Securing food supplies up to 2050
The world needs to produce more food but in a way which does not degrade the natural resources on which agriculture depends, which decreases the food chain’s reliance on fossil fuels and reduces green house gas emissions. This is one of the key messages from a Parliamentary Report by the UK’s Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee (EFRA) entitled “Securing food supplies up to 2050: the challenges faced by the UK”. However, for consumers used to well stocked supermarkets with foods from all over the world, the threat of food shortages and disruptions to the supply chain are not topics uppermost in their minds!
According to the report’s summary, food raced up the global political agenda when two projections were voiced at the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s “World Food Security” conference in June 2008. In one the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, announced that food production would need to increase by 50% by 2030 to meet rising demand; in the other the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Jacques Diouf, stated that food production would need to double by 2050 to feed a world population of 9 billion.
In the UK, the Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has a responsibility to provide strong leadership on food policy, something which the report suggests it has neglected in recent years, since the food industry has been so effective in delivering cheap, safe and nutritious food to households. Now Defra has lost its climate change brief to the new Department for Energy and Climate Change, it is acknowledged that the department must re-focus its attention on food policy in a way which goes beyond the short-term nature of the political cycle, pulling together the work of various Government groups already involved in aspects of food policy. The report points out that although UK public sector research into food and farming is still world-class in some respects, there is an urgent need to increase the budget for research, ensure that research priorities reflect the importance of securing food supplies, and increase the facilities available for translating the results of research into practice, so that benefits can be realised and not just “sit on the shelf”. Defra must also provide some leadership in Europe, where reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) should provide incentives and mechanisms to encourage sustainable farming that uses less water and fossil fuels and does not degrade soils.
The issue of food prices is also tackled in the report. A report by the World Bank suggested that overall global food prices had increased by an average of 83% in the three years up to February 2008, with wheat prices increasing an astonishing 181% over the same period. Similar conclusions were reached by a Chatham House report published in April 2008, although in this case the authors said the current price spike was unusual, in that it had involved almost all major food and feed commodities, rather than just a few of them. Corn for instance was at its highest price for 11 years, rice and soya for 34 years, and wheat at its highest price ever. All this followed from a period from 1974 – 2005 when food prices fell in real terms.
Consumers also have a part to play by thinking more about the consequences of how and where their food is produced. Those buying meat and dairy products should be encouraged to consider both the environmental and health impacts of their choices and Defra must do more work on what are the most sustainable methods of livestock production, and the balance to be struck between animal welfare, biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, and the need to conserve inputs such as water. With regard to fish, consumers must be encouraged to try less well known types of fish and shellfish, and health policies which urge people to eat more fish must be considered in relation to a marine environment which may not be able to meet this demand for fish. Food waste must be reduced. Apparently UK consumers throw away about 30% of the food they buy, about half of which is still fit for consumption . (Full text of the report – 70 pages).
Back to top
Milk consumption heart disease, stroke and diabetes
Peter Elwood and colleagues at Cardiff University, the University of Reading and the University of Bristol have published a review in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition which suggested that drinking a pint of milk a day may cut the risk of heart disease and stroke by up to 20%.
Although many mammals stop drinking milk early in their life, and some humans lose the ability to digest lactose, Northern Europeans typically retain the ability to digest milk and often consume quite high quantities. Elwood et al, indicate that the health benefits of milk would be best tested in randomised controlled trials, but say that no such trials have been reported and the current associations between milk consumption and health benefits have been derived from cohort studies. For their review, Elwood and co-authors performed a literature search for prospective cohort and case control studies of milk and dairy consumption as predictors of vascular disease and diabetes. They also summarised the conclusions of a world cancer research report and examined evidence relating to the consumption of whole milk versus reduced fat milks and their effect on survival.
The Medline database was searched for studies relating to milk, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. After the application of certain exclusion criteria, 11 papers related to heart disease and milk, 7 for stroke and milk and 4 for diabetes and milk, were selected. An additional 4 cross sectional papers for metabolic syndrome and 4 cross sectional papers for myocardial infarction (MI) were found. The authors noted the relative risks given in each paper and pooled these using a weighting process involving the inverse of the variances. The authors of the study note that much has been written on the association between milk and dairy consumption and cardiovascular risk factors.
A number of the studies showed that subjects with the highest milk consumption had a reduced incidence of metabolic syndrome by up to 26%, although the authors state that this does not necessarily agree with other studies, such as the British women’s heart and health study. When considering MI, the review notes the meta analysis of 4 studies showed a decreased risk of MI associated with milk consumption of up to 17%. In the case of the 7 studies relating to stroke, there was a 20% reduction in risk amongst those drinking the most milk compared to those drinking the least. For type 2 diabetes, four cohort studies investigated the association between the incidence of type 2 diabetes and levels of milk and dairy product consumption. Here the meta analysis showed a 10% reduction in relative risk of type 2 diabetes for subjects with the highest milk intake.
When considering cancer the authors of the review state that although the literature is extensive much of the data comes from case control comparisons rather than prospective cohort studies and that there is not sufficient data for meta analysis to be applied. Elwood et al therefore summarise the relevant findings in a recent world cancer research fund report. This, they say, shows increased milk or dairy consumption to be associated with a significant reduction in colon cancer risk of up to 22%, but also a significant increased risk of prostate cancer of up to an additional 6%.
Finally, Elwood et al note that individual studies often provide data for whole and reduced fat milk consumption within the same cohort. As people who choose reduced fat milks almost certainly adopt other healthy behaviours, this was likely to add unknown confounding factors and so they concluded that no reasonable comparisons could be made and in consequence did not perform the relevant meta analysis on this type of study.
Overall Elwood et al say that whilst they have not attempted to estimate an overall quantitative survival advantage from milk consumption they note that the evidence is highly suggestive of an increase in survival due to the consumption of milk and dairy foods. (Summary - NHS Choices).
Back to top
Milk in childhood may reduce stroke later in life
Following on from the topic in the article above, research by a group of authors based at the Queensland Institute for Medical Research, Australia and the University of Bristol, UK has evaluated data collected from children born in the 1930s which have suggested that a high consumption of milk and dairy products during childhood may have protected these children from stroke later in life.
A summary of the work in The Independent (28/07/09) explains how more than 1340 working class families in England and Scotland kept detailed food diaries for 7 days as part of the Boyd-Orr cohort studies. More than 65 years later the researchers successfully traced 4,374 of the children involved in the original study and found out what had happened to them between 1948 and 2005. The data showed that one third of them had died. Of these, 378 deaths were from heart disease and 121 deaths were from stroke. Those with the highest intake of dairy products, averaging 471 g/day, had a 23% lower risk of dying of stroke compared with those with the lowest intake, averaging 89 g/day.
The authors believe that calcium, which is present in milk and all dairy foods was responsible for the lower mortality rates in those with highest intakes of these foods. Calcium is essential for healthy bones, but there is some evidence that it also reduces blood pressure in children, which could offer protection against heart disease and stroke later in life. The Daily Mail (28/07/09) mentions that 50 g of cheddar cheese or about half a pint of milk contain 400 mg of calcium. No link was found between calcium intake and death from heart disease.
“Drinka pinta milka day” was a popular advertising slogan in the 1950s, and the free daily bottle of milk (one third of a pint) offered to school children between the 1950s and the 1970s may have provided a significant nutritional boost to these children. However, Joanne Murphy from the Stroke Association is quoted as saying that although this is an interesting study, further research is needed to assess the benefits of milk in reducing stroke. Dr Richard Martin, from the University of Bristol and the senior British author, also cautioned against applying these findings to present day children who are raised on different – and richer- diets. Although no adverse effects of milk on children had been seen, he said it would be wise to be cautious in saying it had a protective effect. The research is to be published in the BMJ journal Heart. Summary also in BBC Health News.
RSSL’s Analytical Chemistry Laboratory is equipped with AAS and ICP-MS to analyse for a wide range of concentrations of metals, including calcium, in foods, drinks and dietary supplements. For more information please contact Customer Services on Freefone 0800 243482 or e-mail enquiries@rssl.com
Back to top
Linoleic acid and ulcerative colitis
A cohort study published online in Gut has found that increased intake of omega-6 fatty acid (n-6 PUFA) linoleic acid, found in many food sources including red meat and various cooking oils, may double a person’s risk of developing ulcerative colitis.
Ulcerative colitis is linked to an increased risk of complications including colorectal cancer. The cause of this condition is unknown although Dr Andrew Hart, the author of this current study, states that it is possible that the n-6 PUFA linoleic acid could be involved. During metabolism linoleic acid is converted to the n-6 PUFA arachidonic acid, a component of colonic cell membranes. This is then subsequently metabolised to pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, which are present in excess in the mucosa of patients with ulcerative colitis. According to Dr Hart the aim of this study was to conduct the first prospective cohort investigation of dietary linoleic acid and the risk of developing incident ulcerative colitis.
Hart used data from country-specific food frequency questionnaires from 203,193 men and women, aged between 30 and 74 who were involved in a prospective cohort study. The participants were residents from UK, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Italy who were enrolled in the EPIC study (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition). He calculated nutrient intake, including the dietary fatty acids linoleic acid (n-6 PUFA), α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid (n-3 PUFAs) and oleic acid (an n-9 monounsaturated fatty acid). The FFQ were validated against 24 hr recall questionnaires and in the majority of countries the data was compared to plasma and urinary biomarkers. Cases of ulcerative colitis were identified by a number of processes including diseases registries, follow up questionnaires and patient databases. Those who were diagnosed 18 months after the start of the study were excluded, as well as those prevalent cases of ulcerative colitis at recruitment. Each case was matched with 4 controls of a similar age (+/- 6 months ) and of the same gender, recruited at the same time and the risk of the disease was calculated by quartile of intake of linoleic acid and adjusted for gender, age, smoking, total energy intake and centre.
Hart found that 126 participants (47% women) developed ulcerative colitis after an average of 4 years. For 111 cases the age at diagnosis was known and the average was found to be 60 years. He states that the highest quartile of intake of linoleic acid was linked to a doubling of the risk of ulcerative colitis. He states that if this association is causative, then 30% of all ulcerative colitis cases could be attributed to higher intake of linoleic acid and that therefore there would be the potential for reducing cases by modification of diet. He notes that educational level and aspirin intake did not affect the results. Increasing dietary intake of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was associated with a 77% reduction in ulcerative colitis. Hart suggests that this could be due to a number of mechanisms including the ability of DHA to promote the release of phospholipase D from membranes giving an anti-proliferative effect in lymphoid cells. Or it may be that DHA has a direct effect on gene expression for mediators of inflammation. Amongst the limitations of the study Hart notes that smoking data were not available on participant follow up and as ulcerative colitis may be more common in those that stop smoking the lack of this data may obscure results. He also indicates that the participants in this study were mainly middle aged to elderly but that the disease is usually regarded as presenting earlier than this age group.
RSSL's Lipids Laboratory has expertise in all aspects of fat analysis and fatty acid profiling, including the determination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. For more information please contact Customer Services on Freefone 0800 243482 or e-mail enquiries@rssl.com
Back to top
Common blue dye may help recovery from spinal injuries
Appearing widely in the media this week is a story about how a blue colour, which is related chemically to food colours used in M&M sweets and the soft drink Gatorade, may prove to be useful in treating spinal injuries by counteracting the damaging effects of the body’s own ATP (adenosine triphosphate). The scientific research behind the headlines was carried out by Professor Maiken Nedergaard and his team at the University of Rochester Medical Center, New York.
The present research builds on a breakthrough reported by Nedergaard’s team in Nature Medicine in August 2004 (10: 821 – 827. doi:10.1038/nm1082). This had shown how excessively high levels of ATP, normally the main source of energy in the body, were immediately released into the areas surrounding the injury killing healthy uninjured nerve cells (neurons). This occurred because exposure of P2X7 purine receptors (P2X7R) to excessive ATP facilitated a rapid, bidirectional flux of cations causing depolarization, a collapse of the sodium and potassium gradients in the cell, a massive influx of calcium and consequently cell death. After acute injury to the rats, administration of P2X7R antagonists significantly improved functional recovery in the animals and reduced cell death in the tissue surrounding the injury. One of the antagonists used was oxidised-ATP but this could not be injected into human subjects because of its dangerous side effects. As a result the scientists needed to find another antagonist which could be delivered immediately after injury to stop ATP killing healthy neurons and causing paralysis.
In their latest article, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) Nedergaard and his team describe how they treated injured rats with Brilliant Blue G (BBG) within 15 minutes of injury. BBG was already known as a P2X7R antagonist. Results showed that the BBG reduced spinal cord anatomic damage and improved motor recovery in the rats without evident toxicity. In addition the BBG also suppressed local inflammatory responses by reducing the activation of astrocytes and microglia and neutrophil infiltration.
Whilst acknowledging that this work may offer a promising new way of treating spinal cord injury, Nedergaard points out that its possible application to patients is still years away. He also points out its limitation in that the BBG needs to be delivered immediately after injury and would be of no use to patients whose injuries are more than a day old. (Summary in MedicalNewsToday.com (28/07/09). Full text in PNAS, Published online before print , doi: 10.1073/pnas.0902531106 ).
RSSL's Functional Ingredients Laboratory can analyse foods for natural and artificial food colours by HPLC and identify added carotenoids. For more information please contact Customer Services on Freefone 0800 243482 or e-mail enquiries@rssl.com
Back to top
Absence of pomegranate ellagitannins in most commercial extracts
David Heber and colleagues from the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California analysed 27 different dietary supplements containing pomegranate extracts, some claiming to contain specific amounts of ellagic acid, ellagitannins or punicosides. The content of ellagic acid is generally used as a marker to standardise pomegranate dietary supplements. However, supplements can be adulterated with ellagic acid from less expensive plant sources such as chestnut bark.
Pomegranate fruit (Punica granatum) has a long history of use for its health benefits in the Middle East, India, China and Russia. The Wonderful variety grown in California, US, is commercially available as a juice with claimed health benefits. There are also numerous dietary supplements made from pomegranate extracts which may contain hydrolysable tannins (punicalin, and punicalagins A and B) as well as tannin-based complex oligomers. Such tannins are thought to account for 89% of the antioxidant activity of pomegranate juice. The authors explain that even though these large molecules are not absorbed directly into the body, they are hydrolysed by gut microflora and absorption of ellagic acid from the hydrolysate can lead to a sustained rise in blood plasma levels of ellagic acid. Ellagic acid is then metabolised to urolithins about 12 hours after absorption, and urolithins can be detected in the blood and urine for up to 48 hours after a single dose. It is suggested that it may be the urolithins which account for some of the biological activity of pomegranate juice. Despite the use of ellagic acid as an intrinsic chemical marker to standardise commercial pomegranate products, research into their health benefits does not necessarily identify ellagic acid as the sole provider of such benefits.
The 27 pomegranate supplements analysed came in the form of capsules, tablets and soft gels. The capsules and tablets contained mainly hydrolysable tannins, while the soft gels contained pomegranate seed oils as well as some ellagitannins. Total phenolics were measured using both gallic acid equivalent (GAE) and ellagic acid equivalent assays (EAE). Punicalin, punicalagins and ellagic acid were determined by HPLC. Antioxidant activity was measured as the Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC).
According to the authors’ summary, of the 27 supplements tested, HPLC analysis showed that only 5 had the typical pomegranate tannin profile. Seventeen had ellagic acid as the predominant chemical with minor or no detectable pomegranate tannins, and 5 had no detectable tannins or ellagic acid. Therefore, the authors point out that the standardization of pomegranate extract supplements based on their ellagic acid content does not guarantee pomegranate supplement authenticity. Future research is needed to assess the health impact of substituting ellagic acid for the complex mix of phytochemicals in a pomegranate extract dietary supplement. (Zhang et al. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
, ASAP 27/07/09, Doi: 10.1021/jf9010017).
RSSL's Functional Ingredients Laboratory can determine physiologically active compounds, including tannins and other polyphenols in fruits, vegetables, herbals and dietary supplements. For more information contact Customer Services on Freefone 0800 243482 or e-mail enquiries@rssl.com
Back to top
Hardness of rinsing water may affect bacteria on chicken skin
Reducing water hardness may increase its ability to remove bacteria from broiler chicken skin, according to a study conducted by scientists from the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service laboratory in Athens, Georgia and reported in the International Journal of Poultry Science
Water hardness is related to the concentration of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, dissolved in water. These minerals are naturally found in soil and rocks in locations with high concentrations of limestone, dolomite, or gypsum in the ground. Hard water is produced as minerals from these ground deposits become dissolved in water flowing through the earth. High concentrations of calcium and magnesium contained in hard water can bind to cleansers and sanitizers used in processing operations and decrease the effectiveness of these processing aids. The purpose of the study was to determine if water hardness plays a role in the ability of water to rinse away bacteria from the skin of processed broiler chickens and to determine if the process of chemically softening hard water improves the ability of water to remove bacteria, such as Campylobacter, Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas from the broiler skin. Campylobacter are found in the intestinal tract of birds and can contaminate the bird’s carcass during processing. Staphylococcus is normally found on the skin of the birds and Pseudomonas is a type of spoilage bacteria that can be found in processing water.
Very hard water was prepared by dissolving calcium chloride and magnesium chloride in distilled water, and moderately hard water was prepared by diluting one part very hard water with one part soft water. Potassium citrate was used to reduce water hardness. Skin samples were rinsed in the water samples, and bacteria subsequently recovered from the skin which were incubated aerobically on agar plates. Results showed that the hardness of the rinsing water played a significant role in determining the number of bacteria recovered from the skin of processed chickens. Significantly fewer bacteria were recovered from skin samples rinsed in soft water than from skin rinsed in very hard water. Additionally, significantly fewer bacteria were recovered from skin rinsed in distilled water than from skin rinsed in moderately hard or very hard water. It is noted that high concentrations of calcium found in hard water can cause aggregation of protein molecules that could entrap bacteria found on the surface of the skin, thereby reducing the number of bacteria that could be rinsed from the surface.
The findings of this study indicate that water hardness may be one of the characteristics of processing water that should be monitored by poultry processors. By controlling water hardness, poultry processors may be able to improve the ability of processing water to remove bacteria from the skin of processed poultry. (International Journal of Poultry Science, 2009, 8 (2): 112-115).
Back to top
Omega-3 fatty acids, fish intake and risk of type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes (also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes) is characterised by peripheral insulin resistance with relative insulin deficiency. Dietary modifications and healthy lifestyles are known to be key components in the prevention of this type of diabetes. Previous studies by Harvard Medical School suggest that consumption of specific dietary fats, such as omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and trans-unsaturated fatty acids, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. However, the role of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids in the development of this type of diabetes has remained undetermined.
A study reported in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition by researchers M.Kaushik, W.Willet, F.Hu and colleagues at the Harvard Medical School examined the association between dietary omega-3 fatty acids and the incidence of type-2 diabetes in three separate large cohort studies. These cohorts consisted of the Nurses’ Health Study (NHS), Nurses’ Health Study 2 (NHS2) and the Health Professionals’ Follow Up Study (HPFS) with ages ranging between 26-78 years old. Assessments were completed and follow-up questionnaires were sent to all participants every 2 years to update information and identify any major diseases that may have arisen. Excluded participants included those with a history of type-2 diabetes, cancer or cardiovascular disease at baseline. Overall, the study involved the assessment of 195,204 US adults without pre-existing chronic disease for their fish and long chain omega-3 fatty acid intake at baseline and at intervals of 4 years.
The results indicate that in age-adjusted models, consumption of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids was not associated with risk of type-2 diabetes. Conversely, in dietary and lifestyle adjusted models a higher intake of omega-3 fatty acids was associated with increased risk of type-2 diabetes in all three of the assessed cohorts. The relative risk for each 0.3g increment in intake of long-chain omega-3 intake ranged from 1.11 to 1.08 with an increase of risk by 8%-11% across the three cohorts. Generally, there was a dose-response correlation between the risk of type-2 diabetes and omega-3 intake. For fish consumption, results showed an increase of risk of type-2 diabetes ranging from 1%-22% with consumption frequency varying between once a week to more than five times a week. Consumption of different types of fish such as canned tuna or dark fish along with scallops, shrimp and lobster was related to a small increase in risk of type-2 diabetes. With the highest increase in risk of 14% being for canned tuna.
The authors conclude from this large prospective study that fish consumption was not associated with a decreased risk of type-2 diabetes. Instead, they observed a modest but significant positive correlation between fish and omega-3 fatty acid consumption and incidence of type-2 diabetes after consideration of established risk factors such as physical activity and smoking. Further work is required to investigate the possible mechanism and clinical relevance of fish and omega-3 fatty acid consumption given the known beneficial effects on multiple risk factors associated with diabetes, including triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure, and inflammation.
RSSL's Lipids Laboratory has expertise in all aspects of fat analysis and fatty acid profiling, including the determination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. For more information please contact Customer Services on Freefone 0800 243482 or e-mail enquiries@rssl.com
Back to top
Product recalls and alerts
**From Ireland
**From Australia and New Zealand
**From Canada
**From the US
**European Rapid Alerts for week 30
**Links to recall web sites
**Recall web sites for halal and kosher foods
**Waitrose recalls peppercorn goats cheese
Waitrose is recalling Moody's Rosary Pink Peppercorn Goats Cheese 100g as the pink peppercorns have been found to be contaminated with Salmonella. The Food Standards Agency has issued a food alert for information.
**99p Stores withdraw some Elgorriaga Chocolate
99p Stores have withdrawn some Elgorriaga Chocolate con Leche, because the product contains peanuts and almonds, which are not mentioned on the product label. This makes the product a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to nuts. The Food Standards Agency has issued an Allergy Alert.
**Heinz recalls spaghetti bolognese baby food
Heinz is recalling a batch of Heinz Mum’s Own Spaghetti Bolognese baby food due to the possibility of small pieces of plastic being in it, which could be a choking hazard. The Food Standards Agency has issued a Food Alert for Information.
**From Ireland
- The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has been informed of a food recall initiated by H.J. Heinz Company Ltd. The implicated batch of spaghetti bolognaise is being recalled as a precautionary measure because of the potential presence of small pieces of plastic which could present a choking risk.
**From Australia and New Zealand
- Grand Continental Food Company Pty Ltd is conducting a recall on dried whole anchovies due to the presence of histamine.
**From Canada
- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning people with allergies to eggs or milk not to consume various Surasang and Cremon brands of snack foods. These products contain allergens which are not declared on the labels.
- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning people with allergies to eggs or milk not to consume Haitai brand ButterRing Cookie. This product contains egg and milk which are not declared on the label.
- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning the public not to consume certain Tanimura & Antle romaine lettuce because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella.
**From the US
- Fireside Coffee Co. Swartz Creek, MI is recalling all Fireside Chai Tea that contains dry milk produced by Plainview Milk Products after June 2007. Plainview Milk Products of Plainview, MN has recalled its instant non-fat dry milk because of potential Salmonella contamination.
**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, this week being Week 30. Each entry has link which gives more details of the notification.
**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
Back to top
Food safety
**23 pupils down with food poisoning
**Mississippi Pizza Hut sued by 15 people
**Heinz recalls baby food after boy chokes on piece of plastic
**Destroyed GM potatoes replanted
**UK Government calls for views on nanotechnology
**Women dies after consuming liquid only crash diet
**Ground beef recalled following Salmonella outbreak
**153 students suffer illness after eating breakfast
**Canada – food safety report
**EU update on acrylamide toolbox
**PAHs in consumer products must be reduced as much as possible
**Tools for consumer risk assessment in the field of pesticides
**FDA warns over steroids in body-building products
**Animal diseases updates and food poisoning outbreaks
**The Food Safety Network
**23 pupils ill with food poisoning
Twenty-three year six pupils from around 100 involved in a camping programme were rushed to hospital in East Malaysia suffering from suspected food poisoning. The pupils were taken to hospital in teacher’s cars after having stomach cramps following drinking school canteen provided Milo and syrup. Parents have urged the school to ensure the canteen maintains a high standard of cleanliness. (Daily Express – East Malaysia)
**Mississippi Pizza Hut sued by 15 people
Fifteen members of the same church have filed a $1.1 million lawsuit against the company that owns a Pizza Hut restaurant in North Mississippi, after claiming they became sick after eating chicken. On 18 January 2009, 19 people were taken to hospital after eating at the restaurant with symptoms such as vomiting and nausea. They were treated and released. Analysis revealed little about why the customers become ill but the Department of Health did find raw chicken stored at an inappropriate temperature but said bacteria found in raw chicken did not usually cause sickness so quickly. (Associated Press)
**Heinz recalls baby food after boy chokes on piece of plastic
Heinz have recalled Heinz Mum’s Own Recipe spaghetti bolognese seven-months-plus baby food in 200g jars after a nine month old boy choked on a piece of plastic found in his food. According to the article in the Daily Mail the piece of plastic was bigger than a postage stamp. The jar and food has been sent to Heinz’s laboratory in Wigan. A company spokesman Nigel Dickie is quoted as saying that Heinz has informed the UK and Irish food authorities about the precautionary action and advertisements are appearing in the national media to alert parents and carers to the recall.
**Destroyed GM potatoes replanted
Following destruction by protesters, a field of GM potatoes has been replanted without the usual public alert. DEFRA claim the original permission for the trial is valid for three years and that the replanting can occur without further notice being given. DEFRA say the potatoes, designed to be resistant to a microscopic parasitic nematode worm, will not be used for human or animal consumption and once the trial has been completed. The crops next to the potatoes will be destroyed and the area left fallow for some years to come. Campaigners say the DEFRA are trying to “slip the trial under the radar” and a Friends of the Earth spokeswoman is quoted as saying that DEFRA clearly do not want people to know it is going on this year. The University of Leeds is running the trial. (Telegraph).
**UK Government calls for views on nanotechnology
The UK government has called on industry, academia and consumer groups to help form a strategy for use of nanotechnologies. This aims to ensure that the UK derives the maximum economic, environmental and societal benefits whilst ensuring risks are correctly managed. A new website under the auspices of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has been created to gather views on a wide range of issues and across a wide range of sectors The website allows comments to be made on five themes, namely anticipating opportunities and concerns; business and innovation climate; managing risks and uncertainties; measurement and standards; and public and stakeholder dialogue. Once collection of views and evidence ends in October, the Department aims to summarise responses by the end of December and hold workshops and meetings to discuss the issues raised and identify the next steps in the process. The final strategy is due to be published by the end of Feb 2010. (Environmental Health News)
**Women dies after consuming liquid only crash diet
A 26 year old women has died after consuming a liquid only crash diet of soup and water. According to the article in The Sun her body was so starved of sugar it began to use up its own reserves of fat and this led to a condition called ketoacidosis. The victim Helen Anderson, of South Shields, went from 15st to 9st 2lb over 14 weeks. South Tyneside coroner Terence Carney is quoted as saying that her death was in part a consequence of the intensive diet with which Helen was attempting to balance her weight.
**Ground beef recalled following Salmonella outbreak
Six people have been hospitalised and another 8 sickened in Colorado due to a Salmonella outbreak linked to ground beef. King Soopers grocery chain based in Denver recalled over 450,000 lbs of ground beef distributed to stores in a number of states including Colorado, Kansas and Missouri after state official urged it due to the number of illness and the fact that the strain involved is resistant to many antibiotics. A spokesman for the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service is quoted as saying that this is the first time the Agency had recalled raw ground beef for Salmonella as although it had been found in raw ground beef before, no recall had been involved as the source had not been determined. (CBS 4 Denver)
**153 students suffer illness after eating breakfast
153 students became ill, with 50 being put on intravenous fluids and 20 being admitted to hospital in an unconscious state, after eating breakfast at the Government Boarding and Lodging School at Ayothipattinam, India. The possibility of food poisoning is being investigated. A spokesman for the hospital where the students said that all were recovering and had become alert with none in a critical condition. It is reported that the students complained of stomach ache and giddiness following breakfast but there were only a few cases of diarrhoea and vomiting. Five students had also been taken ill the previous night with similar symptoms.(Express Buzz).
**Canada – food safety report
Just-Food.com (22/07/09) refers to a report into food safety in Canada which has warned that unless action is taken to tighten safety standards, incidents like the listeriosis outbreak that killed 22 people last year remain a "real risk". The report was produced by Sheila Weatherill, a food safety expert with the University of Manitoba. A press interview with Dr Weatherill can be found on the Health Canada web site, as well as the final report.
**PAHs in consumer products must be reduced as much as possible
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are complex mixtures of organic compounds that are often found as environmental pollutants . They are formed during incomplete combustion processes from coal, fuel, tobacco and during grilling. Numerous PAHs are also natural components of crude oil. Human exposure to PAHs occurs mainly via breathing air and food. More than 100 individual PAHs are known. Already in the 1980s the US Environmental Pro-tection Agency (EPA) established a list of 16 PAHs that have been most frequently detected in environmental samples. The reference compound in this substance group is benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). Contaminations of consumer products like tool handles or beach sandals can occur through the use of PAH-containing extender oils in the production of rubber and plastics. PAHs can be absorbed through the skin. Some PAHs are very probably mutagenic in man, reprotoxic or carcinogenic. (Quoted direct from the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), where there is more information on PAHs in consumer goods other than foods).
**Tools for consumer risk assessment in the field of pesticides
It is often difficult for experts from regulatory authorities involved in monitoring and surveillance or for experts dealing with quality control, consulting or risk management to decide if a particular pesticide residue in food constitutes an acute or chronic risk for consumers. This is mainly because these experts do not have access to all the relevant information needed for risk assessment. Some information is only available to people who are actually involved in the authorisation of pesticides. The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (Bfr) therefore has provided some tools for consumer risk assessment on its website.
**EU update on acrylamide toolbox
The European Commission has updated its web pages on the food process contaminant acrylamide. In particular the CIAA’s tool box which highlights ways of lowering levels of acrylamide in food has been updated.
**FDA warns over steroids in body-building products
The US Food and Drug Administration has issued a Public Health Advisory (PHA) warning consumers to stop using body building products that are represented as containing steroids or steroid-like substances. Many of these products are marketed as dietary supplements. The agency also issued a Warning Letter to American Cellular Laboratories Inc. for marketing and distributing body building products containing synthetic steroid substances. Although these products are marketed as dietary supplements, they are not dietary supplements, but instead are unapproved and misbranded drugs. Full details on the FDA web site.
**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.
RSSL's scientists are able to assist food businesses to manage food safety issues more effectively. The laboratories have considerable experience in the detection and identification of foreign bodies, heavy metals, allergens, toxins and chemical residues. For more information on any of these services and RSSL's Emergency Response Service, please contact Customer Services on Freefone 0800 243482 or e-mail enquiries@rssl.com
Back to top
Legislation headlines
**PGI for Brněnské pivo or Starobrněnské pivo
**PDO for Nocciola Romana
**Controls on imports of food and feed of non-animal origin
**Two new sets of EU wine regulations
**EU programmes for animal diseases and zoonoses
**Latest documents from European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
**EFSA completes review of vitamins and minerals
**Rock maker fined for too much colouring
**EU, Canada resolve WTO biotech dispute
**Food irradiation regulations
**Bottled water regulations
**Residue limits in animal products
**FSA consults on reducing saturated fat and added sugar in key foods
**PGI for Brněnské pivo or Starobrněnské pivo
Commission Regulation (EC) No 647/2009 of 23 July 2009 entered a name in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications for Brněnské pivo or Starobrněnské pivo (PGI).
**PDO for Nocciola Romana
Commission Regulation (EC) No 667/2009 of 22 July 2009 entered a name in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications for Nocciola Romana (PDO).
**Controls on imports of food and feed of non-animal origin
Commission Regulation (EC) No 669/2009 of 24 July 2009 implementing Regulation (EC) No 882/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the increased level of official controls on imports of certain feed and food of non-animal origin and amending Decision 2006/504/EC.
**Two new sets of EU wine regulations
Commission Regulation (EC) No 606/2009 of 10 July 2009 laying down certain detailed rules for implementing Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 as regards the categories of grapevine products, oenological practices and the applicable restrictions. (59 pages). Commission regulation (EC) No 607/2009 of 14 July 2009 laying down certain detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 479/2008 as regards protected designations of origin and geographical indications, traditional terms, labelling and presentation of certain wine sector products. (80 pages).
**EU programmes for animal diseases and zoonoses
Commission Decision 2009/560/EC of 22 July 2009 approving certain amended programmes for the eradication and monitoring of animal diseases and zoonoses for the year 2009 and amending Decision 2008/897/EC as regards the Community’s financial contribution to certain Member States for programmes approved by that Decision
**Latest documents from European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
BIOHAZ Panel opinions:
Food safety aspects of dairy cow housing and husbandry systems
Food Safety considerations concerning the species-specific welfare aspects of the main systems of stunning and killing of farmed fish.
NDA Panel opinion:
Gum Periobalance(TM) tablets and chewing gum and oral health - Scientific substantiation of a health claim related to Gum Periobalance™ tablets and chewing gum and oral health.
PPR Panel opinions:
Updating the opinion related to the revision of Annexes II and III to Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market – Environmental Fate and Behaviour studies
Updating the opinion related to the revision of Annexes II and III to Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market – Analytical methods
Updating the opinion related to the revision of Annexes II and III to Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market – Ecotoxicological studies
Updating the opinions related to the revision of Annexes II and III to Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market – Physical and Chemical Properties.
Updating the opinion related to the revision of Annexes II and III to Council Directive 91/414/EEC concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market – Residues.
GMO Panel opinions
Application (Reference EFSA-GMO-CZ-2006-33) for the placing on the market of the insect-resistant and glyphosate-tolerant genetically modified maize MON 88017 x MON 810, for food and feed uses, import and processing under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Monsanto.
Application (Reference EFSA-GMO-UK-2005-11) for the placing on the market of insect-resistant genetically modified maize MIR604 event, for food and feed uses, import and processing under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Syngenta Seeds S.A.S on behalf of Syngenta Crop Protection AG.
ANS Panel Opinion:
Orotic acid salts as sources of orotic acid and various minerals added for nutritional purposes to food supplements
Reasoned opinions of EFSA:
Modification of the existing MRL for lambda-cyhalothrin in globe artichokes
Review of the existing MRLs for fenamiphos.
Flavouring Group Evaluation 43: Thujyl alcohol from chemical group 8.
Flavouring Group Evaluation 212: alpha,beta-Unsaturated alicyclic ketones and precursors from chemical subgroup 2.6 of FGE.19
Flavouring Group Evaluation 61, Revision 1 (FGE.61Rev1): Consideration of aliphatic acetals evaluated by JECFA (57th meeting) structurally related to acetals of branched- and straight-chain aliphatic saturated primary alcohols and branched- and straight-chain saturated aldehydes and one orthoester of formic acid evaluated
PRAPeR Conclusions have been published on the following active substances: tri-allate and clofentezine.
Marine biotoxins in shellfish – Domoic acid
**EFSA completes review of vitamins and minerals
EFSA has examined 533 applications since 2005, relating to 344 different substances. The assessments were based on scientific evidence provided by food supplement manufacturers to demonstrate the safety of these nutrient sources and the extent to which they are absorbed in the body (i.e. their bioavailability). 186 applications were withdrawn at various stages during the evaluation process, and EFSA received insufficient scientific evidence to be able to assess around half of the remaining applications. Possible safety concerns were identified in relation to 39 applications. More details given at Flex-News.com (28/07/09) and on the EFSA’s own web site.
**Rock maker fined for too much colouring
Food Navigator (22/07/09) reports that a UK manufacturer of traditional seaside rock has been fined for using too high levels of Ponceau 4R, one of the ‘Southampton Six’ colours implicated a study of hyperactivity in children.
**EU, Canada resolve WTO biotech dispute
The EU and Canada signed a final settlement on 14 July to resolve a long-running WTO dispute over genetically modified products. The deal opens formal dialogue channels between the two sides, and represents a potential template for the EU to resolve its arguments over GM with the US and other third countries. But although Canada has agreed to drop its formal dispute with the EU at WTO level, the EU is not expected to modify any of its legislation on GM products. Canada, the US and Argentina all lodged complaints against the EU in May 2003 over the bloc's application of legislation on biotech products, alleging that the EU was blocking approvals of GM products though undue delays in the approvals process. The July settlement of the dispute between Canada and the EU establishes bi-annual meetings between the two parties on agricultural biotechnology. (Quoted direct from AgBiotech Reporter (20/07/09), subscription needed).
**Food irradiation regulations
The Food Irradiation (England) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/1584) have been published and come into force on 31 July 2009. These Regulations update and consolidate existing Regulations on food irradiation. These Regulations control the treatment of food with ionising radiation (X-rays, gamma rays or beams of electrons), referred to as food irradiation, and the importation and sale of irradiated food.
**Bottled water regulations
The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/1598) have been published. These came into force on 16 July 2009. This Statutory Instrument amends the Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water Regulations 2007 (SI 2007 No 2785). The existing Statutory Instrument implements all existing European legislation relating to natural mineral water, spring water and bottled drinking water (Directives 80/777/EEC (as amended), 98/83/EC and 2003/40/EC). Directive 80/777/EEC has been consolidated in Council Directive 2009/54/EC, necessitating amendments to the Statutory Instrument which replace references to a previous Directive with references to the recast Directive.
**Residue limits in animal products
The Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) (Amendment) Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/1925) have been published. They come into force on 10 August 2009. These Regulations amend provisions of the Animals and Animal Products (Examination for Residues and Maximum Residue Limits) Regulations 1997 (S.I. 1997/1729) that give effect to Council Directive 96/22/EC concerning the prohibition on the use in stockfarming of certain substances having a hormonal or thyrostatic action and of beta-agonists, and repealing Directives 81/602/EEC, 88/146/EEC and 88/299/EEC (OJ No. L 125, 23.5.1996, p.3). The Regulations give effect to the amendments made to that Directive by Directive 2008/97/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ No. L 318, 28.11.2008, p.9).
**FSA consults on reducing saturated fat and added sugar in key foods
The Food Standards Agency has launched a consultation on its proposals to introduce voluntary recommendations for food manufacturers for reductions in saturated fat and added sugar and increased availability of smaller single-portion sizes in a number of key foods – biscuits, cakes, pastries, buns, chocolate confectionery and soft drinks. Full details are given on the FSA web site with comments requested by 3 November 2009. These should be sent to Elizabeth Kendall, Food Standards Agency, Tel: 0207 276 8670; Fax: 0207 276 8193. E-mail to sfeiprogramme@foodstandards.gsi.gov.uk.
Back to top
Other headlines
**Common allergy drug reduces obesity and diabetes in mice
**Pollen extract may be encapsulator and flavour masker for foods
**WCRF warns that iced coffees are so full of calories
**Omega-3 fatty acids may hep prevent leading cause of blindness
**Milupa prebiotic follow-on formula adverts censored
**Fruit aroma compound relieves stress in Wistar rats!
**Camel milk chocolate
**Consumers generally back nanotech benefits
**CLA may protect elderly against muscle loss
**Common allergy drug reduces obesity and diabetes in mice
It is well known that diabetes involves abnormalities in the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas, however, the root caused of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are completely different. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the pancreas, destroying its ability to produce insulin. In contrast, Type 2 diabetes is a strictly metabolic condition in which cells grow increasingly insensitive to insulin signals and thus lose their ability to metabolise glucose. A recent group of papers in Nature Medicine have linked Type 2 diabetes with immunology. In the first study, researchers used two over-the-counter allergic medications called Zaditor and Cromolyn, which stabilise mast cells, to reduce both obesity and Type 2 diabetes in mice. In the second study, researchers found that regulatory T cells, once thought only to manage other white blood cells, also act as a liaison between the metabolic and immune systems, in this case controlling inflammation in fat tissue. It is becoming increasingly clear that Type 2 diabetes should be thought of in the context of immune function.
**Pollen extract may be encapsulator and flavour masker for foods
According to new results from Yorkshire based Sporomex Ltd, an extract from the spores of Lycopodium clavatum may encapsulate and mask the flavour of food ingredients such as cod liver oil. Researchers have shown that a loading with cod liver oil could be achieved up to a level of 1:1 without volunteer tasters distinguishing the cod liver oil encapsulated in the spore extract. One key property of the loaded sporopollenin exines (spore coatings) was that they retained a free flowing powder consistency, potentially important for mixing with other components. Looking ahead, the researchers noted that enhanced flavour masking could be achieved by a double encapsulation with, for example, wax, or by using a more traditional method such as flavouring. Dr Steve Beckett, CEO of Sporomex Ltd has said that finished food products containing this encapsulation technology are expected to appear within three years. (From FoodNavigator.com).
**WCRF warns that iced coffees are so full of calories
The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) has warned that some iced coffee drinks being sold by leading high-street coffee shop chains can contain up to a quarter of a woman’s daily recommended calorie intake. The calorie content of the drinks studied varied widely from as little as 3 calories up to a whopping 561 calories which is over a quarter of a woman's recommended daily intake. Although some low calorie content drinks were available, the majority still contained over 200 calories - still about ten percent of the recommended daily allowance. The WCRF warns that whilst an occasional drink of this type is unlikely to cause any harm, regular consumption of such drinks could increase the risk of developing cancer, heart disease and diabetes due to associated weight gain. World Cancer Research Fund (27/07/09).
**Omega-3 fatty acids may hep prevent leading cause of blindness
Current research has suggested that a diet high in omega-3 could help to slow age-related macular degeneration (AMD) which is one of the primary causes of blindness amongst the elderly and affects approximately 10% of people between 66 and 74. Whilst such a diet has previously been shown to protect against a variety of diseases including atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease, a group of researchers at the National Eye Institute in Bethesda have now found evidence to suggest that it could slow the progression, or even in some cases improve retinal lesions known to cause AMD. Science Daily (25/07/09).
**Milupa prebiotic follow-on formula adverts censored
The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled against Nutricia-owned Milupa over adverts promoting its prebiotic-fortified, follow-on formula, Aptamil. The ASA told to Milupa to remove claims stating Aptamil was the "best follow on milk", as well as claims about infant immune system benefits, because of a lack of supporting evidence. (NutraIngredients.com 23/07/09). The full adjudication can be accessed from the ASA web site. There is a very similar adjudication related to a magazine advertisement for Cow & Gate follow-on milk.
**Fruit aroma compound relieves stress in Wistar rats!
Breathing in the aroma of citrus fruits reduces stress because it contains a chemical compound that can physically calm and relax people, scientists have found. Fragrances from flowers and fruits have long been used in aromatherapy to relax the mind but this is the first scientific evidence that they also relax the body. The compound in question is linalool (3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadien-3-ol), a monoterpene with a floral scent which has been found in tea, orange, grape, mango, lemon, tomato, basil and lavender. In the experiments the rats were subjected to stress restraint for 2 hours. Inhalation of linalool by the animals induced changes in the expression of 115 genes. Also in neutrophils and lymphocytes, significant stress-related changes caused by the restraint were reduced on exposure to the linalool. (More in the Telegraph.co.uk; full text in Nakamura et al. J. Agric Food Chem. 2009, 57: 5480-5485).
**Camel milk chocolate
According to a short item in the Telegraph (22/07/09) the world’s first camel milk chocolate, produced in Dubai, is to go on sale around the world. The manufacturer, Al Nassma, is in talks with retailers in the US and Europe and it is likely the chocolate will eventually be on sale in Harrod’s. Al Nassma is also looking at the possibility of setting up a store in Japan, where demand for the product is high. All the chocolates are produced without preservatives or chemical additives with a range of locally popular spices, nuts and honey. Camel milk contains five times more vitamin C than cows’ milk, less fat, less lactose and more insulin, making it a good option for diabetics and the lactose intolerant. Also reported by Reuters.co.uk 21/07/09.
**Consumers generally back nanotech benefits
A new study has found European customers think the benefits of nanotechnology outweigh the potential risks, but are concerned about current risk assessment procedures. A survey commissioned by Landmark Public Policy Advisers Europe Ltd found that consumers want to see better labelling in foods, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals to indicate the presence of ingredients or materials produced by nanotechnologies. In proposed EU Novel Foods amendments, engineered nanomaterials would have to be labelled to differentiate them from those that occur naturally. Jacqueline Smith, lead author and a partner at Landmark Europe said that while science can guide risk assessment, it cannot engineer public acceptance. This can only be achieved through open dialogue, a supportive innovation environment, a solid but proportionate regulatory framework and, on the part of industry in particular, responsibility, transparency and intelligent communications. (NutraIngredients.com 23/07/09). 'Nanotechnology in Consumer Products', £275 from Amazon.co.uk.
**CLA may protect elderly against muscle loss
CLA (conjugated linolenic acid) is a fatty acid naturally present in ruminant meat and dairy products. Average intake of CLA has fallen with changes in the Western diet: in particular, when fat is removed from dairy products to produce a low fat version acceptable to consumers, the CLA is removed with it. Researchers supplemented the diets of 12-month old mice with either of two CLA isomers derived from safflower seed, a mixture of both or corn oil as a control. The isomers are known as trans-10 cis-12 and cis-9 trans-11. After six months, the groups supplemented with the CLA mix and the trans-10 cis-12 showed significantly higher muscle mass as compared to the corn oil and cis-9 trans-11 CLA groups. It was therefore concluded that CLA may be a novel dietary supplement that might prevent age-related muscle loss by maintaining redox balance during ageing. (NutraIngredients.com).
Back to top