Not only has it been a crazy, busy week in the food world, some of the issues are still front burner items. The hydrolyzed vegetable protein recall for fear of Salmonella has not been resolved. More companies are submitting recall notices. Be vigilant. Pay attention.
Food labels: The FDA has had a busy week with the various recalls and its announcement that it will be spending more time scrutinizing those so-called healthy food labels. We often grab food with a banner notation indicating its healthy properties. The FDA wants proof that these claims are accurate and not just marketing strategies. They promise to get tough on misleading labels. Time to understand a label and not just give it a quick once-over: Watch for saturated fat and sugar.
In other health news:
–Chocolate: A Harvard study says enjoying a few pieces of dark chocolate daily may lessen the possibility of certain types of strokes.
–Potassium-rich foods: Also related to issues of preventing strokes, foods that are high in potassium (potatoes, bananas, avocados, and leafy greens, for example) helped lower the risk for stroke and coronary heart disease. Sounds like a reminder to eat fruits and vegetables.
–Metal cans and BPA: Several environmental and scientific groups have called for the immediate banning of metal cans for their various health risks. Tests indicate higher BPA levels than originally expected and fears of overall exposure has heightened attention to this issue.
–Dieting. An Israeli study found that weight-loss diets, whether Mediterranean, low-fat, or low-carb, help reverse atherosclerosis. The probable benefit of these diets comes from reduced blood pressure. Great news. The type of diet is not as critical as the fact that one diets!
–Lessen salt intake. Now that’s a shocker! A government study found that billions of health dollars could be saved if salt intake could be reduced by 10 %. They are trying to get the food industry to understand the overall implications and get them to hold back on salting up foods. When dining in we can get a tighter grip on the shaker.
–Milk allergies. A simple blood test may determine if young children are allergic to all milk products or if they can tolerate heated milk. Knowing the severity of the allergy would make it easier in determining the safest foods. The test is not yet available, but it is definitely one to watch.
As with most weeks, it is fun to end on a good news coffee note. Several studies presented at the recent American Heart Association conference found good news in the coffee department! Coffee drinkers had a lower risk of getting heart rhythm problems. Another study found no link between coffee intake and atherosclerosis. The third significant study found that women who consume multiple cups of coffee daily had a lower risk of getting type 2 diabetes!
Healthy coffee or coffee health: Works for me.
We became cooking scientists.
Be safe.
Sad to see the all-American easy mainstay meal, the hamburger, disappear from the list of dinner possibilities: Grill nites or just hang-out why not have a burger nite! Simple answer:
With the 
advantage of touting “local” when they could be describing a product from a significant distance away.
Here’s a little different type of recall than we’ve seen in a while. Happy about that part, but not about what’s happened: A
If you have hesitated to fill your key chain with your frequent shopper card, you may think twice about that decision. In the latest round of food recalls, customers received an automated phone call or e-mail notification alerting them to a problem with something they purchased. Remember this is not about privacy but a positive vehicle for discounts and in this case, communication.