News on Health and Nutrition from the Americas

October 23, 2011

Wetenschappers werken aan verbeterde industrie-aardappelen

Onderzoekers aan de Universiteit van Wisconsin-Madison zijn gekozen om een nationale multi-institutionele poging tot kwaliteitsverbetering van verwerkte aardappels te leiden. Volgens de USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is er door het ...

October 21, 2011

Hudson Institute: Better-for-you Foods more profitable

Last week, we at Hudson Institute issued a study titled 'Better-for-you Foods: It's Just Good Business.' We now have evidence that packaged food and beverage companies selling a higher percentage of better-for-you (BFY) products are doing better.

October 20, 2011

When did potatoes become unpopular?

Potatoes have gone from nation-building superfoods to national pariahs. Why?

October 19, 2011

AFFI applauds senate approval of Collins-Udall Amendment to block limit on Starchy vegetables in Schools

AFFI President and CEO Kraig R. Naasz issued the following statement today in support of an amendment to a Senate agriculture appropriations bill that blocks the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from limiting the amount of potatoes, corn, peas, li...

October 18, 2011

Senate votes for unlimited potatoes in schools

The Senate threw its support behind the potato Tuesday, voting to block an Obama administration proposal to limit the vegetable on school lunch lines. Agriculture Department rules proposed earlier this year aimed to reduce the amount of french fries i...

October 18, 2011

Senator Collins scores key victory to keep healthy vegetables in school meal program

In a major victory, the United States Senate tonight unanimously approved a bipartisan amendment, authored by Senator Susan Collins, to the Fiscal Year 2012 Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill that would protect the flexibility of schools to serve h...

October 17, 2011

University of Wisconsin to lead research effort to reduce acrylamide in potato products

University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers have been selected to lead a national, multi-institution effort to improve the quality and safety of processed potatoes, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) ...

October 17, 2011

US Potato politics: The potato wars

Sen. Susan Collins is a more gentle soul than your typical Republican Steering Committee regular, but there she was in the Capitol last week: Ms. Maine Moderate lunching with the “Sons of Jesse Helms” — all in the name of the potato. It was a jaw-drop...

October 09, 2011

Publicidad despierta apetito infantil por la comida chatarra

Los anuncios de comida tienen una potente influencia sobre las elecciones alimentarias de los niños, pero los padres pueden reducir ese efecto, según un estudio reciente. Incluyó a 75 niños entre los tres y los cinco años que vieron dos dibujos animad...

October 06, 2011

Children's food choices are affected by both advertising and parental influence, suggests study

Directly advertising food items to children worries many parents and health care providers, and the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association have expressed concern about the negative impact of advertising on children's ...

October 05, 2011

NPC event intensifies pro-potato pressure

Doris Demers, the nutrition program director for York and Kittery schools, had a blunt response today when asked about proposed federal guidelines limiting white potato servings as part of the federally funded school lunch program. "It's ridiculo...

September 29, 2011

Vilsack: Not Done With Potatoes And School Lunch

Recently, The Salt had a chance to chat with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. He's held the top post at USDA since January 2009. As a former Iowa governor, he knows a thing or two about farm country and he's been open about his struggles with weight....

September 27, 2011

Potassium: Potatoes are the most affordable source

Potatoes were the lowest cost source of dietary potassium, a nutrient identified by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines as lacking in the American diet. The high cost of meeting federal dietary guidelines for potassium, 4,700 mg per person per day, presents a ...

September 27, 2011

Kids say 'potato,' USDA says 'poh-tay-NO'

Sen. Susan Collins, who hails from Maine's potato country and picked potatoes as a girl, is working to restore some respect for the humble spud, which is on the verge of being virtually banished from the nation's school lunch programs. New guidelines ...

September 27, 2011

Las papas son la fuente más accesible de potasio

El Dr. Adam Drewnowski y sus colegas de la Universidad de Washington juntaron información proveniente de varios organismos dependientes del Departamento de Agricultura de los Estados Unidos (USDA) con el fin de determinar el valor nutritivo del potasio...

September 20, 2011

WHO to target trans fats and salt to curb ‘tide of non-communicable diseases’

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has identified trans fats and salt intake amongst its list of low-cost interventions to counter the rise of diseases like cancer, heart disease, diabetes and lung disease. Non-communicable diseases like heart attack...

September 15, 2011

McDonald's has started the roll out of its healthier Happy Meals

McDonald's has started rolling out its new, healthier Happy Meals in some markets. By the end of this week, the offering will be on the menus of McDonald's restaurants in the New York Tri-State and a number of markets in California.

September 15, 2011

FDA Seeks Public Comment on Approaches to Reducing Sodium Consumption

On September 13, 2011, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, with several key initial partners, launched Million Hearts, an initiative that aims to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years. As one component of ...