Monsanto asks regulators to approve trans-fat free soy

13-Nov-2009 - Monsanto has submitted evidence to the FDA and USDA backing the safety of its Vistive III soybean traits, intended to provide heat stable, trans-fat free cooking oils.

Canada tightens front-of-pack nutrition labeling rules

06-Nov-2009 - Canada is updating its front-of-pack nutrition labeling scheme, disqualifying whole food categories, changing the rules for fiber, salt and fat, and introducing criteria for trans fat and sugar.

Changing dietary fats could reduce disease risk: Study

22-Oct-2009 - Consuming a diet rich in monounsaturated fats could lower the risk of metabolic syndrome – even without weight loss, says a new study.

Fibre may replace trans-fats for snack formulations

06-Oct-2009 - Inulin can replace trans-fatty acids in snack food formulations, turning it into a healthy snack with good consumer acceptance, says a new study from Brazil.

Mintel asks whether sodium could be ‘the next trans fat’

12-Aug-2009 - Mintel has suggested that sodium could be the next trans fat as consumers are increasingly looking to low-sodium options and manufacturers are responding by slicing salt from their products.

Soyfoods Council urges industry to explore trans fat alternatives

05-Aug-2009 - The Soyfoods Council has issued information to help industry better understand possibilities for substituting trans fats in bakery products with soybean oils and interesterified trans-free shortenings.

Organogels still out of reach for food: Review

28-Jul-2009 - Organogels, seen by some as offering great potential as trans fat replacer and nutraceutical delivery systems, may still far from being used in finished products, says a new review.

Unilever cuts trans fats from soft spreads

28-Jul-2009 - Unilever has announced that it will cut the trans fats from its soft spreads, while keeping levels of saturated fat below two grams per serving – even though it could already claim ‘zero trans fats’ on labels.

Cargill stops hydrogenated oil production at Wichita plant

21-Jul-2009 - Cargill has announced that it will stop producing hydrogenated oil at its plant in Wichita, Kansas as manufacturers have increasingly sought to replace trans fats with healthier fats in their products.

US obesity rates ballooning, says report

02-Jul-2009 - American obesity rates have increased in 23 states over the past year and decreased in none, according to a new report from the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Animal fats linked to pancreatic cancer: Study

29-Jun-2009 - Researchers have linked high intake of fat from red meat and dairy products with increased risk of pancreatic cancer, in a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Healthier mayonnaise passes consumer taste test: Study

25-Jun-2009 - Rice bran oil and soy protein concentrate could be used by mayonnaise manufacturers to cut fat levels while increasing consumer acceptability, according to a study on its sensory properties.

Company claims consumers duped by trans fat labeling loophole

20-May-2009 - Consumers who choose foods labeled ‘zero trans fats’ could still surpass their recommended daily limit due to FDA rules that allow up to 0.49g of trans fat per serving to be rounded to zero, says spread company Smart Balance.

Canada approves high oleic acid GM soybeans

18-May-2009 - Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have approved a high oleic acid genetically modified (GM) soybean for cultivation and foods containing the oil could hit the market by 2010, says DuPont.

Reformulation leads to overhaul of fats and oils dietary data

30-Mar-2009 - Significant changes in the way foods are formulated and improved methods of ingredient analysis have led to the revision of dietary data regarding fats and oils in the American diet.

Sesame oil mix could lead to low-fat cakes: Study

18-Mar-2009 - Formulating cakes with sesame oil, hydrocolloids and emulsifiers could replace fat in cakes, leading to low-fat alternatives of family favourites, suggests a new study.

Rice bran-soybean oil could offer trans-fat free shortenings: Study

10-Mar-2009 - A blend of oils from rice bran and soybean could produce a plastic fat for use as a shortening as a trans-fat replacer, says new research from Korea.

Monitoring program shows trans fats declining in Canadian foods

13-Feb-2009 - The Canadian government has released data showing that levels of trans fats have declined since the first results of its monitoring program were released in 2007 – but some food categories still have a way to go.

CSPI rejects task force trans fat advice

04-Feb-2009 - The Center for Science in the Public Interest has urged Pennsylvanian officials to ignore the advice of a task force on trans fat, which concluded that a mandatory ban “could be more harmful from a health perspective”.

Beta-glucan-rich fat replacers pass taste test for cookies: Study

02-Feb-2009 - Hydrocolloids containing beta-glucan could be used to replace fat in cookies and peanut spreads, according to a new study from the US and Korea.

Caravan claims to have ‘rewritten rule book’ for trans-free shortenings

20-Jan-2009 - Caravan Ingredients has claimed to have transformed the processing of shortenings and foods containing them, such as bakery products, with a new line of diglycerides.

Foodies lead the way in shaping the industry

17-Dec-2008 - A growing group of consumers dubbed foodies are shaping the American palate and offering food manufacturers a willing audience for product launches, a new report suggests.

News in brief

AMA supports trans fat ban

13-Nov-2008 - The American Medical Association (AMA) has adopted a new policy supporting legislation to ban the use of artificial trans fats in restaurants and bakeries across the US.

Bunge merger under threat after CPI withdraws support

05-Nov-2008 - The merger agreement between Bunge and Corn Products International has been thrown into turmoil as CPI’s board has withdrawn its support for the $4.8bn deal.