Todays Newsbites

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.

Since 2007, 16 of the nations leading food and beverage companies have cut 6.4 trillion calories out of the American diet-equivalent to 78 daily calories per person. Thats the conclusion of a report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which worked with the companies to help combat childhood obesity.

When it comes to safe food handling for parties and other gatherings, Americans motto seems to be: Do as I say, not as I do.

Look for more worries about wheat and increasing interest in ancient grains, kale, coconut oil and chia seeds as 2014 goes on. Thats the forecast from a survey of more than 500 registered dietitians conducted by Todays Dietitian and Pollock Communications.

Look for the next step in the FDAs proposed crackdown on trans fats to come this spring, as the agency extended its comment period on the rule to March 8. Late last year, the FDA proposed revoking the fats status as generally recognized as safe (GRAS), which would lead to a phase-out of trans fats in most food products.

Dont count on extra vitamin D to get you through cold and flu season sniffle-free. Results from a large new clinical trial show no significant difference in upper respiratory tract infections between people randomly assigned to vitamin D supplements and those getting a placebo. The study, published in Clinical Infectious Diseases, also found no benefit from calcium supplements, either in duration of infection or severity of symptoms. The 759 generally healthy participants, ages 45-75, received either 1,000 IU of vitamin D, 1,200 milligrams of calcium, vitamin D plus calcium, or a placebo daily. Their days of illness and symptom severity were tracked over four winters.

By their own report, Americans ate less healthfully last year than any time since 2008. A daily poll by Gallup and Healthways, totaling more than 150,000 adults over a years polling, asks whether respondents ate healthfully the previous day.