Breaking News on Food & Beverage Development - North AmericaEU edition | Asian edition

Probiotics may protect against food poisoning

20-Mar-2007 - Irish scientists report that a combination of five probiotic strains may reduce food poisoning by salmonella, if results of their pig study can be translated to humans.

Americans not eating enough veggies - study

19-Mar-2007 - Americans are still not eating enough fruits and vegetables, according to two recent studies.

Wrigley targets teens with tastebud-tingling gum

16-Mar-2007 - Leading US gum manufacturer Wrigley is to launch a new sugar-free chewing gum with mouth-freshening and long-lasting flavour properties and designed to target the big-spending teen market.

Mechanism proposed for fructose syrup-obesity link

16-Mar-2007 - Scientists studying the effects of ingesting fructose syrup have reported a possible mechanism that may explain the alleged link between rising obesity and sweetened beverages.

Serious concerns raised over Monsanto GM maize variety

14-Mar-2007 - Monsanto's genetically modified maize MON863, authorised for human consumption since 2006, showed signs of liver and kidney toxicity in a rat study, raising concerns about its safety.

Scientists develop palm-like oil from non-tropical plants

13-Mar-2007 - Using GM techniques to change the activity of a plant enzyme could convert unsaturated oils in the seeds of a temperate plant to the more saturated kind usually found in tropical plants like palm oil, new research suggests.

Weekly comment

GM: A healthy debate

12-Mar-2007 - The development of genetically modified crops to improve human health could be the golden ticket for advocates to persuade the wary public that GM is not a wholly nefarious idea after all. But will a new, healthy spin be enough to counter deep-rooted fears that genetic modification, by its very nature, poses an equal and opposite threat to human health?

Emulsion oil concentration affects flavour release - study

12-Mar-2007 - The release of flavour from food is dependent on the oil content of the emulsion, says new research from Canada that offer insights into better formulation and flavour.

ARS awards scientists for technology tranfers

12-Mar-2007 - The development of seedless grapes and a new approach to safeguarding the flavor and texture of stored apples have been recognized as major scientific achievements by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Obesity could prevent appetite regulation

09-Mar-2007 - Obese consumers could be physically unable to stop eating, according to new research, which reveals that obesity causes a breakdown in the system that regulates appetite.

Opinions on MSG safety updated

08-Mar-2007 - The 1997 Hohenheim consensus on the physiological effects and safety of monosodium glutamate (MSG) has been updated.

Do shopping lists promote healthy choices?

08-Mar-2007 - A new study has examined a quirky aspect of consumer behaviour: Do shopping lists promote or prevent healthy choices?

ARS to broaden cucumber genetic base

08-Mar-2007 - A project to make the humble cucumber more interesting could have implications for this versatile vegetable.

Atkins diet best for weight loss - US study

08-Mar-2007 - Women following the Atkins diet, the once bright star in the galaxy of diets, lost more weight than women following other diets, with no concerns expressed over cardiovascular risk factors.

Breakthrough technology

It's all about me! Nutrition gets personal

07-Mar-2007 - Imagine if I could purchase a product that is exactly suited to disease prevention for my own, individual genetic make-up. Sounds like something from science fiction, but with the twin areas of nutrigenomics and personalised nutrition developing apace, the mass availability of tailored foods and supplements may not be too far in the future.

Cocoa may reverse blood vessel damage, study

07-Mar-2007 - Smokers should be encouraged to indulge their sweet tooth, judging from the results of a new study into how daily consumption of a specially-prepared cocoa beverage benefits blood vessel function.

GM tomatoes to provide daily folate needs?

06-Mar-2007 - Tomatoes, genetically engineered to contain high levels of folate, could provide the recommended daily amount in one standard serving, says new research.

Human genes in rice spark new GM row

06-Mar-2007 - Genetically modified rice containing human genes has received preliminary approval in the US, sparking new concerns and fears on both sides of the Atlantic.

Wholegrain breakfasts linked to lower heart failure risk

05-Mar-2007 - Eating a bowl of wholegrain cereals every day could reduce the risk of heart failure by 27 per cent, researchers from Harvard have reported.

Enzymatic modification to boost vegetable protein gelling

05-Mar-2007 - Modifying vegetable protein with transglutaminase enzymes improves the gelling properties, claim German researchers - a result that may offer value-added solutions for a wide range of food products.

Pomegranate leaf extract may be novel appetite suppressant

02-Mar-2007 - An extract from pomegranate leaves may offer promise for weight control after an animal study showed the extract suppressed appetite and reduced food intake for high-fat diets.

Lactococcus strain may offer end to food allergies

02-Mar-2007 - Non-pathogenic gut bacteria, bioengineered to produce a compound that regulates immune response in the gut, may offer significant potential for beating food allergies, if results from an animal study can be translated to humans.

Science builds behind pomegranate extracts for health

01-Mar-2007 - Standardised pomegranate extracts lead to increased levels of bioactive compounds in the blood and boost antioxidant levels, says new research that could see the extracts start to rival the juice for boosting health.

Moisture-releasing ingredients may boost acceptance of other fish

01-Mar-2007 - Amid fears of falling fish stocks, adding moisture-releasing ingredients like diced vegetables or milk could boost acceptance of less desirable but abundant fish to consumers, suggests new research.