Food for Thought (Feb. 12 - 17)

Food and Health

Diet soda may benefit the waistline, but a new study suggests that people who drink it every day have a heightened risk of heart attack and stroke. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46431225/ns/health-diet_and_nutrition/

According to a study in the February issue of Archives of Neurology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals, a Mediterranean-style diet may be healthier for the brain. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/241760.php

In Illinois, farmers and ranchers will focus on spreading the word about how consumers can stretch their grocery dollars with healthy, nutritious food during Food Checkout Week next week. http://www.whig.com/story/16959937/pike-county-farm-bureau-plans-food-check-out-week-event-monday-in-pittsfield

A new study in the February issue of the Journal of Food Science, published by the Institute of Food Technologists, shows that fish oil can be added to goat cheese to deliver high levels of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids without compromising taste or shelf-life. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120216133249.htm

A University of South Carolina study shows that Mexican-American youth gain pounds as they move away from the dietary habits of their native country, a move that is putting them at risk for serious health problems. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/02/120213153948.htm

Food Assistance

Schools in Bossier and Caddo parishes, Louisiana have been tweaking menus for years to prepare for the changes. They made more changes this year, such as serving only skim or low-fat milk and introducing new vegetables. Some changes are more popular than others. http://www.shreveporttimes.com/article/20120218/LIVING02/202170343/School-lunches-getting-makeover?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CFRONTPAGE

For thousands of Alaska kids, a simple school breakfast may draw them to school, boost their ability to learn and improve their behavior, advocates say. Now the pressure is growing on the state Legislature to put state dollars into the federal school meal program for the first time. http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/02/17/2031049/legislators-feel-pressure-to-help.html

It's estimated the SNAP program, what we commonly call "food stamps", brought in more than $16 million to the Montana economy last year and as Dennis Bragg has discovered in his special reports this week, those dollars are especially important in the state's small communities. http://www.kpax.com/news/snap-bringing-dollars-back-into-mt-economy/

Food Safety

Brown rice syrup used in many organic foods as a substitute for the often-chastised high fructose corn sugar is causing problems of its own with high arsenic levels. That means danger for those consuming such products as "organic" infant milk formula, cereal bars or high energy foods that contain the organic brown rice syrup (OBRS) as an ingredient, according to a Dartmouth College research team. http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/02/brown-rice-syrup-puts-arsenic-in-those-organics/

FDA released a statement on arsenic in brown rice syrup highlighting their commitment to protecting the nation's public health from contaminants in our food supply and has been monitoring for arsenic content for more than 20 years. Because arsenic is naturally occurring in soil and was used for many years in pesticides, FDA knows there are trace amounts of arsenic in many foods. They expanded surveillance activities in rice to ensure that consumers are protected. A study of findings is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2012. http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/FoodContaminantsAdulteration/Metals/ucm292531.htm

An additional Campylobacter infection has brought the total number of illnesses to 77in an outbreak linked to raw milk from Your Family Cow dairy in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/02/raw-milk-campylobacter-outbreak-expands/