The Ministry of Justice is suspending one of the suppliers of meat to prisons. The halal pies and pasties from halal certificated supplier was found to be contaminated with traces of non-halal meat. [1]
Under Islamic law, Muslims are strictly forbidden to eat pork, as is the consumption of meat which has not been slaughtered in a way that is prescribed under their dietary requirements. Authorities admit that it is distressing for Muslims to have food served in prison labelled as Halal.
Europe's horsemeat scandal may have its origin in Romania, French companies, Dutch and Cypriot brokers are entangled. Horsemeat is cheaper than beef reducing the price of food.
Harald zur Hausen a German cancerologist writes that colorectal cancer has a high increasing incidence worldwide, notably in countries with the highest consumption of red meat such as China, Japan and Korea. In Japan and in Korea undercooked beef is consumed frequently, which correlates with the high incidence of the disease. [1]
Calls for global standards covering the sale of halal products have been backed by businesses. Halal standards differ according to individual countries' regulations. A single international agency issuing regulations would boost the halal market by unifying the existing system, say experts at the launch of the 5th Halal Expo in Dubai. [1]
Women who often drink soft drinks high in sugar almost every day are more likely to have a ischemic stroke than women who rarely drink sodas and other sweetened beverages. A study of Eshak et al. 2012 found that women who rarely had a soft drink 1.7% experienced an ischemic stroke, and 3% of women who had a soft drink a day had an ischemic stroke. [1]
Tobbia et al 2012 report the case of a 70-year-old woman which developed a life-threatening ventricular fibrillation following obesity treatment with phentermine. Recurrent ventricular fibrillation were caused by a coronary artery vasospasm. Discontinuing phentermine use the woman remained symptom free. [1]
Organic products are now sold in conventional supermarkets with high marketing efforts.
Health and environmental advantages of organic food [1]
Organic food has fewer pesticides associated with human disease. Organic farming causes a reduced environmental impact compared to conventional farming. There are, however, no convincing facts which support higher nutritional and health benefits, or disease protection from organic diet compared to conventional diet.
Grimm et al.2012 report that trans fatty acids accumulate in the membrane of cells. In this study the intake of trans fatty acids was found to increase the production of amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides which are the main components of senile plaques of Alzheimer's disease. [1]
Chiva-Blanch et al 2012 evaluated the effects of red wine fractions (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) on Blood-pressure and plasma nitric oxide (NO). [1]
A group of participants of the study was submitted to a diet containing red wine with 30g alcohol/d being compared to a group consuming the equivalent amount of dealcoholized red wine, and a group receiving gin with 30g alcohol/d.
