http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/food/ Learn all about food. See news and food science research. What foods are healthiest? What foods cause cancer? And more. en-us Tue, 13 May 2008 04:05:01 EDT Tue, 13 May 2008 04:05:01 EDT 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/plants_animals/food/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080512145154.htm Buying chicken these days is not like it used to be. With labels like "100 percent natural," "organic," "grain-fed," and "free range," many consumers don't really know what they're buying. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture "100 percent natural" means the poultry doesn't contain artificial ingredients like preservatives. But experts warn--there are no guarantees. Mon, 12 May 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080512145154.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080511190830.htm At first, fruit flies eat like horses. Hatching inside over-ripe fruit where they were laid, they feed wildly in the sugar-rich environment until nature sends them an offer they can't refuse. To survive, they must leave the fruit, wander off and burrow into the earth where they avoid food as if it were poison. Only then can the larvae grow and hatch into flies that will take wing to lay their own eggs. Researchers have now discovered that the important developmental switch from food attraction to aversion in the fruit fly larva is controlled by a timing mechanism in the brain and its sensory system. The study shows how this important avoidance mechanism has been recruited into evolutionary processes to promote development and could lead to new methods of controlling pain in humans and other animals. Mon, 12 May 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080511190830.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080507105601.htm Fruits and vegetables that are rich in nitrates protect the stomach from damage. This takes place through conversion of nitrates into nitrites by the bacteria in the oral cavity and subsequent transformation into biologically active nitric oxide in the stomach. This also means that antibacterial mouthwashes can be harmful for the stomach. Fri, 09 May 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080507105601.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080506120859.htm A new type of grass may help tackle global warming by cutting the level of methane given off by cows. Researchers are developing a grass that will not only cut the amount of methane cows burp up when chewing their cud, but also grow in hotter climes. Thu, 08 May 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080506120859.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080505224659.htm Genetically engineered rice plants that resist the uptake of toxic metals could boost production and ease the shortage of this staple crop in Asia, India and Bangladesh, where irrigation with contaminated groundwater has created soils with toxic levels of arsenic. More than 80 percent of the world's population depends on rice as a staple food, but production is dropping in the rice paddies of Bangladesh, parts of India and South and East Asia due to toxic levels of arsenic in the topsoil. Om Parkash of the University of Massachusetts Amherst leads a research team that uses genetic engineering to produce rice plants that block the uptake of arsenic, which could increase production of this valuable crop and provide safer food supplies for millions. Wed, 07 May 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080505224659.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080502154258.htm A research team offers a novel pathway for how "antiaging" products like EthylBloc and SmartFresh block ethylene in plants, delaying the plants' demise and allowing people to enjoy their beauty and products for longer than nature allows. Mon, 05 May 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/05/080502154258.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080428092116.htm Watering tomatoes with diluted seawater can boost their content of disease-fighting antioxidants and may lead to healthier salads, appetizers, and other tomato-based foods, scientists report. Besides their use in a variety of ethnic food dishes, tomatoes are one of the most commonly grown home garden vegetables, particularly cherry tomatoes. Scientists have linked tomatoes to several health benefits, including protection against prostate cancer and heart disease. Researchers have known for years that seawater does not stimulate the growth of tomatoes, but scientists know little about its effects on the nutritional content of the vegetables. Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080428092116.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080425103338.htm A new study presents the first evidence that harmful pathogens frequently linked with food-borne illnesses are more commonly found on younger inner leaves than on older outer leaves of romaine lettuce. Lettuce is the fresh produce item most commonly implicated in epidemics of food-borne illness, while Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica are the most frequently attributed bacterial agents. Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080425103338.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080425095200.htm Protozoa found on lettuce and spinach may sequester harmful food-borne pathogens ultimately contributing to their survival on produce surfaces. Several outbreaks of food-borne illnesses attributed to Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica have received national attention in recent years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that fresh produce was the most significant source of food-borne illness in 2005. Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080425095200.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422203305.htm "Don't eat the green parts of tomatoes, cut the green off the potatoes." Any child would know that eating these parts of vegetables is a bad idea. The reason behind this is that they contain secondary plant compounds which may have detrimental effects on the consumer. Each night, tropical fruit-eating bats ingest large amounts of secondary plant compounds with their food. This may become particularly problematic for pregnant or lactating bat mothers, since secondary plant compounds may damage the embryo or the juvenile. Biologists have now found evidence that fruit-eating bats take up large amounts of mineral rich water and clay from so-called mineral licks to detoxify the secondary plant compounds they ingest in fruits. Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422203305.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422150655.htm The definition of "organic" is defined by the US Department of Agriculture; "natural," however, can be defined differently depending on who's doing the labeling. But both terms mean one thing: higher costs for producers. That's why researchers hope to provide another tool to help those in the beef industry pondering whether to abandon conventional methods and go natural or organic. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080422150655.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080421161338.htm The old adage, "We are what we eat," may be the latest recipe for success when curbing dangerous global warming. Despite the recent popular attention to the distance that food travels from farm to plate, aka "food miles," some researchers argue that it is dietary choice, not food miles, which most determines a household's food-related climate impacts. Fruit, vegetables, meat and milk produced closer to home rack up fewer petroleum-based transport miles than foods trucked cross country to your table. Yet despite the large distances involved -- the average distance traveled for food in the U.S. is estimated at 4,000-5,000 miles -- the large non-energy based greenhouse gas emissions associated with producing food make food production matter much more than distance traveled. Tue, 22 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080421161338.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080410153655.htm Washing fresh fruits and vegetables before eating may reduce the risk of food poisoning and those awful episodes of vomiting and diarrhea. But washing alone -- even with chlorine disinfectants -- may not be enough, according to a new study. Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080410153655.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080410101203.htm Washing fresh fruits and vegetables alone -- even with chlorine disinfectants -- may not be enough to reduce the risk of food poisoning. Studies show that certain disease-causing microbes can make their way inside the leaves of lettuce, spinach and other vegetables and fruit, where surface treatments cannot reach. Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080410101203.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402212206.htm Tea drinkers who opt for black, oolong, green or white teas may find that these beverages offer health benefits. But what is -- and isn't -- known about the health effects of drinking tea? Black, oolong, green or white teas have a common origin. Each is produced from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis bush. The leaves are loaded with flavonoids and other polyphenols that work as antioxidants, possibly lowering the risk of some diseases. Sun, 06 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402212206.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401200444.htm Natural sugars found in breast milk that are now included in prebiotic foods may help in the fight against Salmonella and other food poisoning bacteria. The sugars, or oligosaccharides, are called galacto-oligosaccharides and are already known to improve the health of breast-fed infants. They may also reduce the chances of Salmonella bacteria damaging the gut during a food poisoning episode, reducing the overall damage and severity of the infection. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401200444.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080331223816.htm Fruit-eating birds actively select fruit with the highest concentrations of antioxidants -- compounds that help them maintain a healthy immune system -- ecologists have found. This is the first time that a group of antioxidants known as flavonoids have been found to boost the immune system in studies on living animals, as opposed to test-tube studies. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080331223816.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401091210.htm Researchers studying deer mice have discovered evidence to support what mothers everywhere have long suspected: the immune system needs food to function properly. Why immune activity is variable in many wild animals is a question that has long puzzled researchers. Fri, 04 Apr 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401091210.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402194410.htm Eating Feta cheese made from raw milk in small seaside tavernas when you are on holiday in Greece could be a good way to combat food poisoning, according to researchers. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402194410.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402212428.htm Red wine has been shown to protect people from heart disease, even when they follow a diet high in saturated fat, and the healing powers of tea are becoming the stuff of legend. Now, researchers have shown that these beverages may hold promise for regulating the blood sugar of people with type 2 diabetes. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080402212428.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401165014.htm Obesity is more than a cosmetic concern because it increases a person's risk for developing high blood pressure, diabetes and many other serious health problems. It's well understood that consuming more calories than you expend through exercise and daily activities causes weight gain. But with about one in every three American adults now considered obese, researchers are attempting to identify additional factors that affect a person's tendency to gain and retain excess weight. Several animal studies suggest that gut microbiota are involved in regulating weight, and that modifying these bacteria could one day be a treatment option for obesity. Wed, 02 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080401165014.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080325100112.htm A scientist has discovered callus hair growth while imaging Fuji apples. The variety was developed in Japan, but is widely grown in the Southern Hemisphere, China, Southern Europe and the USA. It is a cross between Ralls Janet and Red Delicious, and is itself used as a parent in breeding programs. Wed, 26 Mar 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080325100112.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080324173538.htm A new technique for examining ancient cooking pots has produced the earliest directly dated examples of domesticated corn (maize) being consumed on the South American continent. The discovery shows the spread of maize out of Mexico more than 9,000 years ago occurred much faster than previously believed and provides evidence that corn was likely a vital food crop for villages in tropical Ecuador at least 5,000 years ago. Tue, 25 Mar 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080324173538.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080324091101.htm Over two hundred million humans depend for their subsistence on the fact that coral has an addiction to "junk food" -- and orders its partners, the symbiotic algae, to make it. This curious arrangement is one of nature's most delicate and complex partnerships -- a collaboration now facing grave threats from climate change. Tue, 25 Mar 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080324091101.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080324080304.htm The latest spate of meat recalls due to E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella contamination might have consumers wondering about the safety of their meat products. But beef jerky connoisseurs need not worry. Mon, 24 Mar 2008 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080324080304.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080321123343.htm No matter how pleasant a meal is, eating causes what's known as oxidative stress. As we digest our food, we create sometimes-harmful molecules known as free radicals. But antioxidants -- healthful compounds in fruits and vegetables -- can help by neutralizing the free radicals. Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080321123343.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080319120318.htm When it comes to what we eat, men and women really are different according to scientific research. In general, men are more likely to report eating meat and poultry items and women are more likely to report eating fruits and vegetables. Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080319120318.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080319193036.htm It may not be just women who need extra folate in their diets to reduce the risk of birth defects. A new study puts the spotlight on the other sex, finding that healthy men who report lower levels of the nutrient folate in their diets have higher rates of genetic abnormalities in their sperm. Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080319193036.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080317164356.htm Over the past 35 years the proportion of foodborne outbreaks linked to the consumption of leafy green vegetables has substantially increased and that increase can not be completely attributed to Americans eating more salads according to new research. Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080317164356.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080317093858.htm In a finding likely to get cheese lovers talking, researchers in Nepal and Canada report that yak cheese contains higher levels of heart-healthy fats than cheese from dairy cattle, and may be healthier. Producers make the cheese from the milk of yaks. Those long-haired humped animals are fixtures in Tibet and throughout the Himalayan region of south central Asia, Mongolia, and a few other countries. Tue, 18 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080317093858.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080310181602.htm Using new genetic techniques, scientists are unlocking the secrets of how E. coli bacteria contaminate food and make people sick. Michigan State University has developed a new technique to test the DNA of E. coli bacteria by examining very small genetic changes called single nucleotide polymorphisms or SNPs. Using SNPs, scientists analyzed 96 markers, making genetic analysis of pathogenic bacteria possible at a rate never before accomplished. Fri, 14 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080310181602.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080310164906.htm Thousands of research studies have documented how the oils known as omega-3 fatty acids can benefit the cardiovascular system, particularly among people diagnosed with coronary artery disease. Wed, 12 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080310164906.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080307081409.htm Plant pigments called anthocyanins provide fruits and vegetables with beneficial blue, purple and red coloring. Now scientists are learning more about these compounds and their absorption into the human blood stream. Anthocyanins are a group of healthful compounds that fall within the flavonoid class of plant nutrients. Agricultural Research Service scientists have identified 36 anthocyanins in red cabbage, including eight that had never before been detected in the cabbage. Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080307081409.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080307133659.htm The typical North American diet of eating lots of meat and not much fish is deficient in omega-3 fatty acids and this may pose a risk to infant neurological development. The researchers found that the women who ate lots of meat and little fish were deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, and their babies didn't do as well on eye tests as babies from mothers who weren't deficient. The results were noticeable as early as two months of age. Tue, 11 Mar 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080307133659.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080307075703.htm Bees busily ferrying pollen from one cream-white almond blossom to another in California orchards this winter might get some of their zip from a new food called MegaBee: The Tucson Diet. Researchers have created this new, convenient source of proteins, vitamins and minerals that bees need for good health. Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080307075703.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306112550.htm Torrefacto-roasted coffee has higher antioxidant properties than natural roast, according to a young biologist. She has emphasized in her study that the addition of sugar during the roasting process increases the development of compounds with high antioxidant activity. Coffee has an antioxidant capacity which is ten times higher than other drinks, such as red wine and tea. Mon, 10 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306112550.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080307080638.htm Strawberries, grapes, blueberries and some familiar seasonings like rosemary contain compounds that can--in test tubes--kill cells of a childhood cancer. Molecular biologists are working to understand exactly how the powerful plant chemicals fight the disease known as acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Investigations provide some new clues about how phytochemicals attack cancer cells. Phytochemicals interfere with the orderly operations of mitochondria, the miniature energy-producing power plants inside cells. Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080307080638.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306161930.htm Breakfast of champions? That would be a soy protein-packed, low-fat, high-fiber cereal that meets the requirements for three different FDA health claims and leaves you feeling full so you won't be tempted to eat again until lunch. Scientist have cooked up a "recipe" for just such a cereal, one that's passed the taste test of her sensory panel. Mon, 10 Mar 2008 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306161930.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306133919.htm A chemical in broccoli switches on a set of antioxidant genes and enzymes in specific immune cells, which then combat the injurious effects of molecules known as free radicals that can damage cells and lead to disease. Free radicals are byproducts of normal body processes, such as the metabolic conversion of food into energy, and can also enter the body through small particles present in polluted air. Mon, 10 Mar 2008 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306133919.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306113750.htm If you're allergic to soy, help is on the way. Two new studies show that fermenting soy dramatically reduces its potential allergenicity and also increases the number of essential amino acids in soy products, making them a healthy and a safe choice for consumers. Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306113750.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306075222.htm Good news for chips lovers everywhere -- new research in the journal Science of Food and Agriculture shows that pre-soaking potatoes in water before frying can reduce levels of acrylamide. Acrylamide is a naturally occurring chemical that occurs when starch rich foods are cooked at high temperatures, such as frying, baking, grilling or roasting. Sun, 09 Mar 2008 08:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306075222.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306133923.htm A new study illustrates the real potential for contamination of globally sourced foods and proposes a conceptual framework of supply chain quality management. Various quality problems have been associated with foods and ingredients imported from China. There exists limited capacity of current regulatory bodies to police product flows, including lack of enforcement by the FDA, according to the new research. Sat, 08 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080306133923.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080304105817.htm Worried about your cholesterol? You may want to schedule a few appointments with a registered dietitian, to get some sound advice about how to shape up your eating habits, according to a new national study. Not only are you likely to lower your cholesterol levels, you may be able to avoid having to take cholesterol medication. Thu, 06 Mar 2008 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080304105817.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303163445.htm People who suffer from egg allergies may soon be able to have their quiche and eat it too. Chemists have developed a new process that greatly reduces allergens in eggs and may lead to safer, more specialized food products for individuals with egg allergies. Although unusual in adults, egg allergies are among the leading food allergies in infants and children. These allergies can cause severe stomach aches, and rashes. In extremely rare cases, death may occur. Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303163445.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303093549.htm In an advance in food safety, researchers are reporting development of a nano-sized sensor that detects record low levels of the deadly prion proteins that cause Mad Cow Disease and other so-called prion diseases. The sensor, which detects binding of prion proteins by detecting frequency changes of a micromechanical oscillator, could lead to a reliable blood test for prion diseases in both animals and humans, the researchers say. Wed, 05 Mar 2008 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303093549.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080229142817.htm Several animal tests have shown acrylamide to be a carcinogen, and a recent study has shown a positive association between acrylamide and breast cancer in humans. "Acrylamide is formed during the preparation of many ordinary foods. It is therefore important both for consumers and the food industry to find methods to reduce the acrylamide content," says one of the researchers. Over the past five years, a research project has identified several ways of reducing acrylamide in foods. Tue, 04 Mar 2008 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080229142817.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080229115310.htm Researchers have developed a new technology that can simultaneously screen thousands of samples of food or water for several dangerous food-borne pathogens in one to two hours. The technique, which has potential biosecurity and food safety applications, also can estimate the amount of microbes present and whether they pose an active health risk. This could help neutralize potential threats and improve food processing techniques. Mon, 03 Mar 2008 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080229115310.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080227125115.htm Despite millions of dollars spent on food safety research over the last 10 years, ground beef recalls due to E. coli O157:H7 were higher in 2007 than in 2006, according to researchers from Kansas State University and West Texas A&M University. E. coli O157:H7 has been linked to foodborne illnesses in humans after consuming contaminated beef and produce. A novel vaccine technology to make beef safer. Fri, 29 Feb 2008 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080227125115.htm