Todays Newsbites

A slew of lawsuits-58 in 2013 alone-hasnt persuaded the food industry to jump off the natural-labeling bandwagon. Some experts had predicted that fear of legal action over the vague definition of natural might deter companies from using the term, which has been challenged in products using genetically modified (GMO) ingredients or high-fructose corn syrup, for example. But Mintel, which tracks global product launches, reports that 14% of new food products introduced in the US last…

Administration has proposed the most significant changes in nutrition labels since the government started requiring them in 1992. The Nutrition Facts labels were last modified in 2006, with the addition of trans fat data. The latest FDA proposal goes much further, revising portion sizes, the labels appearance and which nutrients must be included and even how theyre calculated. But dont look for the new labels on grocery shelves anytime soon:

Flax fans are applauding Health Canadas Food Directorate, which has approved the first health claim for ground flaxseed as a food that improves cholesterol. Products containing flaxseed can now boast that daily consumption of 40 grams (five tablespoons) of the ground seed lowers unhealthy cholesterol levels. Grinding or milling the seeds, the agency noted, makes nutrients such as omega-3s more bioavailable. Flaxseeds can easily be incorporated into a wide range of food products, and very finely milled ingredients derived from the seeds can even be added to beverages. Canada leads the world in flax production.

A pair of discoveries, reported in the journal PLoS One, may lead to better broccoli in the produce aisle. University of Illinois researchers, seeking to boost levels of anti-cancer glucosinolate compounds found in broccoli and similar vegetables, sprayed the plants shortly before harvest with methyl jasmonate. That natural, non-toxic plant signal chemical tells genes in the broccoli to produce the desired anti-cancer agents. Unfortunately, testing showed it also accelerated the production of ethylene, which causes plants to decay. Spraying a second chemical recently discovered in plants, 1-methylcyclopropene, was found to block the ethylene and prolong shelf life. The one-two punch, scientists hope, will help protect against cancer while also protecting the broccoli in your fridge.

Its not just the recession thats led to improvements in the US diet, according to a new analysis in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Beyond merely cutting back for pocketbook reasons, Americans are choosing to consume fewer calories and obesity rates are leveling off. The study used sophisticated statistical tools to control for changing economic conditions over the past decade, including unemployment rates and food prices. Calories declined more in beverages than food choices,…

Americans are slowly getting the positive message about whole grains, but we still have a ways to go, according to a new University of Minnesota study of data on more than 9,000 people from a national nutrition survey. The study, funded by General Mills, found that ready-to-eat cereals, oatmeal and breads and rolls accounted for about two-thirds of whole-grain intake. Only 7.7% of adults, however, consumed at least the recommended three ounce equivalents daily, and even fewer children were getting enough.

mall price changes and point-of-purchase labeling may have big effects on consumers beverage choices, according to an experiment in the cafeteria of a large financial institution.

Quinoa, the ancient grain thats enjoying renewed popularity, is free of the gluten protein that patients with celiac disease cant tolerate.

Eagle-eyed readers may have noticed a different website address in this newsletter, . Thats because our website is different, too-completely redesigned, easier to navigate and now including our nutrition-smart recipes.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finds itself in the middle of the tussle over whether foods labeled as natural can contain genetically modified (GMO) ingredients. The Grocery Manufacturers Association is petitioning the agency to specifically authorize natural labeling on GMO products, such as those containing bioengineered corn, soy, canola or sugar. The trade association cited the proliferation of lawsuits challenging natural labeling, with 65 pending class-action cases across the country. At the same time, three federal judges presiding over such cases have asked the FDA to rule on whether GMO ingredients belong in natural foods.