Want tastier watermelons? All you need is the genome sequence!
30 November, 2012Scientists have published the genome sequence of the watermelon. The scientists say the information could dramatically accelerate watermelon breeding to produce more nutritious, tastier and more disease-resistant fruit.
No surprises there: fast food menus still high calorie
21 November, 2012Recent research has revealed what most of us suspected all along: fast food hasn’t got any healthier. Temple University research shows that the average calorie content of foods from eight US fast food outlets has changed only minimally.
Allergies linked to triclosan exposure in children
17 November, 2012A Norwegian study has found an association between allergies and triclosan levels in children’s urine. Increased levels of triclosan were associated with elevated levels of Immunoglobulin E and rhinitis in 10-year-old children.
Cake back on the menu for some children with egg allergy
12 November, 2012Some children who have mild egg allergies can tolerate small amounts of baked hen’s egg, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, and 55% may outgrow their allergy entirely.
The ageing population: a challenge or an opportunity?
08 November, 2012The percentage of the world’s population aged 60 and over will reach 22% by 2050, presenting both challenges and opportunities for the food industry. Leatherhead’s new report discusses both.
Consumers prefer clamshells to cardboard
05 November, 2012Recent research has shown that consumers have a strong preference for clear plastic clamshell packaging over printed cardboard boxes, with 402% more purchases recorded for clamshells.
New method identifies milk source of premium dairy products
02 November, 2012A new method described in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry is said to be able to determine whether specialty cheeses are true to label.
Halving food losses would feed an additional billion people
31 October, 2012After determining global food losses in terms of kilocalories per person, it has beed established that halving current food losses would mean feeding an extra billion people.
Diet and sperm quality
31 October, 2012Two recent studies examined the relationship between diet and semen quality - so be careful with full-fat dairy and carbs if you want to optimise your fertility.
Omega-3 shown to boost memory in young adults
30 October, 2012Young adults can boost their working memory by increasing omega-3 fatty acid intake, research from the University of Pittsburgh has shown.
Manuka may not be the bee’s knees after all, research shows
25 October, 2012Consumers may want to think twice before paying a premium for manuka and other monofloral honeys. Research from New Zealand’s Lincoln University has shown that a number of honeys from NZ are not true to label.
Carob leaves could inhibit Listeria growth in food
24 October, 2012According to a report in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, carob leaves are a rich source of antibacterial substances ideal for fighting the microbe responsible for listeriosis.
The carrot or the stick? Finding a win-win solution to health and profitability
17 October, 2012 by Alice RichardIn this increasingly litigious country, we’re rather used to blaming someone else when things go wrong. But have we taken things too far when food processors are constantly under pressure to modify their products to improve public health?
How mouthfeel affects food choices
09 October, 2012Astringency and fattiness contribute very differently to mouthfeel and it is thought that these differences may explain why some foods pair particularly well.
NZ researchers develop potentially hypoallergenic milk
09 October, 2012New Zealand researchers believe they may have bred the first cow in the world to produce hypoallergenic, high-protein milk.
