News on Health and Nutrition from the Americas

Key Technology introduces an all-new digital sorting platform: VERYX™

In the United States, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Environmental Protection Agency Deputy Administrator Stan Meiburg have announced the first-ever national food waste reduction goal, calling for a 50% reduction by 2030.

Un estudio realizado por investigadores de la Universidad Estatal de Pennsylvania y la Universidad de Colorado, reveló que compuestos presentes en las papas moradas ayudarían a matar las células madre del cáncer de colon.

Boulder Canyon™ Foods introduces a revolutionary new food concept with the launch of its first functional food snack chip, called Protein Crisps.

The discovery of needles and nails in potatoes in a suspected case of food tampering earlier this year in Atlantic Canada have heightened the awareness of consumers and media alike. The latest case, reported by CBC Nova Scotia, is the finding of metal object in mashed potatoes in a Halifax restaurant.

Foods bearing “free-from” claims are increasingly relevant to Americans, as they perceive the products as closely tied to health. Mintel research reveals that 84 percent of American free-from consumers buy free-from foods because they are seeking out more natural or less processed foods.

Just in time for the back to school season, here is your A to Z guide on potato nutrition, brought to you by the United States Potato Board.

The J.R. Simplot Company is pleased that the USDA has deregulated the Russet Burbank variety of the second generation of Innate™ potatoes. Simplot is looking forward to the completion of the EPA registration and FDA consultation before the second generation of Innate™ potatoes can be introduced into the marketplace.

Researchers of Penn State University discovered that compounds found in purple potatoes may help kill colon cancer stem cells and limit the spread of the cancer.

The United States Potato Board (USPB) School Nutrition Program has officially launched to reach the 55.5 million strong, and growing, school students who are part of the “Salad Generation.”

The three cross cutting themes of gender, partnerships, and capacity building are the main focus of the 2014 CIP annual report. Cooperation is the common thread that binds them all.

The Prince Edward Island Potato Industry '... hasn't focused on the belly aching, financial or emotional challenges...' resulting from the potato tampering incidents, that are still unresolved. 'Instead food safety has continued to be the highest priority ...' says Greg Donald, general manager of the P.E.I. potato board.

A fire chief credits quick action by employees for a short interruption of work at a McCain potato processing plant in Plover, Wisconsin.

The most recent report of a metal object found in a bag of potatoes appears to be of a different nature than previous incidents, say RCMP and the P.E.I. Potato Board.potato bag in which watch strap pin was found

According to the recent report from Mintel, Snacking Motivations and Attitudes US 2015, nearly all Americans (94 percent) snack at least once a day. What is more, half (50 percent) of adults snack two to three times per day.

Equipment manufacturer GIllenkirch offers an innovative solution to the Prince Edward Island potato industry after the recent scare involving needles inserted in potatoes

The potato industry in Prince Edward Island has opted to increase the value of the reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the iindividual(s) responsible for the deliberate insertion of metal objects into potatoes up to $500,000 until August 15th, 2015.

The Province of Prince Edward Island is providing additional funding support of $500,000 to the Prince Edward Island potato industry, while the federal government also offers $1.5 million additional financial assistance for the purchase and installation of foreign material detection equipment.