Health News

Maryland could become the first US state to ban several artificial food colorings which have been linked to hyperactivity and behavioral problems in children. Two bills being considered, including one that would require food manufacturers to add a warning label prior to an outright ban in 2012, and another that would prohibit the use of the colors in school foods. If the legislation is approved, food products containing these food colorings would be required to carry the label: “Warning: The color additives in this food may cause hyperactivity and behavior problems in some children” effective from January 1, 2010, and be phased out by December 31, 2011. The colors are Red 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Orange B, and Red 3.

Last time it was trans fats, now it's salt. The pressure is building to lower blood pressure by reducing sodium in foods. Switzerland is looking at governmental regulation to reduce salt intake. Average daily intakes of salt are 10.6 grams for men and 8.1 grams for women, according to a study of over 12,000 people in Geneva entitled “Twelve-year trends and correlates of dietary salt intakes for the general adult population of Geneva, Switzerland,” and published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2009, Volume 63, Pp 155-164).

Both are over the daily intakes of 5 grams/day recommended by the WHO/FAO to control blood pressure levels and reduce hypertension risks. Researchers from Geneva University Hospitals cite breads, cheeses, meat and meat products, soups, and prepared meals as the main food sources of high salt. Switzerland’s Federal Office of Public Health is considering a “salt strategy” similar to initiatives undertaken in the UK, including raising public awareness and reducing the salt content in foods in collaboration with the food industry. Both governments hope to persuade commercial food marketers to reduce salt content, but regulatory steps are being hinted at broadly if persuasion doesn’t produce results.

The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommendation of six grams of salt per day for the general population is understood to be more a realistic target than the ideal healthy limit recommended by WHO/FAO. Most scientists and physicians consider dietary salt intake levels are too high (10-12g/day). Other countries in the EU looking to reduce sodium intake include France’s “moderate population-wide” initiative (6-8g/day target), Germany and Austria. In a related matter, the UK’s Secretary for Health has urged snack makers to cut portion sizes as a means of fighting childhood obesity.

In other science and food news, Tesco’s chief has said his firm is open to GM foods (genetically modified), but over 70 companies have vowed not to use or sell genetically modified beet sugar by signing a registry set up by the Center for Food Safety (CFS) a food safety, environmental and corporate watchdog organization. While Monsanto’s Roundup Ready sugar beets will not come on-line until this Fall, signatories of the Non-Genetically Modified (GM) Beet Sugar Registry have said they are worried about a lack of knowledge about the long-term health and environmental impacts of GM beet sugar. Jeffrey Smith, director of the Institute for Responsible Technology – one of a dozen sponsors of the registry – said: “We need to avoid the all-too-common situation of finding out a product is harmful after it has been approved and widely distributed.

Requiring that GM foods be labeled is the only protection consumers have if they want to avoid eating GM foods.” CFS asserts that the US Environmental Protection Agency increased allowable levels of herbicide residue on GM sugar beet roots “at the request of Monsanto.” The Roundup Ready sugar beets are modified to be resistant to the company’s Roundup-brand herbicide, allowing farmers to kill weeds without damaging their crop. CFS has also said that the recent alleged mercury contamination of high fructose corn syrup has made companies particularly nervous about the introduction of unlabeled GM beet sugar to the US food supply. Further there is concern GM sugar beets will cross-pollinate with related crops such as chard and table beets, meaning that the issue could affect other foods and food ingredients. The registry has been signed by 73 grocery chains and food producers so far. The complete list of these companies can be found here.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) by a group of scientists at Ohio’s MetroHealth Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine reports that additional phosphorous, such as sodium phosphate or pyrophosphate, may put people with kidney problems at risk. The additives are used to enhance the flavor and shelf life, particularly in meats, cheeses, baked goods, and beverages. Foods such as meats, dairy products, whole grains, and nuts, naturally contain high levels of phosphorous, and patients with advanced kidney disease are recommended to avoid them. Increased levels of phosphorus in the blood are linked to heart and bone diseases. The researchers said the results have implications for manufacturers and policy makers. The wholesale reduction of trans fats in processed foods was cited as proof food marketers can and should respond to health concerns. The study is published in Volume 301, Issue 6, Pages 629-635, and entitled “Effect of Food Additives on Hyperphosphatemia Among Patients With End-stage Renal Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.”

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