Regional variations in food allergies
An article by Andrew Watson in New Scientist discusses the findings of an international task force called EuroPrevall, who are looking at regional variations in allergy prevalence. A conference was held in Vienna in May 2009 and one of its aims was to bring together allergy experts from around the world, to discuss these variations and to seek an explanation for them.
Awareness of food allergies has grown massively in recent decades, and as awareness has increased so has the number of allergies that are recognised and diagnosed. This has caused changes in regulations relating to labelling of packaged foods, and the list of allergens that must be labelled on packaging in the EU, (which currently stands at 14) is set to grow even longer. The most common allergies in the UK are milk and egg. These usually affect young children, many of whom go on to grow out of the allergy. EuroPrevall is an international task force, headed up by Clare Mills of the Institute of Food Research in Norwich. This task force is working to measure the occurrence and variation in food allergies across Europe as well as Australia, India, China and Ghana. In order to do this they are collating data from a wide range of sources.
The data discussed at the Vienna conference showed that overall in Europe, hazelnut and apple were the most common triggers of food allergy. In Mediterranean areas, peach and melon allergy is common. Iceland has a high incidence of fish allergy and Switzerland a high level of celeriac allergy. Although regional differences in eating habits are said to contribute to these variations, this cannot account for all differences. For example, in northern Europe, people with apple allergy react to the uncooked flesh of the apple, whereas in southern Europe it is more common to react to the skin of the apple. This division seems to occur around the south west of France, and across through the northern part of Italy. The researchers have concluded that this can be accounted for by a cross-reaction of the sufferer’s immune systems to another allergen of similar structure. The dividing line through France and Italy marks the southern limit of the birch tree, whose pollen causes hay fever in northern Europe. The allergenic protein found in the pollen is Bet v 1, which strongly resembles the allergenic protein found in the fleshy part of apples, Mal d 1. People suffering with hay fever are therefore primed to react to the Mal d 1 of the fleshy part of the apple. In southern Europe, sensitisation to the peach allergen Pru p 3 is thought to cause a cross-reaction to the Mal d 3 found in apple skin, again due to a similar structure. The researchers have uncovered other cross-reactions like this, and it is now thought that the majority of food allergens belong to only four of the 10,000 recognised protein families.
The author also discusses the issue of labelling limits, and the need to establish safe limits of allergen levels in foods. The major issue with trying to establish safe limits, is that allergic responses are triggered by different levels of the allergen in different people. Some allergies are so severe that the tiniest amount will cause an extreme reaction. Manufacturers will often use the "may contain" label. However, as this is becoming so widely used, it is losing its effect and allergy sufferers are taking risks by ignoring this warning. But things are beginning to change. For instance Commission Regulation (EC) No 41/2009
of 20 January 2009 concerns the composition and labelling of foodstuffs suitable for people intolerant to gluten. These set defined limits of what can be labelled as "gluten free". Apparently a number of allergists are confident that they may be close to setting defined limits for products which can be deemed free of peanuts as well. With a team like EuroPrevall looking at the problem and with labelling limits potentially on the horizon, perhaps life could get easier for allergy sufferers and food manufacturers alike.
RSSL carries out allergen testing using immunological, DNA and distillation techniques, depending on the allergen to be detected. Detection limits are in the range 1- 100 mg allergen/kg of sample for almond, Brazil nut, macadamia nut, peanut, walnut, hazelnut, cashew nut, pistachio nut, pecan nut, pine nut and chestnut. Celery, celeriac, black mustard, lupin and kiwi allergens can be detected by DNA methods, as can crustacean, fish and mollusc allergens. The laboratory also uses a range of UKAS accredited immunological procedures for the detection of allergens including gluten, peanut, hazelnut, almonds, soya, egg, milk, sesame and histamine. Distillation and titration methods are used for the determination of sulphur dioxide and sulphites. For more information please contact Customer Services on Freefone 0800 243482 or e-mail enquiries@rssl.com.
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Food polyphenols affect vasodilatation by nitric oxide
Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the main mediators of vasodilatation in the cell, with decreased levels of NO playing a key role in endothelial dysfunction. This, in turn, is linked to the regulation of blood pressure in obesity-related cardiovascular diseases. Research has suggested that polyphenols found in red wine and cocoa can improve endothelial function, but there has been no method available to rapidly screen phenolic compounds for their vasodilatatory potential. This situation has now been rectified by a group of scientists based at several institutions in the Netherlands led by Peter Hollman, who have developed a screening tool for measuring changes in cellular NO in the presence of various polyphenols.
In mammalian cells, NO is produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) which converts the amino acid arginine, in the presence of oxygen and reduced nicotine adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), into citruline and NO. Cocoa drinks rich in flavan-3-ols have been shown to improve the flow-mediated dilatation of blood vessels, an improvement which was accompanied by an increase in NO in the plasma. However, the methods used to test the vasodilatatory properties of phenolic compounds have required fresh tissue from laboratory animals, and the screening of many compounds would require a lot of animals. Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) can provide an alternative, but tend to lose their NO-producing capacity after a few screenings. A better option comes from the hybrid cell line EA.hy926, created by fusing HUVEC cells with the permanent cell line A549. This stably produces NO even after a large number of cell divisions and this offers an efficient screening tool.
Hollman’s team used the EA.hy926 cells to screen 33 phenolic compounds for their ability to enhance NO levels. Cells were exposed to 300 μL of cell culture medium containing 100 μM of the phenolic being tested for 24 hours. The phenolics included resveratrol, procyanidins dimers, oligomeric procyanidins with gallic acid side chains, flavan-3-ols (including epicatechin), proanthocyanidins and their microbial metabolites, quercetin and kaempferol, hippuric acids, apigenin, naringenin, phloretin, phenyl- and hydroxyphenyl propionic and acetic acids, caffeic acid, coumaric acid, benzoic acid and vanillic acid. Results showed that only four of these were able to enhance the NO level of the EA.hy926 cells. These were resveratrol (285% increase), quercetin (110% increase), epicatechin gallate (ECg, 85% increase) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg, 60% increase). Dose dependent correlations between NO stimulation and eNOS up-regulation were found for resveratrol, EGCg and ECg. Whilst gallic acid itself was not active at all, the authors inferred from their results that it may be the galloyl moiety which is critical for the activity of EGCg and ECg. Procyanidins with a higher degree of polymerisation showed a tendency to increase the NO level, but no significance was reached. It is also noted that procyanidins are very poorly absorbed from the gut, so the vasodilatatory properties of their colonic metabolites (phenolic acids) were measured but found not to have any effect on NO levels. Glucuronidation, methylation and sulphation of the phenolics may occur during metabolism, which may affect their activity in the body, although in the present study glucuronidation of epicatechin, for instance, did not affect its inactivity. Overall, no clear relationship between structure and NO enhancing properties were found.
The phenolic compounds being tested were themselves found to be unstable during the 24 hours of incubation, so to prevent their oxidation by superoxide and hydrogen peroxide the enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase were added. Other researchers working in the field have found that hydrogen peroxide can either increase eNOS activity of decrease NO bioactivity, so generation of hydrogen peroxide may partly explain differences in the vasoactive potency found for several of the phenolics compared with other studies.
In conclusion, the authors claim that their assay proved to be an easy-to-use tool for screening large sets of phenolic compounds for their potency in enhancing endothelial NO levels. (J. Agric. Food Chem., Article ASAP, 03/08/09).
Resveratrol also features strongly in another recently reported study. In this case it is research at the University of Glasgow and the National University of Singapore which has shown how mice, in which a state of acute inflammation had been induced, fared much better if they had been pre-treated with resveratrol. Full details are given in a paper published in The FASEB Journal, doi: 10.1096/fj.09-130542.
RSSL’s Functional Ingredients Laboratory can analyse food products for polyphenolic components. For more information please contact Customer Services on Freefone 0800 243482 or email enquiries@rssl.com.
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Component of lecithin may help to metabolise fat and glucose in the liver
A study published in Cell, by researchers from Washington Medical School in St Louis, claims to have found a compound that binds to a specific protein in the liver and helps to metabolise glucose and fat. This compound is also a component of lecithin, a food emulsifier, which may mean that in future lecithin will have a role to play in the control of blood fats and associated disease prevention.
A protein found in the nucleus of cells, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor – alpha (PPAR-α) is known to regulate the metabolism of fat and glucose in the liver. Fibrate drugs, aimed at lowering cholesterol and triglycerides and elevating high density lipids in the blood, work by activating PPAR-α. The authors of this study, Lodhi et al, indicate that whilst fibrates activate this protein, a naturally occurring substance that does the same has not previously been identified.
Lecithin is found in many foods including egg whites, grain, fish, legumes, yeast and peanuts although most of that used commercially is derived from soya beans. Due to its ability to act as an emulsifier and to alter food taste and texture it is a common additive in a number of foods including margarine, mayonnaise and chocolate.
Lodhi et al created a strain of mice that could not make fatty acid synthase (FAS), an enzyme that converts sugars in food to fatty acids in the liver. It was discovered that these mice were just like animals which were not able to make PPAR-α. The mice had lower fasting insulin levels and were prone to develop fatty liver disease. The researchers found that when given fibrate drugs which activated the protein PPAR-α, the lipid levels in the mice returned to normal. On this basis, the scientists hypothesised that fatty acid synthase was also involved in the activation of PPAR-α. Lodhi et al then used mass spectrometry and gene expression studies to isolate the compound that activated PPAR-α in the liver. This compound, a phosphatidylcholine, is also a component of lecithin. According to the authors of the study, FAS had not previously been associated with the ability to activate PPAR-α due to the relative distance between the two proteins. PPAR-α is a nuclear receptor and therefore present in the nucleus of the cell. FAS however, is found in the cell cytoplasm. Clay Semenkovich, senior investigator on the study is quoted in Science Daily as saying that the “neighbourhoods” where these two proteins are located are not very close together. The synthase is way out in the cytoplasm – that is like being in the suburbs – whilst the PPAR-α lives right in the middle of the city. He said that since they are worlds apart, it is amazing that the two are linked. Semenkovich also notes that it is fortunate that such a common compound as lecithin can bind to a key drug target like PPAR-α and that this information could be used to make better drugs or to develop nutraceuticals. In future it may be possible to use products containing lecithin to control blood fat levels and to reduce the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease using foods rather than medications.
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FSA’s review of organic foods provokes much comment
The publication last week of a systematic review of the nutritional quality of organic foods in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has provoked an extraordinary level of comment in the media, mainly from those keen to defend the value of organic foods. The review’s authors were based at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and funded by the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA).
Dangour et al. point out that demand for organic food is increasing, with the market in the UK in 2007 being worth more that £2 billion, and increase of 22% since 2005. Organic foods are produced according to specific standards, which amongst other things, control the use of pesticides in crop production and medicines in livestock production, and place special emphasis on protecting the environment. Previous non-systematic reviews have produced inconsistent results when trying to establish whether or not there is any difference in the nutritional value of conventional and organically produced foods. As the authors say, all natural products vary in their composition of nutrients according to fertilizer or pesticide regimen, growing conditions, season and many other factors. For livestock, feeding regime, breed, age, season all have an effect. Subsequent storage, transportation and preparation methods can also affect food composition before it reaches the consumer’s plate.
Following a search of PubMed, Web of Science and CAB abstracts from 1958 – 2008, 52,471 articles were retrieved! From this huge number, only 55 studies met the very strict inclusion criteria laid down by the authors. These were 24 field trials, 27 farm surveys and 4 basket surveys. Results of analyses of more than 450 nutrients or nutritionally relevant substances were identified by the review. The authors claim that their review highlighted the heterogeneity and poor quality of the research on organic foods and urge scientists investigating the nutritional quality of organic foods to ensure they provide the following:
- a clear definition, in the Introduction or Methods section of the paper, of the organic
production methods of the crop or livestock product analysed (including the name of
any certifying body)
- specification of the cultivar of crop, or breed of livestock
- a statement of which nutrient(s) and other substance(s) were assessed for content
- a description of the laboratory analytical methods used to test for the content of the
named nutrients and other substances
- a statement of the statistical methods used for data analyses.
An independent expert panel was constituted to oversee and advise on the conduct of the review and comments from this panel were incorporated into the final report. A further peer review by 5 subject experts was also requested by the funder.
The findings of Dangour’s team are contained in a 209-page report published by Food Standards Agency entitled “Comparison of composition (nutrients and other substances) of organically and conventionally produced foodstuffs: a systematic review of the available literature” and a 52 page report on the “Comparison of putative health effects of organically and conventionally produced foodstuffs: a systematic review”. Their conclusions are that on the basis of a systematic review of studies of satisfactory quality, there is no evidence of a difference in nutrient quality between organically and conventionally produced foodstuffs. The small differences in nutrient content detected are biologically plausible but are not of any public health significance. (Am.J. Clin. Nutr. Doi: 10.3945/ajcn.2009.28041).
In view of the length and complexity of Dangour’s review it is hard to believe that many of those expressing strong opinions on it, had actually read it. Nevertheless, comments in the press ranged from outrage by Joanna Blythman (Daily Mail 31/07/09) who described the FSA report as a “cancerous conspiracy to poison your faith in organic food” to a more moderate approach taken by Rose Prince (Daily Telegraph 31/07/09) who said “it is still better to buy organic” but confirmed that the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine was a leader in science-based nutrition education and not “pro-big business”. Most of those in favour of organic foods said that nutritional value was rarely uppermost in their minds when they bought organic foods, and it was the lack of pesticides and higher standards of animal welfare which were the main drivers. Robin McKie, writing in the Observer (02/08/09) said that “at last the myth about organic foods being better for us has been exploded and maybe now we can get down to the serious business of feeding our growing population”.
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High fat, high sugar foods can affect brain receptors
The wonderfully titled Society for the Study of Ingestive Behaviour has very recently held its annual meeting in Oregon, US. 220 half hour presentations delivered over a period of 5 days dealt with all aspects of appetite and factors affecting or controlling food intake.
Press releases from the SSIB highlight the following topics:
High fat, high sugar foods alters brain receptors. New research by Nicholas Bello and a team at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine has shown that over-consumption of fatty and sugary foods alters the level of opioid receptors in an area of the brain which controls food intake. Opioids, which exist naturally in the brain, act in a similar way to morphine and are associated with feelings of pleasure and euphoria. The new findings suggest that eating highly palatable foods could maintain food bingeing by enhancing opioid levels in the brain.
Just expecting a tasty food activates brain reward systems. Exposing rats to a situation associated with eating chocolate activates the brain’s orexin system. Derrick Coi and colleagues at the University of Cincinnati think this explains why eating can be triggered by environmental cues even in the absence of hunger. Orexin neurons are found in the hypothalamus and are involved with wakefulness and arousal, as well as with reward behaviour linked to the over-consumption of highly palatable foods. Reward anticipation is a factor contributing to relapse in drug use, and Choi thinks that a similar anticipatory system might be provoking the over-eating fatty and sugary foods.
Weight loss improves mood in depressed people. Clinically depressed patients would not normally be included in weight loss trials, but such exclusions means that data is not being gathered from this high risk population. However, research at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine involved a 6-month weight loss programme. During this time depressed patients not only lost 8% of their initial weight but also reported significant improvements in their depressive symptoms. Additionally, the patients had lower levels of triglycerides in their blood, a fact likely to be beneficial in terms of lowering the risk of heart disease and stroke. Team leader Lucy Faulconbridge said that since depression and obesity are both independently associated with risk of heart disease and stroke, any reduction in body weight and depressive symptoms are likely to improve long term health outcomes.
Dopamine-related activity of food reward circuits in the brain and weight gain: Eric Stice from the Oregon Research Institute, US, suggests that over-consumption of appetising foods may occur in women who are trying to compensate for reduced activity in reward circuits linked to the neurotransmitter dopamine. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brains of women with genetic modifications linked to lower dopamine activity showed highlighted activity in food reward regions of the brain. This group of women showed the greatest weight gain over the course of a year.
Altered gene expression in the placenta of mice subject to assisted reproductive techniques Assisted reproductive techniques can alter the expression of genes which are important for metabolism and the transport of nutrients across the placenta in mice. Since 1-2% of births in the US and Europe are now the result of using such techniques, the significance of these findings need further investigation. Reports already suggest that children born following in vitro fertilisation and other assisted reproductive methods may have increased blood pressure, higher fasting glucose levels and more body fat. It is thought that this may be due to a change in the way nutrients and growth factors are transferred from mother to fetus as a result of the methods used. Details of the mouse study presented to the SSIB meeting by Kellie Tamashiro from Johns Hopkins University showed that use of in vitro fertilisation or intracytoplasmic sperm injection altered expression of Glut1 and Glut3, placental glucose transporters in the mice.
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Global fish stocks not quite as low as predicted
A two-year study, led by Boris Worm of Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada and Ray Hilborn of the University of Washington, US, and including an international team of 19 co-authors, shows that steps taken to curb overfishing are beginning to succeed in five of the ten large marine ecosystems that they examined.
According to the authors’ summary, after a long history of overexploitation, increasing efforts to restore marine ecosystems and rebuild fisheries are under way. In an article in Science, (2009, 325: 578-585. doi: 10.1126/science.1173146) the international team of scientists analyze current trends from both a fisheries and a conservation perspective. The study follows a controversial prediction by Worm in 2006 that wild caught fish would disappear from the oceans by 2048, a prediction with which Hilborn and several other fishery scientists and marine ecologists disagreed. However, after a meeting between Worm and Hilborn they agreed to work together to find common ground on which to assess the prospects for restoring depleted fish populations and their ecosystems. They found that in 5 of 10 well-studied ecosystems, the average exploitation rate has recently declined and is now at or below the rate predicted to achieve maximum sustainable yield for seven systems. But 63% of assessed fish stocks worldwide still require rebuilding, and even lower exploitation rates are needed to reverse the collapse of vulnerable species.
A combination of traditional approaches, such as catch quotas and community management, coupled with strategically placed fishing closures, more selective fishing gear, ocean zoning, and economic incentives hold promise for rebuilding marine resources.
Although basically optimistic, the results of the study highlight the many problems which face rebuilding efforts which may take many years and have short term economic costs. For instance the redistribution of fishing effort from industrialised countries to the developing world, as is evident in Africa, has meant competition between local fishing boats and foreign fleets. Also a lack of alternatives to fishing complicate prospects for rebuilding fisheries in many poorer regions. It is also noted that effective controls on exploitation rates are still lacking in vast areas of the ocean, including those beyond national jurisdictions.
(From press release of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and ScienceDaily.com (31/07/09). NaturalNews also has an interview with Boris Worm in April 2009.
See also: An article in New Scientist (01/08/09) by James Joseph gives many facts and figures relating to the state of global tuna stocks. Tuna is a fish which is very nomadic and therefore harder to monitor than more static populations. Joseph says that taken together, tuna account for about 5 per cent, or 4.2 million tonnes, of the world's annual harvest of marine fish. The catch is made up of seven principal species. Skipjack, used mostly for canning, accounts for 59.1 per cent. Yellowfin is next with 24.0 per cent, bigeye 10.0 per cent, albacore 5.4 per cent, and the three species of bluefin (southern, northern [Atlantic] and Pacific) make up the remaining 1.5 per cent. Bluefin are the giants of the tuna family and the most highly prized. These seven species are divided into 23 stocks. Scientific studies have shown that, of these, six are overfished, six are fully utilised (which means they can't sustain any increase in the catch), and nine are not yet fully utilised. Two have not been adequately assessed. Although there are many obstacles to overcome, Joseph concludes that in general tuna stocks are not in bad shape, that in areas where they are overfished conservation measures are in place to improve the situation.
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Science-based definition of nutrient density
The Nutrient-Rich Food Coalition (NRFC) is a partnership of scientists, health professionals, communications experts and commodity organisations which aims to develop a scientifically valid, consumer-relevant definition of nutrient density as well as a nutrient-rich foods (NRF) index which can be used to measure the total nutritional quality of foods and beverages, indicating which nutrients to encourage and which nutrients to limit. The NRF Index was developed in response to a call in 2005 by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Committee for a scientifically validated definition of nutrient density.
The web site of the NRFC provides a user-friendly forum for both consumers and health professionals with meal plans and recipes using whole grains, fruit, vegetables, milk, oils, meat and beans. The recommendations are in line with the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Pyramid.
The science underpinning the nutrient-rich foods index is detailed in an article by Fulgoni, Keast and Drewnowski in the Journal of Nutrition (2009 Aug;139 (8):1549-54). Adam Drewnowski, is director of the Center for Public Health Nutrition at the University of Washington, and he has spoken and published widely on taste and food preferences, dietary choices, obesity and eating disorders, new tools for assessing quality of the total diet, nutrition and cancer prevention. The new NRF Index is a measurement of nutrient density validated against the USDA’s Healthy Eating Index (HEI). While the HEI measures the recommended eating pattern from five food groups, the NRF Index goes a step further by focusing on the nutrient density of individual foods and beverages. A formula is based on 100 calories, taking the sum of the percentage daily values of nine nutrients to be encouraged (protein, calcium, magnesium, iron, fibre, potassium and vitamins A, C and E) minus the sum of the percentage of daily values of three nutrients which should be limited (saturated fats, sodium and added sugars) gave the best correlation with the HEI. Consumer research is now underway to create tools that will help people use the NRF Index in their everyday lives. (More details in Eurekalert.org 04/08/09).
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Possible uses of oil organogels in foods
An organogel can be defined as an organic liquid entrapped within a thermo-reversible, three dimensional gel network. This gel network is formed by the self-assembly of a relatively low concentration of organogelator molecules, usually low molecular weight compounds capable of gelling organic solvents. Potential food applications of edible oil organogels have been reviewed by a group of scientists based at three Canadian academic institutions and led by Dr Alejandro Marangoni from the University of Guelph.
Following an introduction to the general application of organogels in the lubricant, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries, Naomi Hughes and colleagues explore the ability of organogelator systems to structure and immobilize liquid triacylglycerols at very low concentrations (2%), which could be exploited for a variety of purposes in food products, from the manufacture of spreads to the solubilisation, stabilization and delivery of lipid-soluble nutraceuticals. In many of the examples given in the review the organogel system of choice contains canola oil and 12-hydroxystearic acid (12-HSA) and it is noted that 12-HSA does not yet have approval as a food additive. One particular example of how organogelation might be used in foods would be the prevention of fat bloom in confectionery products. Migration of oil presents a particular problem for filled chocolate confections whereby unsaturated liquid triacylglycerols from the soft filling diffuse into the cocoa butter and migrate through the coating layer to the outer surface of the product, giving a dull white or grey appearance to the chocolate and causing numerous consumer complaints. Immobilising oils from the filling within a gel network might help prevent bloom formation. Indeed, Hughes et al. describe an experiment in which 12-hydroxystearic acid (12-HSA) was added to a simulated fat-based cream filling containing canola oil and interesterified hydrogenated palm oil (IHPO). Unexpectedly, the incorporation of 12-HSA into the model chocolate confection increased the rate of oil migration through the non-tempered cocoa butter rather than decreasing it. The authors suggest that this was because the 12-HSA interfered with the crystallisation of the IHPO in the early stages of migration, allowing a more rapid migration of the oil.
Another specific example given by Hughes et al. is the use of organogels to increase the solubility and control the release of non-polar pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals such as carotenoids. The functionality and potency of these compounds is limited by their poor absorption such that their bioavailability may be only 10 – 30%. Using a model of digestion, the rate of micellarisation of beta-carotene in liquid canola oil was compared with that in canola oil which had been gelled with 12-HSA. Results showed that the beta-carotene was released from the liquid oil between 0 and 30 minutes of digestion, but within 30 – 75 minutes with the gelled oil.
As reported in Food e-News Edition 445, organogels could offer novel replacements for unhealthy trans- and saturated fatty acids, and this possible application is also explored in the current article. In this case, 12 young, healthy volunteers consumed 48 grams of fat from samples of butter, margarine, liquid canola oil and canola oil gelled with 12-HSA. After consumption of one of the four fats, venous blood samples were collected every six hours and analysed for triacylglycerols, free fatty acids, glucose and insulin. Post-prandial serum triacylglyerol and free fatty acid levels were much lower for the subjects who consumed the canola organogel than for those who took the butter or the margarine.
Lastly, the authors explore the ability of organogels to produce stable emulsions by immobilising even quite large water droplets within a continuous gelled oil phase. Applications in this case would include low fat spreads or the controlled release of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic bioactive compounds. Here emulsions gelled with 12-HSA showed long-term stability – in some cases for up to three weeks. The authors explain that the organogels prevent water droplet coalescence, a function normally performed in emulsions such as salad dressings, by hydrocolloids. However, in the presence of emulsifiers such as Span 65 or Tween 80 there was a marked decrease in water droplet size, giving the emulsion the consistency of a lotion rather than a gel.
Whilst enthusiastic about the potential uses of organogels in the food industry, the authors emphasize the amount of work still required to develop the technology to the stage where it can deliver marketable products. (Hughes et al. Trends in Food Science & Technology. doi:10.1016/j.tifs.2009.06.002, online ahead of print).
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Product recalls and alerts
**From Australia and New Zealand
**From Canada
**From the US
**European Rapid Alerts for week 31
**Links to recall web sites
**Recall web sites for halal and kosher foods
**From Australia and New Zealand
Manifold Food Trading Pty Ltd is conducting a voluntary consumer level recall on Chinese Gingili Paste (Sesame Paste). The product contains traces of peanuts that are not declared on the packaging.
**From Canada
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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume certain wieners because the product may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. Maple Leaf Foods, the manufacturer, is voluntarily recalling the affected products from the marketplace.
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Wong Wing is warning people with sesame allergies not to consume product contained in 680 gram Wong Wing Vegetable Egg Roll packages with UPC Number 0 69459 01104 3 and production lot code A0219. The product may contain sesame not declared in the ingredient list on the package.
**From the US
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Tanimura & Antle, Inc. of Salinas, California is expanding the geographic scope of its voluntary recall of bulk and wrapped romaine head lettuce. Although the volume of cases from the single recalled lot has not changed, the company recognizes the possibility that some customers may have distributed the romaine in states beyond the original 29. Therefore, the company is extending the U.S. recall to all 50 states. The recall also includes Puerto Rico and Canada, as initially indicated.
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United Food Group, Inc announced a voluntary recall of products that contain instant nonfat dry milk manufactured by Plainview Milk Products Cooperative. This recall is a precautionary measure due to the voluntary recall of instant nonfat dry milk announced by Plainview Milk Products Cooperative on June 29, 2009.
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New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker alerted consumers that Tiffany Food Corporation is recalling “Bifeng Nong fu Shanzhuang” plum candy due to the presence of undeclared sulfites.
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New York State Agriculture Commissioner Patrick Hooker today alerted consumers that Tiffany Food Corp., located at 1182 Flushing Ave., Brooklyn, New York is recalling "Chi Ling Gourmet Foods Hot Olive" due to the presence of undeclared sulfites.
**EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF)
The database of rapid alert notifications hosted by the European Commission has very recently changed format. The weekly list of notifications has been replaced by a database, searchable by week number. Each entry has link which gives more details of the notification. The latest notifications on the database are for 4 August 2009.
**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.
RSSL's Emergency Response Service (ERS) helps customers deal with a wide range of product emergencies and offers advice on crisis management. It operates 24 hours a day and 365 days a year. To request an ERS presentation or find out more please contact Customer Services on Freefone 0800 243482 or e-mail enquiries@rssl.com
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Food safety
**Poor hygiene found at takeaway at centre of E.coli outbreak
**Takeaway shut over suspected food poisoning
**Investigation into food poisoning at nursery
**Salmonella at KFC restaurant may have caused brain damage
**Students become ill after eating Khichadi
**BBQ bug (Campylobacter) increases in Scotland
**Adulterated oil and flour may have killed five in India
**Indian policemen suffer from food poisoning
**Customers asked to sign waivers after food poisoning deaths
**USDA issues new guidance on testing meat for E. Coli
**Prevention of E. coli O157:H7 for meat processors
**Mississippi Baptists sue over mysterious illness
**Cases of hepatitis E are increasing
**Food safety failures in Vietnam
**Oyster “R” rule may no longer be needed in California
**BfR supports ban on triclosan in food contact materials
**Food Safety Network reborn as BITES
**Poor hygiene found at takeaway at centre of E.coli outbreak
A woman and a three-year-old girl remain seriously ill after eating food from the Llay Fish Bar in Llay, Wrexham, North Wales. A hygiene inspection report from August 2008 by Wrexham Council rated the takeaway zero stars out of five, stating that there were poor hygiene conditions and some major non-compliance with food legislation. The takeaway was due a follow up inspection later this month, but the restaurant has now been closed after four people became ill. Health officials are still trying to confirm the source of the outbreak. (The Associated Press; BBC Health News).
**Takeaway shut over suspected food poisoning
A Chinese takeaway in Buckinghamshire has been closed down by health inspectors after six cases of suspected food poisoning. The Oriental Star in Queensway, Bletchley, was serve with an emergency prohibition notice and closed down, after a family of six became ill. Milton Keynes Council said the owners had agreed to close the restaurant for cleaning on July 25 but when officers visited it again on July 30 they shut it down until further notice because of a risk to public health. The results of tests conducted on the family are awaited as part of the environmental health and Health Protection Agency investigation. (IOSH 03/08/09).
**Investigation into food poisoning at nursery
Health professionals have launched an investigation after children at three Bradford nurseries (UK) were taken ill with food poisoning. The youngsters, all aged under five, suffered what appeared to be an allergic reaction after eating a meal prepared at Knowleswood Primary School in Holme Wood. They became feverish and developed rashes and swollen tongues, but their symptoms disappeared after an hour. (BBC News).
**Salmonella at KFC restaurant may have caused brain damage
It is alleged that the unsanitary practices of staff at a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in Australia could have led to a young girl becoming brain damaged after she ate a Chicken Twister, according to a lawsuit that is being heard in court. Monika Samaan was 7-years-old when she collapsed and was rushed to hospital with Salmonella poisoning after eating the Twister, which she bought in October 2005 from a KFC in Villawood, which is located in Sydney's west Australia. Her parents are seeking more than $10 million in damages from the local arm of the chain store, Yum! Restaurants Australia after the illness developed into acquired spastic quadriplegia and she acquired profound intellectual disability and liver dysfunction. (FoxNews).
**Students become ill after eating Khichadi
Thirty-two students who ate Khichadi provided under the mid-day meal scheme at a government school at Kandale-Budruk in Roha taluk, India have been admitted to hospital with suspected food poisoning. A total of 90 students at the Zilla Parishad school complained of symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea after eating the Khichadi. 58 of them recovered after primary treatment and were sent home. (SamayLive).
**BBQ bug increases in Scotland
There has been a big increase in the number of cases of food poisoning and other health problems in Scotland caused by Campylobacter. Health Protection Scotland (HPS) said Campylobacter poisonings had increased by at least a fifth this year. More than 3,000 cases have already been reported in 2009, compared with 2,546 during the same period last year. Campylobacter is known as the barbecue bug because it can be caught from poorly-cooked food. It is carried by animals, especially poultry. Health Protection Scotland said the number of cases this year was the highest in the first 28 weeks of any year since 2000. The increase has been seen across most Scottish mainland NHS board areas. (BBC News 29/07/09). Further details of the increase in the cases of illness linked to Campylobacter can be found in HPS’s weekly newsletter (29/07/09). The HPS also cites the European Food Safety Authority’s report on Campylobacter following its colloquium on the subject in December 2008.
**Adulterated oil and flour may have killed five in India
Five people have died and another 40 have become ill after allegedly consuming bread made of adulterated oil and flour at a feast organised by a villager in Kokila. They were rushed to a nearby hospital, where four were declared dead on arrival and another died during treatment. The food samples have been sent to the government laboratory at Agra for testing and the results are awaited. (Press Trust of India)
**Indian policemen suffer from food poisoning
It is claimed that 100 policemen suffered from stomach ache and vomiting after eating stale food whilst staying in Hindaun town, during the Gujjar Mahapadav, in Karauli district. After preliminary treatment at a local dispensary on Friday, a team of doctors has been assigned to look after them. A doctor on duty is reported to have said that stale food cannot be the sole reason behind so many policemen falling ill. They are looking for other possibilities. (Times of India).
**Customers asked to sign waivers after food poisoning deaths
Customers eating at restaurants in Abu Dhabi who take away meals in “doggy bags” are being asked by restaurants and hotels to sign waivers saying the businesses will not be responsible for the quality of the food once it is off the premises. The Kempinski group, which runs a hotel and restaurants in the Mall of the Emirates, is requiring customers to sign waivers that they will not hold the restaurants responsible for the consequences of eating food that they take away. The move comes after food poisoning was cited in the recent deaths of four children who became ill and died in Dubai in June after taking away a meal from a Chinese restaurant. The authorities say people do not realise that in a hot country it is dangerous to take spare food away with them, but then leave it a warm car for several hours. (The National, UAE 31/07/09).
**USDA issues new guidance on testing meat for E. Coli
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is to boost efforts to test beef steaks and other cuts of meat used to produce ground beef for the presence of a strain of E. coli 0157:H7 which is a leading cause of potentially deadly food poisoning. The agency is going to release new guidance and rules for meat inspectors to start testing what is called bench trim for E. coli 0157:H7, a practice which has not been done in the past, officials said. The scraps of steaks and other choice meats are often ground up into ground beef, but may carry the potentially deadly strain of bacteria. (Attorney at Law.com).
**Prevention of E. coli O157:H7 for meat processors
The North American Meat Processors Association will be holding a conference on the prevention of E. coli O157:H7 on August 18-19 in Chicago, IL, US. The conference will bring together experts from academia, government, and industry to discuss the requirements, options, and technologies to control E. coli O157:H7. The conference will include information for producers of ground, blade-tenderized, marinated and injected products in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Follow this link for conference and registration information.
**Mississippi Baptists sue over mysterious illness
On 18 January 2009 a group from the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church of Itta Bena dined at Greenwood Pizza Hut in Northern Mississippi. Later, 19 people were taken to the hospital with symptoms of vomiting and nausea. The Mississippi Health Department investigated but could not find the source of the illnesses. An April report delivered the inconclusive news. However, now a local attorney has stepped forward representing 15 of the Baptists in a $1.1 million lawsuit filed in Before County Circuit Court against Kansas-based NPC International Inc., which owns the Greenwood franchise. (Food Poison Journal 28/07/09).
**Cases of hepatitis E are increasing
George Winter, writing in the Daily Mail (27/07/09), asks if celebrity chefs are putting customers health at risk by serving them under-cooked pork, which may carry the virus for Hepatitis E. Although hepatitis Band C are better known, cases of hepatitis E is on the rise, and experts are concerned that it is often going undiagnosed. Those consuming undercooked pork and pigs liver or working with pig wastes may be particularly at risk.
**Food safety failures in Vietnam
According to a report form Vietnam’s Ministry of Health Food Hygiene and Safety Department, a shortage of food hygiene and safety inspectors nationwide has contributed to 29 deaths from food poisoning and more than 2,500 people being hospitalised in the first six months of this year. The main reason was contamination with coliform bacteria such as E. coli, B. cereus, C. perfringens and S. aureus, indicating that products were kept for a long time before being processed. (Bernama.com 03/08/09).
**Oyster “R” rule may no longer be needed in California
This is an old rule in California, US, which suggests that people should not eat oysters in any months which lack the letter “R” in their name. However, an article in the San Francisco Chronicle (03/08/09) says that it is quite safe for diners to break this rule thanks to careful harvest management, a diversity of oyster species and abundant cold water. Innovative biological programmes have produces hybridised Pacific oysters which are safe to eat all the year round.
**FDA offers food safety advice for tomatoes, melons& leafy greens
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has published three draft guidances designed to help growers and others across the entire supply chain minimize or eliminate microbial contamination in tomatoes, leafy greens, and melons. The guidances are, in part, based on those originally developed by the produce industry with assistance from FDA. They represent the first step in a fundamental shift in strategy for the agency in the prevention of food borne hazards associated with fresh fruits and vegetables.
**BfR supports ban on triclosan in food contact materials
Triclosan is an anti-bacterial active substance that is mainly used in cosmetic care products but also in clothing, cleaning agents and in various plastics that come into contact with food. From 2010 onwards substances which are to be used as additives in food contact plastics must be expressly approved for that purpose within the EU. This prompted the Federal Insti-tute for Risk Assessment (BfR) to examine whether the use of triclosan is likely to lead to a health risk for consumers. Full details in BfR Opinion No. 031/2009
**Food Safety Network reborn as BITES
The International Food Safety Network (iFSN) at Kansas State University is no longer being kept up-to date, although it remains a repository of a huge amount of food safety information. However, the Fsnet Archives are still being maintained. Current information can now be found at iFSN’s successor, BITES, at bites.ksu.edu
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Legislation headlines
**EFSA data requirements for assessing food additives
**EFSA to re-evaluate GM maize MON810
**EFSA opinion on cholesterol/phytosterol claims
**EFSA opinion on harmonising GMOs data analysis
**Review of legislative framework for GM legislation
**School fruit scheme
**FSA calls for views on front-of-pack labelling
**FSA makes progress on legalisation of smokies
**EFSA documents published this week
**EFSA data requirements for assessing food additives
EFSA has published a statement that specifies the type of data that industry should provide for the safety assessment of food additives. This follows on from new EU legislation which sets out a common procedure for the authorisation of additives, flavourings and enzymes based on scientific risk assessments by EFSA. Other updates to the EFSA web site.
**EFSA to re-evaluate GM maize MON810
EFSA has decided to review a report issued by Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth on its scientific opinion concerning applications submitted for the renewal of the existing authorisation for genetically modified (GM) maize MON810. EFSA is neither for nor against GM technology and its role is solely to provide an independent assessment of the safety of each GMO based on the most rigorous risk assessment standards and methodology – all according to European Union and internationally agreed guidelines.
**EFSA opinion on cholesterol/phytosterol claims
EFSA experts have concluded that foods such as yoghurt and margarine containing certain levels of plant stanols and sterols can reduce blood cholesterol levels. This advice will now help further guide the European Commission and Member States in any future authorisation of such health claims.
**EFSA opinion on harmonising GMOs data analysis
EFSA's GMO Panel has published a new opinion aimed at harmonising how data from field trials carried out for the risk assessment of GM plants and derived food and feed are produced and analysed. It covers data collection and analysis methods, including the number of sites, growing seasons and geographical spread used in field trials.
**Review of legislative framework for GM legislation
The European Commission has published details of its plan to evaluate the EU legislative framework for GM Food and Feed. The webpage includes in particular an overview of the evaluation process and the evaluation proposal. Focus will be on Regulation (EC) 1829/2003 (GM Food & Feed), but it will also of course touch upon Regulation (EC) 1830/2003 (Traceability and Labelling), Regulation (EC) 641/2004 (implementing rules) and Regulation (EC) 65/2004 (unique identifiers). The final report will be released in summer 2010.
**School fruit scheme
Commission Regulation (EC) No 697/2009 of 31 July 2009 amending Regulation (EC) No 1913/2006 laying down detailed rules for the application of the agrimonetary system for the euro in agriculture, as regards the operative events in the School Fruit Scheme, and derogating from that Regulation.
**FSA calls for views on front-of-pack labelling
The Food Standards Agency has launched a consultation on the issues that need to be resolved to produce an integrated approach to front-of-pack labelling. Comments should be sent to Claire Boville, Nutrition Division, Food Standards Agency (FSA), Tel: 020 7276 8168; Fax: 020 7276 8193 or E-mail: frontofpack@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk. Responses are requested by: 5 November 2009. Full details of the consultation can be found on the FSA web site.
**FSA makes progress on legalisation of smokies
According to notes on the FSA web site, a considerable potential domestic and export market for legal smoked skin on sheep meat, known as smokies, has been identified in a report produced for FSA Wales. The report, by Hybu Cig Cymru/ Meat Promotion Wales, is part of the Agency’s research into a possible safe and hygienic procedure for producing smokies, which, according to European legislation, are currently illegal in the European Union. The European Commission has indicated that EU hygiene legislation could, with strong supporting evidence, be adapted to allow ‘smokies’ to be produced legally. If agreed, this would enable sheep farmers in the UK to have access to a new and lucrative market, especially for lower value sheep such as cull ewes. It would also help to eliminate the driver for the current illegal production and the considerable enforcement activity it generates. If this change was agreed, the law would apply across the EU.
**EFSA documents published this week
In addition to those featured above, the following documents or opinions have been published on the European Food Safety Authority’s web site.
- Plant Stanols and Plant Sterols and Blood LDL-Cholesterol - Scientific Opinion of the Panel on Dietetic Products Nutrition and Allergies on a request from the European Commission and a similar request from France in relation to the authorization procedure for health claims on plant stanols and plant sterols and lowering/reducing blood LDL-cholesterol pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
- Danacol® and blood cholesterol Scientific substantiation of a health claim related to a low fat fermented milk product (Danacol®) enriched with plant sterols/stanols and lowering/reducing blood cholesterol and reduced risk of (coronary) heart disease pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
- Lycopene-whey complex (bioavailable lycopene) and risk of atherosclerotic plaques Scientific substantiation of a health claim related to Lycopene-whey complex (bioavailable lycopene) and reduction of the risk of atherosclerotic plaques pursuant to Article 14 of Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006.
- Statistical considerations for the safety evaluation of GMOs
- Flavouring Group Evaluation 21, Revision 1 (FGE.21Rev1): Thiazoles, thiophene, thiazoline and thienyl derivatives from chemical group 29 Miscellaneous substances from chemical group 30.
- 25th list of substances for food contact materials
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Other headlines
**Protective benefits of omega 3 and preventive cardiology
**A review on anticancer effect of phytosterols
**Melamine - Rapid test kit
**Extending the shelf life of beer by removing riboflavin
**ASA not impressed with Fruit Shoots advert
**ASA adjudicates on adverts for Aptamil
**Protective benefits of omega 3 and preventive cardiology
A review published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology by researchers from the Ochsner Medical Centre, has found that omega 3 fatty acids could reduce the chance of patients with heart problems dying by 30% and fatty acids found in fish oils can help protect against heart attacks. Doctors are now saying that there is compelling evidence of the benefits of taking 500 mg of omega 3 fish oil a day. Dr Carl Lavie, the lead researcher is quoted as saying that evidence from very large studies, some dating back 20 and 30 years, demonstrate the protective benefits of omega-3 fish oil in multiple aspects of preventive cardiology. (Daily Telegraph)
**A review on anticancer effect of phytosterols
NutraIngredients.com has highlighted a review by Woyengo et al published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition which examined previous studies regarding the effects and mechanisms of actions of phytosterols on forms of cancer. Plants sterols or phytosterols are found in several forms in plants including sitosterol which is the most plentiful, followed by campesterol. Sources of phytosterols include grain legumes such as chickpeas, lentils, sesame and cereal grains, vegetable oils and nuts. By interfering with the absorption of cholesterol from the gut, phytosterols have been found to reduce blood cholesterol levels and have been shown to reduce circulating cholesterol by mediating intestinal membrane transport proteins. Previous studies have indicated that phytosterols also possess anti-cancer effects against cancers of the stomach, lung, ovary and estrogen-dependent breast cancer by inhibiting the production of carcinogens, cancer cell growth invasion and metastasis and promote apoptosis of cancerous cells. They may also increase the activity of antioxidant enzymes, which can lead to a reduction in oxidative stress. Further details of this review were given in Food e-News Edition 445 (08/07/09).
**Melamine - Rapid test kit
Researchers at the University of Minnesota's BioTechnology Institute, US have developed a test kit using the enzyme, melamine deaminase, to detect the industrial chemical melamine which killed six Chinese children and hospitalised a further 15000 last year. The MaxSignal Melamine Enzymatic Assay Kit to be marketed by Bioo Scientific will provide a simple, inexpensive method to detect melamine contamination in infant formula and other liquids including cream, ice cream and chocolate drink. With further adaptation the test is also expected to be applied to melamine in seafood and meat in the future. (UMNews 20/07/09)
**Extending the shelf life of beer by removing riboflavin
Researchers at the Technical University of Dortmund, Germany, have developed a way of removing riboflavin from drinks. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is responsible for driving photo oxidation reactions that impact the flavour of many drinks and so shorten their shelf life. By imprinting riboflavin-shaped pockets into a polymer, the team showed that they were able to capture and remove riboflavin molecules from milk, beer and multivitamin mixtures. The effect, according to the researchers, is to almost double the extraction of riboflavin obtained by non-imprinted polymers from around 47% to up to 86%. The simple and effective method holds much promise in other similar applications for removing unwanted, toxic or irritating compounds from many types of consumer products. ( ChemTech; full text in J. Panagiotis Manesiotis et al, J. Mater, Chem 2009 ).
**ASA not impressed with Fruit Shoots advert
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has recently adjudicated on a magazine advert, for Robinsons Fruit Shoots, included text that stated "To help kids stay healthy and active, you need to make sure they drink enough throughout the day. Robinsons Fruit Shoot range quenches their thirst with a taste they love". Further text stated " ... just like grown-ups, kids need plenty of fluids to help them maintain their mental and physical stamina. In fact, they should drink six to eight 250ml glasses a day ... ". The complainant challenged whether the claim "they should drink six to eight 250ml glasses a day ... " was misleading and could be substantiated, because she understood the total recommended fluid intake for children included fluid absorbed from food as well as from drink. The ASA agreed with the complainant that the advert was misleading and stated that the advert should not be shown again in its current format.
**ASA adjudicates on adverts for Aptamil
A TV ad for Aptamil showed a mother holding a young baby. The baby appeared to have a glowing halo around it. Voice-over stated "Breast milk is perfect for your baby. Nothing compares to it. It strengthens your baby's natural defences." The next scene showed the same mother with the same baby some months later. He still had the same halo around him. She was shown taking him to a park to play with other children, one of whom sneezed over him. Animated germs were seen to bounce off the halo. Voice-over stated "How time flies. If you decide to move on from breastfeeding, Aptamil Follow On contains Immunofortis to help support some of your baby's natural defences. Aptamil Follow On. Helping support your baby." Complaints to the ASA questioned whether the advert was misleading for suggesting that Aptamil Follow On provided the same health benefits as breast milk. These complaints were not upheld, but one which suggested that Aptamil could help prevent children catching colds, because it contained “immunofortis” was upheld.
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