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September 2007

27.09.2007: Fresh salad contaminated with poisonous groundsel [1]
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BFR) found flowers and leaves from the common groundsel (Senecio Vulgaris L) in fresh salad ready too eat mix of radicchio, frisee and lamb's lettuce.

More useful linksGroundsel is a poisonous plant which recently grows together with radicchio and other lettuce types because some herbicides which control groundsel were prohibited. The plant produces senecionin and riddelin, which belong to the group of unsaturated pyrrolizidin alcaloids (PA). These alcaloids were found to be cancirogenic and mutagenic. Producer and consumer should wash carefully lettuce and discard all pieces of extraneous plants.

Photography of Senecio Vulgaris L.:  http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/scripts/detail.asp?spcode=SENVUL

[1] BFR: Salatmischung mit Geiskraut verunreinigt
http://www.bfr.bund.de/cd/template/index

27.09.2007Calcium chloride was found to be the best choice to reduce acrylamide in potato crisps [1]

Shiyi Ou and colleagues 2007 found that acrylamide formation in fried potato crisps was significantly reduced immersing the potato slices in solutions of l-cysteine and solution of CaCl2. Immersing the potato slices in a solution of 5 g/l of CaCl2 was the best choice because of its low price and the acceptable mouth feel of fried crisps. Industrial blanching at 85 °C reduced the formation of acrylamide by 85% when potato slices were immersed in the solution.

[1] Ou, Shiyi; Lin, Oilin; Zhang, Yuping; Huang, Caihuan; Sun, Xi; Fu, Liang: Reduction of acrylamide formation by selected agents in fried potato crisps on industrial scale. Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies.    doi: 10.1016/j.ifset.2007.06.008

26.09.2007: Fish oil supplementation improves large arterial elasticity [1]
Wang and colleagues 2007 found that a supplementation of 3 g fish oil during 8 weeks improved the large arterial elasticity (C1), but had no effect on blood pressure in overweight hypertensive patients. The elasticity of the small artery (C2),was not changed.

The authors conclude that fish oil supplementation can improve large arterial elasticity but has no effect on blood pressure. They call for more studies on this matter.

[1] Wang, S:Ma, A-Q; Song,S-W; Quan, Q-H; Zhao,X-F; Zheng X-H: Fish oil supplementation improves large arterial elasticity in overweight hypertensive patients. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Advance online publication 5 September 2007; doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602886
http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/vaop/ncurrent/abs/1602886a.html


25.09.2007 Selenium supplementation reduces oxidative stress [1]
Fausta Natella and colleagues found that a supplementation of 110 micrograms of selenium per day as selenium yeast during 10 days prevented postprandial oxidative stress .

Oxidatively modified LDL activates a series of cellular events in the arterial wall ultimately leading to plaque formation. Dietary lipid hydroperoxides that escape from the gastrointestinal barrier can be incorporated into plasma lipoproteins, leading to a modified form of LDL (LDL minus). Selenium supplementation inhibited after-meal increases in oxidatively modified LDL.

Selenium induced a significant decrease in preprandial plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and inhibited the meal-induced increase in GPx activity. Selenium supplementation fully prevented the meal-induced increase in both LDL minus level and LDL susceptibility to oxidation.

Selenium supplementation also avoided the increase of post-prandial malondialdehyde (MDA), a major end product of lipid oxidation. Prior to supplementation MDA plasma levels had been increased by about 10 per cent.

The European recommended daily intake (RDI) of selenium is 65 micrograms.
Following EU levies imposed on wheat imports from the US where the soil is rich in selenium, the intake has fallen from 60 to 34 micrograms per day.

[1] Natella, Fausta; Fidale, Michela; Tubaro, Franco; Ursini, Fulvio; Scaccin, Cristina: Selenium supplementation prevents the increase in atherogenic electronegative LDL (LDL minus) in the postprandial phase. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases. published online 15 Febuary 2007. doi: 10.1016/j.numecd.2006.05.002
http://www.nmcd-journal.com/article/PIIS0939475306001220/abstract

25.09.2007: Yeast extract under the influence of expanding bioethanol [1]
Increased cost of sugar molasses due to the European sugar reform, together with the increased use of bioethanol which reduces supplies available to the food ingredients industry, and high fossil fuel cost for energy used by industry for process, increase the price of yeast extract. Yeast extract produced from sugar molasses by the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is increasingly being used in convenience foods as savory ingredient and healthy ingredient as a substitute for salt and monosodium glutamate.

[1] FoodNavigator: Sugar reform and biofuel take toll on yeast extract prices25.09.2007
http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?n=80040-bio-springer-yeast-extract-sugar-molasses

23.09.2007: Vegetarianism, a good way to reduce greenhouse emission  [1] [2] [3] [4]
According to FAO , the livestock sector generates 18 percent of greenhouse gas emissions as measured in CO2 equivalent. This is more than transport. It is also a major source of land and water degradation.

Global meat production is projected to more than double from 229 million tonnes in 1999/2001 to 465 million tonnes in 2050, while milk output is set to climb from 580 to 1043 million tonnes.

FAO says that the environmental costs per unit of livestock production must be cut by one half, just to avoid the level of damage worsening beyond its present level,

Suggested remedies by the FAO Report London 2006:
Land degradation: controlling access and removing obstacles to mobility on common pastures. Use of soil conservation methods and silvopastoralism, together with controlled livestock exclusion from sensitive areas; payment schemes for environmental services in livestock-based land use to help reduce and reverse land degradation.

Atmosphere and climate: increasing the efficiency of livestock production and feed crop agriculture. Improving animals’ diets to reduce enteric fermentation and consequent methane emissions, and setting up biogas plant initiatives to recycle manure.

Water: improving the efficiency of irrigation systems. Introducing full-cost pricing for water together with taxes to discourage large-scale livestock concentration close to cities.

Other suggestions to reduce emission from lifestock:
Other suggestions are to eat more vegetables. Meat consumption should de reduced by half. The vegetarians suggest to stop eating meat at all.

Vegetarianism
Vegetarianism means nutrition without any products from dead animals such as meat, poultry or fish.
Lacto-ovo vegetarians eat plant food plus dairy products and eggs.
Lacto vegetarians don’t eat eggs but they eat diary products.
Vegans don’t eat anything coming from an animal, therefore no diary products, eggs or honey for example.

Conversion Plant to animal food.
Meat based nutrition requires 20 times more land and 14 times more water than a plant-based diet. The production of 1kg of meat requires 10-16 kg of cereals and other plant food.
Water consumption for fodder
70% of the world’s water consumption is needed for the production of fodder. It has been calculated that to produce 4kg of meat, the amount of water needed is equal to what a normal family consumes in one year.

Manure pollution
Animal excrement which is responsible for half the pollution of our lakes, rivers and groundwater, amounts to 110t per second in Europe and America. 2/3 of it is liquid manure. The nitrate and ammonia in it contaminate our waters.
The evaporation of the ammonia from this liquid manure causes part of the acid rains, after having changed to nitric acid.

Compassion
The most important reason why we should not eat meat: sentient, suffering creatures have to give their life for it. Every year 13 billion animals are slaughtered on earth.

[1] Livestocks long shadow. Environmental issues and optionshttp://www.virtualcentre.org/en/library/key_pub/longshad/A0701E00.pdf

[2] Vegetarianism is Love for Animals and Humans Speech given at the demonstration for animal rights in Zurich, October 1996 by Sigrid De Leo
http://www.european-vegetarian.org/evu/english/news/news

[3] European-Vegetarian.org
http://www.european-vegetarian.org/

[4] IVU Promoting Vegetarianism Worldwide Since 1908
http://www.ivu.org/


23.09.2007: Bluetongue disease [1] [2]
The strain of Bluetongue virus  detected in one cow near Ipswich, Suffolk has been identified as Serotype BTV 8. This is the strain found in Belgium, France Germany, Luxembourg and Netherlands since August 2006.

Bluetongue disease (also called catarrhal fever) is a non-contagious, insect-borne viral disease of ruminants, mainly sheep and less frequently of cattle, goats, buffalo, deer, dromedaries and antelope. There are no reports of human transmission. It is caused by the Bluetongue virus.

Bluetongue has been observed in Australia, the USA, Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe. Its occurrence is seasonal in the affected Mediterranean countries, subsiding when temperatures drop. It has been spreading northward since October 1998, perhaps as a result of global warming.

Major signs are high fever, excessive salivation, swelling of the face and tongue and cyanosis of the tongue. Swelling of the lips and tongue gives the tongue its typical blue appearance, though this sign is confined to a minority of the animals. Recovery is very slow.

[1] Wikipedia: Bluetongue disease
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_tongue_disease

[2] DEFRABluetongue strain identified as BTV8. Information bulletin 23.09.2007.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/070923a.htm

23.09.2007: Foot and mouth disease in UK  [1]
The DEFRA announced on the 23.09.2007 that the foot and mouth disease was detected at a premises near Petersfield, Hampshire. It is caused by the same virus of foregoing cases, which is spreading in England. Since August up to 1.800 animal had been culled.

[1] DEFRA, UK: Foot and Mouth Disease: Temporary control zone established in Hampshire
http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2007/070923b.htm

23.09.2007: Intensive animal food production systems, warns FAO [1]
According to Food and Agriculture Organization of th United Nations (FAO), global animal food production is undergoing a major transformation that could lead to a higher risk of disease transmission from animals to humans.

The risk of disease transmission from animals to humans will increase in the future due to human and livestock population growth, dynamic changes in livestock production, the emergence of worldwide agro-food networks and a significant increase in the mobility of people and goods.

Excessive concentration of animals in large scale industrial production units should be avoided and adequate investments should be made in heightened biosecurity and improved disease monitoring to safeguard public health

Pigs and poultry
Globally, pig and poultry production are the fastest growing and industrializing livestock sub-sectors in developed countries. The vast majority of chickens and turkeys are now produced in houses with 15 000 to 50 000 birds. This business is being introduced in Asia, South America and Africa.

Industrial pig and poultry production relies on a significant movement of live animals. In 2005, for example, nearly 25 million pigs, more than two million pigs per month, were traded internationally.

According to FAO the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus is currently of major global concern, however, the ‘silent’ circulation of influenza A viruses (IAVs) in poultry and swine should also be closely monitored internationally. A number of IAVs are now fairly widespread in commercial poultry and to a lesser extent in pigs and could also lead to emergence of a human influenza pandemic.

FAO called upon meat producers to apply basic biosecurity measures. Production sites should not be built close to human settlements or wild bird populations; farms should be regularly cleaned and disinfected; the movements of staff and vehicles should be controlled and employees should be trained in biosecurity.

[1] Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: Dramatic changes in global meat production could increase risk of diseases
Livestock producers should invest more in biosecurity and disease monitoring. 17 September 2007, Rome
http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000660/index.html


22.09.2007: Preservative and artificial colours still matter of consumer concern
The UK Food Standard Agency expressed its astonishment that industry has not moved more quickly to remove these artificial colours from their products, in the light of serious concerns raised by consumers, and urged the whole of industry to act responsibly and swiftly. [1]

In face of the ongoing discussion concerning the safety of the preservative benzoic acid and some artificial colours, the European consumer should discard foods and beverages with preservatives and artificial colours.

[1] FSA: Colours and hyperactivity. Board discusses additives research
http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2007/sep/additivesboard


21.09.2007: Low GI natural fruit sweetener replacing corn glucose-fructose syrup [1]
Fruit concentrates provide a wide range of sugars containing a balanced ratio of the carbohydrates fructose, glucose and sucrose in the fruit concentrate. Wild claims that its fruit sweetener has a glycemic index of 34. Some of the energy is available immediately, while the remaining energy is released on a more sustained basis, good 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 and fruit yoghurt . Also in dairy products, such as fruit yoghurt, bakery and confectionery as well as ice cream products to replace corn fructose-glucose syrup.

But remember: sweet foods and sweet drinks are loaded with calories. Sweet beverages are can lead to obesity and diabetes because of the high amount of liquids which are consumed when its hot.

Other natural sweeteners on market :
Fruit juice concentrates from pear, pineapple and peach.
Granulated fruit sweeteners are made from grape juice concentrate and rice syrup.
Date sugar
Honey
Barley malt
Brown rice syrup
Maple syrup
Corn fructose-glucose syrup
Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana)
Simple sugars: Glucose, fructose , galactose.

[1] http://www.wild.de/wild/opencms/en/ingredient_solutions/hottest_WILD_ingredients/fruit_up.html

21.09.2007 HACCP plans for fresh produce [1] [2]
The Fresh Produce Safety Act of 2007
A legislation was introduced by by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin requiring the FDA to assess farms and processing facilities on the basis of risk. Producers will be required to maintain written hazard control plans.

High-risk facilities that washes and bags salad greens would be inspected at least once a growing season instead of once every 5 or 10 years. The FDA would also develop standards and practices for manure application, irrigation water, and for excluding domestic animals from fields where produce is grown.

The bill would also require rulemaking to ensure that imported produce has been grown and processed with the same standards that we will have in the U.S. The bill follows the great recalls of spinach and lettuce.

[1] CSPI: Food Safety Act Calls For Inspections on Produce Farms. Bill Comes One Year After Massive Spinach Recall
http://www.cspinet.org/new/200709201.html

[2]Press Release of Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry DEM Committee.
Harkin measure creates first of its kind national food safety framework for all fresh produce.
http://agriculture.senate.gov/news2/record.cfm?id=283764


16.09.2007: Meat from USA and Australia with ractopamine refused by China.
Ractopamine is a beta-agonist like Clenbuterol. It is a feed additive to promote leanness in pigs raised for their meat.It was approved by the FDA in 1999 and also in countries like Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and Thailand. The EU did not approve it yet.

China refused 18 tons of US kidneys of pork, and 24 tons of Canadian cutlets because of traces of Ractopamine.

Only a trace amount of ractopamine need be added for a marked increase in protein and decrease in fat accretion in animals, in particular swine. For the last 90 pounds of live weight gain, a mere 18.5 grams of ractopamine added to a ton of feed (20 ppm) will increase protein by 24% and decrease fat by 34%. [1]

When fed at the maximum rate (18g/ton), RAC can increase the amount of lean removed from the carcass from 51.8 to 57.5% (Schinckel et al., 2002). that ractopamine has a positive impact on barrows and gilts with substantially different genetic potentials for lean growth and carcass lean percentage, according to Schinkel. [2]

[1] Wikipedia: Ractopamine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ractopamine

[2] Schinckel, A. P., B. T. Richert, and C. T. Herr. 2002. Variation in the response of multiple genetic populations of pigs to ractopamine. J. Anim. Sci. 80(E. Suppl. 2): E85-E89.
http://jas.fass.org/cgi/content/abstract/80/E-Suppl_2/E85


16.09.2007: Yam bean improvement
The yam bean is an attractive alternative to traditional root/tuber crops. Interspecific hybridization combined with intensive breeding methodes are under way.

The Chuin-Type yam bean (Pachyrhizus tuiberosus) is a legume tuber whichj is consumed like manioc. Grüneberg and colleagues crossed the Chui -type with Pachyrhizus ahipa varieties, and obtained hybrids with high dry matter The authors conclude that hybridisation is appropriate to improve the tuber dry matter content in the yam bean in the Andean region. [1]

Researchers believe that removing the toxic rotenone from the seeds of the Chuin-type yam bean from Peru the plant could provide a protein source as well as seed for edible oil.

Séraphin Zanklan, a scientist at Centre Songhai in Porto-Novo (Benin) identified a type with high storage root production with very low reduction in storage root and seed production under drought. It has three to five times more protein than potatoes or yams and the storage roots can be processed into a granular flour similar to the current staple of West Africa ‘cassava gari’. The bean could improve food support in poor regions. [2]

[1] Grüneberg, W.J.; Freynhagen-Leopola, P.; Delgado-Váquez, O.: A new yam bean (Pachyrhizus spp.) interspecific hybrid. Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution. Volume 50, Number 7, 757-766 November 2003Doi: 10.1023/A:1025007918878
http://www.springerlink.com/content/l4874t1p26l1j22r/

[2] EurekAlert: Yam bean a nearly forgotten crop Public Release 15-September 2007
http://www.eurekalert.org/pubnews.php

16.09.2007: New phages to treat bacterial infections like multiple drug resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile. [1]

A bacterial infection can be targeted using special bacteriophages which attack the exact strain of the pathogenic bacteria. Other beneficial bacteria of the body are spared, according to Ana Toribio and colleagues. Excessive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and their use in feed as growth promoter lead to resistant strains of pathogenic bacteria.
The researchers used a cocktail of phages obtained from the River Cam to treat gut infections caused by Citrobacter rodentium in mice. Variety of phages are used to overcome bacterial mutations.

The Tbilisi Bacteriophage Institute in Georgia already uses bacteriophages for the treatment of infections such as diabetic ulcers and wounds.

[1] Society for General Bacteriology: New viruses to treat bacterial diseases -- 'My enemies' enemy is my friend'. EurekAlert, Public release date: 2-Sep-2007
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2007-09/sfgm-nvt082807.php


15.09.2007: 100% fruit juice instead of sugar drinks reduce risk of diabetes [1]
Yoshida and colleagues found that sugar-sweetened drink consumption caused fasting insulin to rise, but was not associated with fasting glucose.

Fruit juice consumption was inversely associated with fasting glucose. Fasting insulin was not affected.

The authors conclude that in healthy adults, sugar-sweetened drink consumption could be a factor of insulin resistance. The authors caution , howeverthat too much fruit juice can cause an excess of calories and sugar. They call for more studies on this subject.

[1] Yoshida M, McKeown NM, Rogers G, Meigs JB, Saltzman E, D'Agostino R, Jacques PF.: Surrogate markers of insulin resistance are associated with consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and fruit juice in midlle and older-aged adults. The Journal of Nutrition, September 2007, 137: 2121-2127
The Journal of nutrition


14.09.2007: Vetch as pizza cheese topping low in animal fat [1] [2] [3]
Salim-ur-Rehman and colleagues 2007 developed a vetch–bovine skimmed milk powder as an alternative to mozzarella pizza cheese low in animal fat.

Vetch (Lathyrus sativus) is a legume grown in Pakistan. It has a high quality protein ranging between 26.5 and 28.7 and fat 1.36 per cent.

Lactic acid bacterial culture of Streptococcus thermophillus and Streptococcus bulgaricus and rennet were used in the preparation of the cheese.

The authors suggest a blend at the ratio of 12.5 vetch flour to 87,5 bovine skimmed milk powder as to be used instead of Mozzarella cheese for pizza topping, to reduce coronary risks caused by animal fat.

Vetch must be submitted to a complicated detoxification process to get rid of the neurotoxin amino acid (beta-N-oxalyl-L-alpha-beta-diaminopropionic acid), which builds up in the brains and livers of non-ruminant animals. This toxin can cause an irreversible disease called neurolathrysm which paralysis the lower limbs. This may arise in animals with a single stomach, like humans, chickens and pigs. Other antinutritional factors in grass pea include trypsin inhibitors, tannins, lectins, phytate and oligosaccharides.

[1] Salim-ur-Rehman, John R. Piggott, Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmad, Sarfraz Hussain, Nasir Ahmad, Patricia Owusu-Darko: Preparation and evaluation of pizza cheese made from blend of vetch–bovine milk. International Journal of Food Science & Technology (OnlineEarly Articles) doi:10.1111/j.1365-2621.2006.01512.x
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1365-2621.2006.01512.x?prevSearch
=allfield%3A%28Salim-ur-Rehman%29

[2] Wikipedia: Lathyrus sativus
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lathyrus_sativus

[3] Protabase Record Display: Lathyrus sativus L.
Protabase

14.09.2007: German bakery margarine, pop-corn and waffels high on trans-fatty acids [1]
The researcher Gerhard Jahreis from the university of Jena, Germany, analysing more than 800 foods, found up to 20 percent to have trans fatty acids varying from low to very high. He calls for clear labelling of trans fatty acids on foods. Denmark stiff regulations on trans fatty acids give a limit of maximal 2 percent. Germany does not have any such binding limits on foods.

Jahreis found that meanwhile tube margarine had low trans levels,backers margarine, especially margarine for puff pastry, used in croissants, however, had extreme high content of trans fatty acids. He stresses that other foods like microwawe-popcorn and waffles also vary strongly in the level of the coronary diseases risking fatty acids. Feeding on snacks, like cookies, chips and others, the daily intake of trans fatty acids may easily reach of 10g, where 2 g are considered as safe.

Oxidative stress induced by trans fatty acids [2]
High consumption of trans fat has been associated with high oxidative stress in humans, which could increase the risk of the development or acceleration of several diseases, such as atherosclerosis, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

Jahreis and colleagues monitored several urinary and blood biomarkers of oxidative stress induced by a diet of 6g/day of trans fatty acids:

Free radical–induced lipid peroxidation: high concentration of urinary 8-iso-PGF2alfa were found.
Cyclooxygenase-mediated inflammatory response: The concentrations of 15-keto-dihydro-PGF2alfa was not affected by the diet.
Oxiddative DNA damage: measured as urinary 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2'-deoxy-guanosine was not affected by the diet.

The authors conclude that prolonged diet of >5.0 g/d of trans fats could be relevant to the development of disease, as seen on an increase in urinary 8-iso-PGF2alfa. The authors point out, however, that in Europeans the intake of trans fats are quite low, what could minimize the possible risk of detrimental effects on human health.

[1] Handelsblatt.com: Forscher warnen vor Gesundheitsgefahr aus der Keksdose. 13.09.07
http://www.handelsblatt.com/news/default.aspx?_t=ft&_p=203116&_b=1322532

[2] Kuhnt, Katrin; Wagner, Andreas; Kraft, Jana; Basu, Samar; Jahreis, Gerhard: Dietary supplementation with 11trans- and 12trans-18:1 and oxidative stress in humans. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 84, No. 5, 981-988, November 2006
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/abstract/84/5/981


12.09.2007: Another Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak in UK [1]
The UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) confirms another  outbreak of the disease at a farm in Surrey. Also here the source of the virus was tracked back to the laboratory of Merial.

The first outbreak was reported on 5. August 2007 and was tracked back to a broken wastewater pipeline from a laboratory of Merial Animal Health.

Merial Animal Health together with Merck is a world-leading animal health company producing pharmaceutical products and vaccines for livestock, pets and wildlife.

[1] Defra: Foot-andMouth Disease 12.09.2007
http://www.defra.gov.uk/footandmouth/

08.09.2007: GM corn in Europe [1]
Dow AgroSciences is engaged to develop genetic solutions for crop production for food and non-food agriculture. With the acquisition Austrian Maize Technologies, and the Dutch germplasm company Duo Maize, Dow AgroSiences will become leading in the European market of corn seeds for grain and silage.

Herculex [2]
The new acquisition will foster the spread of the Herculex seed in the European market which covers about 12 million hectares of corn fields.

The European registration of Dow's Herculex corn which is expected for soon, will bring more protection of corn against more destructive pests than any other trait, according to DowAgroSciences. It is the only in-plant technology that protects against western bean cutworm and black cutworm.

Full package of GM technology
HERCULEX  expresses the Cry 1F Bt protein and provides protection against above-ground insects like European corn borer, western bean cutworm, black cutworm and fall armyworm.
It combines Cry 1F with the binary Bt proteins, Cry 34Ab1 and Cry 35Ab1 to control  all listed pests plus corn rootworm  in HERCULEX XTRA and Pioneer Hi-Bred. Herculex traits also contain LibertyLink technology and many Herculex hybrids contain Roundup Ready Corn 2 technology.

Dow agroSciences presents three main traits:
Herculex I: Dow says its Herculex I cowers in one stroke the followingh pests:
European corn borer
Southwestern corn borer
Western bean cutworm
Black cutworm
Fall Armyworm
Southern corn stalk borer
Lesser cornstalk borer
Sugarcane borer
Corn earworm suppression

Herculex RW Rootworm Protection: provides powerful, below-ground in-plant insect protection against western, northern and Mexican corn rootworm larvae, during the whole season.

Herculex XTRA: combines Herculex I Insect Protection and Herculex RW Rootworm Protection for powerful protection above- and below-ground. Its whole-plant protection works all season long and shields your corn unlike any other trait.

A perfect family of seed, pesticides and herbicides
Adopting Herculex the door is open to a large family of GM technologies where everything is well round up. However, Dow AgroSciences warns: Application of other, not specified herbicides to Herculex corn could result in total crop loss. The use of Roundup Ready Corn 2 technology requires the purchaser to have completed a Monsanto Technology Agreement.

Bayer CropScience [3]
Bayer CropScience has developed partnerships with each of the participating seed companies listed below to offer LIBERTY herbicide at a better value by reducing the LIBERTY herbicide cost.
See the list of corn seeds which have the Liberty Link gene at http://www.bayergrowingstrong.com/liberty_rebate/

[1]Food Navigator: Dow bolsters corn breeding with Duo Maize buy. 07.09.2007
http://sf1.novisgroup.com/n.php?n=79586&m=1fne907&c=nfuzqfgkdkribxo

[2]Dow AgroSciences: HERCULEX provides superior insect protection.
http://www.dowagro.com/herculex/

[3] Bayer CropScience: Solutions, 2007 Liberty Herbicide Rebate Offer
http://www.bayergrowingstrong.com/liberty_rebate/

07.09.2007: Soybased infant formulas could reduce severity of diarrhea in infants [1]
According to Andres and colleagues 2007, rotavirus infections cause acute gastroenteritis in children and are responsible for five percent of all child deaths globally. Infection affects almost all children within their first 5 years of life. Soy-based infant formula, containing high levels of isoflavones were found to have antiviral activity on numerous viruses. The authors found that genistin was responsible for the inhibition of rotavirus activity of the isoflavones from soy.

The authors suggest that the modulation of isoflavone composition and concentration of infant formulas may reduce the severity of rotavirus infection in human and production animals.

[1] Aline Andres, Sharon M. Donovan, Theresa B. Kuhlenschmidt, and Mark S. Kuhlenschmidt :
Isoflavones at Concentrations Present in Soy Infant Formula Inhibit Rotavirus Infection in Vitro J. Nutr. 2007 137: 2068-2073.
http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/137/9/2068

07.09.2007: Sodium Benzoate and certain colours increases hyperactivity in children [1]
According to the UK Food Standards Agency, parents of children showing signs of hyperactivity are being advised that cutting certain artificial colours from their diets might have some beneficial effects. The colours – Sunset yellow (E110), Quinoline yellow (E104), Carmoisine (E122), Allura red (E129), Tartrazine (E102) Ponceau 4R (E124), and Sodium benzonate (E211) – were studied as part of new FSA-commissioned research.

Defining Hyperactivity
Hyperactivity is used to mean occurrence of the following behaviours at the same time: over-activity, inattention and impulsivity. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (or Hyperkinetic Disorder) (ADHD) is an extreme form of hyperactivity that is clinically diagnosed when specific patterns of behaviour occur together to a strong degree. This comprises a behavioural disorder which adversely affects children’s function at home and in school.

The findings
The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food (COT) reviewed a research, carried out by Southampton University, suggesting that eating or drinking certain mixes of these artificial food colours together with the preservative sodium benzoate could be linked to a negative effect on children’s behaviour.

The findings of the research were presented to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which is conducting a review of the safety of all food colours.

FSA Advice
Following the COT statement, the FSA holds on the following advice:
FSA advice to consumers: if a child shows signs of hyperactivity or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) then eliminating the colours used in the Southampton study from their diet might have some beneficial effects.

However, the FSA also reminds that there are many factors associated with hyperactive behaviour in children. These are thought to include genetic factors, being born prematurely, or environment and upbringing.

The Southampton Study [2]
The study tested two combinations of colours and a preservative most likely to be found in foods popular with children such as soft drinks, confectionery, and ice cream.
According to Professor Jim Stevenson from Southampton University, and author of the report, the consumption of certain mixtures of artificial food colours and sodium benzoate preservative are associated with increases in hyperactive behaviour in children.

The POC Review on the Southampton Study [3]
According to Professor Ieuan Hughes, Chair of the COT, said that the study provides supporting evidence for a link between the colours used in the study and increased hyperactivity in children. He stresses that the available evidence does not identify whether this association would be restricted to certain food additives or combinations of them.

The POC study concludes that the findings are consistent with, and add weight to, previous published reports of behavioural changes occurring in children following consumption of particular food additives.

Comment
The Southampton study, together with the review of COT, should encourage food producers to reformulate their products to reduce as much as possible the use of additives. Food safety systems like HACCP with integrated quality control systems provide safe technologies of cleaning, disinfection and packaging which turn the use of preservatives such as sodium benzoate unnecessary. The need of preservatives indicate a loophole of cleaning and food safety of the production line. There are natural colours which may be used instead of artificial colours.

Sodium benzoate in association with citric or ascorbic acid has also been linked with cancer-risk from soft drinks due to the formation of benzene. (See: http://www.ourfood-news.com/ArchivesJuly2007.html 14.07.2007: Cancer-risk from soft drinks - Lawsuit against PepsiCo and others) Back to nature may solve many hidden health disruptions.

[1] Agency revises advice on certain colors
http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2007/sep/foodcolours

[2] University of Southampton: Major study indicates a link between hyperactivity in children and certain food additives. News Release Ref: 07/99. 06 September 2007

http://www.soton.ac.uk/mediacentre/news/2007/sep/07_99.shtml

[3] COT statement 2007/04 September 2007
http://www.food.gov.uk/multimedia/pdfs/committee/colpreschil.pdf

06.09.2007: Anti-inflammatory activity of green-lipped mussel extracts. [1] [2]
Treschow, together with Hodges and colleagues identified a family of omega-3 PUFAs which included C18:4, C19:4, C20:4, and C21:5 PUFAs in the green-lipped or green shell mussel Perna canaliculus. The C20:4 was the predominant PUFA in the extract, and was a structural isomer of arachidonic acid. These fatty acids presented significant anti-inflammatory activity in vitro.

The authors found an inhibition of leukotriene and cyclo-oxygenase  which are involved in an inflammatory process. The authors suggest that the novel compounds may be biologically significant as anti inflammatory agents, due to their in vitro inhibition of lipoxygenase products.

Chronic inflammation may be linked to heart disease, osteoporosis, cognitive decline and Alzheimer's, and type-2 diabetes.

Some producers extract the oil from the dried mussel meat for specific uses. The fat free powder is then marketed as food supplement rich in glycosaminglycane, which is told to be a base substance for connective tissue and cartilage. Some suppliers complain that extracts without the lipid fractions and with less anti-inflammatory effect are cheaper than mussels with the oil fraction. They call for a correct labeling of the products which are degreased an those who are not.


[1] McPhee, S., Hodges, L.D., Wright, P.F.A., Wynne, P.M. Kalafatis, N., Harney, D.W. and Macrides, T.A. (2007) Anti-cyclooxygenase effects of lipid extracts from the New Zealand green-lipped mussel Perna canaliculus. Comp Biochem Physiol Part B 146: 346-356.

[2] Treschow, A.P., Hodges, L.D, Wright, P.F.A., Wynne, P.M., Kalafatis, N. and Macrides,T.A. (2007) Novel anti-inflammatory ω-3 PUFAs from the New Zealand green-lipped mussel, Perna canaliculus. Comp Biochem Physiol 147: 645-656

04.09.2007: New label: Organic food / Nature food, Biokost and Naturkost
European organic food has mutated to mass production under the EU regulation 2092/91 and 1804/1999. [1] [2]

The European Commission in their “ European Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming” states:
“Organic sales through supermarkets are the fastest-growing distribution channel in most markets. For consumers buying organic produce in supermarkets, environmental considerations are thought to be less important, compared to consumers buying produce in specialised organic shops. “ [3]

The European organic food regulation clearly demonstrates its commitment to mass production and
the supermarkets as distribution channel. This increases monoculture wide fields long transport ways and air freight.

New definition of organic food and nature food
The organic food produced according to the EU regulation differs from the original way of production. It becomes necessary to separate the organic food from supermarkets from the original nature food, produced under strict rules of certifying corporations which follow the principles of Rudolf Steiner or follow a holistic way of farming.

Definition
To make the difference between both types of food the following definition is being suggested:

Nature food (En), Naturkost (D): Nature food is produced according to rules of certifying corporations which follow the principles of Rudolf Steiner or other holistic ways of farming. These Foods are sold by the producer itself at its farm, at weekly markets or at nature shops. There competent informations are given concerning the origin of the food. The consumer understands that the higher price of nature products is due to diversification of crops at the farm, a species-appropriate animal raising, and environment conservation.

The nature food farmers and the specialised nature shops should keep distance from the words “Organic” or “Biokost” because they have become a domain of supermarkets and have undergone a mutation from the original food.


Organic Food (En), (Biokost D): Organic food is produced according to the EU 2092/91 and 1804/1999 regulation. The consumer expects food produced without agrarian chemicals, like herbicides or pesticides. He expects better taste compared with conventional foods. He looks after low priced products. He is concerned with the welfare of his person and does not care about environment. He is not interested to know the food miles and airfreight of the items he buys. Organic food is primarily sold by supermarket chains.

Some reaction of producer and customers have put the Basic chain of organic supermarkets under pressure not to sale its shares to the Swiss Schwarz group, owner of supermarket chain Lidl.


[1] Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs (OJ L 198, 22.7.1991, p. 1).
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:31991R2092:EN:HTML

[2] Council Regulation (EC) No 1804/1999 of 19 July 1999 supplementing Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs to include livestock production (OJ L 222, 24.8.1999, p. 1).
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:1999:222:0001:0028:EN:PDF

[3] Commission of the European Communities: European Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming. Brussels, 10 June 2004 SEC(2004) 739
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/qual/organic/plan/workdoc_en.pdf

04.09.2007: Bird flue in Bavaria found in two more locations. [1]
In two farms in Bavaria, Germany, 48 animals had to be culled to avoid the spread of avian flue. People of these two locations had worked in a farm at Wacherod were a week before 160 000 animals were killed because of infection with the virus H5N1. These persons are the probable vector of the transmission.

[1] TVO: Vögel im Landkreis Bamberg eingeschläfert. 03.09.2007
http://www.tv-oberfranken.de/default.aspx?ID=1059&showNews=116317

03.09.2007: Obesity drug treatment[1] [2]
Antiobesity treatment is recommended for selected patients in whom lifestyle modification is unsuccessful. In US there are only two antiobesity drugs licensed.

Orlistat, a gastrointestinal lipase inhibitor, reduces weight and decreases progression to diabetes in high-risk patients; adverse gastrointestinal effects are common. Orlistat works by inhibiting pancreatic lipase, an enzyme that breaks down triglyzerides in the intestine into absorbable free fatty acids. Fat is excreted undigested.

Sibutramin (with the generic name Merida in Europe and Reductil in US) is a monoamine-reuptake inhibitor which results in weight losses, but is associated with increases in blood pressure and pulse rate. Sibutramine acts by increasing serotonin and norepinephrine levels in brain. The serotonergic action, in particular, is thought to influence appetite.

Rimonabant, the first of the endocannabinoid receptor antagonists, reduces weight and improves waist circumference and concentrations of HDL cholesterol and triglyceride. It works by blocking the CB1 receptors in the brain.

In Europe, it is indicated for use in conjunction with diet and exercise for patients with a body mass index greater than 30 kg/m², or patients wih a BMI greater than 27 kg/m² with associated risk factors, such as type 2 diabetes or dyslipidaemia. In the UK, it has been available since the end of July 2006. As of 2007, the drug was available in 38 countries.

However, an increased incidence of mood-related disorders has been reported. Generic names are Acomplia in Europe, and Riobant, Slimona, Rimoslim in India. In United States, it is intended to be marketed under the name Zimulti.

On 13.June 2007 FDA concluded that Sanofi-Aventis failed to demonstrate the safety of rimonabant and voted against recommending the anti-obesity treatment for approval. The main concern was over suicidality, depression and other related side effects associated with use of the drug.
Fluoxenti (Prozac) is an antidepressant which is also licensed for bulemia nervosa and is therefore sometimes classified as antiobesity drug.

Other antiobesity drugs acting on the central melanocortin pathway, are far away from clinical use.

A meta-analysis of trials by the international Cochrane Collaboration concluded that in diabetic patients
Fluoxetine, orlistat, and sibutramine can achieve statistically significant weight loss over 12 to 57 weeks. The magnitude of weight loss is modest, however, and the long-term health benefits remain unclear. The safety of sibutramine is uncertain. There is a paucity of data on other drugs for weight loss or control in persons with type 2 diabetes. [3]

Raj S. Padwal and colleague criticise all antiobesity drug trials because they have been limited by their high attrition rates and lack of long-term morbidity and mortality data. The authors suggest that the assessment processes of new antiobesity drugs should include both surrogate endpoints such as weight loss, and clinical outcomes such as major obesity-related morbidity and mortality, to insure that the putative benefits of such drugs outweigh their risks and costs. [4]

[1] Wikipedia: Rimonabant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rimonabant

[2] Wikipedia: Anti-obesity drug
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-obesity_drug

[3] Norris SL, Zhang X, Avenell A, Gregg E, Schmid CH, Lau J (2005). "Pharmacotherapy for weight loss in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus". Cochrane database of systematic reviews (Online) (1): CD004096. Doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD004096.pub2
http://mrw.interscience.wiley.com/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD004096/frame.html

[4] Padwal, Raj S.; Majumdar, Sumit R.: Drug treatments for obesity: orlistat, sibutramine, and rimonabant . The Lancet, Volume 369 , Issue 9555, 6 January 2007-12 January 2007, Pages 71-77
doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60033-6

02.09.2007: Vitamin E suppression of oxidative stress study, model for future studies [1]
Jackson Roberts and colleaugues determined the dosage of vitamin E that decreases systemic oxidant stress in humans.

The dose-dependent effects of vitamin E – alfa tocopherol was measured by the concentration of F2-isoprostanes, a biomarker of free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation.

Foregoing clinical trials had found no significant effects of vitamin E regarding protection against heart attack. The present study suspects that the studies had been poorly designed. The researchers say that these trials used a single dose of vitamin E and only looked for end points such as heart attack occurrence.

In the present study the authors found a linear trend between the dosage of vitamin E and percentage reduction in plasma F2-isoprostane concentrations which reached significance at doses of 1600 IU (reduction of 35 per cent) and 3200 IU (reduction of 49 per cent).

In vitro studies that vitamin E may act as a pro-oxidant at certain concentrations were not backed by this study.

The study informs the planning and evaluation of clinical studies that assess the efficacy of vitamin E to mitigate disease, and can serve as a model for further studies.

[1] Roberts II, L. Jackson; Oates, John A.; Linton, MacRae F.; Fazio, Sergio; Meador, Beth P.; Gross, Myron D.; Shyr, Yu; Morrow, Jason D.: The relationship between dose of vitamin E and suppression of oxidative stress in humans. Free Radical Biology and Medicine (Elsevier)
Doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2007.06.019


02.09.2007: The wonder of sugar beet for food and biofuel [1]
India, second in sugar plantation after Brazil, may now increase its output using the new sugar beet plant from Syngenta. The plant needs 30 to 50 per cent less water than sugar cane.

It can grow well in warm climate where it can bring two harvests a year. Its sugar yield is higher as obtained with sugar cane. It sounds good. It grows at saline and poor quality soil that cannot be used for other agricultural purposes, so not more land is needed to increase sugar output. This means that sugar output can be expanded without taking land from other food crops.

After ten years of development the sugar production for food started in Ambad near Jalna, and bioethanol at Kalas, near Pune. The use of tropical sugar beet in other tropical regions with poor soil conditions is being examined.

It is the revival of the Green Revolution, were there not the doubts about gene transfer to soil, bacteria and other plants. Can poor farmer afford to buy Syngenta sugar beet seed and the accompanying agrarian chemicals?

[1] Syngenta Media Releases: Syngenta introduces tropical sugar beet for food and biofuels
http://www.syngenta.com/en/media/press/2007/08-28.htm

02.09.2007: Sorghum is safe for people with celiac disease[1] [2]
Grain sorghum tolerates conditions of limited moisture and extended drought when other grains do not grow any more. It is used for unleavened breads, boiled porridge or gruel, malted beverages including beer, popped grain and syrup from sweet sorghum. Its protein content is higher than corn and about equal to wheat. Its fat content is lower than corn but higher than wheat.

In US sorghum is hydrolyzed to dextrose for use in foods.
There are about 30 species of sorghum. Soghum hybrids are Sorghum almum and Sorghum drummondii.

Some species of Sorghum can contain levels of cyanide and nitrates lethal to grazing animals in the early stages of the plant's growth. Stressed plants, even at later stages of growth, can also contain toxic levels of cyanide.

According to Carolina Ciacci and colleagues, sorghum can be considered safe for people with celiac disease. The scientists assessed safety and tolerability of sorghum flour products in adult celiac disease patients in a 5 day challenge with sorghum-derived food product. At the end of the trial no morphometric or immunomediated alteration of duodenal explants were found.

According to the authors sorghum is a cereal grain with potential to be developed into an important crop for human food products which can be used in food products which must be free of all wheat types and closely related cereals such as barley and rye. White sorghum hybrids may therefore become important for the production of wheat-free breads and cakes.

The authors conclude that sorghum can be considered safe for people with celiac disease. Additional studies are needed to confirm the long-term safety and acceptability of sorghum-derived food for gluten intolerant people

[1] Wikipedia: Sorghum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorghum

[2] Ciacci, Carolina; Maiuri, Luigi; Caporaso, Nicola; Bucci, Cristina; Del Giudice, Luigi; Rita Massardo, Domenica; Pontieri, Paola; Di Fonzo, Natale; Bean, Scott R; Ioerger, Brian; Londe, Marco: Celiac disease: In vitro and in vivo safety and palatability of wheat-free sorghum food products. Clinical Nutrition (Elsevier) doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2007.05.006


01.09.2007: Collagen from jellyfish [1]
Collagen from jellyfish is to repair human cartilages and can be used for cosmetics. The biologist Levent Piker and his team ,use the common jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) from the Kiel Fjord for their production at their company Coastal Research & Management (CRM).

The collagen is present in the human body almost erverywhere such as catilage, tendons and skin. It is known as gelatine in gummi bear and many other foods. Pharmacy uses gelatine in the production of tablets.

It is being produced from pork skin, bones from cattle and tendons of horses. As such it was scrutinised as being a vector of BSE. Pieker says that his collagen from jellyfish is guaranteed BSE-free.

The company also produces cremes and tinctures from algae and a wine from the Laminaria saccharina, with 16 percent alcohol.

[1] http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/0,1518,502000,00.html