Nibbles: Food safety bill enacted, study finds heavy babies may become obese toddlers, scientists create “ACE” pepper
Food safety bill enacted
The US House of Representatives passed the Food Safety Enchancement Act yesterday, strengthening the Food and Drug Administration’s ability to act in the name of consumer protection when it comes to food safety. The new bill contains a number of new measures: for example, it will allow the FDA to mandate the recall of tainted food (under the previous act, recalls could only be made voluntarily) and enforce much more frequent inspections of food-making facilities. Processors, importers and other food handlers will be obliged to register annually with the FDA and importers will have to meet the same safety standards as domestic companies.
Anticipating a tasty food reward triggers a natural high, even when food is not present
Scientists have discovered a reward system in the brain that sets off a kind of natural high in anticipation of food based solely on environmental cues. The discovery was made at the University of Cincinnati, where researchers trained rats to expect a piece of milk chocolate in a certain environment. They found that environmental cues then triggered a neurological reaction similar to what one might experience after ingesting cocaine or nicotine, even when the chocolate was removed. That reaction in the brain could motivate a subject to look for food, the authors hypothesize. The findings could play a role in the development of new drug treatments for overeating.
Some fisheries starting to rebound
A new study from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada shows that some of the world’s fisheries appear to be recovering. Although the prevailing trend indicates that many species remain in danger of collapse, strict federal fishing laws in the U.S., for example, have cut back significantly on overfishing and allowed for a rebound in certain fish populations, such as haddock off New England. The authors are using the study to promote and understand the most effective conservation practices.
Heavy babies may become obese toddlers
Babies who gained weight quickly had a significantly higher risk of obesity in a just-released Harvard Medical School study. The research followed nearly 600 babies and discovered that compared to smaller babies, those in the top quarter of weight at 6 months had a 40 percent higher risk of obesity by age 3. Experts say the study results show the importance of healthy eating and movement habits from early on in life.
“New” red pepper packed with nutrients
Scientists in Israel and England have engineered a red pepper they’re calling ACE, because it packs vitamins A, C and E. All red peppers contain vitamins C and A, but this the first variety to be grown with vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant normally found in fatty foods such as nuts and avocado. The pepper is a darker red and slightly longer than a normal bell pepper.
(By Margaret Thomas for CalorieLab Calorie Counter News)
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