A new study from Stanford University’s School of Medicine, in the US, has found perinatal and pregnant women who consume a healthy diet stand a lesser risk of having a baby with birth defects. In the study, published in Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, women who ate a healthier diet before and during pregnancy gave birth to fewer infants with malformations of the brain and spinal cord, or orofacial clefts, such as cleft lip and cleft palate. The study’s author Suzan Carmichael... ...Read more »

Australia’s regulatory agency for medical drugs, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) today warned health professionals and consumers against topiramate, an anti-epilepsy drug, being used for weight loss programs. In a statement released today, the TGA said it had received a report of a patient who was prescribed topiramate to assist with weight loss. Soon after consuming the product topiramate, the patient was diagnosed with acute closed angle glaucoma. Glaucoma is a serious eye disorder... ...Read more »

In an interesting development today, fast food chain Hungry Jack’s announced that it would be offering broccoli alongside its burgers. Aaron McKie, CEO of Hungry Jack’s said the broccoli would be served as part of a vegetable medley comprising carrot, celery and capsicum sticks, hand-cut and served fresh in a cup supplying a full serve of vegetables. It will be accompanied by an optional hommus dip in a mini tub. “Salad Stix can only be described as a nutritional goldmine,” Mr McKie said.... ...Read more »

Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) recently launched the Healthy Eating Plate, a visual guide that provides a blueprint for eating a healthy meal. Its creators claim the Healthy Eating Plate provides a better way of understanding nutrition and addresses shortcomings in the US government’s MyPlate icon, which was introduced in June 2011 to replace the old Food Pyramid. HSPH made the following criticisms of the US government’s MyPlate guide:  MyPlate does not tell consumers that whole grains... ...Read more »

Health researchers at Deakin University, Victoria, have announced findings that suggest a poor diet may be a risk factor for mental health problems during adolescence. The findings, published this week in the journal PLoS One, suggest diet quality can be used to predict mental health in adolescents over time.  For the study, the researchers analysed data collected from over 3000 Australian adolescents in 2005 and again in 2007. Participants filled in detailed questionnaires about their normal diets... ...Read more »

The National Heart Foundation of Australia today announced it will be ending its Tick licensing program in the takeaway food environment. Heart Foundation CEO Dr Lyn Roberts said, “We knew working in this area would be a bold move – and it was – but our work behind the scenes has seen massive improvements across the food supply chain, including healthier oils now being used in many takeaway and catering food outlets. “This even led to a change in the type of canola grown by Australian... ...Read more »

Boost Juice Bars is contemplating a public float in Australia, although it remains nothing more than a possibility at this stage. The largest smoothie chain in the country has been one of the biggest retail success stories of the past decade and Director and Founder Janine Allis has said that they are looking at a range of opportunities, including a listing on the ASX. ”We’ve seriously thought about floating. The likelihood is probably quite slim but you have to consider this for your... ...Read more »

Just seeing a salad on the menu can push some consumers to make a less healthy meal choice, new research has discovered. It’s an effect called “vicarious goal fulfillment”, in which a person can feel a goal has been met if they have taken some small action, like considering the salad without ordering it, said Gavan Fitzsimons – Professor of Marketing and Psychology at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business, and leader of the research. In a lab experiment, participants... ...Read more »

Dymocks, Australia’s second largest bookseller, has acquired an 80% stake in the Australian owned and operated Healthy Habits sandwich bar franchise as they seek to diversify their business. Katherine Sampson, the founder of the Healthy Habits franchise, retains a 20% equity holding in the company and will remain as Managing Director of the company – which was recently ranked as the eighth fastest growing franchise in Australia by BRW. Healthy Habits, which now has 30 stores in operation,... ...Read more »

Scientists, educators and marketing experts gathered this week to discuss how consumers influence and receive food-health and food-safety messages at the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) Annual Meeting and Food Expo in New Orleans. The health and wellness trend has been remarkably strong over the past couple of years and, as consumer demand for ‘better for you’ products escalates, the knowledge of how to communicate the healthy food message becomes pivotal. Nancy Childs, PhD, Professor... ...Read more »