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Vitamin B12, cognitive function and milk
Pathogenicity of Chinese mitten crabs found in the River Thames
Preserving probiotic activity in the gut
Red meat consumption linked to AMD blindness
Weight loss exercise campaigns may make people eat more!
Impact of coffee on gut microbiota
Cinnamon may improve blood sugar levels
Product recalls and alerts
Food safety
Legislation headlines
Other headlines (04/03/09)

Vitamin B12, cognitive function and milk

Recent studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and summarised in the Daily Telegraph indicate that increasing intake of vitamin B12 could help slow cognitive decline and that vitamin B12 uptake in the body from milk is higher than from other sources. 

Previous studies have found that low concentrations of vitamin B12 may be associated with a number of neurological disorders including memory impairment, dementia, depression, brain atrophy, and other degenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's Disease, which alone affects 150,000 new patients a year in the UK.  Recent studies have indicated that low or borderline vitamin B12 concentrations in the blood are highly prevalent in the elderly.  It is thought that elderly patients with low levels of vitamin B12 suffer twice as much brain shrinkage as those with higher levels.   Professor David Smith and his colleagues state that the causes of vitamin B12 deficiency in the elderly have been thought to include pernicious anaemia and poor absorption from food.  These causes however account for less than half of the low concentrations. It has previously been thought that lack of B12 in the diet was rare and it was often ignored as a cause of deficiency, but the authors state that the reference intakes were defined as the amount required to prevent the overt vitamin B12 deficiency that causes megaloblastic anaemia.  There are a number of symptoms which may be associated with low to normal concentrations of vitamin B12 and therefore the first study aimed to establish if dietary interventions could increase B12 levels in this low to normal range. 

Smith et al. based their first paper on a cross sectional population based study of nearly 6,000 subjects in two age groups 47-49 and 71-74.  The study, in two periods approximately 6 years apart, was conducted using a food frequency questionnaire and measurements of vitamin B12 concentrations in the blood.  Participants had a brief medical examination and provided information on diet and lifestyle.  Statistical analysis was performed to remove confounding factors including smoking, alcohol intake, sex, age and overall energy intake, etc.   

The researchers found a significant association between total dietary intake of B12 and B12 concentrations in the blood.  In particular the study found blood B12 concentration was related more strongly to the vitamin B12 intake from dairy products especially from milk and fish but significantly not from meat and eggs.  It was found that this appeared to be true in older subjects also, who can have a lower absorption of vitamin B12 from food.  Professor Smith and colleagues state that despite actually having a lower vitamin B12 concentration than meat, B12 from milk was absorbed more readily in the body. He is quoted as saying that in meat B12 can be tightly bound to protein and that this bond has to be broken before the body can use it.  The elderly may have lower levels of acid in the stomach and so it is harder to get the B12 from some foods. 

In another study also published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Professor Smith and colleagues sought to ascertain if cognitive function in the elderly was affected at concentrations of vitamin B12 above those which would be considered deficient but below those considered normal.   The team discovered that those in the lower third of the normal range had twice as much brain loss as those with higher concentrations.  Commenting on the work in the Daily Telegraph, Smith said that drinking just two glasses of milk a day would be enough to increase vitamin B12 to an adequate level.  It could take someone who has marginal levels into the safe range, he said.  Overall, it was concluded that it would be a good idea to encourage the elderly to maintain a good rather than only satisfactory vitamin B12 level via the diet.  Also, while voluntary fortification of food with vitamin B12 should be encouraged there is not yet convincing evidence to recommend mandatory fortification. 

Related RSSL services: Vitamin Analysis 

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Pathogenicity of Chinese mitten crabs found in the River Thames

A large number of Chinese mitten crabs have been found in the River Thames, UK and these are beginning to cause damage to the riverbeds and threaten the ecosystem.   Several local authorities have considered commercial exploitation of these crabs as they are considered a rare delicacy in China and other parts of Asia.  A study published in the Journal of Food Protection has investigated the suitability of the Chinese mitten crab fishery and examined them for the human pathogenic bacterium Vibrio parahaemolyticus which is often associated with seaborne gastroenteritis. 

Vibrio parahaemolyticus can be found in seawater, bivalve molluscs and crustaceans.  It is a non sucrose fermenting bacterium found in seawater temperatures of >20^oC which has caused infections in subtropical areas of the United States and Southeast Asia.  The study states that pathogenicity is associated with thermostable direct hemolysin, encoded by the tdh and trh genes.  No legislative requirements have been set by the European Commission's Regulation 2073/2005/EC on microbiological criteria for foods for Vibrio spp, but the authors of the study, Sariqa Wagley et al. report that nearly 40% of detentions and rejections of seafood consignments entering EU Member States is because of the presence of Vibrio spp.  Recent studies between 2002 and 2006 have found that the bacterium can be isolated from shellfish although there is no data on V. parahaemolyticus for the UK.  The National Shellfish Sanitisation Program has set guidelines for harvested oysters at 5,000 most probable number (MPN)/g although there have been cases of illness where the levels were 1,500 times lower than this. 

The study states that the Chinese mitten crab probably came to the UK in ship ballast water and they can be found not only in the Thames but also in the Teign and Tyne, where they have also been reported to have caused damage to the riverbanks.  The researchers studied crabs and water samples on an ad hoc basis from various points in the River Thames during the period of 2003 to 2006.  The samples were tested within 24hrs of collection for total and pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus by three different methods: direct enumeration on tryptone citrate bile sucrose (TCBS) agar, a three by three MPN technique, and direct enumeration on a low nutrient salt medium with nucleic acid hybridisation with an alkaline phosphatase-labelled probe.  Species markers of toxR, tlh and the pathogenicity genes of tdh and trh were measured using PCR and nucleic acid hybridization.  To evaluate genetic diversity amongst V. parahaemolyticus strains pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used.  PFGE data was also used to assess the relationship between these strains and those of known human pathogenic significance. 

Wagley et al state that V. parahaemolyticus phenotypes were found all in samples, irrespective of water temperature or season.  Levels of V. parahaemolyticus were high compared to other shellfish caught around the UK.  The authors do state however that one limitation of the study was that the crabs were only sampled from tidal stretches of the Thames.   The study sought to obtain counts of V. parahaemolyticus by three different methods and found that there was no significant difference in the counts by the methods used.  A seasonal relationship was shown by all methods used, with counts being higher in August and lower in March across the sample years, this being consistent with previous studies indicating a link to high water temperature.  It was noted that the mid-range counts were much higher than found in previous studies. 

Attempts to detect V. parahaemolyticus in water samples also revealed no significant differences between the methods used and that the levels of V. parahaemolyticus in water samples were consistently 5 or more orders of magnitude lower than in the crab samples.  The authors indicate that the high levels in the crab compared to that in water maybe due to V. parahaemolyticus selectively colonising the hepatopancreas of the crabs by preferential adhesions in the gut of the crab although further research would be required to confirm if this was the case.  The study states that 11 different strains of the V. parahaemolyticus were identified the most frequent being O11:KUT at 43%.  Whilst a number of strains are reported to have caused infection, it is pointed out that since 1996 infectious outbreaks attributed to O3:K6 have dominated.  The pathogenicity marker genes tdh and trh genes were detected in only one crab sample, and at a low level.  However, the authors indicated that due to the high median levels of V. parahaemolyticus discovered and the lack of information about the distribution of strains around the UK environment, they considered that consumption of Chinese mitten crabs harvested from the Thames without thorough cooking would pose a public health risk.   

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Preserving probiotic activity in the gut

Probiotic food products have become increasingly popular in recent years, as they are claimed to promote a healthy gut and aid in digestion.  The number of products available with probiotic activity has grown with this demand, and with this, new ways to improve the shelf life of the probiotics and enhance their activity are being sought by companies.

Probiotics are defined as live organisms which can confer health benefits when consumed in adequate amounts.  In order to be effective, sufficient numbers of live probiotic bacteria need to survive the harsh conditions in the gastrointestinal tract. Microencapsulation has already been explored as a means of achieving this with varying degrees of success. With this in mind, a research team from Victoria University in Australia investigated a new method of encapsulating 8 strains of probiotic bacteria, using a layer of alginate alone (ALG), or a layer of alginate followed by an extra coating of palm oil and poly-L-lysine (POPL). The bacteria used were Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium longum, L. salivarius, L. plantarum, L. acidophilus, L. paracasei, and B. lactis types Bl-O4 and Bi-07.  Electron microscopy was used to measure the size of the microcapsules and determine their surface texture. To simulate conditions in the gastrointestinal tract, the encapsulated bacteria (both ALG and POPL) were then inoculated into a broth of acidic pH (2.0) for 2 hours and their viability assessed after this time.  In addition, the bile salts oxgall and taurocholic acid were included in the broth to test the bile tolerance of the encapsulated bacteria.

To assess the porosity and the ability of the microcapsule to hold small molecules in an aqueous environment a water-soluble fluorescent dye, 6-carboxyflourescin (6 FAM), was encapsulated and its release was monitored using a UV spectrophotometer. The findings suggested that POPL microcapsules were less porous and held 52.2% more fluorescent dye over a 6-wk storage period than the ALG microcapsules.

Results also showed that coating the microcapsules with POPL increased their size by an average of 3 μm and also gave them a much smoother, less porous surface texture. The addition of POPL to the encapsulation mixture improved the average viability of the probiotic bacteria by 1 log CFU/ml when compared to those that were coated with alginate alone.  However, when exposed to the bile salts, very similar plate counts were seen for ALG and POPL, suggesting that the POPL layer would be broken down by the bile salts found in the gastrointestinal tract. This discovery might mean that bile salts could be used as an effective means of releasing probiotics lower down the intestinal tract.

The authors concluded that the results of the study were promising and that microencapsulation of probiotics could well improve their shelf-life and activity in the body. However, they said further work needed to be done involving human trials in order to draw any definitive conclusions. (From NutraIngredients.com (27/02/09) and Journal of Food Science, online ahead of print, doi: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2008.01030.x )

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Red meat consumption linked to AMD blindness

In 2007, a major report by the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) suggested the consumption of  red meat might increase the risk of getting certain types of cancer.  Now there is more bad news for the meat industry with the discovery by a research team at the University of Melbourne, Australia, that too much red meat might also be associated with a type of blindness.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease associated with ageing that causes degeneration of the macula, in the central area of the retina, and gradually destroys sharp central vision.  According to the US National Eye Institute, AMD is the leading cause of vision loss in Americans aged 60 years or older.

Following the WCFR report on diet and cancer, Elaine Chong and colleagues from the Centre for Eye Research Australia, at the Melbourne University used food frequency questionnaires to evaluate the association, if any, between red meat and chicken meat intake and AMD in a cohort of 6,734 subjects aged 58-69 years, in 1990-1994 in Melbourne. In 2003 - 2006, participants were followed up with bilateral digital macular photographs, which were taken and scrutinised for signs of AMD. The results showed that there were 1,757 cases of AMD of which 1,680 were early AMD and  77 were late AMD. After adjustment for confounders including age and smoking habit, a higher red meat intake (10 or more times/week) was associated with a 47% increased risk of developing AMD when compared with a red meat intake of 5 or less times per week. In contrast, consumption of chicken meat 3.5 or more times/week, compared with 1.5 times/week, was linked to a 57% decrease in risk of developing late stage AMD. In their summary the authors say that different meats may differently affect AMD risk, and offer a target for lifestyle modification. (Summary in FoodNavigator.com; full text in American Journal of Epidemiology, online ahead of print, doi:10.1093/aje/kwn393).

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Weight loss exercise campaigns may make people eat more!

Dolores Albarracin, professor of psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has published a number of papers which investigated ways of persuading people to engage in socially beneficial behaviours. In an article in Obesity, she and her colleagues have turned their attention to the effectiveness of weight loss campaigns, which urge people to take more exercise.

In particular, Albarracin's team examined potential automatic facilitation of eating immediately after viewing exercise messages, in the absence of actual exercise. In one experiment, people who viewed posters suggesting they should join a gym or take a walk, ate about 30% more food than a control group who viewed similarly designed posters suggesting they make friends or be in a group. Subliminally delivered words about being active, which were delivered to study participants while carrying out a task on a computer, had a similar effect, with those exposed to subliminal food words eating up to 20% more food than those exposed to neutral words.

Commenting on the work, Professor Albarracin said that general messages can prompt people to behave in a variety of ways, some of which may have negative consequences. She also pointed out that people designing public health campaigns usually try and change one behaviour at a time, but that they should be aware that whatever message they communicate would be likely to influence not only the behaviour they were targeting, but other behaviours that might be somewhat remotely linked.  Such inadvertent effects may explain the limited efficacy of exercise-promotion programmes for weight loss, particularly when systematic dietary guidelines are absent.  (From summary in Eurekalert.org and the authors' summary in Albarracin et al. Obesity, online 26/02/09, doi: 10.1038/oby.2009.16).

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Impact of coffee on gut microbiota

A team of scientists from the Nestle Research Centre in Switzerland have investigated what effect the moderate consumption of an instant coffee product had on the bacterial composition and metabolic activity of the human intestinal microbiota. 

In their introduction, Muriel Jaquet and her co-authors outline research which has illustrated how the gut microbial community can affect a wide range of biological processes including gut maturation and angiogenesis, development of innate immunity, vitamin production, biotransformation of endogenous and exogenous compounds, dietary energy harvest and the regulation of host fat storage. Furthermore, the conversion of dietary components by intestinal bacteria can give rise to a huge range of compounds which can have beneficial or adverse consequences for human health. Coffee is one of the most popular beverages worldwide, appreciated for its taste and stimulatory properties but not necessarily regarded as having any nutritional value. Nevertheless, coffee beverages do contain significant amounts of soluble fibre (mainly galactomannans and arabinogalactan-proteins) and phenolic compounds (chlorogenic acids) which are utilised by gut microorganisms.

In the present study 16 healthy adult volunteers were recruited. Three months prior to the start of the study checks were made to ensure that they were not taking antibiotics, laxatives or any other gastrointestinal medications.  Three weeks before the study, no consumption of yoghurt or products containing bifidobacteria, lactobacilli or prebiotics containing oligosaccharides was allowed.   Also, during this time there was a pre-treatment period in which study participants consumed a coffee test product at the rate of  3 cups/day. During the three week experiment, no coffee product other than the test coffee was allowed, of which the volunteers drank 3 cups/day for 3 weeks. The test coffee comprised sachets containing 3.4 g of instant coffee powder made from the water co-extraction of green and roasted coffee beans.  Faecal samples were collected at the start and end of the study.  The impact of the ingestion of the coffee product on the intestinal bacteria as well as quantification of specific bacterial groups was assessed using nucleic acid-based methods. The following bacteria were particularly targeted: Clostridium/Eubacterium, Bacteriodes/Prevotella, Bifidobacterium, Enterobacteriaceae, and Lactobacillus/Enterococcus.

Although the fecal profiles of the dominant microorganisms were not significantly affected by the coffee consumption, the population of Bifidobacteria increased after the 3-week test period. In some subjects, this increase was accompanied by an increase in the metabolic activity of the Bifidobacteria, as indicated by their rRNA (ribosomal RNA). The ribosome-per-cell ratio is roughly proportional to the growth rate of bacteria, which can be used as an indicator of metabolic activity. Volunteers with relatively low numbers of Bifidobacteria in their faeces at the start of the study, displayed the largest increases on consumption of coffee.  This may have implications for people with low bifidobacterial numbers in the gut, such as the elderly or those on antibiotic therapy, since Bifidobacteria are thought to have particular health benefits.

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Cinnamon may improve blood sugar levels

Consumption of 3 grams of cinnamon a day may improve people's ability to control their blood glucose levels, Scandinavian scientists have reported.  The small study involved a group of 15 people (9 men and 6 women with an average age of 24.6 years) and specifically looked at blood insulin levels after ingesting cinnamon. Results indicated that ingesting the spice led to reductions in blood insulin levels and increased levels of a peptide reported to work by delaying the emptying of the stomach.

The 15 healthy subjects recruited for the study had an average BMI of 22.5 kg/m² and no history of diabetes. They were randomly assigned to consume 300 grams of rice pudding with 0, 1 or 3 grams of cinnamon added.  All of the participants consumed all the meals in a random order, with one week between each.  No significant effect on the rate of gastric emptying, levels of satiety and blood glucose were reported.  However, the insulin response one and two hours after the meal with 3 grams of the spice was significantly lower than levels after consuming the reference meal containing no cinnamon.  Additionally, the change in GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) response was significantly higher after ingestion of the pudding with 3 grams of cinnamon, compared to the reference meal.  According to the researchers, there appeared to be an association between the amount of cinnamon consumed, the delay in gastric emptying, and the reduction in postprandial blood glucose concentrations.  Gastric emptying, together with other factors, regulates the postprandial blood glucose response and a delay in gastric emptying leads to a lower postprandial blood glucose concentration.

To conclude, the results showed that ingestion of 3 g of cinnamon reduced postprandial serum insulin and increased GLP-1 concentrations without significantly affecting blood glucose, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), grehlin concentration (a peptide hormone secreted by cells in the lining of the stomach), satiety, or GER (gastric emptying rate) in healthy subjects.  Cinnamon has been shown in vitro to stimulate the insulin receptor by activating the insulin receptor kinase and inhibiting the insulin receptor phosphatase, which increases insulin sensitivity.  The results indicate a relationship between the amount of cinnamon consumed and the decrease in insulin concentration. 

However, Joanna Hlebowicz and her colleagues at Malmo University in Sweden Hlebowicz (the authors of the present study) say that despite numerous studies championing the role of cinnamon for diabetes management, a recent meta-analysis of 5 long-term studies questioned the potential benefits of cinnamon for type 2 diabetes.  The analysis found no significant benefits of cinnamon supplement on glycated haemoglobin (A1C), fasting blood glucose (FBG), or other lipid parameters. Hlebowicz et al. therefore acknowledged that a long-term clinical trial involving a large number of diabetes patients was needed to evaluate the effects of cinnamon supplementation in type 2 diabetes. (Hlebowicz  et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2009, 89: 815-821. Summary in NutraIngredients.com ).

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Product recalls and alerts

**Unilever withdraws Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie Low Fat Ice
**Sainsbury's Taste the Difference British Yorkshire Breaded Ham withdrawn
**Dawnfresh Seafoods Ltd recalls a batch of its frozen Kintyre breaded scampi
**Recall of Hebrew National products
**Stobarts (Bradford) Ltd withdraws Ready to Eat Sausage Rolls
**Bounce Snack Foods (UK) Ltd recalls Bounce premium protein balls (update 1)
**From Australia and New Zealand
**From Canada
**From the US
**European Rapid Alerts for week 9
**Links to recall web sites
**Recall web sites for halal and kosher foods

**Unilever withdraws Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie Low Fat Ice
Certain batches of Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie Low Fat Ice Cream 500ml distributed to the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland have been inadvertently packed in Dutch packaging with the result that the ingredients list does not appear in English. This makes these products a potential health risk for people who are sensitive to egg, milk, soya or gluten. The Food Standards Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.

**Sainsbury's Taste the Difference British Yorkshire Breaded Ham withdrawn
A number of packs of Sainsbury's Taste the Difference British Yorkshire Breaded Ham contain egg and gluten (wheat). The presence of egg and gluten (wheat) is not declared on the packaging and therefore may be a potential risk to health for people allergic to egg and/or gluten (wheat). The Food Standards Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.

**Dawnfresh Seafoods Ltd recalls a batch of its frozen Kintyre breaded scampi
Dawnfresh Seafoods Ltd has recalled a batch of its Frozen Kintyre Breaded Scampi 235g, due to pieces of glass being found in a small number of the packets. Dawnfresh Seafoods Ltd has recalled the affected batch from sale. Product recall notices will appear in retail stores that received the product on Friday 27 February 2009. These notices alert customers to the recall and advise them of what actions to take if they have purchased the product. The Food Standards Agency has issued a Food Alert for Information.

**Recall of Hebrew National products
Certain date codes of the above products may contain celery, soya and mustard which are not declared on the label. This makes the products a potential health risk for people who are allergic to these allergens. The Food Standards Agency has updated its previous Allegy Alert to clarify the ownership of this brand.

**Stobarts (Bradford) Ltd withdraws a batch of Ready to Eat Sausage Rolls
Stobarts (Bradford) Ltd withdraws a batch of Ready to Eat Sausage Rolls due to incorrect allergen labelling information.  A batch of the product contains sulphur dioxide, used as a preservative for the sausage rolls, which is inadequately declared on the label. This makes the product a potential health risk for people who are sensitive to sulphites. The Food Standards Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.

**Bounce Snack Foods (UK) Ltd recalls Bounce premium protein balls (update 1)
This is an update to the Food Alert for Information issued on 18 February concerning a recall of certain date codes of Bounce Premium Protein Balls, due to the possible presence of SalmonellaTyphimurium.  The Food Standards Agency has been informed that, on a precautionary basis, Bounce Snack Foods (UK) Ltd has extended the recall of Premium Protein Balls to include all date codes up to and including 2 November 2009. The affected products have been recalled from sale and point-of-sale notices have been displayed in outlets supplied.

**From Australia and New Zealand

• Pendle Ham and Bacon Curers Pty Ltd has initiated a consumer recall on sliced Mortadella, Sliced Pancetta and Sliced Danish Salamias as a precautionary health measure. The recall is in response to testing which indicates the presence of Listeria monocytogenes.
• McCain Foods (Aust) Pty Ltd is conducting a voluntary recall of McCain Healthy Choice Apricot Chicken. The product affected may contain Bacillus cereus bacteria and should not be consumed. 

**From Canada

See the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website for latest recalls due to the Salmonella incident linked to peanut butter in the US

**From the US

• Goya Foods, Inc. is recalling its 12 ounce packages of Dried Yellow Potato (Papa Seca Amarilla), UPC 041331050562, because it contains undeclared sulfites. Consumers who have sensitivity to sulfites run the risk of serious or life-threatening allergic reactions if they consume this product.
• Marron Foods is voluntarily recalling approximately 140 cases of Non Fat Dry Milk that may contain a piece of metal that came off the packaging equipment which was discovered as part of regular maintenance.
• San Link Inc is recalling vacuum-packaged Dried Chechon because the product was found to be uneviscerated. The recalled vacuum packaged Dried Chechon was distributed in New York State in random weight plastic bags (0.66lb average), coded - 21.12.2008.  The vacuum packaged Dried Chechon is a product of Russia.
• S&M (USA) Enterprise Corp is recalling White Herring because the product was found to be uneviscerated. The recalled White Herring was distributed in New York State in uncoded, 16 oz. clear plastic bags.   The White Herring is a product of China.
• Weis Markets, Inc, is recalling approximately 2,852 pounds of stuffed chicken breast products because they may contain an undeclared allergen, wheat, the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced today. Wheat is a known allergen, which is not declared on the label.
• Lucy's Enterprises, Inc., a Kent, Wash., establishment, is recalling approximately 13,776 pounds of frozen, ground chicken products that may contain foreign materials,

See the FDA Website for recalls linked to the Salmonella outbreak associated with peanut butter supplied by Peanut Corporation of America

**European Rapid Alerts for week 9
The results of rapid alerts for week 9 (up to 27/2/2009) are now available on the Europa web site.

**Links to recall web sites
For UK product recalls visit the Food Standards Agency's  Food Alerts and Allergy Alert web sites.
For US product recalls visit the USDA's  Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) or the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) web sites.
For product recalls in Australia and New Zealand visit the FSANZ web site.
For Canada go to The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
For Ireland go to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

**Recall web sites for halal and kosher foods
Food e-News does not cover product recalls and mislabelling alerts for Kosher or Halal products. If you need information on these please go to the London Beth Din Kashrut Division where there is a facility on the home page to access the  kosher alerts system.  For US Kosher alerts please go to  Kashrut.com  and follow the link labelled 'Consumer Kashrut Alerts' for Kosher alerts. For Halal alerts go to the Muslim Consumer Group web site, which also outlines the criteria used to judge if products are halal or not.

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Food safety

**EFSA advises on risks of 4-methylbenzophenone in food
**Extract of an edible mushroom could be used to increase shelf life of meat
**Heston Blumenthal restaurant closed after food scare
**China's new food safety law and commission
**FSA launch 2009/10 grant scheme for local food hygiene and healthy eating
**A consumer survey find public confidence in FSA is at an all-time high
**Seed snack contaminated with Salmonella or E Coli
**14 Women in Nebraska sickened by Salmonella
**Carcass of cow aged over 30 months exported without test for BSE
**Leaflet produced to help reduce nicarbazin in British poultry
**Water Cooler tests show bacterial contamination
**Children hospitalised after consuming school milk - India
**Simple device can ensure food gets to the store bacteria free
**Animal diseases updates and food poisoning outbreaks
**The Food Safety Network

**EFSA advises on risks of 4-methylbenzophenone in food
The European Commission has asked EFSA to evaluate the risk of the presence of 4-methylbenzophenone in food. This follows notification by the German authorities of this chemical having been found to migrate from packaging into a cereal product. The EFSA was due to offer its comments by 03/03/09.

** Extract of an edible mushroom could be used to increase shelf life of meat
According to a study published in the Journal of Food Science, researchers from Japan have found that exacts from an edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes can increase shelf-life, by up to six days, of tuna meat during cold storage, compared to untreated meat. The scientists from the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology say that since oxidative spoilage of the fish is linked to colour, the extract improved the colour stability of the meat. According to an article by Foodqualitynews.com, the food industry has long been aware of this, and is increasingly seeking natural solutions rather than artificial additives, such as like butylhydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylhydroxytoluene (BHT), to extend the shelf life of milder-tasting products.  The researchers led by Huynh Bao are quoted as saying that F. velutipes, a traditional edible mushroom, has been used as a culinary vegetable without any known toxic effects and this study clearly showed that the hydrophilic extract prepared from F. velutipes is a promising source of natural antioxidants for certain foods.

**Heston Blumenthal restaurant closed after food scare
The Fat Duck restaurant in Bray Berkshire, owned by chef Heston Blumenthal, has been closed since last Tuesday after up to 40 diners reporting feeling unwell over the past two to three weeks.   The restaurant is one of only three restaurants in the UK to have three Michelin stars and diners can experience dishes such as snail porridge or sardine on toast sorbet.  Whilst the restaurant has been closed tests have been carried out and a spokesman is quoted by the BBC as saying that sabotage was 'highly unlikely' as cases of illness were 'not sweeping but sporadic'. Environmental health officers from Windsor and Maidenhead Borough Council and Blumenthal's own food safety consultants have yet to find the cause of the guests' symptoms. (BBC)

**China's new food safety law and commission
The Health Ministry in China has said that although there have been some improvements made in food safety since the melamine incident, China's food security situation remains grim with high risks and contradictions.  The article states that the comments were made after China's legislature enacted a tough food safety law, promising stricter penalties for makers of tainted products.  The new law which will take effect on June 1 focuses on the use of food additives and states that additives have to be proven to be safe and necessary to be allowed.  It is also stated that the law will include a monitoring and supervision system and a product recall system.  (The Associated Press).  Just-Food.com reports that China has also set up a Food Safety Commission which will co-ordinate the work of at least five other government departments that oversee food safety. The decision to setup the commission was taken during a draft reading of the new food safety law, expected to be voted in by the National People's Congress standing committee.  Experts have previously cited poor co-ordination between agencies as a problem in China's handling of food safety issues, including last year's melamine scandal.

**FSA launch 2009/10 grant scheme for local food hygiene and healthy eating
The launch of the 2009/10 grant scheme for local food hygiene and healthy eating initiatives has been announced by the Food Standard Agency.  Grants of up to £10,000 are available for local projects on food hygiene or healthy eating. The Agency is welcoming initiative on promoting good food hygiene amongst older people and collaborative local action to deliver Agency priorities on saturated fat or salt.  The scheme supports the Food Standards Agency's work to promote the safe handling of food in the home, by working with schools and providing support for local food safety initiatives. Applications are open to local authorities, trading standards regional groups, food liaison groups and their equivalents in all four UK countries (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). The closing date for applications in all four UK countries is 24 April 2009.  (Food Standards Agency)

**A consumer survey find public confidence in FSA is at an all-time high
According to consumer survey by the Food Standards Agency, as part of its quarterly research, public confidence in the Food Standards Agency is at an all-time high.  There has been a 3% rise since the September survey with 64% saying they were confident in the FSA's role to protect health and food safety.  The articles states that the figures show that since the surveys began in 2001 this is the highest level of confidence, with respondents aged 50-65 showing the largest increase. General awareness of the FSA remained at about 85 per cent. Over the last year concerns over food safety has been decreasing and concerns about salt and fat content in food have dropped to 40% for fat and 43% for salt.  (EHN news)

**Seed snack contaminated with Salmonella or E Coli
Between October 2007 and March 2008, local authority group LACORS (the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services) and the Health Protection Agency collected 3735 packets of ready to eat seeds.  The seeds came from 3,390 supermarkets, health food shops, convenience stores and market stalls.  After examination by 32 laboratories, a small proportion was found to be contaminated with Salmonella or E.coli.  22 were contaminated with Salmonella and 56 contained 'unsatisfactory' levels of E.coli. The highest proportion of Salmonella was found in melon seeds - 8.5 per cent - but it was also found in sesame, linseed, sunflower, alfalfa and mixed seeds.  E. coli was found in melon, pumpkin, sesame, hemp, poppy, linseed, sunflower and mixed seeds.  Dr Jim McLauchlin of the HPA is quoted as saying that when seed crops are grown they can be exposed to a wide range of bacteria from many sources, including soil, manure, irrigation water, wild birds and animals and the seeds may also become contaminated during the drying process. (The Independent)

**14 Women in Nebraska sickened by Salmonella
14 women in Nebraska have become ill from an unfamiliar Salmonella strain. Officials in Nebraska sent the strain to the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and have issued bulletins to health departments in other States.  The state health department have said that the Nebraska Salmonella strain is identical in serotype to last summer's outbreak linked to tomatoes and jalepeno peppers but the genetic fingerprint is different. Dr Anne O'Keefe from the health department is quoted as saying that the strain has never been seen in the United States before and that Nebraska officials do not believe this is related to the peanut incident. (Newsinferno)

**Carcass of cow aged over 30 months exported without test for BSE
The Food Standards Agency has been notified that the carcass of a cow aged 34 months and 16 days has been exported to Netherlands without having been tested for BSE. The cow was slaughtered at Cheshire Equine Services (trading as D L Turner & Son Ltd), Red Lion Abattoir in Nantwich, Cheshire. At the time BSE testing was mandatory for cattle slaughtered for welfare reasons at over 24 months of age. The Netherlands authorities have been informed. The Food Standards Agency state that as the untested carcass was not identified in the documentation as OTM, the vertebral column may not have been removed as specified risk material (SRM), although all other SRM was removed at the abattoir and any risk to human health would be very low. (Food Standards Agency)

**Leaflet produced to help reduce nicarbazin in British poultry
A leaflet has been produced by the Food Standards Agency, British Poultry Council, National Farmers' Union and Veterinary Medicines Directorate to help farm owners, their managers and workers reduce nicarbazin residues in chicken through better feed storage and distribution management systems.  Nicarbazin is a medicated feed additive used to treat a debilitating poultry disease called coccidiosis.  The Agency considers that the levels of currently found in British chicken do not pose a significant food safety health risk but recognise that consumers expect these residue levels to be kept to a minimum, especially where they are avoidable with good farm practice.(Food Standards Agency)

**Water Cooler tests show bacterial contamination
Tests on water coolers have shown that bacterial contamination may be causing a health risk according to Consumer Focus Scotland. The consumer watchdog said that tests by Environmental Health Officers showed over a quarter of the samples, from the Edinburgh and Lothian and Borders region, showed contamination. The samples came from both plumbed-in and bottle fed coolers from leisure centres, offices, care homes and schools. Tests found a range of bacteria including coliforms, which may indicate faecal contamination, some indicating cross-contamination between users and others relating to pipe cleaning and maintenance. Consumer Focus Scotland said that a review of the law concerning the quality of water from coolers was required. They also recommended that the exterior of coolers be cleaned weekly and bottle-supplied coolers be cleaned internally quarterly while plumbed-in versions should have filters changed every six months. (BBC)

**Children hospitalised after consuming school milk - India
Nearly 62 children were hospitalised after drinking milk provided by the school.  The children were from Batakwada Tad primary school in Santrampur taluka of Panchmahals district.  The district authorities think that the milk had turned sour which had caused the food poisoning.   Panchmahals Dairy Chairman is quoted as saying that there was no problem in the milk delivered from the dairy. Had that been the case, all the milk distributed across the district would have turned sour and its effect would have not remained restricted to a particular area or school.    The chief district health office states that they have to wait and watch just in case similar incidences are reported from other schools where the milk was consumed. (Times of India)

**Simple device can ensure food gets to the store bacteria free
Kevin Keener, a Purdue University researcher, has found a way to eliminate bacteria in packaged foods such as spinach and tomatoes, a process that could eliminate concerns over some food-borne illnesses. The device consists of a set of high-voltage coils attached to a small transformer that generates a room-temperature plasma field inside a package, ionizing the gases inside. The process kills harmful bacteria such as E. coli and Salmonella, which have caused major public health issues.  Keener's process is outlined in an article released online early in LWT - Food Science and Technology, a journal for the Swiss Society of Food and Technology and the International Union of Food Science and Technology.  (From Flex-News.com, 02/03/09).

**CDC says Salmonella in peanut products cases continue to rise
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have updated details of their  investigation into the outbreak of Salmonella food poisoning associated with peanut products. The key points made by CDC on 3 March 2009 were that:

• Case count is 677 in 45 states with latest confirmed, most recent reported illness beginning on February 8, 2009
• The outbreak is continuing, though the numbers of new cases have declined modestly since December. Many recently ill persons report eating peanut butter and other recalled peanut-containing products.
• FDA and CDC are concerned that illness will continue to occur if people eat recalled peanut-containing products that are still on their shelves at home.
• Consumers should check at home for recalled peanut butter containing products and discard them.

**Animal diseases updates and food poisoning outbreaks
Regular global updates on food poisoning outbreaks and animal diseases, such as avian influenza, foot and mouth, Ebola, SARS, and Anthrax can be found on the International Society for Infectious Diseases 'ProMED-mail' web site. 

**The Food Safety Network
The International Food Safety Network (iFSN) at Kansas State University provides research, commentary, policy evaluation and public information on food safety issues.  An international repository of food safety-related information, FSN offers consumer, student and industry outreach services, information research, on-line resources, collaborative projects, evaluation and analysis, and a capacity to address current and emerging food safety concerns.

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Legislation headlines

**US Country of Origin Labelling soon to be in force
**PDO for Chabichou du Poitou
**UK regulation on food contact materials
**Canada introduces new organic regulations
**EFSA likely to delay article 13 list of health claims due to work overload
**EU ministers uphold Austria and Hungary's GM crop ban
**EU amendments to BSE regulation 999/2001
**EU register of flavouring substances
**PGI application for 'Traditional Grimsby Smoked Fish'
**FSA seminar on bottled water legislation
**More companies join FSA colour ban list
**FSA acted lawfully over low alcohol Sovio Wine
**FDA must improve its regulation of dietary supplements
**EFSA consults on active and intelligent food contact materials

**US Country of Origin Labelling soon to be in force
The Final Rule for Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) goes into effect on 16 March 2009. The Rule was published in the Federal Register on 15 January 2009, but has since been under regulatory review by USDA. COOL regulation requires country of origin labelling for muscle cuts and ground beef (including veal), pork, lamb, goat, chicken; wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish; fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts and ginseng. Excluded from COOL labelling requirements are food items derived from a commodity covered by the regulation.   (USDA News Release)

**PDO for Chabichou du Poitou
Commission Regulation (EC) No 159/2009 of 25 February 2009 approving minor amendments to the specification for a name entered in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications (Chabichou du Poitou (PDO))

**UK regulation on food contact materials
The Plastic Materials and Articles in Contact with Food (England) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009 No. 205) have been published and come into force on 7th March 2009.

**Canada introduces new organic regulations
On 13 February the Canadian government introduced new Organic Products Regulations which will require all organic products to be endorsed by a certification body accredited by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).  More details of the new regulations are given on by the Organic Trade Association (OTA), including a list of approved Canadian accreditors and certifiers.

**EFSA likely to delay article 13 list of health claims due to work overload
According to EAS (European Advisory Service), the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) timeline for assessing the article 13 list of health claims indicates the adoption of the final article 13 list will be delayed. Stefanie Geiser, Regulatory Affairs Manager at EAS' Italian branch, said that with only two timings set and one still to be negotiated for the largest remaining set of 2,693 claims entries, the chances of the European Commission adopting its final 'Community' list of article 13 claims (claims based on generally accepted scientific evidence) by the end-January 2010 deadline set out in the Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation seemed unlikely. (More details on this delay at Flex-News.com ).

**EU ministers uphold Austria and Hungary's GM crop ban
EU Environment Ministers defied the wishes of the European Commission and upheld the right of Austria and Hungary to ban the growing of genetically modified maize on their land. Hungary's ban relates to MON 810 maize, developed and marketed by Monsanto and the only GM crop that may be commercially grown in the EU. Austria has also banned cultivation of MON 810 maize, as well as that of T25 maize, produced by the German pharmaceutical and chemical company Bayer. (Reuters.co.uk 02/03/09). 

**EU amendments to BSE regulation 999/2001
Commission Regulation (EC) No 162/2009 of 26 February 2009 amending Annexes III and X to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Commission Regulation (EC) No 163/2009 of 26 February 2009 amending Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 999/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down rules for the prevention, control and eradication of certain transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.

**EU register of flavouring substances
Commission Decision 2009/163/EC of 26 February 2009 amending Decision 1999/217/EC as regards the register of flavouring substances used in or on foodstuffs. According to Wendy Dixon from the Food Standards Agency, following the Commission's Working Group meeting on 16th February 2009 amendments were made to the Flavouring Register.  Substance listed in an attachment to Wendy's e-mail are to be deleted from the Register. This is not due to unfavourable safety assessments, but because no information has been submitted and industry are happy for these substances to be removed.

The European Commission does not intend to amend the Register and they may still appear on the electronic version.  The list of FL numbers given in Commission Decision 2009/163/EC coincide with their Flavis names in Wendy's list. Four substances have been moved from Part B of the register to Part A, since their intellectual property protection has expired.  These are 09.929, L-Monomenthyl glutarate, 03.023 1-Ethoxyethylacetate, 16.083  2-(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-5,7-dihydroxychromanone and 07.250 3,5-Heptadien-2-one.

**PGI application for 'Traditional Grimsby Smoked Fish'
The Traditional Grimsby Fish Smokers Group have applied for a protected geographical indication (PGI) for "Traditional Grimsby Smoked Fish" which are defined as fillets of cod and haddock, weighing between 200 and 700 grams, which have been cold smoked in accordance with the traditional method within the defined geographical area.

**FSA seminar on bottled water legislation
As part of its continuing commitment to engage with producers and local authorities to support practical understanding of food law, the Food Standards Agency will be hosting a seminar on bottled water legislation on 30 March 2009 at The Belgrave Centre in Nottingham. The one-day course will consist of  presentations about bottled water legislation. This includes the legislation covering bottled water (natural mineral water, spring water and bottled drinking water), challenges and the practical issues with enforcement, a short primer course on hydrogeology and microbiological aspects of the Regulations.

**More companies join FSA colour ban list
The Food Standards Agency has updated its list of product ranges from food manufacturers, caterers and retailers that do not contain the six food colours associated with possible hyperactivity in young children. The lists include both companies whose product ranges have never contained the six colours as well as product ranges that have been reformulated to remove the colours. The colours, identified by a Southampton University study financed by the Food Standards Agency, are sunset yellow FCF (E110), quinoline yellow (E104), carmoisine (E122), allura red (E129), tartrazine (E102), ponceau 4R (E124). Retailers that now have own-range product lines free from the colours include the Co-operative Group and Londis.  Food manufacturers producing product lines free of the colours include Cool Drinks company, Lakeland, Montgomeryshire Natural Spring Water products, Plas Farm Ltd, Rubicon Drinks, and Sunny Delight Beverage Company.

**FSA acted lawfully over low alcohol Sovio Wine
The Food Standards Agency welcomed a High Court judgement that confirmed the Agency acted lawfully when in September 2007 it ordered stocks of Sovio Wine to be held at a warehouse. This Movement Control Notice meant that the wine products could not be sold.  The FSA decided to make the order because the wine had been made using an unauthorised method and did not comply with labelling rules that were in place in 2007. An independent assessor also found that the product breached the regulations in those ways and said that the order should stand. The company then decided to take this to the High Court, which ruled yesterday that the FSA had acted lawfully. Sarah Appleby, Head of Wine Standards at the Food Standards Agency, said the FSA was not trying to ban low alcohol wine but that it was a top priority of the Agency to ensure that consumers were given accurate information about food and drink products to ensure that they were not misled. In October 2008, the European Commission agreed that European Union wines that use different experimental techniques to reduce the alcohol content could be marketed across Europe as long as producers followed a number of conditions.

**FDA must improve its regulation of dietary supplements
A report by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) suggests that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should be much more rigorous in its regulation of dietary supplements, since consumers continue to experience side effects associated with the use of these products. Reported side effects from supplements have increased three-fold since December 2007, when companies were forced to disclose to the FDA side effects reported by consumers. Highlights and the full text of the GAO report can be downloaded from the GAO web site.

**EFSA consults on active and intelligent food contact materials
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a public consultation on draft guidelines relating to "active and intelligent substances" to be used in materials made to come into contact with food. The guidelines specify what type of information should be provided by industry to enable EFSA to carry out safety assessments in line with new European Union (EU) legislation. In general terms, active food contact materials or articles either absorb or release substances in order to extend the shelf-life or improve the condition of packaged food. Intelligent food contact materials or articles monitor the condition and/or the quality of packaged food or the surrounding environment.  Full details of the consultation are on the web site

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Other headlines (04/03/09)

**Acrylamide not linked to breast cancer in women
**Study of spit offers insight into human health
**WCRF policy report on cancer prevention
**Vegan and vegetarian diets OK for pregnant women
**Authentication of quail, pheasant, partridge and guinea fowl
**Lectins in red kidney beans
**Fructose may contribute to type 2 diabetes
**ASA upholds complaints about coffee adverts

**Acrylamide not linked to breast cancer in women
Scientists at Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, US, have discovered that intakes of acrylamide are not related to increased risks of breast cancer. They report that acrylamide intake, at levels commonly consumed in the US diet, had no impact on the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer, according to findings of a study with 90,628 women, published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.  Kathryn Wilson from Brigham and Women's Hospital, also report that intakes of acrylamide-rich foods such as French fries, coffee, cereal, potato chips, potatoes, and baked goods, were not associated with the risk of breast cancer in this population. (From FoodNavigator.com).

**Study of spit offers insight into human health
Bacteria found in people's spit does not vary much around the world, a surprising finding that could provide insights into how diet and cultural factors affect human health. Because the human body harbours 10 times more bacterial cells than human cells, scientists are trying to understand more about the bacteria the human body carries around. More notes on this research at ReutersHealth.com.

**WCRF policy report on cancer prevention
World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)/ American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) has published a Policy Report, Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention, that sets out changes that can be made at all levels of society to reduce the number of cancer cases. It contains recommendations for different groups, from governments to the people who do the food shopping for their families. These recommendations have been made by a panel of 23-world renowned experts. It is thought to be the most evidence-based report of its kind ever published and its main finding is that all levels of society need to make public health in general, and cancer prevention in particular, more of a priority. This is a global report with global recommendations, but its findings can play an important role in preventing cancer in the UK.  The main findings are overviewed in Chapter 8, with other sections containing recommendations as follows: Multinational bodies; Civil society organisations; Government; Industry; Media; Schools; Workplaces and institutions; Health and other professionals; People.  See also: WCRF Diet and Cancer Report 2007.

See also: A summary of the significance of the WCRF policy report on NHS News - Behind the Headlines.

**Vegan and vegetarian diets OK for pregnant women
The US Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) has said that vegetarian and vegan diets can be a healthy choice for pregnant women and their children, provided their vitamin B12 needs are met with fortified foods or any common multivitamin preparation. The comments were made in response to an article in the journal Pediatrics which had indicated that pregnant women with inadequate levels of vitamin B12 might be at greater risk of giving birth to an infant affected by neural tube defects. Although none of the women in the study by Molloy et al. were stated to be vegetarians or vegans,  it is known that vitamin B12 deficiency can be a risk for this dietary group. The main conclusion from Molloy's research was that since levels of folic acid fortification were unlikely to be increased, other ways of reducing neural tube defects should be sought, and improving vitamin B12 status in women likely to become or planning to become pregnant might be a way of achieving this. (Eurekalert.org and Pediatrics, 2009, 123 (3): 917-923. doi:10.1542/peds.2008-1173).

**Authentication of quail, pheasant, partridge and guinea fowl
A group of scientists from the University Complutense in Madrid, Spain describe the authentication of meats from quail (Coturnix coturnix), pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), partridge (Alectoris spp.), and guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) using a polymerase chain reaction which targeted specific sequences from the mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene. The authors say that the assay can be useful for the accurate identification of meats from game bird species, avoiding mislabelling or fraudulent species substitution in meat products. (Rojas et al. Food Control, Article in Press; doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2008.12.011).

**Lectins in red kidney beans
Red kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) contain significant amounts of lectins which have both beneficial and detrimental biological properties. Lectins are carbohydrate-binding glycoproteins that can react specifically with human blood cells, preferentially agglutinate malignant cells, and undergo mitogenic stimulation of lymphocytes. Some lectins are resistant to heat and proteolytic enzymes and can enter the circulatory system intact. Phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)—a lectin isolated from the red kidney bean—consists of four subunits with a molecular weight of 125 kDa. This bioactive compound has been partially purified by affinity chromatography using Affi-gel Blue. PHA has been shown to inhibit the viral enzymes, immunodeficiency virus type 1 reverse transcriptase (HIV-1 RT), and - and β-glucosidases. This paper  reviews the chemical properties, biological activity, distribution, isolation, and heath benefits of red kidney bean lectin. (Authors' summary quoted direct from Food Reviews International, 2009, 25 (1): 12 - 27).

**Fructose may contribute to type 2 diabetes
An article in Cell Metabolism by Dr Gerald Shulman and his colleagues at Yale University School of Medicine, US, provide further evidence that fructose, a sugar found in sucrose and high fructose corn syrups, is contributing to the increase in cases of type 2 diabetes. In a rat study, the scientists found that a particular gene known as PGC-1 beta, appeared to play a key role in the development of insulin resistance in the animals in response to a high-fructose diet.  Rats that had the gene's activity blocked were protected from insulin resistance despite being fed a fructose-rich diet. (ReutersHealth.com 03/03/09)

**ASA upholds complaints about coffee adverts
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has responded to complaints about an advertisement for coffee in a fitness newsletter which was headlined "Feeling Great in 2008" . The advert made several suggestions about the benefits of coffee with respect to fitness, safety, antioxidant properties, alleviation of cold symptoms and pain-killing effects. It was also suggested that the BCA had tried to mimic the Government 5-a-day fruit and vegetable campaign with its phrase "Relax and enjoy 4-5 cups of coffee a day". The advert was published by the British Coffee Association (BCA) which the ASA agreed had provided a large amount of scientifically sound evidence to substantiate the claims it made.   While the ASA did not agree that the coffee advert mimicked the 5-a-day logo for fruit and vegetable consumption, it did agree that much of the evidence presented by the BCA still did not fully substantiate the claims made and that some of the claims amounted to medicinal claims which cannot legally be applied to a food.  Another concern was that although it was true that 4-5 cups of coffee per day could safely be consumed by the general population, that was not true for pregnant women or women intending to become pregnant.  Also while caffeine has been shown to potentiate the pain-killing effects of aspirin and ibuprofen, this was again, a medicinal claim for a food and so was illegal.

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This Newsletter was posted on: 04 March 2009

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