Breaking News on Food & Beverage Development - North America EU edition

Reformulated chocolate chip cookies for kids to combat disease risk?

02-Jul-2009 - Reformulating popular foods for school children to make them nutrient dense could be a key tool to slash risk factors for chronic disease, finds a new study.

Walnuts can cut cholesterol, say Harvard researchers

02-Jul-2009 - A meta-analysis of walnuts by Harvard scientists has found diets rich in walnuts can significantly reduce cholesterol levels, supporting growing evidence to suggest these popular nuts can improve healthy blood lipid ratios.

Sweeter fruit may follow melon genome completion

01-Jul-2009 - Scientists from Texas have completed the mapping of the melon genome, opening up possibilities for sweeter or more nutritious fruits.

Review finds no effect of soy on testosterone

30-Jun-2009 - A review of 15 studies into the influence of soy proteins or isoflavones on male hormones has found no evidence of an estrogen-like effect.

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.

Sweetness perception could vary with ethnicity: Study

26-Jun-2009 - Researchers claim to have discovered a particular gene variant that could affect sweetness perception among different ethnic groups, raising the possibility of more targeted flavor profiling of foods.

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.

Taste psychologist maps 'dialects' of flavour preference

23-Jun-2009 - The mapping of ‘taste dialects’ could help food firms develop products that appeal to the specific preferences of consumers in certain geographical locations, according to a taste psychologist.

Keys to functional foods success

22-Jun-2009 - When shopping, consumers very quickly decide on a brand’s worth and unless they are making positive ticks in their minds to an array of factors, it is likely they will pass your functional food by, according to a leading consultant.

BPA causes reproductive health defects at levels currently considered safe - study

19-Jun-2009 - Bisphenol A (BPA) causes significant reproductive health effects at levels equivalent to or below the dose that that has been thought not to produce any adverse results, new research has said.

News in brief

Oldways releases updated Med diet pyramid poster

19-Jun-2009 - The non-profit organization behind the Mediterranean diet pyramid has released a new display poster to illustrate its updated version, which was unveiled earlier this year.

Could vinegar be natural fat fighter?

18-Jun-2009 - Ordinary vinegar – acetic acid – may prevent the build up of fat, and therefore weight gain, according to results of a study with mice from Japan.

Technical challenges to reducing sugar

17-Jun-2009 - Tate & Lyle’s manager of sweetener technology development gives insight into the role of sugar beyond providing sweetness, and how to pick alternative sweeteners that build back the properties.

Nitrates and nitrites may be nutritious: Study

16-Jun-2009 - Nitrites and nitrates, much maligned additives in processed and cured meats, may help cardiovascular health, suggests a study from the US.

More support for heart healthy wholegrains

15-Jun-2009 - Consumption of wholemeal wheat foods may improve both total and ‘bad’ cholesterol levels, compared to refined foods, says new research from Italy.

Dispatches from IFT

HFCS: Controversial or just misunderstood?

11-Jun-2009 - High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is no different from table sugar (sucrose) and that the public cannot be expected to understand differences between the sweetener and "pure" fructose, says Dr James Rippe from the Rippe Lifestyle Institute.

Weekly comment

A big day for European health claims

08-Jun-2009 - Next Monday, June 15, is a big day for the European healthy foods and food supplements industries. Let’s call it Big Monday. Or J15.

Nanoscience to boost food safety, quality and shelf life

08-Jun-2009 - Nanotechnology promises big benefits for food safety, quality, and shelf life provided the challenges it brings can be overcome, delegates were told at the Institute of Food Technology's annual conference at Anaheim, California.

New collaboration for GM-free wheat traits

05-Jun-2009 - Dow AgroSciences and World Wide Wheat (W3) have teamed up to develop new wheat traits for “advancements in productivity and quality” of crops, without using genetic modification (GM).

Olive extracts may slow spoilage of meats

05-Jun-2009 - Polyphenol-rich extracts from olive oil pomace may reduce the formation of off-flavours in meats by as much as 80 per cent, suggests new research.

Grape seed may boost health and safety profile of bread

04-Jun-2009 - Addition of a grape seed extract to bread may not only increase the antioxidant content of the staple, but also inhibit formation of a potential toxin, says new research.

Many gluten-free formulations lack essential nutrients

04-Jun-2009 - Food manufacturers’ efforts to formulate gluten-free foods could leave celiacs’ diets short of essential nutrients, according to an article from Harvard Medical School.

Parents have ‘weak’ influence on children’s diets: Study

01-Jun-2009 - Parents may have less influence on their children’s eating habits than commonly believed, according to new research published in the Journal of Social Science and Medicine.

Antifreeze gelatin proteins boost ice cream structure: Study

01-Jun-2009 - Collagen peptides produced from bovine gelatin may stop ice crystal formation in supercooled ice creams, opening up possible new innovations to formulators, suggests new research.