Scientists have discovered a new possible explanation for why people who eat more fruit and vegetables may gain protection against the spread of cancers, potentially leading to the creation of improved functional foods. They have found that a fragment released from pectin, found in all fruits and vegetables, binds to and is believed to inhibit galectin 3 (Gal3), a protein that plays a role in all stages of cancer progression. “Most claims for the anticancer effects of foods are based on population... ...Read more »
Leading Australian obesity experts have called on Cricket Australia to end its sponsorship arrangements with KFC, claiming its promotional support for a fast food giant is unhelpful at a time when childhood obesity is considered a major concern.The call was made in a letter published yesterday in the Medical Journal of Australia (MJA) by the directors of Sydney University’s Institute of Nutrition Obesity and Exercise. Professors Stephen Colagiuri and Ian Caterson said they were alarmed during... ...Read more »
The release of the Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey last Friday provided some interesting findings for food retailers and manufacturers beyond the discovery that 23% of 2-16 year-old children are overweight or obese; with required dietary changes providing opportunities for many in the food industry. Milk-related products and cereals and cereal products (cakes, biscuits, pastries etc.) were the greatest contributors to energy intake, according to the survey - the first of its kind to involve... ...Read more »
The Australian National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey has found that 72 per cent of 2-16 year old children were of a healthy weight, but 17 per cent were overweight, 6 per cent obese and 5 per cent underweight.The results of the 2007 survey were released today by the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, Senator Jan McLucas; the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke; and the Chief Executive of the Australian Food and Grocery... ...Read more »
Fibre, green tea extract and soy protein are among the ingredients food and beverage manufacturers are turning towards to help lighten the growing pressures of the global obesity epidemic, according to Euromonitor International’s new report “Weight Management Ingredients in Foods and Beverages“. As consumers increasingly turn to healthier lifestyle choices and governments push to address and create a solution for rising obesity rates, manufacturers are looking towards ingredients... ...Read more »
All school pupils in grades one to three (P1 - P3) in Scotland are to be entitled to free school meals following successful pilot schemes. The move is designed to improve the nutritious content of foods eaten by young children. Plans for a national roll out were announced overnight after pilot schemes ran across five local authorities and 35,000 children between October 2007 and June 2008. Uptake of meals among these students rose from 53 per cent to 75 per cent. Within the target group of pupils... ...Read more »
French Health Minister, Roselyne Bachelot, has rejected calls for a higher tax on foods considered to be unhealthy. A French parliamentary report released on Tuesday outlined 70 proposals for tackling obesity, including a controversial “junk food tax” that would increase the tax applied to certain food products. It would result in high fat, high sugar and high salt foods commanding a VAT (Value Added Tax) of almost 20 per cent - well above the current 5.5 per cent level. Ms Bachelot cited... ...Read more »
Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger yesterday signed new legislation making California the first American state to have its restaurant chains with 20 or more locations statewide post calorie information on menus and indoor menu boards for consumers. Similar legislation was introduced earlier this year in New York City. “This legislation will help Californians make more informed, healthier choices by making calorie information easily accessible at thousands of restaurants throughout our... ...Read more »
Retailers Woolworths, Coles, and Franklins have today joined the Australian Food and Grocery Council in a push toward the Daily Intake Guide, with a plan to adopt the labelling system on private label products. The Daily Intake Guide is a front-of-pack food labelling system developed in consultation with dietitians and health experts to assist consumers in understanding what’s in a serve of a particular product and how it contributes to their daily diet. Australian National Retailers Association... ...Read more »
The annual Food and Health Survey, commissioned by the International Food Information Council Foundation (IFIC), has identified current American consumer attitudes toward food, health and nutrition. Health/Diet Perception of health being “excellent” or “very good” has risen amongst consumers to 39 per cent from 33 per cent in 2006, while satisfaction with health has remained constant at around 59 per cent. Despite the increase in health satisfaction, consumers are more concerned... ...Read more »