Food for Thought (Apr. 1 – Apr. 7)

Food and Health

A new review of human brain imaging studies published by Cell Press in the journal Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism suggests that a major reason for the dramatic increase in obesity may be a heightened sensitivity to heavily advertised and easily accessible high-calorie foods. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120405131421.htm

Whilst pointing out that certain groups of the population have deficiencies, the CDC announced in a press release today, that in all, the US population has good levels of the main essential vitamins and minerals. Vitamin A & D as well as Folate and Iron got the green light in a report entitled "Second National Report on Biochemical Indicators of Diet and Nutrition". http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/243649.php

There are 8 foods saltier than potato chips: cereal, condiments, coffee drinks, tomato sauce, bread, canned vegetables, soups, and pretzels. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/04/salt-in-food_n_1398150.html?ref=food&ir=Food#s835519&title=Cereal

The best way for parents to reduce the amount of soft drinks their young children drink is to not serve it with meals, a new study suggests. The findings from researchers in Belgium showed that children from higher-income families drank less than half — about 42 percent — as much soda as children from lower-income families. However, the vast majority of the difference between the income groups could be explained by three parenting practices: not offering soda at mealtimes, not letting kids drink soda whenever they want, and not keeping soda in the house, according to the study. http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/05/11042419-3-ways-parents-can-reduce-kids-soda-intake?lite

Food Safety

Odwalla issued a nationwide allergy alert in the US and is recalling dairy-based chocolate beverages. The company warned that the beverage could cause ‘serious or life-threatening’ reactions in nut allergic consumers. http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Market/Severe-allergic-reactions-to-Odwalla-dairy-based-beverage-spark-mass-US-recall

Reusable grocery totes are a popular, eco-friendly choice to transport groceries, but only 15 percent of Americans regularly wash their bags. Most users are inadvertently creating a breeding zone for harmful bacteria, according to a new survey by the Home Food Safety program, a collaboration between the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly the American Dietetic Association) and ConAgra Foods. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/04/120403135957.htm

One hundred cases of Salmonella Bareilly poisoning have been reported from 19 states and the District of Columbia while investigators still have "not conclusively identified a food source," the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday. The CDC's earlier report, as well as an internal email circulated at the Food and Drug Administration, implicated sushi, sashimi or a raw dish such as ceviche as possible sources of the outbreak. The FDA email said spicy tuna roll sushi is highly suspect. http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/04/100-ill-in-sushi-suspected-salmonella-outbreak/

In a long-awaited decision, last week the Food and Drug Administration disappointed health advocates once again by allowing Bisphenol A or BPA, a known endocrine disruptor, to remain approved as a chemical additive in food containers such as plastic bottles and metal cans.While the agency says it's still studying the matter, a number of groups say the science is clear enough. http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/04/bpa-is-fdas-latest-gift-to-food-industry/

Food Assistance

Students get in more trouble toward the end of the month than at the beginning. New research suggests that’s especially true for students from families on food stamps, perhaps because life at home gets more stressful as benefits run out. Modifying the food-stamp program so that benefits are paid out twice, rather than once, a month could help eliminate these cycles. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-03/end-of-month-hunger-hurts-students-on-food-stamps.html

Over the past five years, the number of Larimer County households receiving food stamps through the Colorado Food Assistance Program more than doubled. In 2006, there were 57,105 households on food stamps, compared with 115,047 households in 2011. http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_20345488/economic-woes-prompt-surge-use-larimer-county-loveland

Schools don’t serve breakfast and lunch on days they’re closed, so most of the elementary-age children in Southside’s spring break program this week eat bag lunches prepared by the city of Lansing, MI. In all, the city and its volunteers prepared and distributed 5,000 meals to neighborhood and community centers and public housing complexes across the city. And just like the school meals, these are free. http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20120405/NEWS01/304050035/Let-s-do-lunch-week-kids-eat-free-city-sites?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7C%7Cp

Philabundance provides a reliable source of food to 9 counties in the Delaware Valley, PA. They will receive $120,000 out of a $4.4M grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts to help Philadelphia’s elderly. http://www.philabundance.org/2012/04/04/pew-to-grant-4-4m-to-help-phila-s-elderly/