News on Health and Nutrition from the Americas

September 15, 2012

Are you getting enough Potassium? Probably not...

A study published in the September edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that only 2% of the U.S. population is meeting its needs for potassium. Two percent! While we spend an endless amount of energy discussing reducing sodium, ...

September 13, 2012

McDonald's USA Adding Calorie Counts To Menu Boards

McDonald's USA President Jan Fields announced today that, starting next week, the company will list calorie information on restaurant and drive-thru menus nationwide to further inform and help customers and employees make nutrition-minded choices. In ...

September 11, 2012

APRE receives additional funding for Potato Nutrition Research & Education

The Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE) today announced that it will receive additional funding from the United States Potato Board (USPB) to support nutrition science research and education on the white potato in all forms.

September 11, 2012

Pro-Health adds Kwik-Lok tags to potato packaging

Texas-based potato producer Pro-Health announces the release of cutting-edge, scannable technology to boost traceability in healthy potatoes.

September 04, 2012

Stanford Scientists Cast Doubt on Advantages of Organic Meat and Produce

Does an organic strawberry contain more vitamin C than a conventional one? Maybe — or maybe not. Stanford University scientists have weighed in on the “maybe not” side of the debate after an extensive examination of four decades of research comparing...

August 28, 2012

USPB to quadruple its contribution to APRE

The U.S. Potato Board has agreed to quadruple its annual contribution to a year-old organization charged with defending the french fry. Effective this crop year, USPB will increase its investment in the Alliance for Potato Research and Education (APRE...

August 27, 2012

Canadian politician says call for potato boycott wasn't intended to hurt producers

A Liberal MLA in Canada's Alberta province who called for a boycott of Alberta potatoes over concerns that child labour remains unregulated in the province says he has no desire to damage the livelihoods of growers.

August 21, 2012

Alberta politician calls on Frito-Lay to boycott Alberta potatoes on child labour concerns

An Alberta politician, the Liberal MLA David Swann, called on snack-food giant Frito Lay, a subsidiary of PepsiCo., to boycott Alberta potatoes because child labour remains unregulated on provincial farms. The New Democrats later joined the Alberta Fe...

August 21, 2012

Potandon Produce offers 'Box Tops for Education' on its Klondike Rose bags

Potandon Produce announced that beginning in July, Green Giant® Fresh Klondike Rose Potatoes is participating in the Box Tops for Education program.

August 21, 2012

QSR battleground shifts from 'Value' to 'Better for you'

McDonald's is touting its "under 400 calories"items, including the venerable Filet-O-Fish sandwich. Burger King has just added smoothies and salads to its menu. Wendy's is pitching a new mobile app that lets customers personalize meals based ...

August 21, 2012

US: Del Campo brand dried potato (from Peru) recalled for undeclared sulfites

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets today alerted consumers that Optima Distributors LTD, located at 66-15 Traffic Ave. in Ridgewood, NY, is recalling Del Campo brand Dried Potato due to the presence of undeclared sulfites. The re...

August 19, 2012

Lawyers From Suits Against Big Tobacco Target Food Makers

More than a dozen lawyers who previously took on the tobacco companies have filed 25 cases against industry players like ConAgra Foods, PepsiCo, Heinz, General Mills and Chobani that stock pantry shelves and refrigerators across America. The suits, fi...

August 14, 2012

Canadian research shows Healthy Happy Meals with toys steer kids from junk food

Children are far more likely to pick a healthier fast-food meal when promotional toys are offered only with those menu options and not with less nutritional fare like burgers, fries and a pop, according to a Canadian study.

August 14, 2012

Sliced apples sold to McDonald's, Burger King and grocery chains recalled for Listeria

Pre-sliced apples distributed by Missa Bay LLC, owned by Ready Pac Foods Inc. of Swedesboro, N.J.to fast-food and grocery chains across the United States are among packaged products being recalled due to possible contamination with Listeria bacteria.

August 14, 2012

Frito-Lay offers new Resources for Gluten Free Snacking

Frito-Lay North America division announced the launch of a gluten free recipe section on its website www.frito-lay.com to help make snacking easier and more enjoyable for consumers with Celiac Disease or gluten sensitivities.The new recipe section on t...

August 09, 2012

Canadian Government Improving Inspection Approach to Strengthen Food Safety

The Government of Canada released today its draft model for improving food inspection in Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is proposing a single approach to food inspection that will provide consistent and appropriate oversight across ...

August 02, 2012

Chile Bans Toys in Fast Food to Attack Child Obesity

Facing an uptick in child obesity, Chile is cracking down on the happy meal. A new law in Chile aims to take some of the fun out of fast-food by forcing McDonald's, Burger King, KFC and other restaurants to stop including toys and other goodies with ch...

July 05, 2012

Low glycemic load diet might be better than low fat or very low carbohydrate diet

A new study published recently in the Journal of American Medical Association challenges the notion that “a calorie is a calorie.” The study, led by Cara Ebbeling, PhD, associate director and David Ludwig, MD, director of the New Balance Foundation Obe...