Food Processing Innovations

The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), together with BASF SE started a joint safety project to study long-term effect of nanoparticles in lung. Germany takes the world leadership in safety research on nanoparticles. The project will be funded with 5 million Euro during 4 years. [1]

Vetander et al. 2012 reviewed  medical records of a paediatric emergency department, in Stockholm County/Sweden, related to incidence of anaphylaxis

OPERA reported in September 2011 that neutrinos generated at CERN in their laboratory  in Switzerland were detected at Gran Sasso National Laboratory in Italy speeding the 730 kilometres distance between both labs 60 nanoseconds faster than light might travel such distance, contradicting the theory of relativity of Einstein. [1]

Douglas, Bachelet and Church 2012 constructed an autonomous DNA nanorobot capable of transporting molecular payloads to cancer cells. A DNA modelling software was used to see how DNA base pairs bind together and helical structure results. Given the target construct, the program lists the DNA strands that are needed to bind to the diseased cell and promotes its death. [1]

Chronic oral exposure to nanoparticles may affect human health. Schuler et al. 2012 report that chronic and acute oral exposure to polystyrene nanoparticles influence iron uptake and iron transport through intestinal epithelium  in vitro and in vivo using a model.chicken. [1]

The Guidance on risk assessment of nanoscience in food and feed  Guidance on risk assessmentof nanoscience in food and feed focusing on  the physico-chemical characterisation requirements of engineered nanomaterials used e.g. as food additives, enzymes, flavourings, food contact materials, novel foods, feed additives and pesticides. [1]

Stevia is being obtained from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana. Its sweetnes has a slower onset and longer duration than that of sugar, and some extracts may have a bitter or licorice-like aftertaste at high concentrations. Steviol glycoside extracts have up to 300 times the sweetness of sugar. are heat-stable, pH-stable, and do not ferment. They also do not induce a glycemic response when ingested, making them attractive as natural sweeteners to diabetics and others on carbohydrate-controlled diets. [1]

The Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a draft guidance on scientific requirements for health claims related to antioxidants, oxidative damage and cardiovascular health. The guidance cites the type of evidence for a health claim. The panel takes position to several claims such as: [1]

The group “As You Sow” published a framework document for the food industry focusing on the use of nanoparticles in food. This framework is based on EFSA, DEFRA, PIRA and USFDA. The group argues that definition of nanomaterials should include particles up to 300 nm. This is based on some calls which say that particles up to 300 nm can be incorporated by cells. [1]

Gene delivery is the process of introducing foreign DNA into host cells. Gene delivery is, for example, one of the steps necessary for gene therapy and the genetic modification of crops. There are many different methods of gene delivery developed for a various types of cells and tissues, from bacterial to mammalian. Generally, the methods can be divided into two categories, viral and non-viral.