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Research reveals maple syrup and maple water contain abscisic acid

Thanks to modern science, the closely guarded secrets of one of our nation's most distinctive emblems, maple syrup, are now being revealed. It has recently been reported that maple syrup contains polyphenols and shows ORAC values which compare to commonly eaten fruits and vegetables such as broccoli.

5 Mar 2010

Sesame Workshop and AmeriChoice to develop bilingual education outreach program

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, and AmeriChoice, the UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) company that provides health benefits for state and public programs, are partnering to develop a bilingual education outreach program aimed at helping low-income families make food choices that are affordable, nutritional and set the foundation for lifelong healthy habits.

4 Mar 2010

Study indicates climate change plays a role in malaria transmission

Climate change is one reason malaria is on the rise in some parts of the world, new research finds, but other factors such as migration and land-use changes are likely also at play. The research, published in The Quarterly Review of Biology, aims to sort out contradictions that have emerged as scientists try to understand why malaria has been spreading into highland areas of East Africa, Indonesia, Afghanistan and elsewhere.

4 Mar 2010

Increasing antibiotic resistance among soil microbes

A team of scientists in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands are reporting disturbing evidence that soil microbes have become progressively more resistant to antibiotics over the last 60 years. Surprisingly, this trend continues despite apparent more stringent rules on use of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture, and improved sewage treatment technology that broadly improves water quality in surrounding environments. Their report appears in ACS' bi-weekly journal Environmental Science and Technology.

4 Mar 2010

Foodborne illness raises U.S healthcare costs

Acute foodborne illnesses cost the United States an estimated $152 billion per year in healthcare, workplace and other economic losses, according to a report published today by the Produce Safety Project (PSP).

4 Mar 2010

Soluble fiber in oats, apples and nuts reduces inflammation; strengthens immune system

A new University of Illinois study touts the benefits of soluble fiber-found in oats, apples, and nuts, for starters-saying that it reduces the inflammation associated with obesity-related diseases and strengthens the immune system.

3 Mar 2010

Study reveals most consumers are unclear about dietary nutrients

When it comes to dietary nutrients, most consumers don't know the whole story. A recent study by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy revealed that the fact that milk delivers much more than calcium to the diet is new "news" to consumers.

2 Mar 2010

Eliminating sugary beverages and junk foods from schools may help slow childhood obesity

New policies that eliminate sugary beverages and junk foods from schools may help slow childhood obesity, according to a San Francisco State University study released today and published in the March issue of the journal Health Affairs.

2 Mar 2010

Joint Chiefs Chair visits Haiti to examine aid response

Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Mike Mullen, who is President Barack Obama's top military adviser, visited Haiti over the weekend to examine relief and rebuilding efforts and meet with local leaders, Agence France-Presse reports. It was his first visit to the country after the earthquake, according to AFP.

2 Mar 2010

Consumption of animal products contaminated with mycotoxins affects human health

EUREKA project E! 3025 MONALISA has developed a new, completely natural alternative to using antibiotics in animal feed. Formerly used as growth promoters and to prevent the damaging effects of the fungal toxins which are often present in feed, antibiotics have been prohibited for use in animal feed in the EU since 2006 - creating a need for a new, effective antimycotoxic agent.

1 Mar 2010

Overturning EPA's endangerment finding: American Public Health Association, leading health organizations oppose

The American Public Health Association yesterday joined a dozen leading health organizations in urging the U.S. Senate to oppose a resolution introduced by Sen. Lisa Murkowski to overturn or block the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's finding for six greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.

27 Feb 2010

FDA may set patient safety regulations for health IT

The Huffington Post Investigative Fund: "In the past two years, the agency has received reports of six patient deaths and several dozen injuries linked to malfunctions in the systems, Jeffrey Shuren, director of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in testimony prepared for a government hearing on Thursday. ... The FDA has been studying the issue for several years. Its latest concerns are surfacing as the government ramps up an ambitious plan to spend as much as $27 billion in stimulus money helping doctors and hospitals across the country purchase electronic medical records systems that rely on digital software rather than paper medical charts."

25 Feb 2010

Nominations accepted for 2010 George Washington Carver Award

The third annual George Washington Carver Award will recognize significant contributions by an individual to the field of industrial biotechnology, including applications in biological engineering, environmental science, biorefining and biobased products. The Biotechnology Industry Organization today announced that it is accepting nominations for the 2010 George Washington Carver Award, which will be presented at the 2010 World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing, June 27-30, 2009 in Washington, D.C.

24 Feb 2010

Impact of global warming on food prices would likely to drive many into poverty

The impact of global warming on food prices and hunger could be large over the next 20 years, according to a new Stanford University study. Researchers say that higher temperatures could significantly reduce yields of wheat, rice and maize - dietary staples for tens of millions of poor people who subsist on less than $1 a day.

21 Feb 2010

Recent releases in Global Health

The Infectious Diseases Center for Global Health Policy's "Science Speaks" blog examines U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Eric Goosby's recent address to the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) where he reemphasized the Obama administration's commitment to "'maintaining, extending and increasing' the U.S. response to global AIDS." Goosby reflected on the lessons drawn from PEPFAR to date and presented components of the 5-year PEPFAR strategy, the blog notes.

20 Feb 2010

Obama Administration releases details of over $400M Healthy Food Financing Initiative

The Obama Administration today released details of an over $400 million Healthy Food Financing Initiative, which will bring grocery stores and other healthy food retailers to underserved urban and rural communities across America. The initiative was announced today in Philadelphia by Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

20 Feb 2010

BioCrossroads' Indiana Seed Fund invests $400,000 in Bioscience Vaccines

BioCrossroads' Indiana Seed Fund has invested in Bioscience Vaccines, Inc. to accelerate the development of biologic materials, which may boost the effectiveness of a wide range of life-saving vaccines.

19 Feb 2010

Guiding Stars storewide nutrition navigation system influences healthier food purchasing decisions

Guiding Stars, the world’s first storewide nutrition navigation system, today announced that new research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows Guiding Stars had a positive influence on food purchasing decisions after the implementation of the zero-to-three star rating system and that these changes continue to be significant in achieving healthier food choices in the supermarket.

19 Feb 2010

WHO urges medical aid agencies to remain in Haiti as health care system is rebuilt

On Wednesday, the WHO "urged medical aid agencies to stay in Haiti as long as possible while health care is rebuilt following last month's devastating earthquake," Agence France-Presse reports.

19 Feb 2010

USDA and FDA join forces to enhance safety and quality of fresh produce

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Drug Administration are working together to achieve the goals of enhancing the safety and quality of fresh produce in ways that take into account the wide diversity of farming operations.

19 Feb 2010

Agriculture News and Research

Research reveals maple syrup and maple water contain abscisic acid

Sesame Workshop and AmeriChoice to develop bilingual education outreach program

Study indicates climate change plays a role in malaria transmission

Increasing antibiotic resistance among soil microbes

Foodborne illness raises U.S healthcare costs

Soluble fiber in oats, apples and nuts reduces inflammation; strengthens immune system

Study reveals most consumers are unclear about dietary nutrients

Eliminating sugary beverages and junk foods from schools may help slow childhood obesity

Joint Chiefs Chair visits Haiti to examine aid response

Consumption of animal products contaminated with mycotoxins affects human health

Overturning EPA's endangerment finding: American Public Health Association, leading health organizations oppose

FDA may set patient safety regulations for health IT

Nominations accepted for 2010 George Washington Carver Award

Impact of global warming on food prices would likely to drive many into poverty

Recent releases in Global Health

Obama Administration releases details of over $400M Healthy Food Financing Initiative

BioCrossroads' Indiana Seed Fund invests $400,000 in Bioscience Vaccines

Guiding Stars storewide nutrition navigation system influences healthier food purchasing decisions

WHO urges medical aid agencies to remain in Haiti as health care system is rebuilt

USDA and FDA join forces to enhance safety and quality of fresh produce

Revolutionizing Life Science: An Interview with SCIEX on ASMS, the SCIEX 7500+ System, and AI-Driven Quantitation

From Discovery Biology to ELRIG Chair

Breathing New Life into Diagnostics: Plasmion's SICRIT Technology

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