K A S H R U T . C O M_©

U.S. physician groups call for tax on sugary drinks

March 27, 2019 - from IFT and American Academy of Pediatrics:

"The American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a joint statement on March 25, calling for a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages. The goal, they say, is to limit children’s intake of sugar-sweetened drinks, which can pose health issues like diabetes and high cholesterol."
"Among the policy’s six calls to action is a tax that would deter excess purchases of sugary liquids. The groups cited a 2017 systematic review and meta-analysis that revealed that each 10% increase in price, such as a tax, reduced sugary drink consumption by 7%. “Given the success of tobacco and alcohol taxes in reducing adolescent use and consumption of these products, policy makers should consider enacting policies that raise the price of sugary drinks."
"Eliminating the advertising subsidy for nutritionally poor foods and beverages marketed to children would prevent approximately 129,000 cases of obesity over a decade at a cost of $0.66 for each unit of BMI reduced."
"The AAP’s third call to action involves expanding the nutrition education and obesity prevention component of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to further emphasize the health benefits of fruits and vegetables and the health risks of sugary drinks and added sugars. Also, the policy statement recommends the use of retailer incentives and new retail stocking standards to reduce purchase of sugary drinks and increase purchase of healthier foods."
"The fifth call to action is the adoption of policies and incentives that “support decreased consumption of sugary drinks through environmental changes, such as promoting healthier options (like water and milk) and decreasing access to and portion sizes of sugary drinks in all locations where children and adolescents are present." "The AAP recommends that hospitals serve as a model and implement policies to limit or disincentivize the purchase of sugary drinks."

Ed. note: Sugar taxes in some other countries such as the UK have caused companies to switch to using white grape juice as a sweetener to avoid the taxes.

Is 'gluten-safe' wheat an industry game-changer?

March 15, 2019 - from Ingredients Network:

"Gluten-free foods have suffered from the perception that they cannot equal gluten-containing products, in terms of both nutrition and texture. Researchers now claim that genetically engineered wheat could change all that, but are manufacturers (and consumers) ready for it? z'

"Researchers from Wageningen University in The Netherlands say they have used CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology to target and eliminate the elements of gluten that trigger an autoimmune response in people with coeliac disease, a disorder that affects about 1-2% of the population. Using this technique, the researchers say the gluten is safe for coeliacs and retains its unique baking characteristics, such as providing a light, airy texture in bread."

"The technique faces some major regulatory hurdles, as well as long-standing barriers in convincing consumers of the benefits of genetically edited foods. In Europe, the European Court of Justice ruled in 2018 that CRISPR should fall under GMO legislation, meaning the wheat would have to undergo strict food safety and environmental tests before it could be grown in the region. In the meantime, the researchers suggest it could be grown in the United States and imported back into the EU. "

"If the 'gluten-safe' wheat can overcome such obstacles – and it is a big ‘if’ – it could be a boon for manufacturers of gluten-free products. Without gluten, baked goods may be lacking in some nutrients, notably fibre and B vitamins, they may be dense or dry, and some gluten-free flours also add a gritty texture. Nevertheless, it is a booming market. According to Innova Market Insights, the number of new products making a gluten-free claim grew an average of 24% a year from 2013 to 2017.

"Manufacturers have turned to hydrocolloid suppliers for texturizing ingredients like xanthan, gellan, locust bean and guar gum to help replace gluten’s binding qualities. ""There is a strong appetite for more recognisable, kitchen-cupboard ingredients, which has led many manufacturers to look for other solutions. "

"For now, the researchers say their discovery is five to ten years away from commercialisation, leaving plenty of time to debate the future of coeliac-friendly wheat, and to convince manufacturers and consumers of its benefits."

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin renews effort to get 'milk' label taken off non-dairy products

March 14, 2019 - from Journal Sentinal and SpecialtyFood:

US Senator "Baldwin, a Democrat from Wisconsin, and U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, a Republican from Idaho, reintroduced legislation Thursday that would combat what Baldwin described as the “unfair practice of mislabeling non-dairy products” using dairy descibing terms such as 'milk'.
"The renewed push for legislation on the issue comes as many dairy farmers in Wisconsin and elsewhere find themselves struggling to survive amid low milk prices and decreased demand for their products."
" The legislation would require the Food and Drug Administration to provide guidance for nationwide enforcement within 90 days on non-dairy products made from nuts, seeds, plants, and algae. The FDA would also have to report to Congress in two years to hold the agency accountable."

Gluten, lactose in drugs? Study raises questions about risk

March 13, 2019 - from APNews:

"A new report says pills often contain so-called “inactive” ingredients capable of causing allergic or gastrointestinal reactions in small numbers of people sensitive to specific compounds."
"And it’s hard for those patients, or even their doctors, to tell if a pill contains an extra ingredient they should avoid, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital said Wednesday. When the doctor sends a prescription, the pharmacist issues whatever the person’s insurance covers — without discussion of inactive ingredients that are buried in the drug’s labeling."
"Drugs contain an 'active ingredient,' what you hope will help your health. Patients may not realize that inactive ingredients make up the rest of the pill, substances that aren’t supposed to directly affect your health. They’re used to make it easier to absorb the drug, or to improve the taste or extend the shelf life."
"The study analyzed data on inactive ingredients from a database of more than 42,000 prescription and over-the-counter medicines. An average pill contains eight inactive ingredients, but some contain 20 or more."
"The report found:

• About 45 percent of the analyzed medications contained lactose. The amounts may be too small for some lactose-intolerant people to notice, but someone taking common drugs for high blood pressure and cholesterol could get about a gram a day.
• A third of medications contained a food dye associated with allergic reactions.
• More than half contained at least one type of sugar that people with irritable bowel syndrome are supposed to avoid. —In a recent survey, 18 percent of manufacturers said their medications contain gluten, which can cause severe reactions if patients with celiac disease consume as little as 1.5 milligrams a day. But labels may list only innocuous 'starch.'"

"Because refills can bring a different company’s formulation, patients should check the label each time."
"The issue is getting some attention. A pending Food and Drug Administration proposal recommends adding gluten information to drug labels."

Ritual animal slaughter law leaves Belgium's Muslims and Jews facing shortages, price hikes

March 10, 2019 - from NBC News and Yeshiva World:

"Jewish and Muslim communities have united in opposition to a new law in the Flanders region of Belgium, which bans the practices required for both Halal and Kosher meat. That has meant such products have become harder to find and more expensive in recent months."
"With the help of an American legal fund, a group of Muslim and Jewish organizations have taken legal action and hope to overturn the new law. The Belgian Constitutional Court heard their arguments in January and is expected to rule on the case within weeks."
"The groups say that the new regulation infringes on their civil rights, preventing them from freely practicing their religion."
"Belgian law had long required animals to be stunned before slaughter to prevent unnecessary pain. It did, however, grant an exception for ritual slaughter, a practice in Islamic and Jewish religious laws in which the animals are not stunned first. Both halal and kosher slaughter require the use of a very sharp knife to slit the animal’s throat in one stroke and sever the major structures and vessels."
"The new law in Flanders came into effect in January removing the religious exception. In the Wallonia region, a similar law will come into effect at the end of August."
"Many Muslims feel the laws are a result of Islamophobia rather than a concern for animal rights. For Jews, they are also an uncomfortable reminder of a darker period in European history. In 1933, one of the first laws the Nazis enacted was a ban on kosher animal slaughter."
"Belgium is home to larger populations of both Muslims and Jews, who fear that the restrictions on ritual slaughter could spread further throughout Europe. There are around 500,000 Muslims in Belgium and 30,000 Jews."
"Antwerp is home to one of the largest Jewish ultra-Orthodox populations in Europe."
"The Jewish community has long imported beef and lamb from slaughterhouses in France, Hungary and Poland, but the new law forced the closure of a poultry producer just outside of Antwerp."