High omega-6 levels can protect against premature death

Could omega-6 fatty acids protect you against premature death? The answer is yes, according to a new University of Eastern Finland study. While protecting against death, omega-6 fatty acids also keep cardiovascular diseases at bay.

From landfill to lipstick: Grape waste as a cosmetic and food ingredient

The world drinks a lot of wine, and that means a lot of grapes are consumed every year. But not every part of the grape ends up in the bottle. Seeds, stalks and skins — roughly a quarter of the grapes — are typically discarded in landfills as waste. But now, researchers say they have found some useful commercial applications, such as prolonging the shelf life of fatty foods, for these wine leftovers.

Safety of glutamates added to food reviewed

EFSA has established a safe intake level for glutamic acid and glutamates used as food additives after re-evaluating their safety. The Authority also concluded that estimated dietary exposure to glutamic acid and glutamates may exceed not only the safe level but also doses associated with adverse effects in humans for some population groups. On this basis, EFSA’s experts recommend reviewing the maximum permitted levels for these food additives.

Researchers develop transparent patch to detect dangerous food threats

Is that meat still good? Are you sure? McMaster researchers have developed a test to bring certainty to the delicate but critical question of whether meat and other foods are safe to eat or need to be thrown out.

More dairy is associated with higher bone density and greater spine strength in men over 50

Researchers from Hebrew SeniorLife’s Institute for Aging Research (IFAR), Wageningen University, Tilburg University, University of Reading, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) have discovered that higher intake of dairy foods, such as milk, yogurt, and cheese, is associated with higher volumetric bone mineral density and vertebral strength at the spine in men. Dairy intake seems to be most beneficial for men over age 50, and continued to have positive associations irrespective of serum vitamin D status.

The entry of perchlorate into the food chain should be reduced

Perchlorates are salts of perchloric acid HClO4. Perchlorate occurrences in the environment are mainly of anthropogenic origin, i.e. they are caused by humans, although perchlorate can also occur naturally in mineral storage sites in several countries. Perchlorate has never been approved as a pesticidal or biocidal active substance in the European Union. According to the latest findings, the main entry path is probably the contact of foods – in the course of their production and/or processing – with water which has been treated previously with chlorinated biocidal products for disinfection purposes. Perchlorate can occur as a by-product of disinfection when used in this way.

Study says meat protein is unhealthy, but protein from nuts and seeds is heart smart

A study conducted by researchers in California and France has found that meat protein is associated with a sharp increased risk of heart disease while protein from nuts and seeds is beneficial for the human heart.

Pasta can be part of a healthy diet without packing on the pounds

Carbohydrates get a lot of bad press and blame for the obesity epidemic, but a new study suggests that this negative attention may not be deserved for pasta.

EU regulatory approval of first human milk oligosaccharide ingredient for infant formula

DuPont Nutrition & Health and Inbiose NV celebrate regulatory approval of their first human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) ingredient for infant formula in the European market. Human milk oligosaccharides, complex carbohydrates found in breast milk, are an important breakthrough innovation in infant formula, developing a product with more of the health benefits associated with human milk.

Major step forward on food consumption data

EFSA has published a new release of its Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database, which for the first time includes data collected under EFSA’s EU Menu project. The updated database consists of the most recent data collected in Member States covering more population groups and new food categories, such as energy drinks.