| FDA issues ANPRM to revise mandatory nutrients
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) in the Federal Register, Docket No. 2006N-0168, titled Food Labeling: Revision of Reference Values and Mandatory Nutrients. The ANPRM requests comments on what new reference values the agency should use to calculate the percent daily value (DV) in the Nutrition Facts and Supplement Facts labels and what factors the agency should consider in establishing such new reference values. In addition, FDA requests comments on whether it should require that certain nutrients be added or removed from the Nutrition Facts and Supplemental Facts labels. Current rules concerning DV have been in effect since 1993. Those rules were developed on diet and health information that was current at the time.
Rather than sweating glycemic index, stick to the basics
If you pick up a box of Lean Cuisine Chicken Pomodoro in Australia, you'll find a small symbol on the label that lists the product's glycemic index in addition to the usual facts about calories, carbohydrates, fat, protein and sodium. About 150 other products carry the symbol, too. Developed nearly 30 years ago at the University of Toronto, the glycemic index, or GI, is becoming part of the nutritional landscape Down Under. And it's attracted attention in the U.S. and Canada, too. The GI tries to gauge how much your blood sugar is likely to rise after eating a particular food. The higher the number, the more likely your blood sugar will be elevated after eating – something people need to avoid. Foods with scores of 70 to 100 are considered high-glycemic; 55 and lower are low-glycemic.
If a food's nutrition label says no cholesterol, then it's "heart ...
Reality: Not always. Nutrition labels are helpful when choosing heart-healthy foods, but look at them closely, advises the American Heart Association. Many "low-cholesterol" foods contain high levels of saturated and/or trans fat, both of which contribute to high blood cholesterol. Even "low-fat" foods may have a higher fat content than expected. Look at the amount of saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol and total calories per serving (and check the serving size -- often, it's smaller than you'd think). The first ingredient is the most important -- fats and oils should be listed low. .
Your Steak, Sir — Medium, Rare or Cloned?
The FDA does not require labeling if there [are] no food safety issues," said Dr. Stephen Sundlof, director of the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, at a January press conference. That's where Dr. Patrick Cunningham, the former director of the Animal Production and Health Division of the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization, and Ireland's current chief scientific advisor, comes in. Cunningham's 12-year-old company, IdentiGEN, specializes in DNA tracing of meat products a process that can save valuable time during industry recalls, like the massive one on Sunday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) involving 143 million lbs. of raw and frozen beef. Currently, IdentiGEN is operating in Europe, where the mad cow crisis in the mid-'90s led to the establishment of a comprehensive system of traceability.
US Sabotages Global Chance for Optimum Health When World Food Body ...
Dr. Barbara Schneeman, head of the FDA Department of Supplements and Nutrition, stunned members of Codex Alimentarius, the UN's international commission on food standards, today by demonstrating US opposition is to health and consumer protection. This move, in the context of Codex Alimentarius' first pro-health initiative, simultaneously removed optimal health as a Codex goal and sought to protect advertisement of junk food to children. The World Health Organization explicitly opposes advertising which preys on children at the expense of their present and future health. Ottawa, Canada (PRWEB) May 4, 2006 -- The FDA's Barbara Schneeman, PhD, US delegate to the 31st meeting of the CCFL, contined theUS opposition to optimal health and nutrition despite strong support for world health by the World Health Organization (WHO) and most member nations at the annual meeting of Codex Alimentarius Committee on Food Labeling (CCFL, 5/1/06).
How to Be Heart Smart at the Supermarket
SUNDAY, Feb. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Taking the time to investigate food labels not only can improve your heart health, but also your overall wellness. "Reading the labels is a great way to be guided toward healthier choices for your heart, and for general reduction of all chronic diseases today," Cathy Fitzgerald, registered dietitian with MFit, the University of Michigan Health System's health promotion division, said in a prepared statement. "So think about using the front of the package as well as the nutrition facts on the back when you are out shopping." Start by educating yourself on what food label language truly means. Fitzgerald offered these tips: The claim, "May reduce the risk of heart disease." A company can only put this statement on a food if scientific evidence exists that the U.S.
Bourbon Street 'closing' is a show in itself
We should take a little time to explain our "traditions" to them when they have a puzzled look or make erroneous statements or assumptions. The traditional police "closing" of Bourbon St. is not a show of force, but a reminder that Mardi Gras ends when Ash Wednesday begins. And,finally, I certainly remember when our police force were not so polite in their tactics when attempting the shutdown. .
|
