Poultry Fingered in Food Illness
Poultry was the leading culprit in foodborne illness outbreaks reported to the government in 2007, the most recent year for which statistics have been compiled. Counting only the 45% of outbreaks in which a single ingredient was clearly the cause of food poisoning (rather than multiple ingredients, such as chicken salad),
Healthy Eating Getting Pricier
Can you afford to eat right? Its getting tougher. Prices of foods rich in nutrients rose at almost double the rate of junk food from 2004 to 2008. University of Washington researchers tracked the cost of the top 20% most nutrient-dense supermarket selections, such as vegetables and fortified wholegrain cereals,
As Temperatures Cool, Heart Attacks Heat Up
A new British study finds that colder temperatures are followed by a spike in heart attacks. For every one-degree Celsius drop in temperature, relative risk of heart attacks increased by 2%; the higher incidence was seen for up to two weeks after the arrival of colder temperatures. Researchers analyzed data on 84,010 hospital admissions in 15 urban areas of England and Wales over four years, adjusting for a variety of other risk factors. People ages 75-84 and those with a history of coronary heart disease showed the strongest association between cold waves and heart attacks.
Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Still Falling Short
Americans still arent eating their vegetables, and fruit consump-tion actually dropped a little last year, according to a new government report. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System covering trends from 2000 to 2009 to see how were doing in meet-ing the Healthy People 2010 targets for produce consumption. No states are yet meeting those goals, which call for 75% of Americans to eat at least two daily fruit servings and 50% to consume three or more vegetable serv-ings per day. Californians ate the most fruit and Tennessee topped vegetable consumption, while Oklahomans ate the least fruit and South Dakota ranked last for veggies.
Acupuncturists Attitude Beats Authenticity
Traditional Chinese acupuncture may help relieve pain from arthri-tis of the knee. But so could sham acupuncture, in which needles are inserted shallowly and outside the traditional meridian points. The key, according to a new clinical trial of 455 patients plus 72 controls, seems to be the attitude of the acupuncturist.
Green-Tea Claims Bring FDA Warnings
The US Food and Drug Administra-tion (FDA) says two leading makers of green-tea beverages are going too far with health claims for their drinks. The agency issued warning letters to Canada Dry, producer of Sparkling Green Tea Ginger Ale, and Unilever, maker of Lip-ton Green Tea. According to the FDA, the fortified ginger ale fails to meet gov-ernment requirements to claim that its enhanced with 200 mg of antioxidants from green tea and vitamin C.
Desk Job May Not Be Hazardous to Your Health
Go ahead, take a seat-it probably wont kill you. Counterbalancing a recent study (see last issues News-Bites) linking sitting too much with increased risk of death,
High-Fructose Corn Syrup Makers Seek a Name Change
Would high-fructose corn syrup by any other name taste as sweet? Tired of what it sees as a bum rap for the sweet-ener, the Corn Refiners Association has petitioned the US Food and Drug Admin-istration (FDA) to allow ingredient labels to list high-fructose corn syrup instead as corn sugar.
FTC Challenges Pom Claims
I f youre counting on pomegranate juice to reduce your risk of heart disease, prostate cancer or impotence, you might want to think before you sip. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has charged juice-maker Pom Won- derful and top corporate executives with making false and unsubstantiated claims about the drinks health benefts. According to the FTC, the company ignored evidence contradicting health claims for Pom Wonderful, including studies that found the antioxidant-rich juice no more effective than a placebo. In May 2007, for instance, a large com- pany-fnanced study found no differ- ence in arterial plaque buildup between those drinking Pom Wonderful and those sipping a placebo for 18 months. In response, Pom Wonderful executives cited the $34 million the company has spent on pomegranate research and charged the FTC with violating their First Amendment rights.
Dietary Guidelines Mostly Unmet I
I f youre not eating as healthfully as the federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans advise, youre hardly alone. Researchers who analyzed data on 16,338 individuals eating habits from 2001-2004 national dietary surveys painted a dire picture of adherence to the healthy-eating guidelines. Nearly everyone in the survey failed to meet recommendations for whole grains, dark green vegetables, orange veg- etables and legumes. A majority fell short on every food group except beans, total grains and, not surprisingly, meat. Meanwhile, 80% of Americans age 71-plus and more than 90% of all other age groups, regardless of gender, indulged too much in discretionary calories-those from saturated fats, added sugars and alcohol. Research- ers concluded, Nearly the entire US population consumes a diet that is not on par with recommendations. These fndings add another piece to the rather disturbing picture that is emerging of a nations diet in crisis. An offcial update to the US dietary guidelines will be issued by years end-though the re- vised recommendations arent expected to be any easier to live up to.