Food safety ranked No. 1 on the list of consumers most memorable food stories in 2009, while childhood obesity took the No. 1 spot for top concern of the decade, according to the seventh annual year-end survey commissioned by Hunter Public Relations.
According to the survey, the issue of food safety was the biggest story of the year—from E. coli in ground beef to Salmonella poisoning in nuts, thousands of Americans have been sickened, prompting food recalls of everything from baby food to green onions. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 76 million cases of food borne illnesses occur annually in the United States; more than 300,000 persons are hospitalized and 5,000 die.
When Americans were asked to recall the top food stories of the decade, nutritional concerns and food safety garnered the top spots. With more than 9 million children categorized as obese, childhood obesity became a major national concern and garnered the top spot for the decade. The FTC and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) continue to urge food companies to develop products that are more nutritious and to review and revise their marketing practices.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Green Tea Good for the Gut
Consuming five or more cups of green tea a day may reduce the risk of women developing stomach cancer by 20 percent, according to a report published in the journal Gut.
Researchers at the National Cancer Center in Tokyo analyzed original data from six cohort studies that measured green tea consumption using validated questionnaires at baseline. Hazard ratios (HRs) in the individual studies were calculated, with adjustment for a common set of variables, and combined using a random-effects model.
The researchers concluded that green tea’s antioxidants may protect against gastric cancer and may include compounds that fight bacteria that have been linked to stomach cancer. The studies followed more than 219,000 men and women 40 years and older, who were followed between seven and 11 years. Overall, about four in five of the participants reported drinking green tea daily, with about one-third drinking five or more cups per day.
Researchers at the National Cancer Center in Tokyo analyzed original data from six cohort studies that measured green tea consumption using validated questionnaires at baseline. Hazard ratios (HRs) in the individual studies were calculated, with adjustment for a common set of variables, and combined using a random-effects model.
The researchers concluded that green tea’s antioxidants may protect against gastric cancer and may include compounds that fight bacteria that have been linked to stomach cancer. The studies followed more than 219,000 men and women 40 years and older, who were followed between seven and 11 years. Overall, about four in five of the participants reported drinking green tea daily, with about one-third drinking five or more cups per day.
High-end dining in New York City was hit hard by the recession and needs to adapt
High-end dining in New York City has been hard hit by the recession and needs to adapt to changing tastes to keep its allure, experts said. This week's demise of Gourmet, a 68-year-old food magazine, underscored the precarious future of fancy dining.
More than 500 New York restaurants have closed so far this year, including high-end French eateries Chanterelle and Cafe des Artistes as even the city's elite restaurants fall victim to the worst U.S. economic downturn since the 1930s Great Depression.
Although no one expects fine dining in New York to become extinct, it is in a soft patch with Eric Ripert, co-owner of three-Michelin star Le Bernardin saying after a "soft" 2008, "suddenly everything stopped" in January this year.
He predicted 2009 revenues will be 10 percent down on a year ago, but he has managed to avoid firing staff by doubling his spending on communications and marketing and raising his profile by appearing on television reality show "Top Chef."
Some food writers and restaurateurs, who spoke at the New York City Wine & Food Festival this weekend, rued noodle bars and burger joints may be supplanting the top culinary perch once held by top-end restaurants.
Prior to the recession, fancy eateries attempted to outdo each other by offering the most expensive dinner or cocktail in the city.
But the recession only accelerated the trend of casual eating and a revolt against stuffy, rigid nature of fancy dining, some experts said.
Food writer Anya von Bremzen, said a restaurant should offer original and creative dishes at reasonable prices but at some top-end eateries, the atmosphere is "too fuzzy," she said on a panel. She called for the end of "table bureaucracy."
The concept of fine-dining has evolved from the days of starch linens and formal dress code but experts said top-end restaurant operators must be savvy and change with the times.
For example Daniel Boulud, who owns the Michelin three-star Daniel, recently opened DBGB, a casual bar and cafe.
Chef Andrew Carmellini said the hybrid concept will likely emerge, reflecting the "move to casual, comfort food without the trappings of a fancy restaurant."
In the meantime, don't count out fine dining in New York, said one restaurateur.
"Recession, schmecession, we've beat the odds," said Drew Nieporent, whose top-end contemporary restaurant Corton earned two Michelin stars earlier this week.
More than 500 New York restaurants have closed so far this year, including high-end French eateries Chanterelle and Cafe des Artistes as even the city's elite restaurants fall victim to the worst U.S. economic downturn since the 1930s Great Depression.
Although no one expects fine dining in New York to become extinct, it is in a soft patch with Eric Ripert, co-owner of three-Michelin star Le Bernardin saying after a "soft" 2008, "suddenly everything stopped" in January this year.
He predicted 2009 revenues will be 10 percent down on a year ago, but he has managed to avoid firing staff by doubling his spending on communications and marketing and raising his profile by appearing on television reality show "Top Chef."
Some food writers and restaurateurs, who spoke at the New York City Wine & Food Festival this weekend, rued noodle bars and burger joints may be supplanting the top culinary perch once held by top-end restaurants.
Prior to the recession, fancy eateries attempted to outdo each other by offering the most expensive dinner or cocktail in the city.
But the recession only accelerated the trend of casual eating and a revolt against stuffy, rigid nature of fancy dining, some experts said.
Food writer Anya von Bremzen, said a restaurant should offer original and creative dishes at reasonable prices but at some top-end eateries, the atmosphere is "too fuzzy," she said on a panel. She called for the end of "table bureaucracy."
The concept of fine-dining has evolved from the days of starch linens and formal dress code but experts said top-end restaurant operators must be savvy and change with the times.
For example Daniel Boulud, who owns the Michelin three-star Daniel, recently opened DBGB, a casual bar and cafe.
Chef Andrew Carmellini said the hybrid concept will likely emerge, reflecting the "move to casual, comfort food without the trappings of a fancy restaurant."
In the meantime, don't count out fine dining in New York, said one restaurateur.
"Recession, schmecession, we've beat the odds," said Drew Nieporent, whose top-end contemporary restaurant Corton earned two Michelin stars earlier this week.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Snack food is for sale at 41% of stores that do not primarily sell food
If you're hungry while shopping for a new sofa, don't despair: 22 percent of U.S. furniture stores now sell sweet or salty snacks, a new report finds.
In fact, the sale of high-calorie snack foods has moved far beyond grocery stores to hit most segments of the retail market, say the authors of the study published online Dec. 17 in the American Journal of Public Health. The easy availability of snack items might be contributing to America's obesity epidemic, the researchers said.
A team from Tulane University School of Public Health in New Orleans examined the availability of candy, salty snacks and sweetened drinks at retail outlets that did not sell food as their primary merchandise.
The researchers found snack food for sale in 41 percent of such stores. Candy was the most frequently sold item (in 33 percent), followed by sugary drinks (20 percent) and salty snacks (17 percent). Most often, high-calories products were found temptingly close to the checkout line, the study added.
Snack foods were found in nearly all pharmacies (96 percent), most gas stations (94 percent), more than a fifth (22 percent) of furniture stores, 16 percent of clothing stores and 29 to 65 percent of other non-food stores.
"The obesity epidemic in the United States is estimated to be responsible for more than 100,000 deaths per year, 20 times the estimated 5,000 deaths from food-borne infectious pathogens," the researchers wrote. "This epidemic should prompt public health experts to evaluate the contribution of the widespread availability of energy-dense snack foods and beverages to weight gain and to consider ways to address this availability."
In fact, the sale of high-calorie snack foods has moved far beyond grocery stores to hit most segments of the retail market, say the authors of the study published online Dec. 17 in the American Journal of Public Health. The easy availability of snack items might be contributing to America's obesity epidemic, the researchers said.
A team from Tulane University School of Public Health in New Orleans examined the availability of candy, salty snacks and sweetened drinks at retail outlets that did not sell food as their primary merchandise.
The researchers found snack food for sale in 41 percent of such stores. Candy was the most frequently sold item (in 33 percent), followed by sugary drinks (20 percent) and salty snacks (17 percent). Most often, high-calories products were found temptingly close to the checkout line, the study added.
Snack foods were found in nearly all pharmacies (96 percent), most gas stations (94 percent), more than a fifth (22 percent) of furniture stores, 16 percent of clothing stores and 29 to 65 percent of other non-food stores.
"The obesity epidemic in the United States is estimated to be responsible for more than 100,000 deaths per year, 20 times the estimated 5,000 deaths from food-borne infectious pathogens," the researchers wrote. "This epidemic should prompt public health experts to evaluate the contribution of the widespread availability of energy-dense snack foods and beverages to weight gain and to consider ways to address this availability."
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