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SFDA, Intertek sign Conformity Assessment agreement for Cosmetics products import

Intertek, a leading provider of quality and safety solutions serving a wide range of industries around the world, announced today that it has signed a Conformity Assessment Agreement with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority to provide Conformity Assessment services for the import of Cosmetics products into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

29 Mar 2011

Burger that needs an hour of exercise to burn off

Fast food chain KFC is set to launch its latest fat-and-sodium laden creation that has done away with the most basic of burger ingredients - the bun. The ‘Double Down’ instead has bacon, sauce and two slices of melted cheese between two pieces of deep fried chicken. The figures stand thus;

28 Mar 2011

Nano-bricks may improve plastic food packaging strength and performance

Scientists are reporting on a new material containing an ingredient used to make bricks that shows promise as a transparent coating for improving the strength and performance of plastic food packaging.

28 Mar 2011

Anti-smoking ads targeting the indigenous population launched

In a bid to reduce the smoking rates in Australia’s indigenous population the Federal Government is launching the first anti-smoking campaign this Monday (today) aimed specifically at indigenous Australians. Figures have shown that nearly 50% Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people smoke, and one in five die from smoking-related diseases. According to Government spokesmen the new campaign is part of its plan to halve the number of indigenous smokers by 2018. The radio, television and print campaign will cost $4 million and is part of the Government's wider aim to significantly reduce the number of Australians who smoke.

27 Mar 2011

U.N. Secretary-General Ban receives preliminary support for second term

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon "has received preliminary pledges of support for a second five-year term … from the United States and other key members of the Security Council, U.N. diplomats said," Reuters reports in an article that examines Ban's first term at the U.N., set to end on Dec. 31. Although Ban has yet to officially announce his candidacy for re-election, diplomats say Ban has expressed interest in doing so.

25 Mar 2011

U.S., World Bank sign MOU to enhance efforts to bring clean water, sanitation to world's poor

Marking World Water Day Tuesday, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, on behalf of the U.S. government, joined World Bank President Robert Zoellick in signing a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance collaborative efforts between the groups to improve water and sanitation conditions for the world's poor, the Epoch Times reports.

24 Mar 2011

After noncontroversial past, Title X Family Planning now facing challenges

The Title X Family Planning program, established in 1970 with bipartisan support in Congress and signed into law by President Nixon, has been largely noncontroversial. It makes no funds available for abortion, and focuses on what Nixon characterized as the premise that "no American woman should be denied access to family planning assistance because of her economic condition."

23 Mar 2011

World Water Day focuses on impact of rapid urban population growth on water security

Tuesday marks World Water Day 2011, which this year focuses "on the impact of rapid urban population growth, industrialisation and uncertainties caused by climate change, conflicts and natural disasters on urban water systems," the Daily Times reports.

23 Mar 2011

Nordic Naturals introduces Kenai Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil

Nordic Naturals, the industry leader in omega-3 fish oil, introduces Kenai Wild™ Alaskan Salmon Oil to address the growing demand for salmon oil supplementation and to ensure that consumers have a choice that has been third-party tested for heavy metals including, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury, and other contaminants such as PCBs.

22 Mar 2011

Queen’s University completes first ever analysis of all food recalls over last decade

As the increasing number food scares causes consumers to question the safety of everyday food items, researchers at Queen's University Belfast have completed the first ever analysis of all the food recalls announced in the USA, UK and Ireland over the last decade.

22 Mar 2011

Illinois professor to receive 2011 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement

University of Illinois entomology professor and department head May Berenbaum will receive the 2011 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, an international award that recognizes "those individuals who have contributed in an outstanding manner to scientific knowledge and public leadership to preserve and enhance the environment of the world."

22 Mar 2011

Experts warn of global water shortages ahead of World Water Day

Speaking out ahead of World Water Day on Tuesday, water experts have warned of growing water shortages worldwide, Inter Press Service reports.

22 Mar 2011

EDMA endorses the campaign against excessive use of salt

EDMA, the European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association, fully endorses the 2011 World Salt Awareness Week theme “Salt and Men’s Health” as the latter reminds that more men than women die prematurely of cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

21 Mar 2011

Opinions: Japan nuclear concerns; cash on delivery; G20's role in ensuring global food security

"What we are learning in the age of globalization is that frightening and tragic events in any part of the world can trigger amygdala responses in people thousands of miles away. The amygdala, a tiny almond-shaped body inside the human brain, controls fearfulness and, more importantly, anxiety," Laurie Garrett, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, writes in a CNN opinion piece.

19 Mar 2011

China-Biotics enters agreement with US based nutritional product company

China-Biotics, Inc., the leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of probiotics products in China, today announced that the Company has entered into an agreement with a US based nutritional product company.

18 Mar 2011

Greenwich lecturer's book can serve as blueprint for next generation gymnastics

A University of Greenwich lecturer's book could be the blueprint to produce a generation of super gymnasts.

18 Mar 2011

British pie, mash and gravy meals too salty: Heart health experts

A new study by Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) in the UK that looked at 526 pie, mash and gravy meals and products, found some meals to be extremely high in salt. A chicken and mushroom pie with chips or mash, gravy and peas from pub chain Wetherspoons contained an alarming 7.5g of salt, well over the daily maximum recommendation of 6g a day. All the pie and mash pub meals looked at contained more than 3g, half the daily maximum, the report said. The survey, conducted by YouGov, found that the mashed potato and gravy could significantly increase the salt content of a meal. According to CASH, while good progress has been made by supermarkets in cutting salt levels in pies, there are still too many products containing unnecessary quantities of salt.

17 Mar 2011

Hopkins experts: Taking potassium iodide could be harmful

The Johns Hopkins Office of Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR) is advising that people in the United States should not take potassium iodide as a preventive medication for possible radiation fallout from Japan's evolving nuclear plant crisis.

17 Mar 2011

FAO head highlights food security concerns, need for more agriculture investment

Rising oil prices and the recent drawdown in global cereal stocks could lead to a supply crisis and raise the risk of food riots in developing countries similar to those that occurred between 2007 and 2008, U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization Director General Jacques Diouf said in an interview with Reuters on Monday.

17 Mar 2011

Experts advise against taking unnecessary potassium iodide

There is a mad rush to the stores to pick up potassium iodide supplements to guard against radiation exposure wafting over to the U.S. from Japan, an unlikely event according to experts. This is despite health officials’ warnings that these supplements are pointless and could cause adverse side effects.

16 Mar 2011