Top Stories

Country of Origin Labeling goes into effect

As the new Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) regulations are put into practice this week in the United States, a number of media outlets are covering the issues surrounding the new rules and what they mean for consumers.

CNN addresses the major questions and concerns posed by consumers. With the recent Chinese milk contamination scandal, the new regulations are very timely as Americans become more attentive to where their products are made. However, the news network points out that many recent outbreaks of foodborne illness have originated from foods produced in the United States, as in the California-grown spinach scare.

Although the COOL regulations help consumers determine where the foods they purchase come from, there are still some loopholes in the rules that could hinder their efforts. Bloomberg reports that consumer advocates say there are areas of the COOL rules that allow meatpackers to “blur the distinction between foreign and domestic meat.” Mixed vegetables and processed foods (including meat products) are exempt from the rules, prompting some lawmakers to call for more regulations.

CNN article

Bloomberg article

USDA ERS COOL

The uncertainty surrounding America’s financial system is having a predictable negative effect on food company stocks.

Shares in food companies fell slightly Monday in line with a market-wide reaction to the U.S. House of Representatives’ failure to pass the $700 billion financial bailout package. The Associated Press is reporting that shares of Sara Lee Corp. fell 3.6 percent, Kraft Foods Inc. fell 1.5 percent, shares of Kellogg Co. fell 2.5 percent and Chiquita Brands International Inc. fell 3 percent.

The current financial crisis is also impacting foodservice franchisees as commercial lenders become more restrictive on issuing credit, making it more difficult for franchise owners to improve existing or purchase new restaurants.

The Wall Street Journal reports that chains such as McDonald’s Corp., Panera Bread Co. and Sonic Corp. could be impacted by the tightened lending climate. The credit crunch hits franchisees at a time when they are already facing difficulties from rising food costs and sinking consumer demand as more people decide to save money by eating at home.

Associated Press article

Wall Street Journal article

Soybean farmers across the Southeastern U.S. continue to fight the Asian Soybean Rust outbreak, which could have far-reaching effects across the food industry.

Plant pathologists are trying to stop the disease, which causes pustules to form on the leaves and kill them. Some farmers expect to see a 10 to 50 percent loss for this year’s yield. Although this year’s yield is at risk, scientists are more concerned about the impact on next year’s harvest if the disease continues unchecked.
In addition to soy-based consumer products, soybeans are used in feed for livestock. A major blight on soy crops could have a ripple effect across the food industry, sending prices for meat, poultry and other related products even higher.

A CBS affiliate in Tallahassee, Fla., takes a look at the disease and its impact on the food industry.

WCTV

A British Food Standards Agency study found that many consumers ignore nutrition labeling when buying “indulgence” items or basic ingredients.

The study found that consumers tend to ignore nutrition information on desserts and other items they buy knowing they are unhealthy, but wanting to treat themselves. They also ignore label information on basic items such as flour and butter, because they consider these items as necessary regardless of the nutritional value.

The agency also said that for those who did consider label information when purchasing items, they often didn’t consider total fat content and other nutritional issues when combining those individual items to make a meal.

The agency created a group of experts to determine the influence of different food labeling schemes in order to find one system that has the most impact on consumer decisions.

BBC Report

Research Briefs

New approach to food safety testing discovered

Thanks to research on the way pigment-bearing cells change color in Siamese fighting fish, scientists have developed a new technology for detecting bacteria that cause illness.

The new, patented method developed by microbiologists at Oregon State University is said to be faster and easier than conventional approaches to assessing toxicity, although further studies are needed before it can be applied to commercial use.

In the study, Siamese fighting fish exhibited a change in the appearance and pigment pattern of pigment-bearing cells called erythrophores when the fish were exposed to threatening environmental conditions, including toxic exposure from illness-causing bacteria. Researchers found the erythrophores responded to bacteria associated with causing foodborne illness. They believe the method can be developed so that the toxic behavior of bacteria and not just the presence of bacteria can be detected.

The findings were published in Microbial Biotechnology.

Journal abstract

Research into the effects of high caffeine levels in many popular energy drinks found an increase in incidences of caffeine dependence and withdrawal.

Scientists at Johns Hopkins University said that energy drinks pose a greater potential threat for acute caffeine toxicity than other dietary sources of caffeine. Caffeine levels in energy drinks can range from 50 mg to 505 mg, whereas a can of cola typically has 34.5 to 38 mg.

Researchers noted that most energy drink labels on products sold in the United States do not include the amount of caffeine in the product and do not include warning labels for proper use. They also voiced concern over the lack of restrictions on selling energy drinks to children.

The review was published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

Journal abstract

New research shows that introducing fish into the diets of infants younger than nine months old may reduce their risk for developing eczema.

The Swiss study found a 25 percent lower eczema rate in infants who had ingested fish before the age of nine months. Eczema is believed to be a result of slow immune system development and an early indicator of allergy. Most children grow out of the condition by the age of 15.

The findings appeared in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Journal abstract

Company News

Cadbury chocolate recall

Cadbury recalled 11 candy products after finding melamine in chocolate that came from its Beijing plant.

None of the recalled chocolates were sold in the United States or Europe. The products were distributed to Asia and the Pacific. Melamine is an industrial chemical used in plastics that has caused the illness of 54,000 children in China, resulting in four deaths.

The recalled chocolate candies include Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate, Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut Chocolate, Cadbury Dairy Milk Cookies Chocolate, Cadbury Dark Chocette, Cadbury Eclairs, and Cadbury Hazelnut Praline Chocolate.

CNN report

Cadbury

U.S. politics are percolating at 7-Eleven, which kicked off its third quadrennial 7-Election presidential coffee cup poll this week.

Customers who want to cast their vote can choose a blue 20-oz cup for Democratic candidate Sen. Barack Obama or a red 20-oz cup for Republican candidate Sen. John McCain. Undecided voters can choose plain white cups or non-partisan red, white and blue cups. The cup poll runs through the November 4th election.

The unscientific poll has often mimicked official polls in past elections. In the 2000 election, only one percentage point separated candidates George Bush and Al Gore. In 2004, President Bush beat John Kerry in total cup count.

News release

7-Election site (coming soon)

In a deal that will bring an end to the family-owned aspect of Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., company shareholders approved a $23 billion proposal for Mars Inc. to buy the company.

The deal will be financed in part by Warren Buffett and should be finalized in the beginning of October 2008. The combination of the two companies will create the largest candy maker in the world, a title previously held by Britain’s Cadbury PLC.

Press Release

Grape stompin’ time
California wineries are luring “culinary tourists” this harvest season with the opportunity to stomp grapes themselves.

Out to lunch
A CBS health reporter in Miami compares fast food lunches to find the healthiest options.

Hot breakfast
Starbucks scores with its new health-conscious oatmeal, which is the single highest-selling food item in the coffee chain’s history.

Thunder from down under
The Philadelphia Inquirer answers reader inquiries about why sugar-free foods cause so many digestion issues.

Canine cuisine
An Ohio man locks himself in a cage and eats only dog food for 24 hours to bring attention to a charity pet adoption event.

Regulatory News

FDA issues alert on instant coffee made in China

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned consumers that seven Mr. Brown instant coffee and milk tea products are being recalled by Taiwanese company King Car Food Industrial due to possible melamine contamination.
King Car Food Industrial Co. used a non-dairy creamer manufactured by Chinese-based company Shandong Duqing Inc., which was contaminated with melamine. The recalled products include:

• Mr. Brown Mandheling Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
• Mr. Brown Arabica Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
• Mr. Brown Blue Mountain Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
• Mr. Brown Caramel Macchiato Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
• Mr. Brown French Vanilla Instant Coffee (3-in-1)
• Mr. Brown Mandhling Blend instant Coffee (2-in-1)
• Mr. Brown Milk Tea (3-in-1)

The agency also reported that no milk-based products imported into the U.S. from China have tested positive for melamine contamination.

FDA alert

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended its labeling regulation authorizing a health claim on the relationship between calcium and a reduced risk of osteoporosis to include vitamin D.

Under the new regulation, products can claim a connection between consuming calcium and vitamin D and reducing osteoporosis risk. The new rule also eliminates the requirement that the claim list sex, race and age as specific risk factors for the development of osteoporosis, as well as the requirement that the claim identify the mechanism by which calcium reduces the risk of osteoporosis and instead makes it optional.

Federal Register

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced 85 grants totaling $3.4 million directed by the new farm bill to spread the use of farmers markets.

Eighteen of the 85 grants promote a new electronic benefit transfers to help low-income consumers buy locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables. “Farmers markets are an increasingly popular source of fruits and vegetables,” said Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer. “Locally grown and locally known sales of fresh produce strengthen the connection between farmers and the community.

USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service helps increase domestic consumption of agricultural commodities and improve farmers’ income. The grants are authorized under the amended Farmer-to-Consumer Direct Marketing Act of 1976.

USDA

IFT & Meeting News

US Pharmacopeia’s first International Food Ingredient Issues Workshop

US Pharmacopeia will hold its first International Food Ingredient Issues Workshop on Wednesday, October 15, 2008, in Rockville, Md.

The goal of the workshop is to bring together diverse experts to discuss issues that food ingredients industry professionals face every day. With increasing globalization of the food industry, there is an accelerating need for the USP Food Ingredients Expert Committee, as well as other international food ingredient experts, to understand international perspectives, especially in light of global Codex Alimentarius, JECFA, and Food Chemicals Codex activities.

Speakers representing the U.S., Canada, Europe, China, Japan, Argentina, Mexico, Australia and the Middle East will present food ingredient issues relevant to their country or region. Topics include biotech/nanotech/GMO; allergens; micro- and macro-constituents; functional food ingredients; adulteration/contamination; and analytical methodology.

For further details and registration, visit ems.intellor.com or e-mail James Griffiths at jg@usp.org.

You’re invited to help shape the Scientific Program of the 2009 IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo® by submitting a Technical Research Paper, Session Proposal, or New Products & Technologies Abstract. The latter opportunity is open to innovations that use a new technology or deliver improved performance over existing items, and were introduced between January 2006 and January 2009.

Contribute to the exchange of information and sound science that the Scientific Program is known for. Deadlines for submissions are:
• Session Proposals – November 20, 2008, 4:00 p.m. CST
• Technical Research Papers – December 12, 2008, 4:00 p.m. CST
• New Products & Technologies Abstracts – January 12, 2009, 4:00 p.m. CST

As you know, the 2009 IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo occurs earlier than last year, and your cooperation in meeting these deadlines is critical to ensuring the event’s success. To submit, go to http://www.am-fe.ift.org/cms/?pid=1000497

You’re also invited to learn more about the 2009 theme, Food Science from Producer to Consumer, by visiting ift.org or calling IFT’s Knowledge & Learning Center team at 312.782.8424.

Top Stories

Food supply may already include clone offspring

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said this week that meat and milk from the offspring of cloned animals could already be in the U.S. food supply.

The FDA said it’s not possible to know for sure since there is no way to tell the difference between cloned and conventional products. “It is theoretically possible,” said FDA Spokesperson Siobhan DeLancey. “I don’t know whether they are or not. I could imagine there are not very many of them.”

The FDA released a risk assessment in January determining that meat and milk from cloned animals and their offspring were as safe as products from non-cloned animals. Reuters states that there are an estimated 600 cloned animals in the U.S.

Cloning opponents argue there hasn’t been enough research investigating whether consuming the products of cloned animals and their offspring is safe.

Reuters article

USDA/FDA statement on cloning

Animal Cloning: A Risk Assessment

Consumers are lamenting changes to their favorite chocolate products as more candy producers replace cocoa butter with cheaper alternatives, such as vegetable oils.

An ABC News story highlights the predicament of chocolate lovers who say their candy bars don’t taste as good with the new reformulated recipes. With costs on the rise for candy companies, many are eliminating or reducing the amount of expensive cocoa butter used in an effort to cut expenses.

Increasingly, candy companies are replacing the word “chocolate” on their wrappers with phrases such as “chocolatey” and “chocolate candy” as they cut the amount of actual cocoa butter in the products. Ingredients lists also often include combinations of oils with “and/or” between them, giving producers the flexibility to alter ingredients as prices change, said Barry Swanson, IFT spokesperson and professor of food science at Washington State University.

“If one of those fats or oils becomes very expensive, they’ll just use less of it,” Swanson told ABC. “I think anytime we’re looking at increased costs, you’re going to find more, shall we say, creative formulations to try to reduce the cost involved in producing a product.”

ABC News

As food costs rise, parents are becoming more economical about what they put in their children’s lunches.

The Associated Press takes a look at this school year’s lunch trends. Although some children will eat more hot lunches, many will be brown-bagging it this fall. More parents are switching to packing bags of chips themselves rather than buying the pricier pre-packaged, single-serving sizes.

Trend researcher Marcia Mogelonsky, a senior research analyst with Mintel International in Chicago, told the AP that parents are more interested in price this year than convenience. “Parents are sort of entering this with trepidation,” she said. “It’s not how much it costs. It’s how much more it costs relative to what they’re used to spending.”

Associate Press

Research Briefs

Not eating B-vitamins could lead to cognitive damage

A diet lacking in B-vitamins may lead to vascular cognitive impairment, according to new research.

Scientists at Tufts University used an experimental model to examine the metabolic, cognitive, and micro vascular effects of B-vitamin deficiency in the diet.

“Metabolic impairments induced by a diet deficient in three B-vitamins—folate, B12 and B6—caused cognitive dysfunction and reductions in brain capillary length and density in our mouse model,” lead author Aron Troen said. “The vascular changes occurred in the absence of neurotoxic or degenerative changes.”

The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Journal Abstract

Research shows that using paprika as a food coloring does not pose a cancer or toxicity risk.

Scientists with the Japanese National Institute of Health Sciences demonstrated that the increasing consumption of paprika as a food additive poses no increased cancer risks in male and female rats.

The findings were published in Food and Chemical Toxicology.

Journal Abstract

A new study shows that an ethanol-based sanitizer minimizes transmission of viruses in food processing environments.

Researchers at the University of Ottawa and North Carolina State University found that transmission of multiple enteric viruses can be reduced by using a new ethanol-based hand sanitizer containing a synergistic blend of polyquaternium polymer and organic acid. The sanitizer was found to be effective against norovirus, the leading cause of food-related illness in the United States.

The findings appeared in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology.

Journal Abstract

Company News

Maple Leaf halts exports to China

As a result of the Canadian listeriosis outbreak that has linked 11 deaths to deli meat producer Maple Leaf Foods, the company has been forced to stop all exports to China.

All Maple Leaf meat products currently available in China have also been quarantined. China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine plans to watch the situation closely and continue to take timely measures to remove tainted products from the Chinese food supply.

Canwest News Service

Maple Leaf Foods Press Release

The Institute of Food Science & Technology issued a statement saying genetic modification can significantly improve the quantity and quality of the world’s food supply.

The information statement on genetic modification and food provides definitions and explanations on the techniques involved in producing GM products. It also analyzes concerns and risks regarding the safety of such products, as well as the environmental, economic, ethical and legal considerations involved.

IFST: Genetic Modification and Food

Whole Bakers, a gluten-free specialty baked goods company, is partnering with PacMoore to deliver specialty gluten-free baked goods.

PacMoore is a privately held food packaging company founded over 18 years ago in Hammond, Ind. To ensure that all Whole Bakers products are created in a gluten-free environment, PacMoore is building a new gluten-free bakery. All Whole Bakers products are not only gluten-free but also kosher-certified.

“We have been amazed at the demand growth for gluten-free products but are also aware that it has been an ongoing struggle to produce gluten-free items that deliver great taste,” said PacMoore President Bill Moore. “Whole Bakers has done just that and we are excited to partner with them to help grow this extraordinary product line.”

The U.S. Office of Patents and Trademarks granted patent protection to LycoRed for use of phytoene and phytofluene, carotenoids found in natural tomato extract, to inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis.

The research demonstrates that phytoene and phytofluene alone, together and in combination with other natural tomato extract carotenoids, inhibit the progression of atherosclerosis, a degenerative disease that affects arterial health, by inhibiting the deposition of plaque from oxidized LDL cholesterol.

The patent and the research behind it reflects the Israeli company’s commitment to the scientific development of carotenoid ingredients supporting cardiovascular health.

Press Release

Although ketchup remains the company’s bread and butter, sales of new products overseas are shaking things up at H. J. Heinz.

Business Week takes a look at the booming business behind Heinz’s 12 percent first-quarter earnings growth. While ketchup sales were up 8 percent worldwide, the company’s fastest-growing brand is a thick soy sauce called ABC with a 44% sales increase last year.

Since Heinz bought the Asian brand in 1998, ABC has tripled its size to become a major player in the soy sauce market, second only to Kikkoman.

Business Week

Heinz Press Release

Baked goods company Grupo Bimbo invites professionals and young scientists to participate in the 2008 Bimbo Pan-American Nutrition, Food Science and Technology Award.

The award is in effort to promote research and knowledge in these areas, and to improve the quality of processed food and nutritional standards of the population. Prizes will be awarded in the amounts of $5,000 for the Professional category and $2,000 for the Young Scientist category.

All award proposals must be registered online at: http://premiopanamericano.grupobimbo.com/ by October 31, 2008, at 23:59 (Eastern Standard Time).

Chew on this
A new study shows that chewing gum after colon surgery may help in recovery of intestinal function.

Fighting to get a table
At the four-time-named “best restaurant in the world,” dining is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

It’s cheaper to be fat
The Wall Street Journal takes a look at how high prices for healthy foods make losing weight more difficult than

Bad role models?
Michael Phelps’ decision to endorse Frosted Flakes over Wheaties illustrates a trend of athletes advertising not-so-healthy food products.

Junk reading
Berg Publishers has just released the Encyclopedia of Junk Food and Fast Food.

Regulatory News

Cause of Oklahoma E. coli outbreak unknown

Health officials are trying to determine the source of contamination in an Escherichia coli 0111 outbreak in Oklahoma that has lead to the death of one person and caused at least 209 others to become ill.

The outbreak, which began around August 25, has been linked to the Country Cottage restaurant in Locust Grove. State health officials released a statement saying they are still not sure what caused the outbreak. They ruled out well water as a possible source.

“This appears to be the largest E. coli 0111 outbreak ever reported in the U.S.,” said State Epidemiologist Kristy Bradley. “The complexity of this outbreak and the necessity to be extremely thorough in our investigation means we still have more questions than answers.”

Investigators have interviewed more than 500 persons in an effort to identify the source of the contamination. The restaurant is closed while the investigation continues. Not everyone who ate at the restaurant has become ill. No other restaurant or food service outlet in the area has been linked to the outbreak.

Associated Press

Oklahoma State Department of Health Press Release

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will hold a public hearing on allergen advisory labeling on September 16, 2008, at the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition’s Harvey W. Wiley Building in College Park, Md.

FDA is developing a long-term strategy to assist manufacturers in using allergen advisory labeling that is truthful and not misleading, conveys a clear and uniform message, and adequately informs food allergic consumers and their caregivers. To that end, FDA is soliciting comments and information to assist the agency in determining how manufacturers currently use advisory labeling, how consumers interpret different advisory labeling statements, and what wording is likely to be most effective in communicating to consumers the likelihood that an allergen may be present in a food. The agency is also interested in receiving comments about whether consumers find advisory labeling helpful for making food purchasing decisions.

The Associated Press takes a look at the challenges of living with food allergies and trying to read label warnings in a report that discusses the upcoming public hearing.

Associated Press Article

Federal Register

IFT & Meeting News

IFT is now accepting award nominations

The IFT Awards program recognizes outstanding accomplishment in all areas of food science and technology through a variety of recognition channels. The program administers 14 Achievement Awards, the Marcel Loncin Research Prize, and the IFT Fellows program.

These Awards recognize IFT members representing multiple facets of the profession, including teaching, public health, lipid or flavor science, food ingredient safety, industrial developments, and others. The professional distinction of IFT Fellow rewards individuals with outstanding and extraordinary qualifications and experience in food science and technology.

IFT is now accepting nominations for the 2009 IFT Achievement Awards that will recognize individuals and teams for remarkable contributions in research, applications, and service. Help us to honor our esteemed colleagues in industry, academia, and government—and to recognize the very best among us. We ask that you help spread the word about IFT Awards and Fellows by encouraging colleagues to submit a nomination or identify a potential nominee.

Awards nomination forms may be found by clicking here.

Fellow nomination forms may be found by clicking here.

The deadline for achievement awards is December 1, 2008, while the Fellow deadline is February 1, 2009. If you have questions about the nomination process please, contact Jenny Schmidli jschmidli@ift.org.

Take advantage of flexible options for customizing your educational experience at this year’s Wellness 09 Conference, an event focused specifically on the development of healthful food products. Choose a single track of sessions and focus on the in-depth content most directly relevant to your role, or choose from sessions across all three tracks to gain broader exposure to key issues that span the lifecycle of a health and wellness product. Tracks include consumer lifestyles & demographics, health issues, and optimization & performance. Each of them will deepen your understanding of how these factors impact consumer research, product development, and marketing.

Conveniently held in Rosemont, Illinois, near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, this event is designed for anyone involved in the development, regulation, packaging, or marketing of foods that contribute to health and wellness. You’ll discover how organizations are identifying indicators that may shape the future direction of the food industry. You’ll also have opportunities to deepen your understanding of how to minimize the organizational risk inherent in product development activities.

Gain practical, actionable knowledge that you can apply to your product development process. Plus, identify new business and marketplace opportunities. Only the Wellness 09 conference can provide the scientific credibility, applied technology, market insight, and consumer trends information that makes Food Technology magazine the best read publication for information on industry and technology trends.

For more information, visit ift.org/ftpc

What is Natural?
September 25, 2008
12:00 – 1:30 p.m., CST

Are you a regulatory compliance professional? Do you have responsibility for developing the label of a food product?

Many organizations are challenged with defining what “natural” is, as the term is not currently standardized throughout the food industry. The resulting confusion has led to most food industry professionals being unsure as to what a “natural” ingredient is. This webcast will clarify what natural ingredients are, and expand your knowledge of policy development within this arena. It will also provide guidance on how the use of the term “natural” can be standardized throughout the food industry.

At the discounted rate of just $95 per member site, this webcast offers a cost-effective option for keeping current on this important topic.

For more information and to register, visit ift.org/knowledge. When registering, please enter this code: 0908EM1242

U.S. NEWS

Top Stories

Deli meats recalled in Canadian Listeria outbreak

Maple Leaf Foods recalled 220 deli meat products amid a listeriosis outbreak that has resulted in 12 deaths.

One of Canada’s largest food processors, Maple Leaf Foods temporarily closed the contaminated Toronto meatpacking plant where the strain of Listeria monocytogenes was found. The recalled Maple Leaf brand deli meat was used in several ready-to-eat sandwiches that have been distributed through Safeway and TakeAwayCafé. The company says it will leave no stone unturned to ensure that its products are safe.

Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Dr. David Butler-Jones released a statement reassuring Canadians that the risk posed by Listeria is very low for most people. “Even though the bacteria itself is very common in the environment, healthy people who are exposed rarely become ill,” he said. “Our greatest concern is with the risk listeriosis poses pregnant [to] women, the very old, the very young and people with weakened immune systems.”

Financial Times Article

Statement: Chief Public Health Officer

Press Release: Maple Leaf Foods

Video: Maple Leaf Foods President/CEO

As food prices continue to increase, many are pointing fingers at the ethanol industry, but ethanol supporters say there are more factors at play.

A feature in USA Today investigates the ongoing ethanol debate. Ethanol critics say federal biofuel mandates and ethanol subsidies have driven up food prices by an 8 percent annual rate in the past three months. A quarter of corn crops were used for ethanol production last year, and experts estimate this year it will rise to about one-third.

But ethanol supporters blame bad timing and other issues for the rising food costs. They cite increased oil demand in China and India, slower agricultural productivity and the weakend U.S. dollar creating bargain grain prices for other nations as contributing factors to the tightest world grain supply in decades.

However, some economists say that even if Congress eliminated ethanol subsidies, it could still take as long as two years for the impact to show up on the supermarket shelf.

For more on the debate, read the USA Today article.

Research Briefs

Stevia: Coming to a food product near you?

As more health-conscious consumers become Stevia fans, researchers focus on determining whether the naturally occurring sweetener is safe.

Grown in South America, Stevia’s leaves are up to 300 times sweeter than table sugar. Although extracts are used in food in countries such as Brazil, Japan and Paraguay, it isn’t allowed as a food additive in the United States, but it is available as a dietary supplement.

The Los Angeles Times takes a look a series of recent studies that appear to debunk earlier findings that the sweetener causes genetic toxicity, possibly clearing the way for future use in American food products.

LA Times Article

Journal Abstract

Scientists with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service (ARS) are creating a genebank for nearly all 2,800 wild, rare and domesticated grape varieties.

By late next summer, they expect to have taken the genetic profiles, or fingerprints, of all grapes. These fingerprints may help grape breeders pinpoint plants in the collection that have unusual traits that might appeal to shoppers in tomorrow’s supermarkets. Other grapes might be ideal for scientists who are doing basic research.

The project is part of the ARS National Clonal Germplasm Repository for Tree Fruit and Nut Crops and Grapes, in Davis, Calif.

For more information, visit http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2008/080826.htm

Members of a Food Technology’s Trend Panel analyzed the potential for products targeted to green, gray and growing consumers at this year’s 2008 Annual Meeting & Food Expo.

The panel of industry experts offered insights into emerging market opportunities and new consumer attitudes and behaviors as well as recommendations for positioning new products and coping with the latest issues and terminology. Grasping uncharted arenas such as sustainability were also discussed.

Panelist Diane Crispell, executive editor of GfK Roper Reports, talked about new twists on mega-drivers. The first mega-driver is the aging of society, she said. Although the U.S. population is undoubtedly and inevitably graying, the twist is the notion that all American generations are viable and sizeable markets, each with a unique generational identity. One way to approach generational differences, Crispell suggested, is to look at the personal values people hold because such beliefs drive consumer behavior.

The second mega-driver, diversity, extends beyond race and ethnicity, Crispell said. It’s also a mindset. Nearly half of Americans feel close to a culture other than local American culture. Consumers’ paradoxical nature and diverse views also show up in their attitudes toward food. They want tradition and novelty, comfort and adventure, and taste and health, she said. Addressing these paradoxes can result in innovative products.

Roper surveys have found that while young adults have an experimental approach to food, about two-thirds of consumers like to stick to foods they’re familiar with, suggesting that taste innovations should be made within the context of familiar foods. Crispell also reported that snacking is popular with American consumers, with two-thirds eating snacks daily and 82 percent saying that convenience foods are important to help them maintain a healthy diet.

As for what trends are hot, outdoor grilling is “in” with 79 percent of consumers, bottled water with 78 percent, specialty coffee with 76 percent, organic products with 75 percent and gourmet cooking with 66 percent.

For full in-depth coverage of the panel’s demographics discussion, see the August 2008 issue of Food Technology.

Company News

Sara Lee looks to make more bread

In just seven years, Sara Lee Corp. has become a major player in the bread market. Despite these gains, the company needs to improve profitability in the area where its sales are growing fastest.

With Wall Street watching, the company is banking on new technology and increased efficiencies to improve its numbers.  Chicago Tribune highlights the successes Sara Lee has had in the bread business and the obstacles it still has to overcome.

Chicago Tribune Article

Amid rising food costs and economic fears, consumers are spending less on food, prompting retailers to come up with creative ways to attract customers.

The Baltimore Sun highlights the lengths grocers will go to snag shoppers. Increased promotions, bargains and discounts are some of the strategies supermarkets are employing more frequently.

Even popular stores such as Whole Foods are forced to compete for customers. The company now offers smart shopping advice in its “Shopping on a Shoe String” classes, which offer thrifty tips such as choosing the company’s private label products, locally grown produce and frozen fish as inexpensive options.

“I think it’s a tough market, there’s no doubt,” retail consultant George Whalin told the paper. “The retail environment is as bad as I’ve seen, and Whole Foods and others are doing things they normally haven’t had to do.”

Baltimore Sun Article

In an effort to reduce its dependence on the unpredictable banana industry, Chiquita Brands International is focusing on the consumer-products market.

With recent expansion into the portable snacks and drinks field and the acquisition of Fresh Express, the company hopes one day to have Chiquita-branded fruit products on grocery store shelves and fast-food menus. Chiquita fruit has already started to become a presence at Burger King, where it is a major supplier of the chain’s Fresh Apple Fries.

The Cincinnati Enquirer interviewed Chiquita Chairman and CEO Fernando Aguirre about the company’s new ventures. “The first step is that we need to be there (on the store shelves), and then it’s eventually about replacing those kinds of foods with the kinds we offer,” Aguirre said. “We want to extend the brand as much as we possibly can and want to expand our business as much as we can, too.”

Cincinnati Enquirer Article

Notice anything different about your favorite candy bar or yogurt snack? It could be because you’re not eating the same recipe you’ve always loved.

The Wall Street Journal investigates a growing phenomenon among food makers of substituting cheaper ingredients and adding fillers to cut costs.

The newspaper reports that among others, Hershey Co. is substituting vegetable oil for cocoa butter in some of its chocolate products and McCormick & Co. is substituting Mexican oregano for the more costly Mediterranean oregano in some of the flavor blends it supplies to food companies.

WSJ Article

Royal DSM N.V. plans to close its citric acid manufacturing plant in Wuxi, China, early next year.

The closure follows a request from the local government to relocate the plant from its current location to make room for future urban developments. DSM will receive a compensation amount from the Wuxi government and does not expect to incur a loss.

The market for citric acid has been under substantial pressure for several years, mainly due to structural overcapacity in China. Because the structural overcapacity is expected to remain, DSM has decided not to rebuild elsewhere, insead concentrating its production at the site in Tienen, Belgium.

Press Release

Thanks to new laser technology and the addition of two new research centers, DuPont is boosting its seed businesses.

The company introduced Laser-Assisted Seed Selection, a laser technology that claims to speed up the development of high-yield corn and soybean varieties. It uses a 120-watt carbon dioxide laser to score a small slice from a seed to capture its genetic information while maintaining the seed’s viability for planting. Molecular breeding techniques are used to identify desirable genetic combinations within each individual scored seed slice. Seeds identified to have superior genetics are selected for planting.

The company also opened two new seed research centers in Italy and Hungary. “The opening and expansion of these two new research centers continues our commitment to meet the challenges farmers face in Europe and around the world by providing genetic solutions farm-by-farm, field-by-field and hectare-by-hectare,” said William S. Niebur, vice president of DuPont Crop Genetics Research and Development.

Press Releases

Food Safety Net Services promoted Timothy Santy to director of operations. He joined FSNS in 2006 and was previously facilities manager. The company also welcomed Wendy Harmon as customer service coordinator. She joins FSNS with numerous years of experience in customer service, business analysis and data management.

Caravan Ingredients appointed Gary Schmidt vice president of operations. Schmidt succeeds John Kalal, who will be taking a full time role as vice president, supply chain bakery supplies, North America for CSM, Caravan Ingredients’ parent company. Schmidt has 15 years of operations experience and previously worked for Cargill, Ernest & Julio Gallo Winery and Givaudan Flavors Corp. The company also appointed Lisa Zylkowski and James Anderson account executives in the specialty ingredients division. Zylkowski has held positions at McCormick & Co., Danisco, ConAgra Foods and Land O’Lakes. Anderson has more than 25 years of experience with Kraft Food Ingredients/ACH Food Companies, Bunge Foods and AarhusKarlshamn USA.

You say tomato
Long-lost recipes fuel a resurging interest in tomato preserves.

New takes on an old classic
Coca-Cola’s new design innovations includes aluminum bottles, a new family of coolers, and simple updates of Coke’s iconic branding images.

Desert farming is a challenging, rewarding enterprise
Video piece examining desert farming practices in Israel.

Food fight!
The tomatoes flew fast and furiously as 40,000 people participated in an annual food fight in the village of Bunol, Spain. The tomato pelting has been a ritual since the 1940s.

Starbucks goes healthy
Starbucks is poised to reveal its top-secret breakfast menu redesign, which will feature new health-conscious options.

Sweet science
Silicon Valley tricks are creating high-tech chocolates.

Regulatory News

2008 Farm Bill comparison released

The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS) released a side-by-side comparison of the 2008 Farm Bill with previous legislation.

The report summarizes both the new and old legislation and it offers a reference for farm bill provisions. In addition to key provisions and details by title, it includes links to related ERS publications and to analyses of previous farm acts. New features include a user’s guide, an A toZ list of major provisions and a search function.

To view the comparison materials and video, visit http://www.ers.usda.gov/farmbill/2008/.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has amended the food additive regulations to provide for the safe use of ionizing radiation for control of food-borne pathogens and extension of shelf-life in fresh iceberg lettuce and fresh spinach. The amendment is approved for doses up to 4.0 kiloGrays (kGy).

This rule became effective August 22. The public may submit written or electronic objections and requests for a hearing through September 22, 2008.

The August 22, 2008 edition of the FDA Federal Register states that the action is in partial response to a petition filed by The National Food Processors Association on behalf of The Food Irradiation Coalition.

Federal Register

Irradiation debate continues

Would you buy irradiated food?

IFT & Meeting News

IFT kicks it up a notch in New Orleans

Samples, science, innovation and a stellar array of exhibitors enhanced the flavor of the 2008 IFT Annual Meeting & Food Expo are featured in the August issue of Food Technology magazine.

This year’s event offered nearly 200 educational sessions, organized for the first time into five application-oriented tracks. More than 950 exhibitors sprawled across 213,700 sq ft of exhibit space, showing off new products and services.

First-time features such as peer-selected Supplier Solution Sessions on the show floor and an anti-hunger volunteer initiative called IFT Cares made their debuts.

The city of New Orleans provided a warm welcome to the 15,075 attendees who arrived from 78 countries. For complete coverage of the 2008 Annual Meeting & Food Expo, see the August 2008 issue of Food Technology.

What is Natural?
September 25, 2008
12:00 – 1:30 p.m., CST

Is your organization challenged with devising its own definition of what “natural” is? Do you believe that this term should be standardized throughout the food industry? Are you unsure as to what a “natural” ingredient is? Currently, there are no specific regulations that standardize the use of this term, which has resulted in confusion among organizations’ regulatory compliance professionals.

This webcast will clarify what natural ingredients are, and expand your knowledge of policy development within this arena. It will also provide guidance on how the use of the term “natural” can be standardized throughout the food industry.

Register now and submit questions to speakers in advance to be answered during the live webcast! At the discounted rate of just $95 per member site, this webcast offers a cost-effective option for keeping current on this important topic.

For more information and to register, visit ift.org/knowledge. When registering, please enter this code: 0808EM1241.

Top Stories

Pre-packaged foods face labeling hurdle in Hong Kong

New nutrition labeling legislation in Hong Kong is projected to cost U.S. food companies millions of dollars, with the fast-growing categories of health, organic, and snack foods getting hit the hardest.

The United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural
Service released a report on how the new labeling regulations will
impact pre-packaged food sold in Hong Kong. It states that current U.S.
labeling requirements are not consistent with the new regulations due
to different nutrient definitions, rounding practices, and
recommendations for daily consumption. The new rules take effect on
July 1, 2010.

The report notes that some retailers have already suspended imports
of new U.S. products with nutritional claims while others are taking a
wait-and-see approach. Hong Kong is currently the 9th largest market
for U.S. grocery exports. In 2008, sales ar running 77 percent ahead of
2007 levels; they could reach $1 billion by the end of the year.

USDA FAS GAIN Report (pdf)

Hong Kong Nutrition Labeling Nutrition Claims regulation

GM debate heats up in Britain

Prince Charles asserted last week that genetically modified (GM)
crops would lead to a global environmental disaster; now Great
Britain’s environment minister is challenging him to prove it.

In an interview with the Sunday Telegraph, Phil Woolas said he’s
waiting for opponents to GM foods to prove they are unsafe. Until then,
he said the government plans to continue to investigate using such
crops to help find solutions to the problems of hunger in developing
countries.

Although he’s grateful to the prince for raising doubts held by many
people, Woolas told the paper that he believes it is his duty to pursue
the issue. “Government ministers have a responsibility to base policy
on science ,and I do strongly believe that we have a moral
responsibility to the developing world to ask the question: can GM
crops help?”

Sunday Telegraph

BBC Coverage

Viva Italia

There’s a movement afoot along the Appian Way to preserve traditional Italian cooking.

The Chicago Tribune highlights a network of Italians eager
to make anyone a good home-cooked meal. Home Food, a cultural
organization that works in conjunction with the University of Bologna,
has linked 300 cooks, or cesarine, throughout Italy with whom
travelers or anyone interested can book reservations to eat dinner in
their homes and experience true Italian dining.

Determined to preserve what they see as a disappearing form of
Italian culture, cesarine like Ornella Marcante of Milan are spreading
the word about real Italian food.

“I am deeply convinced that one of the best things we have in Italy is our cooking,” Marcante, told the Tribune.
“Italy is one of the few places in the world that you move 10, 20 miles
and you eat something completely different. We have such an enormous
tradition about the food and we have to absolutely preserve it.”

It’s a sentiment shared by the Italian Parliament, which is asking
the United Nations’ cultural organization (UNESCO) to recognize Italy’s
Mediterranean diet as an “intangible heritage.”

Chicago Tribune

Home Food

Research Briefs

Study says menu calorie labeling helps fast-food customers eat less

A white paper by the Center for Weight and Health showed that
posting calorie information on menu boards at fast-food restaurants
could help Californians avoid more than two pounds of weight gain per
year.

The findings were based on information taken from a previous study
of the fast-food purchasing patterns of 7,000 customers at 11 New York
City fast-food chains, which appeared in the American Journal of Public Health.
Researchers used the results of that study to project that if calorie
content were published at fast-food restaurants in California, adult
customers could see a three-pound weight loss in one year by eating
9,300 fewer calories on average.

Advocates of a proposed law in California to require chains
restaurants with 15 or more locations to post calorie content and
nutritional information on their menus are pointing to the California
study to support their position. New York City already has a similar
law.

Los Angeles Times

The hotter the pepper, the stronger the juice

A new study shows how chili peppers developed a natural way of
fighting off pests by growing capsaicinoids, the chemicals that give
the fruits their spicy kick.

The findings by University of Washington researchers were published
in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The scientists
exposed wild chili peppers to bugs carrying a fungus and found the
spicier peppers with more capsaicinoids had 45-55 percent lower fungal
loads than the milder peppers.

The researchers determined that the peppers developed their spicy
signature to protect chili seeds from invading pathogens. The stronger
the threat, the hotter the pepper.

Journal Abstract

Elanco announces acquisition of dairy cow supplement business

Elanco, a division of Eli Lilly and Company, has signed an agreement
to acquire the worldwide rights to the dairy cow supplement Posilac®
(sometribove) and the product’s supporting operations, from Monsanto
Company.

Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly will acquire all rights to
the Posilac brand, the product’s U.S. sales force, and its
manufacturing facility in Augusta, Georgia. In return, Monsanto will
receive a $300 million upfront payment as well as contingent
consideration. The transaction is expected to close near the beginning
of the fourth quarter of 2008.

“Global dairy demand is increasing, outstripping supply, and
consumers are seeing rapidly rising prices,” said Jeff Simmons,
president of Elanco. “With the purchase of Posilac, Elanco can enhance
its overall product portfolio and work together with the industry to
provide dairy farmers more options and give consumers affordable
choices. Critically, we remain focused on the health and care of the
cow in working with farmers to increase global milk supply.

Sometribove is a recombinant bovine somatotropin (bST) product used
for increasing milk production in dairy cows. The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration approved its use in 1994.

Company News

Elanco announces acquisition of dairy cow supplement business

Elanco, a division of Eli Lilly and Company, has signed an agreement
to acquire the worldwide rights to the dairy cow supplement, Posilac®
(sometribove), as well as the product’s supporting operations, from
Monsanto Company.

Under the terms of the agreement, Lilly will acquire all rights to
the Posilac brand, as well as the product’s U.S. sales force and its
manufacturing facility in Augusta, Georgia. In return, Monsanto will
receive a $300 million upfront payment, as well as contingent
consideration. The transaction is expected to close near the beginning
of the fourth quarter of 2008.

“Global dairy demand is increasing, outstripping supply, and
consumers are seeing rapidly rising prices,” said Jeff Simmons,
president, Elanco. “With the purchase of Posilac, Elanco can enhance
its overall product portfolio and work together with the industry to
provide dairy farmers more options and give consumers affordable
choices. Critically, we remain focused on the health and care of the
cow in working with farmers to increase global milk supply.

Sometribove is a recombinant bovine somatotropin (bST) product used
for increasing milk production in dairy cows. The Food and Drug
Administration approved its use in 1994.

News Release

Dr Pepper Snapple misses second-quarter expectations

The third largest soft drink maker, Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc., posted lower second quarter profits this week.

The company said its separation from Cadbury Plc hurt its numbers.
It reported its net income at $108 million ($0.42 per share), down from
$136 million, ($0.54 per share) last year. Net sales increased 1
percent, with higher prices offsetting sales volume declines.

“It’s no secret that the beverage industry continues to face
significant headwinds,” said Larry Young, President and CEO of Dr
Pepper Snapple. “Higher prices at the gas pump and at retailers across
the country have impacted our consumers and their shopping habits.”

Press Release

Cookie chain Mrs. Fields to file for Chapter 11

Amid a flurry of crumbling cookie headlines and bittersweet puns,
media outlets are reporting that Mrs. Fields Cookies plans to file for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Reuters reports that the
company, which has 1,200 Mrs. Fields Cookies and TCBY frozen yogurt
locations worldwide, hopes to restructure its business while under
bankruptcy protection. High gas prices are partly to blame for the
company’s financial problems.

The company was launched in 1977
by Debbi Fields, a Utah housewife who sold the company in 1996 and
resigned as director and consultant in 2000. She released a statement
saying she hopes “the proposed reorganization will place the company in
the hands of owners who believe, as I do, in the power of quality
products and quality people.”

Reuters

New York Times

Debbi Fields’ statement

Cargill posts strong fourth quarter earnings

Cargill reported that fourth quarter earnings are up 18 percent from
same period a year ago. A $310 million gain on the sale of discontinued
operations brought fourth quarter net earnings to $1.05 billion.

For the full fiscal year, Cargill earned $3.64 billion from
continuing operations, a 55 percent increase from $2.34 billion a year
ago. The $310 million gain on the sale of discontinued operations in
the fourth quarter brought fiscal 2008 net earnings to $3.95 billion.

“Cargill posted a record financial performance in a year of
exceptionally strong commodity demand, market turbulence and price
risk,” said Greg Page, Cargill chairman and chief executive officer.
“By bringing to bear our business diversity, the full capacity of our
global assets, strong risk management and a significant increase in
capital deployed, we operated successfully in the most volatile
agricultural and energy markets in decades. Despite tight stocks of
many agricultural commodities, we maintained reliable supply chains for
our customers and created value-adding solutions.”

Page said Cargill’s investment in the fertilizer industry also
contributed significantly to company results. Since 2006, global demand
for crop nutrients has surged in response to the world’s increased need
for higher crop yields to meet rising demand for food and agricultural
commodities.

In assessing economic forces at work in the world, Page noted that
growth in gross domestic product among the world’s developing economies
has averaged more than 6 percent a year since 2000.

Page said the world has the means to give agriculture the chance to
catch up with demand. “If markets are allowed to work, today’s prices
can spark a supply response from farmers. A rekindling of public and
private investment in agriculture and in rural infrastructure will
drive productivity gains.”

News Release

Panda Express to continue offering Pepsi products

PepsiCo Foodservice and Panda Restaurant Group will continue with a
multi-year contract that makes Pepsi the exclusive beverage supplier in
all 1,100 Panda Express locations across the United States.

The restaurant chain will carry Pepsi fountain and bottled products,
including Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sierra Mist, Mountain Dew, Aquafina,
Lipton, Dole, Tropicana, and SoBe. The companies have a 20-year history
of working together.

Extra Credit Reading

Cooking for athletes an Olympic-sized feat
It
took Beijing organizers more than a year to create a menu varied enough
to meet the nutritional needs of the 10,000 athletes at this year’s
Olympics.

Pheeding Phelps
Just
because Michael Phelps can eat 12,000 calories a day doesn’t mean if
you can too. Evidently, even his metabolism is exceptional.

Sensory cocktails are latest drinking trend
An
Australian nighttime hotspot features drinks that create an experience
through music and smell to heighten taste and transport drinkers to an
exotic locale.

Ladies night
Beer manufacturers in the United Kingdom are reaching out to women in an effort to boost slumping sales.

Revolutionary spirit
Visitors
to the reconstructed Mount Vernon whiskey distillery once owned by U.S.
President George Washington can now sample a little bit of 121-proof
history.

Regulatory News

Imperial Sugar hit with third largest OSHA fine

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited
Imperial Sugar Co. and two of its affiliates for dust explosion hazards
at three of its plants, proposing penalties totaling $8.78 million.

It is the third largest fine in the history of OSHA. The plants in
question are located in Port Wentworth, Ga., and Gramercy, La. OSHA
initiated the inspections after an explosion and fire on Feb. 7, 2008,
at the Port Wentworth refinery that claimed the lives of 13 employees
and hospitalized 40 others.

Inspections of both facilities found evidence of large accumulations
of combustible sugar dust in workrooms, on electrical motors, and on
other equipment. The investigation also determined that officials at
the company were aware of the conditions but took no action to reduce
the hazards.

The company has 15 business days to contest the citations and proposed penalties.

OSHA News Release

FDA Bisphenol A subcommittee to discuss draft assessment

The Bisphenol A (BPA) Subcommittee of the Science Board to the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will meet September 16 to discuss
its “Draft Assessment of Bisphenol A for use in Food Contact
Applications.”

The draft concludes that an adequate margin of safety exists for BPA
at current levels of exposure from food contact uses. It also states
that the FDA will publish a separate document that provides a safety
assessment of BPA exposure from other FDA-regulated products at a later
date.

Draft Assessment (pdf)

Meeting Agenda

Japan to inspect U.S. beef processing plants

Japan Today is reporting that Japanese inspectors will
visit beef processing plants in the United States to determine wheter
U.S. are following Japan’s import criteria.

The news outlet said inspectors from Japan’s Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries Ministry and the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry will
visit nine of the 40 plants designated as qualified to export products
to Japan. Other reports say they will visit 10 locations.

The inspections come after the U.S. Department of Agriculture
discovered that shipments of banned beef were recently sent to Japan
due to human and computer errors. Japan instituted its import criteria
after the Mad Cow scare disease in 2006.

Japan Today

AFP Article

IFT & Meeting News

Wellness 09 proposal deadline extended by popular demand

In response to your requests, the proposal deadline for Wellness 09 has been extended to Friday, August 22 at 4:00 p.m. CST.

Are you involved in the development, regulation, packaging, or
marketing of foods that contribute to health and wellness? Then help
shape the content for this in-depth event by submitting a proposal, and
thereby contributing to the scientific credibility, applied technology,
market insight, and consumer trends information that makes this
conference unique.

This event will help you explore discover new marketplace
opportunities, gain sound insight on key issues, and learn about
techniques that reduce costs. In addition, “track” areas related to
these consumer needs will be discussed: Consumer Lifestyles &
Demographics, Health Issues, Optimization & Performance. Attendees
from the inaugural conference, held earlier this year, told us that
they identified new marketplace opportunities, and shared best
practices. IFT invites you to submit a proposal and contribute to the
exchange of information at Wellness 09. For more information, visit ift.org/ftpc.

IFT Press releases glycemic health book

A new book from IFT Press entitled “Nutraceuticals, Glycemic Health
and Type 2 Diabetes” focuses on the nutraceuticals that assist in
preventing and managing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. The book gives
an overview of glycemic health and highlights the use of novel and
upcoming nutraceutical ingredients such as bioactive peptides,
traditional herbs from China, India and Mexico, resistant starches,
cinnamon, chromium and others.

Book Summary

Allergen-free cookie dough takes home top prize

The Lansing State Journal highlighted the winners of the 2008 IFT Food Product Development Competition in an article this week.

The feature focuses on Michigan State University team of students
who developed Ready-to-Dough, an allergen-free refrigerated cookie
dough. The product does not contain dairy, eggs, nuts or gluten.

Although winning the competition at this year’s IFT Annual Meeting
and Food Expo was the ultimate goal, team member Shantanu Kelkar told
the paper that it wasn’t the eight students’ only motivation. “It all
started because we wanted to do well in the competition, but then, we
really wanted to do something that was a solution to a social problem.”

This is the second win for the team, which won last year’s
competition with Souper Snackers, whole-grain pasta shells stuffed with
ground chicken and broth.

The team hopes a food company will purchase Ready-to-Dough and bring
it to the market. A patent application for the process and recipe is
already in the works.

Lansing State Journal

End-of-Summer discount on IFT webcasts

Minimally Processed Foods and Their Safety
August 25, 2008, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. CST

Are you up-to-date on the safety of minimally processed foods
and the challenges that organizations face in producing them? Take this
opportunity to hear what the experts are saying about what’s driving
demand for these products.

While minimally processed foods satisfy the increasing market
demands for foods with fewer preservatives, higher nutritive value, and
fresh sensory attributes, there is a greater food safety risk if they
are improperly handled. This webcast explores innovative preventative
solutions to food-borne diseases from the perspectives of the producer,
the handler, the consumer, the food preparer, and the food researcher.
As a result of this webcast, you will better understand:

• What minimally processed foods mean to consumers
• How companies are meeting challenges posed by consumer demand for increased food quality
• Which best practices can be implemented to maintain food safety and quality

Section 912: Potential Threat to Food Innovation
September 24, 2008, – 12:00 – 1:30 pm., CST

Is Section 912 a potential threat to food innovation? Tucked into a
law recently passed by Congress is a little known prohibition that
represents a shift in the dividing line between foods and drugs, and
threatens to present significant hurdles for anyone involved in product
development. This webcast will offer you a detailed introduction to the
Section 912 prohibition, opportunities to consider the issues that it
raises, and insights on how to incorporate a Section 912 analysis into
your product development planning.

The provision, known as Section 912, is now in effect and prohibits
the addition to a food of an approved drug. It also prohibits the
addition of a drug for which substantial clinical trials have been
executed and made public. Visit ift.org/knowledge for more information
on these webcasts as well as end-of-summer discounted pricing! When
registering, please enter this code 0808EM1240.

WATT Executive Guide – August 2008

WATT’s annual 2008/09 Executive Guide to World Poultry Trends, The Statistical Reference for Poultry Executives, is available now.

Turn to the digital edition of WATT’s Executive Guide to World Poultry Trends for the latest compilation of worldwide statistics for poultry meat and eggs.

Information you can use includes:

• How poultry is gaining importance in feeding the world.
• Predicted slowing of chicken meat production.
• Forecast for record poultry meat exports.
• Rapid growth of egg consumption.
• Slowing – but still upward – trend in poultry feed.

Brought to you by the WATT Poultry Media Group serving the worldwide poultry industry for over 90 years. Available in print and digital formats – WATT Executive Guide, WATT PoultryUSA, Industria Avicola, WATT Executive Guide Chinese Edition and Egg Industry.

Featured this Week …
Here’s this week’s wrap-up of key industry news from the editors of MEAT&POULTRY. Check the News Archive for stories from the past 90 days.

• M&P EXCLUSIVE: Wesley Batista on JBS acquisitions in the U.S.
• B.S.E. case confirmed in Alberta
• Pork, beef export sales surge in first-half of ‘08
• Scientists study turning waste material into ethanol
• Unilever study reveals shifts in purchasing patterns
• C.P.I. for food, beverages boosted by various gains
• ‘Insanitary conditions’ expand Nebraska Beef recall
• Olympics curtail pork consumption in China
• Consumers aided by new retail beef programs
• Tyson’s Jefferson plant reopens with fewer workers
• More can be done to keep current, attract customers
• SNEAK PEEK: Exclusive interview with CEO of JBS USA
• Pork exports to Japan are booming
• U.S.D.A.: 2008 corn crop at 12,288 million bus
• M&P EXCLUSIVE REPORT: Dr. Temple Grandin on how to determine insensibility
• Pilgrim’s Pride to idle two facilities
• Another Nebraska Beef recall targets 1.2 million lbs
• Optimism in the ruins
• Jack in the Box introduces Breakfast Bowls
• Moody’s gives negative outlook for food industry

More News

Bronze in Beijing, gold everywhere else
There’s been a negative Olympic effect on U.S. pork exports to China, but pork is booming for the U.S. in most other markets

Ignoring the facts
A new USDA study indicates consumers are using nutrition-information panels less and less

Optimism in the ruins
The collapse of the Doha Round of WTO talks isn’t necessarily bad news for U.S. meat exports

Leave our burgers alone, s’il vous plait
Chefs in Paris have lately become fascinated by the possibilities offered by the hamburger.

• Olympics curtail pork consumption in China
• Pork exports to Japan are booming
• U.S. pork exports to Mexico rebounding
• New beef cuts created for Japan boost U.S. exports
• U.S. beef exports gain ground

Other national and international news …
Industry headlines from MEATPOULTRY.com’s worldwide news source, Lexis-Nexis:
• Japanese compliance officials head to U.S. to inspect nine plants
• Salmonella outbreak in Finland linked to 119 reports of illness in E.U.
• Meat-based menu items tested by 7-Eleven
• Korean broadcaster apologizes over US beef report
• Economist sees beef output cuts if feed costs stay high
• Kanye West to open 10 Fatburger joints in Chicago
• Harvey Beef officials deny rumors of an offer from JBS
• Sainsbury’s supermarkets plans to phase out battery chicken
• Agriprocessors incident spawns new Kosher standards
• Canada announces import limits for poultry and dairy products
• Hong Kong resumes poultry imports from U.K.
• Soaring bacon price pushes up food inflation in the U.K.
• Tyson’s Shelbyville employees granted ‘personal’ day in lieu of Muslim holiday
• Pork products recalled in Hawaii
• Salmonella outbreak in Sweden, 2,000 cattle culled
• China lifts ban on pork from U.K. just in time for Olympics

More News

From MEAT&POULTRY …

Lean transitions
Applying the strategy in the age of mergers and acquisitions

Top Stories

Study predicts all U.S. adults overweight in 40 years

A government-funded study projects that if current trends continue, 40 years from now every adult in the United States could be overweight. The findings, published in the journal Obesity, show that already, two-thirds of the population is overweight. By analyzing government and survey data collected from the 1970s to 2004, researchers predict 86 percent of American adults will be overweight by 2030, with an obesity rate of 51 percent. By 2048, all U.S. adults could be considered mildly overweight. Abstract Reuters Article

An Irish initiative to recycle kitchen scraps in Belfast shows that households are wasting about 40 kg of food every week.

The program collected more than 40 tons of food waste from 7,000 homes. People were allowed to recycle food leftovers such as meat and fish, dairy products, fruit and vegetables, bread, rice and beans, and tea and coffee grounds. While it helped the city achieve its highest recycling rates ever, it also raised concern about how much food gets thrown out without being consumed.

BBC Article

Research Briefs

Research shows organic may not be more nutritious

A new study published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture found no difference between organically and conventionally grown fruits and vegetables.

The study, which compared produce grown three different ways, “does not support the belief that organically grown foodstuffs generally contain more major and trace elements.” Researchers found no evident trend towards differences in element content of food or diets in rats due to the use of different cultivation systems, and differences between harvest years exceeded those seen between cultivation methods.

Journal Abstract

Researchers in the United Kingdom have found that eating broccoli can increase enzymes that protect heart blood vessels.

The compound sulforaphane, found in broccoli, was shown to be beneficial to heart health, helping to counter the damage of vascular disease caused by diabetes.

The study, conducted at the University of Warwick, appears in the August issue of the journal Diabetes.

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration released the results of their 2006 consumer telephone survey. The random survey asked 4,539 English- or Spanish-speaking adults questions relating to food safety, including food-handling habits, perceptions regarding foodborne illness risks, food allergies, and food consumption habits.

Results showed that consumers believe eating at a restaurant puts them at more risk of contracting foodborne illness than eating at home. When asked how common is it for people to get food poisoning from restaurant food, 56 percent said it was more common than from food prepared at home, and 28 percent said it was about the same.

When asked their perceptions on food contamination by microorganisms, 31 percent considered it a serious food safety problem, while 57 percent thought it was somewhat of a food safety problem.

Perceptions of the dangers related to raw foods varied. Sixty-three percent of respondents considered it very likely that raw chicken could make them sick, but only 38 percent thought the same of raw beef. Thirty-four percent said they believe it’s very likely that raw eggs could make them sick. For fruits and vegetables, 43 percent said they were not at all likely to get sick from raw fruits and 41 percent said the same about vegetables.

The message about the importance of hand washing is getting through. Seventy-five percent said they always wash their hands with soap before they prepare food, and 19 percent said they did it most of the time.

Survey Results

With commodities prices expected to rise in 2009, Moody’s Investors Service projected a negative financial outlook for the food industry.

The firm believes the increasing commodities prices will cause profit margins to continue to contract. This is expected to be particularly difficult for meat producers and other areas of the industry where passing on costs to consumers is limited according to pricing power.

For more information, visit Moody’s.

---

Study shows hemp food products do not cause intoxication

New research finds that food and cosmetic products made from hemp do not contain levels high enough to intoxicate or cause failed drug tests.

The study, published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology, is part of a U.S. military initiative to investigate the claims by military personnel who fail marijuana drug tests that they came in contact with Tetra Hydrocannabinol (THC) by ingesting legal hemp products. The vast majority of the tests did not detect any THC, the main psychoactive compound present in marijuana, in hemp food products.

The tests also indicated that THC levels in currently marketed hemp products are significantly lower than in those products available before 2003 and reported in previous studies.

Journal Abstract

Company News

Mary Wagner joins Mars Botanical

Mars Botanical appointed Mary Wagner its general manager and chief technology officer.

In her new position, Wagner will be responsible for managing the Mars Botanical business, including developing a supply chain for high cocoa flavanol cocoa beans, as well as oversight for portions of the Mars, Inc. global cocoa flavanol research and development portfolio. “The opportunity to work on this leading-edge science, bringing some of these learning’s to fruition for consumers while drawing on my previous flavanol experience, is what really energized me about this opportunity,” said Wagner.

Wagner previously served as chief technology and quality officer at E & J Gallo Winery in Modesto, Calif. With more than 25 years of food industry experience in research and development, product innovation, and quality assurance, she is an exciting new addition to the company, said Richard Ware, corporate vice president of technology at Mars, Inc.

“Mary is a well-respected leader in the industry,” he said. “Her broad-based experience, including leadership stints with the Institute of Food Technologists and the National Wine and Grape Initiative, will add significant depth to the work being done by Mars, Incorporated on behalf of consumers.”

Prior to Gallo, Wagner spent four years as chief technology and quality officer at Taco Bell Corp. She has also held positions in research and development management for Gorton’s, General Mills, and Unilever.

Mars Botanical is based in Rockville, M.D.

http://www.marsbotanical.com/.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission will hold full administrative hearings on the 2007 merger between Whole Foods Markets Inc. and Wild Oats Markets Inc.

Fearing the merger will inhibit competition in the natural and organic products industry, the commission launched an antitrust challenge to the $565 million deal. A federal appeals court upheld the challenge.

Wall Street Journal Article

As more food companies focus on creating new products and devising innovative approaches to old ones, Minnesota is becoming a center of change.

A recent feature by the Pioneer Press highlights the increasing influence of Minnesota companies within the food industry. Ted Labuza, a food-science professor at the University of Minnesota, said the companies are focusing on these top trends: food safety, foods that improve health, and foods that fight obesity.

Among the leaders in food safety, Labuza cited Hormel Foods’ use of ultra-high pressure for meat pasteurization. “We’re talking about pressure that would crush a submarine,” he said. The process kills the pathogens while maintaining the integrity of the meat.

On the healthy foods front, Cargill is working with stanol esters, natural compounds that keep cholesterol from being absorbed by the body. “At least 50 clinical studies have shown that using it can reduce your cholesterol 15 to 25 percent,” said Labuza, who speaks from personal experience. “I can testify to that, because it really worked.”

Labuza said Cargill is also one of “about 18 different companies that came up with new and novel ways to make fats without trans fats in them.”

Article

The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) is offering several of its earlier publications (in boxed quantities of 45 to 400+ copies per box) for free (exlcluding a small shipping fee). Each publication will be distributed in full-box quantities only.

Surplus titles include:

• Food Fats and Health
• Grazing on Public Lands
• Water Quality: Agriculture’s Role
• Naturally Occurring Antimicrobials in Food
• Contribution of Animal Products to Healthful Diets
• Preparing U.S. Agriculture for Global Climate Change

A complete list of available publications is available at http://www.cast-science.org/.

A Royal slap
The Prince of Wales spoke out about his belief that growing genetically modified crops could lead to a global environmental disaster.

I can haz rats?
An Indian official believes the key to solving the crisis of rising food prices is by eating rats.

Gold-medal food
Olympic athletes and attendees have wide variety of options when it comes to food in Beijing.

Food pantries feel food crisis pinch
One Chicago-area food pantry talks about current difficulties in providing food to those in need.

Even faster food
New software allows fast food chains like Burger King to serve food up to five seconds quicker than before.

Regulatory News

Three meat companies announce beef recalls

Fears of possible Escherichia coli O157:H7 contamination has led two companies in California and one in Nebraska to recall beef products.

Renna’s Meat Market, Fresno, Calif., recalled approximately 780 pounds of various sizes of ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7. The products, which bear the establishment number “EST. 27365” inside the USDA mark of inspection, were distributed to several restaurants and were available for direct purchase to consumers at retail establishments in the Fresno area between Aug. 5, 2008, and Aug. 9, 2008.

Nebraska Beef Ltd., Omaha, Neb., recalled approximately 1.2 million pounds of primal cuts, subprimal cuts and boxed beef produced on June 17, June 24, and July 8, 2008. The shipping containers and product labels bear the establishment number “EST. 19336” inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as the brand “Coleman Natural.” Since the products were sent to establishments and retail stores nationwide for further processing, the products available for consumer purchase may not show the establishment number.

S&S Foods LLC, Azusa, Calif., recalled approximately 153,630 pounds of frozen ground beef products packaged in 30-pound boxes marked “742798 MFST, 100% GROUND BEEF BULK, 80/20, 1LB. BRICK.” The products bear the establishment number “EST. 20375” inside the USDA mark of inspection with a case code beginning “06238” printed on the side of the box. This product was intended for food service and institutional use and not for direct retail purchase.

For more information, view the FSIS releases at:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_031_2008_Release/index.asp

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_029_2008_Release/index.asp

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/Recall_027_2008_Release/index.asp

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service published its most recent statistical indicators in Agricultural Outlook magazine.

The tables include data on individual commodities, the general economy, agricultural trade, farm income and expenses, farm prices, food prices and expenditures, and other statistical indicators of the food and agriculture system.

All the tables are posted at http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/Agoutlook/AOTables/

IFT & Meeting News

IFT Comments on FDA’s Food Protection Plan

On July 31, IFT submitted comments on the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Protection Plan. The comments were developed through a working group of several members.

The comments made a number of recommendations, addressing corporate responsibility for food safety management; HACCP and HACCP prerequisite programs; outreach and education on implementation of food safety management systems; collaboration with other agencies, academia and industry; country-specific information on food safety programs; scientifically-based third party audits; further development of international food safety programs; food defense along with food safety, as integral and integrated components of food protection; among other topics.

Download Comments (pdf)

IFT became a member of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Convention for the period of 2005 – 2010. The convention forum is held once every five years. USP is an official public standards setting authority for all prescription and over–the–counter medicines and other health care products manufactured or sold in the United States. USP also sets widely recognized standards for dietary supplements and food ingredients, which are published in the widely recognized Food Chemical Codex (FCC) reference. USP’s standards are recognized and used in more than 130 countries around the globe.

For more information visit http://www.usp.org/aboutUSP/.

Wellness 09 – At the Forefront of Food and Health
March 25-26, 2009
Chicago, Illinois

Don’t miss your chance to help shape the content for this conference, identify new marketplace opportunities, and share best practices at this unique event designed for anyone involved in developing healthful food products. IFT invites you to submit a proposal and contribute to the exchange of information at Wellness 09. The deadline for submissions is Friday, August 15, 2008, at 4:00 p.m. Central Time.

Designed for R&D professionals, brand and marketing managers, new business developers, purchasing directors, regulatory managers and consultants, this event will help attendees explore “track” areas related to these consumer needs: Consumer Lifestyles & Demographics, Health Issues, Optimization & Performance. As more and more Americans amend their diets to improve health, food industry professionals must keep current with the issues and new technologies that are shaping the landscape of the wellness marketplace. For more information visit, ift.org/ftpc.

Register for webcasts to keep current and leverage End-of-Summer discount.

Minimally Processed Foods and Their Safety
August 25, 2008, 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. CST

While minimally processed foods satisfy the increasing market demands for foods with fewer preservatives, higher nutritive value, and fresh sensory attributes, there is a greater food safety risk if they are improperly handled. This webcast explores innovative preventative solutions to food-borne diseases from the perspectives of the producer, the handler, the consumer, the food preparer, and the food researcher.

Are you up-to-date on the safety of minimally processed foods and the challenges that organizations face in producing them? Take this opportunity to hear what the experts are saying about what’s driving demand for these products.

Section 912: Potential Threat to Food Innovation
September 24, 2008, – 12:00 – 1:30 pm., CST

Is Section 912 a potential threat to food innovation? Tucked into a law recently passed by Congress is a little known prohibition that represents a shift in the dividing line between foods and drugs, and threatens to present significant hurdles for anyone involved in product development. This webcast will offer you a detailed introduction to the Section 912 prohibition, opportunities to consider the issues that it raises, and insights on how to incorporate a Section 912 analysis into product development planning.

The provision, known as Section 912, is now in effect and prohibits the addition to a food of an approved drug. It also prohibits the addition of a drug for which substantial clinical trials have been executed and made public.

Visit ift.org/knowledge for more information on these webcasts as well as end-of-summer discounted pricing!

When registering, please enter this code 0808EM1239.

Won’t you share your thoughts about IFT courses, webcasts and events with us so that we can offer educational programming that continues to meet your needs? Complete a short online survey by Friday, August 20 at 12:00 p.m. Central Time. Your input is of course kept confidential, but if you opt to share your name with us, we’ll enter you in a raffle to win free or discounted registration to Wellness 09 ($995 value), a live webcast of your choice ($195 value), a short course ($365 value), or another educational offering. Winners will be announced by August 31, 2008 in this newsletter.

Important Notice for FDA News Digest Subscribers

The Aug. 18 issue of FDA News Digest will be our last in the current format. Because the GovDelivery subscription management system allows you to subscribe only to information items that interest you (such as FDA news, recall notices, consumer features, etc.), we are discontinuing the News Digest.

To learn more and to see the full listing of information available from FDA by e-mail, go to http://www.fda.gov/emaillist.html.

August 11, 2008

_____________________________________

IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE

» News

– Flu Vaccines Approved for 2008-2009 Season

–  ‘FDA Patient Safety News’ Video, Podcast Available

» Safety Alerts/Recalls

» Consumer Health Information

_____________________________________________

SAFETY ALERTS/RECALLS

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Featured this Week …
Here’s this week’s wrap-up of key industry news from the editors of MEAT&POULTRY. Check the News Archive for stories from the past 90 days.
· M&P EXCLUSIVE REPORT: Elaborating on irradiation
· Hormel lowers outlook
· Meat, poultry leaders blast E.P.A. on ethanol stand
· McDonald’s comp sales rise 8% in July
· Sara Lee meat sales up for fourth quarter, year
· Distribution of ground turkey increasing
· Leave our burgers alone, s’il vous plait
· Seaboard’s earnings lower from volatile grain markets
· E.P.A. leaves fuels mandate unchanged
· Cagle’s records loss due to high feed costs
· J.O.Y. Foods, Pilgrim’s Pride form j.v. for McDonald’s
· U.S. pork exports to Mexico rebounding
· New beef cuts created for Japan boost U.S. exports
· David Theno retiring from Jack in the Box
· Consumers ‘OK’ with grass-fed beef: study
· After losing Tyson contract, poultry plant closing
· U.S. beef exports gain ground
· Aussie lamb flock shrinking in size
· McGovern named Catelli Brothers’ retail sales manager

More News

Bad – but not that bad
The South’s heat wave is killing chickens by the hundreds but not the millions.

Animal welfare from the middle
Revisions to a Canadian animal-welfare law show a different way to control abuse.

Leave our burgers alone, s’il vous plait
Chefs in Paris have lately become fascinated by the possibilities offered by the hamburger.

· U.S. pork exports to Mexico rebounding
· New beef cuts created for Japan boost U.S. exports
· U.S. beef exports gain ground
· Aussie lamb flock shrinking in size
· Canada chilly on COOL rule

Other national and international news …
Industry headlines from MEATPOULTRY.com’s worldwide news source, Lexis-Nexis:

· Beef in U.S. shipment violates Japanese trade accord
· U.S.D.A. finds fuel prices drive increase in U.S. farm costs
· Russia boosts meat imports 11.9%
· California company recalls frozen ground beef
· Locally produced meats featured at restaurants
· Denmark calling for tougher Salmonella measures
· Swine fever stemmed in Armenia
· Australian beef producers tweak feeding regimen to temper seasonality
· Wampler’s Farm Sausage considering relocation to offset water costs
· Big Mac celebrates 40^th McAnniversary
· Under-age workers discovered at Agriprocessors plant
· Chicken litter used to power gas engines at biofuel plant in China
· Food safety is high priority among Utah residents: Survey
· Ground pork from culled pigs on its way to Canadian food banks
· Meat and refrigeration workshop offered by KSU
· South Koreans plan anti-beef protests during Bush visit
· Goldman Sachs pays $300 million for poultry farms
· Supply of live chickens in China to double

More News

From MEAT&POULTRY …

Ragin’ Cajuns
Bayou processor has developed a tourist attraction-like following