It’s time to start thinking about New Year’s resolutions! According to a recent national survey by the MorningStar Farms brand, among people who have made resolutions in the past, nine in 10 people have set health-related goals. Such goals include losing weight (66 percent) eating less junk food (47 percent) and consuming fewer calories (36 percent). However, when it comes to staying on-track and keeping those resolutions – health and otherwise – the majority of those surveyed... ...Read more »

Scientists at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) and collaborators from other institutions have identified a natural substance in dairy fat that may substantially reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. The compound, trans-palmitoleic acid, is a fatty acid found in milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter. It is not produced by the body and so only comes from the diet.Researchers explain that trans-palmitoleic acid may underlie evidence in recent years that diets rich in dairy foods are linked to lower... ...Read more »

The Victorian Director of Liquor Licensing, Mark Brennan, has announced that Victorian liquor license holders will be able to extend their hours for consumption of alcohol on premises this New Year’s Eve. “The Director of Liquor Licensing, after consultation with Victoria Police, has given an automatic extension of on-premises consumption to all holders of a general licence, full club licence, on-premises licence or BYO permit on 1 January 2011 up to 1.00am,” said Brennan. “In... ...Read more »

Researchers at King’s College London and the University of East Anglia have discovered that women who consume a diet high in allium vegetables, such as garlic, onions and leeks, have lower levels of hip osteoarthritis.The findings, published in the BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders journal, not only highlight the possible effects of diet in protecting against osteoarthritis, but also show the potential for using compounds found in garlic to develop treatments for the condition. A relationship between... ...Read more »

The disastrous floods in Queensland may cause up to $403m in damage to crops, according to the latest forecasts.  This could cause fruit and vegetable prices to rise by up to 50 per cent. Affected farmers report that both summer and winter crops have been destroyed, with many hectares of freshly planted grain, vegetable and fruit crops under water. The damage is expected to increase the cost of groceries such as melons, tomatoes, mangoes, and bananas from today. Farming lobby group AgForce estimates... ...Read more »

As Woolworth’s foray into the hardware sector draws nearer, and US giant Costco’s second Australian store approaches, new battle lines are being drawn across the big box retailing sector, with business information analysts IBISWorld predicting we will have more than 300 retail superstores by 2015, generating $24 billion a year. The new generation of retail superstores span hardware, homewares, groceries, cosmetics, automotive goods, apparel and more, and with Woolworths’ big box... ...Read more »

In a collaborative effort involving 74 researchers from 38 research institutes, scientists have produced the full genome of a wild strawberry plant. The woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) is closely related to garden-variety cultivated strawberry. The fruit of this berry contains large amounts of anti-oxidants (mainly tannins, the substances that give wine their astringency), as well as vitamins A, C and B12 and minerals – potassium, calcium and magnesium. In addition, the strawberry fruit... ...Read more »

A West Australian organic farmer is in limbo, awaiting state government test results and facing genetic manipulation giant Monsanto’s legal wrath. Steve Marsh’s organic farm has been decertified over GM canola contamination from a neighbour’s farm.Monsanto revealed today that it would give legal support to the GM grower if Mr Marsh sought redress for his losses through the courts. “For years we called for Farmer Protection laws because GM contamination was inevitable once... ...Read more »

Drinkers are in the pink when it comes to choosing a tipple, latest Waitrose data shows.Rosé-coloured wine, liqueurs and even port are all the rage in the UK this festive season – despite the chilly weather. Pink drinks are no longer just for hot summer days as rosé wine and colourful cocktails are increasingly drunk at home during the winter, according to Waitrose. Sales of rosé wine at the supermarket have surged 20% so far this year compared to the same period of 2009. Waitrose Wine... ...Read more »

The Chicken Meat Industry Act 1977 will expire at the end of the year, Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman announced today. The decision follows a recent inquiry by the Economic Regulation Authority (ERA) which recommended the Act should not be continued. The Act requires that its effectiveness is reviewed every five years, and should only be continued if its continuation can be justified. The Act was introduced in 1977 as a transitional measure to improve the stability of a fledgling chicken... ...Read more »