share as a basic structure one of the four necine bases
platynecine, retronecine, heliotridine, or otonecine. PAs are produced
as secondary metabolites of more than 6000 plant species, belonging to
the families of Boraginaceae, Compositae (Asteraceae) and Leguminosae
(Fabaceae) and occur world-wide.
Basic alkaloids seem to accumulate
in the seeds, whereas the respective N-oxides dominate in the green
parts of a plant. In farm animals, however, acute intoxications caused
by PAs are rare, as animals avoid PA containing plants if other feed is
available. However, this recognition fails in preserved forages such as
silage and hay.
PAs intoxication in animals
Acute
intoxications: hepatotoxicity and hemorrhagic liver necrosis. Long-term
exposure: hepatic megalocytosis, veno-occlusion in liver and to a
lesser extent in the lungs, proliferation of the biliary tract
epithelium, fatty liver degeneration and liver cirrhosis.
PAs intoxication in humans
In
humans, PAs cause primarily hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD).
Toxicological concerns about the potential human exposure to PAs were
based on the results of extensive rodent studies indicating a
carcinogenic potential of this class of compounds, and on the in vitro
investigations that convincingly demonstrated that the dehydropyrrolic
metabolites of PAs can form DNA-adducts, DNA-cross links and
DNA-protein cross links, and result in genotoxicitiy and mutagenicity
in a variety of bioassays conducted in rodent models.
PAs carry over in food
PAs are excreted with milk of dairy cows (and lactating sheep) albeit
at a low rate, varying between 0.04 and 0.08 % of the ingested dose.
Analyses in Australia indicated the presence of certain PAs in eggs. No
residues have been found in other animal tissues. The contribution of
the residues in animal derived tissues to human exposure is low;
however, honey, in which PA residues are regularly found, deserves
special attention.
[1] EFSA:
Opinion of the Scientific Panel CONTAM related to pyrrolizidine
alkaloids as undesirable substances in animal feed. Last update 25 May
2007
http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/contam/contam_opinions/ej447_pyrrolizidine.html
24.05.2007: Nestlé and CocaCola advertising weight control
ENVIGA [1]
Servane
Rudelle and colleagues 2007 studied the effect on weight control of a
beverage containing EGCG, green tea and caffeine. The authors found an
increase in 24-hour energy expenditure of 100 kcal/d on account of this
beverage.
The weight gain of the American population is slightly
less than 1 kg/yr, which represents a median excess energy of 15
kcal/d, and because energy is stored with 50% efficiency, a negative
energy balance of 100 kcal/d would be sufficient to prevent weight gain
in most of the U.S. population The authors conclude that consuming this
type of beverage regularly together with exercise, may be helpful in
weight control.
Based on this study Nestlé and CocaCola
launched its ENVIGA product advertising: Benefits: "burn more calories"
"drink negative" [2]
The Center for Science in the Public Interest CSPI Says “Calorie Burning” and Weight Loss Claims Illegal [3]
The
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) should take enforcement action against
Coca-Cola and Nestlé for their unlawful deceptive advertising for
Enviga, their green-tea-flavored diet soda, according to a complaint
filled with the agency on May 2007 by the nonprofit Center for Science
in the Public Interest (CSPI). At issue is the companies' claim that
Enviga burns more calories than the five calories per can it delivers,
which, CSPI says, strongly implies weight loss.
[1] Rudelle, Servane; Ferruzzi, Mario G.; Cristiani, Isabelle; Moulin, Juli; Macé, Katherine; Acheson, Kevin J. and
Tappy, Luc: Effect of a thermogenic beverage on 24-hour energy metabolism in humans. Obesity. 2007;15:349 –355.
http://www.enviga.com/_doc/nestle_clinical_study.pdf
[2]Enviga, THE CALORIE BURNER:
http://www.enviga.com/
[3]Before
the National Trade Commission: Petition to prohibit false and
misleading advertising. Submitted by the Center for Science in the
Public Interest, May 21, 2007.
http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/enviga_ftc.pdf
23.05.2007: Tea and obesity
Long-term consumption of green tea [1]
According
to Yung-hsi and colleagues 200, long-term consumption of green tea may
decrease the incidence of obesity and, perhaps, green tea components
such as EGCG may be useful for treating obesity. The authors point out,
however, that oolong tea was found to reduce obesity in mice, despite
having much less EGCG that green tea does.[2]
The authors calls for studies with purified components to identify the active componentsof tea.
Oolong tea [2]
According
to Han and colleagues 1999 oolong tea has anti-obesity effects in
high-fat diet-treated mice which might result from an enhancing effect
of caffeine isolated from oolong tea The auithors suggest that oolong
tea may be effective in treatment of obesity and fatty liver caused by
a high-fat diet.
Effect of tea catechins on obesity [3]
Murase
and colleagues 2002 studied the effects of long-term feeding with tea
catechins, which are naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds widely
consumed in Asian countries, on the development of obesity in mice.
They found that the anti-obesity effects of tea catechins might be
caused by the stimulation of the hepatic lipid metabolism They suggest
that long-term consumption of tea catechins may help to suppress
diet-induced obesity, and it may reduce the risk of coronary diseases.
Reduction of abdominal fat in humans [4]
Long-term
feeding of tea catechins suppressed body fat accumulation in high-fat
diet-induced obesity in mice, and that their effects might be
attributed, at least in part, to the activation of hepatic lipid
metabolism. Consecutive intake of tea catechins (588 mg/day) reduced
body fat, especially abdominal fat in humans. These results demonstrate
that intake of tea catechins is beneficial for body fat accumulation.
Epigallocathechin gallate (EGCG) and fat-reduction effect [5]
Wolfram
and colleagues 2005 examined the antiobesity effect of tea
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), in mice fed with high-fat diet.
They
found that food intake was not affected but faeces energy content was
slightly increased by EGCG, indicating a reduced food digestibility and
thus reduced long-term energy absorption, and conclude that d ietary
EGCG attenuated diet-induced body fat accretion in mice. EGCG
apparently promoted fat oxidation, but its fat-reducing effect could be
entirely explained by its effect in reducing diet digestibility.
TEAVIGO [6]
Wolfram
and colleagues 2005, in a study from DSM Nutritional Products Ltd found
that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), in a pure form, present in the
commercial product TEAVIGO inhibited adipocyte differentiation in
vitro, and concluded that supplementation with EGCG, abolishes
diet-induced obesity, and should be considered as a valuable natural
treatment option for obesity.
Antimitogenic effect of green tea epigallocatechin gallate [7]
Pei-Fang
Hung and colleagues 2005 investigated the pathways of EGCG's modulation
of the mitogenesis(cell- division) of preadipocytes. They found that
EGCG inhibited preadipocyte 3T3-L1 proliferation These data demonstrate
the ERK- and Cdk2-dependent antimitogenic effects of EGCG. Moreover,
EGCG was more effective than epicatechin, epicatechin gallate, and
epigallocatechin in changing the mitogenic signals. The signal of EGCG
in reducing growth of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differed from that of 3T3
fibroblasts. Reduction of obesity caused by EGCG may be linked to the
inhibition of fat-cells division.
EGCG inhibits proliferation of fat-cels and induces autodestruction of fat-cells [8]
Green
tea catechins have been shown to promote loss of body fat and to
inhibit growth of many cancer cell types by inducing apoptosis. Ji Lin
and colleagues 2005 studied the influence of epigallocatechin gallate
(EGCG) on adipocytes to inhibit adipogenesis and induce apoptosis using
mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and mature adipocytes. The researchers found
that EGCG had no effect on either viability or apoptosis of
preconfluent preadipocytes. EGCG also did not affect viability of
mature adipocytes; however, EGCG increased apoptosis in mature
adipocytes and inhibited lipid accumulation in maturing preadipocytes.
The
authors concluded that EGCG can act directly to inhibit differentiation
of preadipocytes and to induce apoptosis of mature adipocytes and,
thus, could be an important adjunct in the treatment of obesity.
EGCG downregulates the fat hormone Resistin expression by reducing the amounts of phospho-ERK1/2 proteins [9]
Resistin
is a hormone discovered in 2001 and is a response of leucocytes to
inflammation and participates in the inflammatory response, and this
may be the link to insulin resistnce.
According to Hang-Seng Liu and
colleagues 2006 resistin is an adipocyte-specific secretory hormone
that can cause insulin resistance and decrease adipocyte
differentiation, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) of green tea, have
been reported to act against obesity and diabetes. The article of the
authors suggest that EGCG may modulate the distribution of resistin
protein between the intracellular and extracellular compartments. EGCG
reduced the amounts of phospho-extracellular signal-related kinase-1/2
proteins (phospho-ERK1/2 proteins). The researchers conclude that EGCG
downregulates Resistin expression via a pathway that is dependent on
the ERK pathway.
Resistin controversy [10]
Most
all findings (many times elucidated under the same experimental
conditions) reported by groups opposing the resistin link theory are
the exact opposite from what those groups who support the theopry have
observed. The idea that resistin links obesity to type 2 diabetes
mellitus is now under even more scrutiny as recent investigations have
confirmed a rather vast expression of resistin in many tissues rather
than those only characteristic of obesity such as adipocytes.
With
nearly as many scientists against this theory as those scientists who
seem to support it, the likelihood that resistin will ever be viewed as
the key node linking obesity to type 2 diabetes mellitus in the near
future is very low. The very extent to which these two views oppose
each other raises questions about the synchrony and methodology used in
these respective groups which resulted in polar opposite results.
Insufficient data of EGCG human trials [11]
Wolgang,
Wang an Thielecke 2006 write that studies conducted with human subjects
report reduced body weight and body fat, as well as increased fat
oxidation and thermogenesis related to green tea. However, according to
the authors, there is still a need for well-designed and controlled
clinical studies to validate the studies. According to Wolfgang and
colleagues specific effects of EGCG of green tea on obesity should be
investigated in human trials.
Tea-catechins together with swimming reduces obesity gain by 20 percent [12]
we investigated the effects of long-term intake of tea catechins in
combination with regular exercise on the development of obesity in
mice. Tea-Catechins intake in combination with swimming exercise
suppressed high fat diet-induced body-weight gain by 18 and 22%,
respectively, compared to Exercise and tea-Catechins intake on their
own. These results indicate that intake of tea Catechins, together with
regular exercise helps to reduce diet-induced obesity. This effect
might be attributed, at least in part, to the activation of whole-body
energy metabolism.
[1] Yung-hsi Kao, Richard A Hiipakka
and Shutsung Liao: Modulation of obesity by a green tea catechin :
Letter to the Editor. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 72,
No. 5, 1232-1233, November 2000
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/72/5/1232
[2] Han LK, Takaku T, Li J, Kimura Y, Okuda H. Anti-obesity action of oolong tea. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 1999;23:98–105.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=retrieve&db=pubmed&list_uids=10094584&dopt
=Abstract
[3]
Murase, T.; Nagasawa, A.; Suzuki, J.; Hase, T.; Tokimitsu, I.:
Beneficial effects of tea catechins on diet-induced obesity:
stimulation of lipid catabolism in the liver. Int J Obes Relat Metab
Disord. 2002 Nov;26(11):1459-64. PMID: 12439647
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus
&list_uids=12439647&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum
[4] Tokimitzu, I: Effects of tea catechins on lipid metabolism and body fat accumulation.Biofactors. 2004;22(1-4):141-3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt
=AbstractPlus&list_uids=15630269&itool=iconabstr&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum
[5]
Klaus, S.; Pültz, S.; Thöne-Reineke. C. and Wolfram, S.:
Epigallocatechin gallate attenuates diet-induced obesity in mice by
decreasing energy absorption and increasing fat oxidation.
International Journal of Obesity (2005) 29, 615–623.
doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0802926 Published online 1 March 2005
http://www.nature.com/ijo/journal/v29/n6/abs/0802926a.html
[6]Wolfram,
Swen; Raederstorff, Daniel; Wang, Yng; Teixeira, Sandra R.; Elste,
Volker and Weber, Peter: TEAVIGO (epigallocatechin gallate)
supplementation prevents obesity in rodents by reducing adipose tissue
mass. Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism 2005;49:54-63 (DOI:
10.1159/000084178)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list
_uids=15735368&itool=iconabstr&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum
[7]
Hung, Pei-Fang; Wu,Bo-Tsung; Chen, Hui-Chian; Chen, Yen-Hang; Chen,
Chia-Lin; Wu, Ming-Hua; Liu, Hsien-Chun Lee, Meng-Jung, and Kao,
Yung-Hsi: Antimitogenic effect of green tea (-)-epigallocatechin
gallate on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes depends on the ERK and Cdk2 pathways Am
J Physiol Cell Physiol, May 1, 2005; 288(5): C1094 - C1108.
http://ajpcell.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/288/5/C1094
[8]
Lin, Ji; Della-Fera, Mary Anne and Baile, Clifton A.: Green Tea
Polyphenol Epigallocatechin Gallate Inhibits Adipogenesis and Induces
Apoptosis in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes. Obesity Research 13:982-990 (2005)
http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/content/abstract/13/6/982
[9]
Liu, Hang-Seng; Chen, Yen-Hang; Hung, Pei-Fang and Y.-H. Kao, Yung-Hsi:
Inhibitory effect of green tea (-)-epigallocatechin gallate on resistin
gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes depends on the ERK pathway Am J
Physiol Endocrinol Metab, February 1, 2006; 290(2): E273 - E281.
http://ajpendo.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/290/2/E273
[10] Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Resistin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistin
[11]
Wolfgang S., Wang, Y.Thielecke F.: Anti-obesity effects of green tea:
from bedside to bench. Mol Nutr Food Res. 2006 Feb;50(2):176-87.
Review. PMID: 16470636
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list
_uids=16470636&itool=iconabstr&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum
[12]
Murase, T.; Haramizu, S.; Shimotoyodome, A.; Tokimitsu, I: Reduction of
diet-induced obesity by a combination of tea-catechin intake and
regular swimming.
Int J Obes (Lond). 2006 Mar;30(3):561-8. PMID: 16247510
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus
&list_uids=16247510&itool=iconabstr&query_hl=2&itool=pubmed_docsum
23.05.2007: Rennet animal-derived whey in Mars confectionaries [1]
According
to Paul Goalby from Masterfoods , the company to began using whey from
1 May with "best before date" from 1 October onward at the MARS product
range.
Rennet is an ingredient obtained from animal's stomachs turning the products unsuitable for strict vegetarians.
Mars
UK removed the animal extract in Mars and Snickers Galaxy and Maltesers
bars in May 2007, but Twix, Bounty, Celebrations, Topic and Milky Way,
minstrel and the ice cream versions of all Masterfoods' bars. will
continue to be unsuitable for vegetarians now, and they weren't
suitable before,
Vegetarian rennet from moulds is not as cheap as
animal rennet and is therefore being used for the production of some of
Mars products.
Mars products unsuited for vegetarians, but there are no probles for kosher food eaters.
See also the article in OurFood-news : "14.05.2007: Kosher Status of Mars Products ":
The
London Beth Din Kashrut Division Announcements says that whey derived
from rennet source contains only trace amounts of rennet, it is
permitted according to halacha. There is therefore no problem with any
of the Masterfoods (Mars) products that are currently on the London
Beth Din approved list.
[1] The Guardian unlimited: Mars backs down but vegetarians left baffled vegetarians. 21.05.07
http://www.guardian.co.uk/food/Story/0,,2084418,00.html
22.05.2007: Health regulations related to bivalve molluscs and other marine species [1] It is primarily the responsibility of the
producers to ensure that the bivalve molluscs are produced and placed
on the market in compliance with the health requirements prescribed;
whereas the competent authorities must, carry out checks and
inspections, to ensure that producers comply with those requirements do
not contain microorganisms and toxic substances in quantities which are
considered to be dangerous to human health. Live bivalve
molluscs from purification areas must not exceed the limits of a
five-tube, three-dilution MPN-test of 6 000 faecal coliforms per 100 g
of flesh or 4 600 E. Coli per 100 g of flesh in 90 % of samples. Live
bivalve molluscs from areas where they do not exceed the limits of a
five-tube, three-dilution MPN-test of 60 000 faecal coliforms per 100 g
of flesh.can be collected but placed on the market only after relaying
over a long period (at least two months), Requirements concerning live Bivalve Molluscs intended for immediate consumption Algal toxins, new detection methodes [3] Algal toxins may be present in shellfish, molluscs and other marine
and fresh water inhabitants. Global warming may spur algal blooms which
highlights the importance of algal toxins detection. (2)
It has been scientifically proven that certain marine biotoxins such as
those of the diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP)complex (okadaic acid
(OA)and dinophysistoxins (DTXs)) and also yessotoxins (YTXs),
pectenotoxins (PTXs)and azaspiracids (AZAs), pose a serious hazard to
human health when present above certain limits in bivalve molluscs,
echinoderms, tunicates or marine gastropods. (3) In the light of
recent scientific studies it is now possible to establish maximum
levels and methods of analysis for those biotoxins. This Decision
lays down the maximum levels for the marine biotoxins of the diarrhetic
shellfish poisoning (DSP)complex (okadaic acid and dinophysistoxins),
yessotoxins, pectenotoxins and azaspiracids and the methods of analysis
to be used for their detection. It applies to bivalve molluscs,
echinoderms, tunicates and marine gastropods that are intended for
immediate human consumption or for further processing before
consumption. Maximum levels Detection methods - okadaic acid and dinophysistoxins: an hydrolysis step may be required in order to detect the presence
Health
concerns related to shellfish, live bivalve molluscs and other aquatic
animals contaminated with coli, salmonella or other bacteria or viruses
as well as algal toxins are of public concern. Actual global warming
may spur micro organisms in water turning and turn it necessary to
tighten safety control on molluscs.
The Council
Directive 91/492/EEC of 15 July 1991 lays down the health conditions
for the production and the placing on the market of live bivalve
molluscs. It define production areas from which molluscs can bet
gathered for direct human consumption, or from which they have to be
purified or relayed.
1.
The possession of visual characteristics associated with freshness and
viability, including shells free of dirt, an adequate response to
percussion, and normal amounts of intravalvular liquid.
2. They must
contain less than 300 faecal coliforms or less than 230 E. Coli per 100
g of mollusc flesh and intravalvular liquid based on a five-tube,
three-dilution MPN-test or any other bacteriological procedure shown to
be of equivalent accuracy.
3. They must not contain salmonella in 25 g of mollusc flesh.
4.
They must not contain toxic or objectionable compounds occurring
naturally or added to the environment such as those listed in the Annex
to Directive 79/923/EEC. [2]
5. The upper limits as regards the
radionuclide contents must not exceed the limits for foodstuffs as laid
down by the Community.
6. The total Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP)
content in the edible parts of molluscs (the whole body or any part
edible separately) must not exceed 80 microgrammes per 100 g of mollusc
flesh in accordance with the biological testing method - in association
if necessary with a chemical method for detection of Saxitoxin - or any
other method recognized in accordance with the procedure laid down in
Article 12 of this Directive.
7. The customary biological testing
methods must not give a positive result to the presence of Diarrhetic
Shellfish Poison (DSP) in the edible parts of molluscs (the whole body
or any part edible separately).
8. In the absence of routine virus
testing procedures and the establishment of virological standards,
health checks must be based on faecal bacteria counts.
Algal Bloom in a German lake 
Decision 2002/225 EEC [3]
Maximum levels and Detection methods are described in the Decision .
(1)
Chapter V, point 7, of the Annex to Directive 91/ 492/EEC provides that
the customary biological testing methods must not give a positive
result to the presence of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP)in the
edible parts of molluscs(the whole body or any part edible separately).
Okadaic acid, dinophysistoxins and pectenotoxins together: 160 μg of okadaic acid equivalents/kg.
Yessotoxins: 1 mg of yessotoxin equivalent/kg.
Azaspiracids: 160 μg of azaspiracid equivalents/kg.
Detection methods are described in the Decision 2002/225 EEC:
Biological methods: Use mice or rats. The tests involve the death of the animals.
Alternative detection methods: A
series of methods such as high performance liquid chromatography
(HPLC)with fluorimetric detection, liquid chromatography (LC)-mass
spectrometry (MS), inmunoassays and functional assays such as the
phosphatase inhibition assay can be used as alternative or
complementary methods to the biological testing methods, provided that
either alone or combined they can detect at least the following
analogues, that they are not less effective than the biological methods
and that their implementation provides an equivalent level of public
health protection:
of DTX3,
- pectenotoxins: PTX1 and PTX2,
- yessotoxins: YTX, 45 OH YTX, homo YTX, and 45 OH homo YTX,
- azaspiracids: AZA1, AZA2 and AZA3.
On market available kits for the detection of algal toxins
Saxitoxin (STX):
is a neurotoxin found in marine dinoflagellates (algae). It is a
selective sodium channel blocker. It is so strong that it is known as
"TZ" chemical weapon by the U.S. military with the LCt50 of 5 mg .
min/m3. [4]
The medical importance is in relation to red tide in
shellfisch because of the paralytical shellfish poisoning (PSP) food
poisoning. The blocking of the sodium channel produces a flaccid
paralysis that leaves its victim calm and conscious through the
progression. Death is caused by respiratory failure. [4]
A Saxitoxin (PSP) algal toxin immunoassay ELISA kit is now commercially available among others:
Yessotoxin (YTX) : Yessotoxin and its analogues produced by marine algae, in particular Protoceratium reticulatum and Gonyaulax polyedra. YTX is known to accumulate in shellfish meat and is regarded as hepatotoxic and cardiotoxic when ingested above a certain level [1]. The yessotoxins have previously been included in the diarrhetic shellfish poison (DSP) group, but the YTX chemistry and toxicology differ distinctly from the DSP toxin family. The European Commision recently placed the yessotoxins in a separate phycotoxin group, and implemented a maximum permitted level (MPL) of 1 mg YTX eqvivalents/kg shellfish intended for human consumption (Directive 2002/225/EC). [5]
Microcystins / nodularins
and its congeners detection kit: It responds to a broad range of the
toxic microcystin congeners, as well as the structurally related
nodularin toxins.The ELISA is derived from antibodies recognizing
6E-ADDA,the common structural feature present in the toxic congeners of
microcystins and nodularins. [6] Microcystine ELISA Test:
Microcystins and the structurally related nodularins are toxins
produced by cyanobacteria (blue-green algae). Acute poisoning in humans
and animals can be caused by these toxins and in several cases has led
to death. These toxins inhibit liver function and might act as tumor
promoters. Many different structural variants (congeners) are found,
with the most common variant being microcystin-LR. To protect public
health, the WHO has proposed a provisional upper limit for
microcystin-LR of 1 ppb in drinking water. [7] Dominoic acid: The
amnesic shellfish poison (ASP) toxins, domoic acid (DA) and DA isomers
are water-soluble neurotoxins produced by a number of marine algae, in
particular by the microalgae of the genus Pseudo-nitzschia. Blooms of
Pseudo-nitzschia spp. may lead to the accumulation of DA in shellfish
filter feeders and other marine species. Ingestion of DA contaminated
shellfish may lead to amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) by affecting
the central nervous system, and has caused the death of both animal and
human consumers in severe cases. The European Commission Directive
2002/226/EC implemented a maximum permitted level (MPL) of 20 mg DA/kg
shellfish intended for human consumption. This MPL is adopted by the
regulatory authorities in most other countries. This
quantitative DA EIA kit detects DA in water samples shellfish and algal
extracts The assay is primarily intended for use in routine monitoring
of DA levels in bivalve molluscs to comply with the regulatory MPL, but
is also applicable for DA quantification in the marine matrixes. [8] Cylindrospermopsin:
It is a naturally produced toxin of several cyanobacterial strains and
has been found in fresh water throughout the world. Certain strains of
Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii (Australia, Hungary, United States),
Umezakia natans (Japan), Aphanizomenon ovalisporum (Australia, Israel)
have been found to produce cylindrospermopsin. The production of
cylindrospermopsin seems to be strain specific and not species
specific. The antibody binds Cylindrospermopsin The assay sensitivity
allows the determination of Cylindrospermopsin in a range of
environmental samples (water, fish tissue, fish plasma, etc.). [9] [1]
Council Directive 91/492/EEC of 15 July 1991 laying down the health
conditions for the production and the placing on the market of live
bivalve molluscs. [2]Council Directive 79/923/EEC of 30 October 1979 on the quality required of shellfish waters [3]
European Commission: (2002/225/EC) Decision of 15 March 2002 laying
down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Directive
91/492/EEC as regards the maximum levels and the methods of analysis of
certain marine biotoxins in bivalve molluscs, echinoderms, tunicates
and marine gastropods (notified under document number C(2002) 1001) [4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saxitoxin 21.05.2007 BASF GM potatoes release between 2007 and 2011 in Germany [1] The
marker gene used in these potato varieties, makes them resistant
against the antibiotic kanamycin. The European Food Safety Authority
has already identified no safety concerns which may have an adverse
effect upon approval. Measures to avoid spread out of the GM potato imposed by BVL
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31991L0492:EN:HTML
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31979L0923:EN:HTML
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2002:075:0062:0064:EN:PDF
[5] http://www.eamonitor.com/181.html
[6] http://www.eamonitor.com/109.html
[7] http://www.eamonitor.com/180.html
[8] http://www.eamonitor.com/159.html
[9] http://www.eamonitor.com/176.html
The
Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) approved
the release of genetic modified potato, developed by BASF Plant Science
in ten cultivation areas in Germany between 2007 and 2011. The approval
is extended all over Germany, including Bavaria. The BVL does not
expect any safety incidences which might endanger man and animals.
- The safety distance to conventional potato crops should be 10 metres.
- The aerial part of the plant must be destroyed chemically or physically before the harvest of the GM potato.
- The crops must be identified.
- The cultivation areas must be monitored for new breeds one year after GM use, if GM potatoes are found, the monitoring must be extended for another year.
The
gene of the tale cress weed Arabidopsis thaliana together with a gene
of a wild potato changes the starch composition of the potato . 677
strains of GM potatoes will be tested. Some strains will express
amylose, other will express only amylopectine. They are tolerant to the
herbicide Imazamox BASF GE potato field trial considered as illegal in The Netherlands [2] The potato contains only starch with the amylopectin component, and delivers renewable raw material to the starch industry. (1)
The Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL): Press
release: BVL genehmigt Freisetzung gentechnisch veränderter Kartoffeln.
19.04.2007 [2] Raad van State, nl: Uitspraak in de gedingen tussen: de stichting "Stichting Greenpeace Nederland", verdict 16397 19.05.2007: UK and Packaging waste reduction [1] Retailers can push their suppliers to
reduce the amount of material used or moving to more recyclable,
reusable and biodegradable materials. New annual targets set by
UK regulations increase manufacturers' obligations to the market to
recover and recycle their packaging under the international and
European pressure on the UK to decrease carbon emissions. Reducing
the weight of beer bottles spares glass and transport costs. Other
companies changed from glass to plastic bottles and succeeded to set it
on market. Experts should bear in mind that migration of
pasticizers and other unwanted chemicals takes place from the plastic
bottle to the food, which is not present when glass is used. The oxygen
barrier is not as perfect as the 100% barrier of glass bottles. Another idea was to use different containers for similar products simplifying processes. Packaging Recovery Notes (PRNs) [1] [1] Wrap: Material change for a better environment [2] Retail: Wrap: The Guide to Evolving Packaging Design [3] Valpack: The Green Dot Licensing 19.05.2007: Estrogenic effects of food wrap packaging [1] In this study the authors found that
phytoestrogens like genistein can be as potent or even more estrogenic
than compounds found in food wrap packaging. Tha authors suggest the
vaginal cornification to used as a sensitive and useful test to detect
weak estrogenic compounds to which humans can be exposed via food. Stroheker,
Thomas; Chagnon, Marie-Christine; Pinnert, Marie-France; Berges,
Raymond and Canivenc-Lavier, Marie-Chantal:Estrogenic effects of food
wrap packaging xenoestrogens and flavonoids in female Wistar rats: a
comparative study Reprod Toxicol. 2003 Jul-Aug;17(4):421-32. Doi
10.1016/S0890-6238(03)00044-3 19.05.2007: Low-calories, low dietary energy density and physical activity in the fight against high blood pressure and obesity PREMIER: Lifestyle Interventions for Blood Pressure Control [1] Comprehensive
Intervention: Reduced sodium intake, increased physical activity,
weight loss, and moderate alcohol ingestion are associated with a
modest reduction of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in with
high normal and Stage 1 hypertension. The DASH Intervention:
The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) study found that a
diet rich in fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and decreased
saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol reduced both diastolic and
systolic blood pressure in similar baseline blood pressure groups. Outcomes from the PREMIER study [2] Both behavioral interventions
significantly reduced weight, improved fitness, and lowered sodium
intake. The established plus DASH intervention also increased fruit,
vegetable, and dairy intake. Across the groups, gradients in BP and
hypertensive status were evident. Dietary Energy Density Reduction [3] The researchers found that the energy density of the
diet was decisive. Participants on a low energy density diet reported
the same weight loss as those on low calorie high physical activity
diets. However, the low energy density group reported consuming the
largest increase in the weight of food consumed as well as increased
intakes of fruit, vegetables, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Even a
modest reduction in energy density accomplished reduced body weight. The authors therefore concluded that a reduction in dietary energy density was a healthy weight management strategy Low Energy density may reduce physical activity necessary to maintain weight. [4] The authors found that 80% of
participants maintained their body weight and 20% had gained weight.
Maintainers consumed 384 fewer kcal/d on average. Maintainers had a
lower energy density dietary pattern (1.58 vs. 2.01 kcal/g,). There was
no significant difference in physical activity min/d reported by
maintainers and gainers. even for people who did not exercise regularly
.Adopting a lower calorie, low energy density dietary pattern may
reduce the amount of physical activity that is truly necessary for
weight maintenance. This is a new hope for those who cannot maintain a
certain level of their daily exercise EatRight model [5] [1] U.S. National Institutes of Health: PREMIER: Lifestyle Interventions for Blood Pressure Control [2]
Appel LJ, Champagne CM, Harsha DW; Obarzanek E; Elmer PJ, Steves VJ,
Vollmer WM, Lin PH, Svetkey LP, Stedman SW, Young DR; Writing Group of
the PREMIERE Collaborative Research Group: Effects of comprehensive
lifestyle modification on blood pressure control: main results of the
PREMIER clinical trial.JAMA 2003 Apr 23-30;289(16):2083-93 [3]
Ledikwe, Jenny H.; Rolls, Barbara J.; Smiciklas-Wright, Helen;
Mitchell, Diane C.; Ard, Jamy D.; Champagne, Catherine;Karanja, Njeri;
Lin, Pao-Hwa; Stevens, Victor and Appel, Lawrence J.: Reductions in
dietary energy density are associated with weight loss in overweight
and obese participants in the PREMIER trial.American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 85, No. 5, 1212-1221, May 2007 [4]
Cox, Tiffany L.; Malpede, Christie Z.; Desmond, Renee A.; Faulk, Lori
E.; Myer, Rory A.; Henson, ; Heimburger, Douglas C. and Ard, Jamy D.:
Physical Activity Patterns During Weight Maintenance Following a
Low-energy Density Dietary Intervention: Obesity 15:1226-1232 (2007) [5] American Dietetic Association 18.05.2007: International Conference on Organic Agriculture and Food Security [1] http://www.fao.org/organicag/ofs/docs_en.htm Summary of outcomes of the Conference [2] The paper identifies the strengths and weaknesses
of organic agriculture with regards to its contribution to food
security, analyses attributes of organic supply chains against the
Right to Food framework and proposes policy and research actions for
improving the performance of organic agriculture at the national,
international and institutional levels. “The strongest feature
of organic agriculture is its reliance on fossil-fuel independent and
locally-available production assets; working with natural processes
increases cost-effectiveness and resilience of agro-ecosystems to
climatic stress,” the paper says. “By managing biodiversity in
time (rotations) and space (mixed cropping), organic farmers use their
labour and environmental services to intensify production in a
sustainable way. Organic agriculture also breaks the vicious circle of
indebtedness for agricultural inputs which causes an alarming rate of
farmers’ suicides.” The paper recognizes that “most certified
organic food production in developing countries goes to export” and
adds that “when certified cash crops are linked with agro-ecological
improvements and accrued income for poor farmers, this leads to
improved food self-reliance and revitalization of small holder
agriculture.” Knowledge and labour intensive However, labour requirements on organic farms, and
the better return on labour, provide employment opportunities where
this resource is most abundant, thus safeguarding rural livelihoods,
according to FAO expert Nadia Scialabba. The paper also quotes
recent models of a global food supply grown organically which indicate
that organic agriculture could produce enough food on a global per
capita basis for the current world population. “These models
suggest that organic agriculture has the potential to secure a global
food supply, just as conventional agriculture is today, but with
reduced environmental impact,” according to FAO. The paper calls
on governments to “allocate resources for organic agriculture and to
integrate its objectives and actions within their national agricultural
development and poverty reduction strategies, with particular emphasis
on the needs of vulnerable groups.” It also insists on
investment in human resource development and skill training in organic
agriculture as part of sustainable development strategies. The
report from the conference will be presented to the 33rd committee on
World Food Security. IFOAM expects this will result in FAO policy
chances that favour organic agriculture. Definition of organic agriculture [3] The report from the
conference will be presented to the 33rd committee on World Food
Security. IFOAM expects this will result in FAO policy chances that
favour organic agriculture. Links [1] International Conference on Organic Agriculture and Food Security (3-5 May 2007). Press Releases. [2] FAO Newsroom 03.05.2007: Meeting the food security challenge through organic agriculture [3]
Codex Alimentarius: Guidelines for the Production, Processing,
Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods. CAC/GL32 2004
On
7 March 2007, The Council of State in The Netherlands judged that the
field trials of BASF concerning three GM potato herbicide-resistant
varieties, two with changed starch content and one with high late
blight resistance, were illegal and destroyed the permits immediately.
http://www.bvl.bund.de/nn_1004662/DE/08_PresseInfothek/01_nfosFuerPresse/01_PI_und
_HGI/GVO/bvl_genehmigt_kartoffelfreisetzung.html
http://www.raadvanstate.nl/verdicts/verdict_details.asp?verdict_id=16397
The
Guide to Evolving Packaging Design published by Waste and Resources
Action Programme (Wrap) is focused on retailers and manufacturers.
Important companies have signed commitment to cut down on packaging
going to landfill. [2]
The
regulations allow accredited waste reprocessing companies to sell
Packaging Waste Recovery Notes (PRNs) for every tonne of packaging
waste they recycle. Companies with £2m turnover or handling in excess
of 50 tonnes of packaging a year meet their obligation, assessed under
the scheme, by buying PRNs. The profits are reinvested in the recycling
infrastructure. This resembles the European Green Dot, where all
packaging pay fees for the recycling. This system is not compulsory in
UK. [3]
http://www.wrap.org.uk/retail.
http://www.wrap.org.uk/document.rm?id=3793
http://www.green-dot.org.uk/greendot/
Estrogenicity
of xenoestrogens found in food wrap packaging and phytoestrogen
flavonoids. Uterotrophic and vaginal cornification assays were studied
on rats by Stroheker and colleauges in 2003. Genistein, bisphenol F,
and octylphenol were identified as estrogenic only in immature rats.
While apigenin and kaempferol appeared to have low estrogenic activity,
they potentialized the uterotrophic effect of 17 beta-estradiol in
immature rats.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids
=12849853&dopt=Abstract
The
PREMIER study compared the effectiveness of advice of the Comprehensive
Intervention and the DASH Intervention. Both multicomponent lifestyle
interventions aimed to control blood pressure.
The
PREMIER writing group, leaded by Apel wrote in 2003 that both
behavioral interventions significantly reduced weight, improved
fitness, and lowered sodium intake. The established plus DASH
intervention also increased fruit, vegetable, and dairy intake.
Individuals with above-optimal BP, including stage 1 hypertension, can
make multiple lifestyle changes that lower BP and reduce their
cardiovascular disease risk.
Jenny
Ledikwe and colleagues 2007 found that participants of the PREMIER
study maintained weight loss after dieting adhering to a low calorie,
low energy density diet, even when large amounts of low calorie, low
energy density foods were consumed. Both large and modest energy
density reductions were associated with weight loss and improved diet
quality.
Tiffany
L. Cox and colleagues 2007 determined the role of physical activity and
energy intake on weight maintenance among former EatRight Weight
Management Program participants.
EatRight
model encourages the intake of foods that have fewer calories by volume
such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, while limiting consumption
of foods that are calorie-dense such as meats, cheeses, sugars and
fats, and includes increasing physical activity and behavioural
intervention to reduce or remove barriers to lifestyle change.
http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00000616
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt
=Abstract&list_uids=12709466
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/85/5/1212
http://www.obesityresearch.org/cgi/content/abstract/15/5/1226
http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/index.html
The
UN's FAO held a conference in Rome last week on Organic Agriculture and
Food Security, in partnership with the International Federation of
Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) Rome, 03 - 05 May 2007.The
transcription of the documents presented at the Conference are
available at :
FAO
underlines in a paper, Organic Agriculture and Food Security, presented
at an International Conference on Organic Agriculture and Food
Security. [2]
The
paper underlines that some requirements should be met when converting
to organic agriculture, mainly agro-ecological knowledge and labour
availability. “Organic management is a knowledge-based approach
requiring understanding of agro-ecological processes and it remains a
constraint where labour is scarce, such as in populations decimated by
HIV/AIDS.”
According
to the Codex Alimentarius Commission and all existing national
regulations, “organic agriculture is a holistic production management
system that avoids use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides and
genetically modified organisms, minimizes pollution of air, soil and
water, and optimizes the health and productivity of interdependent
communities of plants, animals and people.”
Important links to Organic Agriculture at FAO FAO websites of interest to organic agriculture and database
http://www.fao.org/organicag/frame9-e.htm
http://www.fao.org/organicag/ofs/press_en.htm
States should integrate organic agriculture objectives within national priorities, FAO says
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000550/index.html
http://www.codexalimentarius.net/download/standards/360/CXG_032e.pdf
18.05.2007 Splenda an example of self-destroying marketing [1]
Sucrose
known as sugar has been replaced in American European industrial food
production by other sweeteners such as fructose syrups or combinations
of functional ingredients and high intensity sweeteners. This is due to
the subsidization of corn in the United States, which has led to a vast
surplus and driven the price of corn syrup far below that of sugar. [1]
Sucralose, E955 is sold under the Splenda brand since 1991. The EU approved it in 2004. It is up to 1000 times as sweet as sugar and is stable when heated, and therefore can be used in backing.
It is manufactured by the selective chlorination of sucrose, in which three of the hydroxyl groups are replaced with chlorine to produce trichlorosucrose or C12H19Cl3O8. Sucralose is mixed with the corn bulking agents maltodextrin and dextrose. Sucralose is used as a replacement or in combination with other artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, acesulfame potassium or high-fructose corn syrup. [1]
Approval
Sucralose
has been accepted by several national and international food safety
regulatory bodies, including the FDA, Joint Food and Agriculture
Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food
Additives, The European Union's Scientific Committee on Food, Health
Protection Branch of Health and Welfare Canada and Food Standards
Australia-New Zealand (FSANZ).
The acceptable daily intake for sucralose is 9 mg/kg of body weight per day. [5]
Acceptable daily intake (mg/kg body weight/day) of some sweeteners:
Aspartame 40
Acesulfame K 15
Cyclamate 11
Saccharin 15
Sucralose 15 Canada has a more conservative ADI of 9 mg/kg body weight/day
Ref.: 1996 FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee Food [5]
Sucrose
Sucrose
( table sugar, saccharose): It consists of two monosaccharides,
alfa-glucose and fructose, joined by a glycosidic bond between carbon
atom 1 of the glucose unit and carbon atom 2 of the fructose unit. What
is notable about sucrose is that unlike most polysaccharides, the
glycosidic bond is formed between the reducing ends of both glucose and
fructose, and not between the reducing end of one and the nonreducing
end of the other. Sucrose is covalently bonded due to the non ionic
attraction of the carbon and oxygen atoms. The effect of this inhibits
further bonding to other saccharide units. Since it contains no free
anomeric carbon atom, it is classified as a nonreducing sugar. Sucrose
does not contain chlorine.
| Sucrose Sucrose ( table sugar, saccharose): It consists of two monosaccharides, alfa-glucose and fructose, joined by a glycosidic bond between carbon atom 1 of the glucose unit and carbon atom 2 of the fructose unit. What is notable about sucrose is that unlike most polysaccharides, the glycosidic bond is formed between the reducing ends of both glucose and fructose, and not between the reducing end of one and the nonreducing end of the other. Sucrose is covalently bonded due to the non ionic attraction of the carbon and oxygen atoms. The effect of this inhibits further bonding to other saccharide units. Since it contains no free anomeric carbon atom, it is classified as a nonreducing sugar. Sucrose does not contain chlorine. [7] |  Source: Wikipedia: Sucrose |
Tough marketing from Splenda and its outcome
The acceptance of sucralose by almost all food safety regulatory bodies is a high scientific support on safety of sucralose. This advantage is being put at risk by McNeil, a subsidiary of Johnson and Johnson which produces and markets Blenda. It is inconceivable that McNeil opens the door to a public discussion concerning misleading advertising of their product which highlights the organochloride chemical constitution and its deep chemical modification of sugar. With a vague slogan McNeil fought at no man's land.
The last inches
Following the premisses of commercial marketing the last inches of the boundaries of legality were used by Splenda:
Splenda was marketed as “No calorie sweetener,”
"Has no calories (Less than 5) and no carbohydrates (less than 1 gram) per serving." [2]
"Contains 96 calories per cup - sugar contains 770 calories per cup!" [2]
Splenda actually contains two calories per teaspoon. Such labelling is legal in the U.S. FDA' regulations permit a product to be labeled as "zero calories" if the "food contains less than 5 calories per reference amount customarily consumed and per labeled serving." [3]
Splenda contains a relatively small amount of sucralose because it is extremely sweet and little of that is metabolized anyway since sucralose is an organochloride. Virtually all of Splenda's caloric content derives from the highly fluffed dextrose and/or maltodextrin bulking agent, that gives Splenda its volume. Like other carbohydrates, dextrose and maltodextrin have approximately 4.5 calories per gram. [1]
Court decision against Splenda
Merisant,
the makers of Equal, sued Splenda in France and in the United States
over Splenda's slogan, "made from sugar so it tastes like sugar," The
Sugar Association, trying to pep up the image of sugar say is
misleading. [4]
In May 2007 a French court decided the marketing adds to be illegal misleading and ordered Merisat to withdraw their adds. In United States Merisat reached an undisclosed settlement with Equal to avoid a defeat at US court.
The disaster of aggressive marketing
The
outcome of this marketing strategy is feeding new discussions that
chronic consumption may lead to thymus shrinkage or other side-effects
[8]. Sucralose is an Organochloride also known as chlorocarbon.
Although many chlorocarbons are toxic, sucralose is not known to be
toxic in small quantities and is extremely insoluble in fat, so it can
not accumulate in fat like most chlorinated hydrocarbons, but the bad
image of this chemical group persists.[9]
The consumer advocacy group Citizens for Health has filed a petition with the FDA asking the approval of Splenda to be withdrawn until additional investigation of claimed side effects such as stomach pain and other digestion problems are cleared. [10]
Food and Diet maintains a webside with a list of symptoms of troubles from using Splenda [6]
The U.S. Sugar Association has also started a web site where they put forward their criticism of sucralose. [4]
The world's largest retailer of natural and organic foods Whole Food Markets, included sucralose in its list of unacceptable food ingredients.[11]
According to Food and Diet's website, numerous claims have been filed about possible side effect complaints by users of sucralose-containing products including drug-like feelings of disorientation and confusion, headaches, depression, anxiety, diarrhea, extreme fatigue, and more. [6]
[1] Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: Sucralose
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucralose
[2] Splenda Webpage: Splenda- No Calorie Sweetener, Granular
http://www.splenda.com/page.jhtml?id=splenda/products/granular.inc
[3] Code of Federal Regulations, Title 21, Volume 2, Pg. 95 – 101
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/cf101-60.html
[4] Website of the Sugar Association The truth about Splenda
http://www.truthaboutsplenda.com/
[5]Wolever
T, Barbeau M-C, Charron S, et al. Guidelines for the nutritional
management of diabetes mellitus in the new millennium: a position
statement by the Canadian Diabetes Association. Can J Diabetes Care.
1999;2(3):56-69
http://www.diabetes.ca/Files/nutritional_guide_eng.pdf
[6] Foodanddiet.com: Splenda
http://www.foodanddiet.com/NewFiles/splenda.html
[7] Wikipedia, the free enzyclopedia: Sucrose
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucrose
[8] National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme File NA/944 November 2001
http://www.nicnas.gov.au/publications/car/new/NA/NAFULLR/NA0900FR/NA944FR.pdf
[9]Wikipedia, the free enzyclopedia: Chlorocarbon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorocarbon
[10]msnbc: Sugar industry files complaint over Splenda
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15533454/
[11] Whole Foods Market: Quality Standards: Unacceptable Food Ingredients
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/products/unacceptablefoodingredients.html
17.05.2007 New fruit sweetener with low glycemic index [1]
A
natural fruit concentrate produced in Spain by Wild Deprovesa from
various fruits contains a wide range of sugars with a balanced ratio of
the carbohydrates fructose, glucose and sucrose in the fruit
concentrate – as it occurs naturally in fruit concentrate blends has a
glycemic index of 34. That is the lowest index compared to other
natural fruit sweeteners.
According to the producer some of the energy is available immediately, while the body also receives energy on a more sustained basis, being perfect for sport drinks and suitable for use in near water beverages, herbal or tea drinks with all-natural ingredients or beverages with a low glycemic index, in dairy products, bakery and confectionery as well as ice cream products.
This
new sweetener may help dairy industry to reformulate the fruit yoghurt,
soft drinks and other products using corn or wheat syrup leading to a
clean label. The company, however, could not answer my question on how this sweetener is to be labelled in the ingredient list of fruit yoghurt.
For more informations go to the article : 14.05.2007 Reformulating Fruit Yoghurt in www.ourfood-news.com
[1] Fruit Up - The Natural Fruit Sweetener with the Low Glycemic Index Information from Wild
http://www.wild.de/wild/opencms/en/ingredient_solutions/hottest_WILD_ingredients/fruit_up.html
16.05.2007: Glycemic index
The glycemic index (GI) is a ranking of carbohydrates on a scale from 0 to 100 according to the extent to which they raise blood sugar levels after eating. Foods with a high GI are those which are rapidly digested and absorbed and result in marked fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Low-GI foods, by virtue of their slow digestion and absorption, produce gradual rises in blood sugar and insulin levels
Low GI carbs, producing small fluctuations in our blood glucose and insulin levels, reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes and helps to control weight.
According to the Glycemic Index low GI foods are breakfast cereals based on oats, barleyand bran, breads with wholegrains, stone-ground flour, sour dough all other types of fruit and vegetables except potatoes, Basmati or Doongara rice, pasta, noodles, quinoa, salad vegetables with a vinaigrette dressing Foods containing little or no carbohydrate (such as meat, fish, eggs, avocado, wine, beer, spirits,