News on Health and Nutrition from the United States

September 27, 2007

US Authorities divided over popcorn lung regulations

A proposed bill that calls for emergency regulatory action to protect workers from diacetyl, a chemical linked to lung disease, has met with resistance from the Bush administration.The bill, submitted to the House of Representatives, would require the ...

September 26, 2007

Kraft Introduces New Butter Flavor Containing Diacetyl, The 'Popcorn Lung' Ingredient

Recently, after numerous complaints of serious illness from popcorn workers and one complaint of illness from a consumer, ConAgra and Pop Weaver removed diacetyl from its microwave popcorn and now proudly announce to their customers that their product ...

September 26, 2007

House approves regulating popcorn lung chemical diacetyl

Exposure to a microwave popcorn additive linked to a deadly lung disease would be swiftly regulated under a bill passed on Wednesday by the U.S. House of Representatives, defying a White House veto threat. The bill would order quick action by the Occu...

September 24, 2007

Common food additives may cut acrylamide formation in potato chips

Common food additives like calcium chloride and l-cysteine could reduce the formation of acrylamide in potato chips by about 85 per cent, according to a new study."This research presents a technology to inhibit acrylamide formation in fried potat...

September 20, 2007

Se subestiman las calorías del menú en restaurantes "saludables"

Las personas que optan por comer en un restaurante "saludable"suelen consumir más calorías de las que ingerirían si concurren a un lugar de comida rápida sin proclamas de salud, indicó un estudio. Investigadores hallaron que las personas sub...

September 13, 2007

Goldin on Burger King Healthy Kids Food Initiative: 'Better late than never' (Audio)

Bob Goldin, executive vice president and food industry analyst at Technomic says he can "only applaud"Burger King's healthy kids food initiative, but says it is "long over due"with its healthy kids food initiative. He tells Steve P...

September 12, 2007

100 calorie snack packs continue to thrive

In an attempt to assuage public concern about the obesity problem, major snack brands like Kraft, Kellogs and Frito-lay are responding with 100-calorie packs of their most popular varieties. According to Tom Vierhile, director of Productscan Online, ...

September 11, 2007

California Legislature Passes Menu Labeling Bill for fast food restaurants

Last night the California Assembly passed a bill requiring calories on fast-food menu boards and additional nutrition information on chain-restaurants’ printed menus. Later today, the state’s Senate will consider separate legislation that would requir...

September 10, 2007

McDonald's Worker Jailed for Serving Salty Burger

A 20-year-old McDonald's employee spent a night in jail and is facing criminal charges after a police officer complained that the burger she prepared with too much salt made him sick. Kendra Bull was charged with misdemeanor reckless conduct and arre...

September 07, 2007

Potatoes Chock Full of Phytochemicals

Americans love their spuds, consuming 130 pounds per person annually. Now that culinary love affair could grow even more passionate with Agricultural Research Service (ARS) findings that some potato varieties are packed with health-promoting compounds...

September 05, 2007

ConAgra will remove diacetyl - a flavoring linked to a lung ailment - from its Popcorn

The U.S.'s largest microwave popcorn maker, ConAgra Foods Inc. (CAG), said it will change the recipe for its Orville Redenbacher and Act II brands over the next year to remove diacetyl, a flavoring chemical linked to a lung ailment in popcorn plant wor...

August 31, 2007

McCain Foods is flaunting its trans fat free profile

The world’s largest producer of French fries, McCain Foods works to convince the public and food preparers that its trans fat free products are even better than ever. When McCain Foods made the decision to go totally transfat free by the end of this...

August 20, 2007

Snacks That Pass the Test

The Washington Post had 16 snacks judged for suitability as a school snack by twenty-nine 3rd and 4th graders. The taste test included 16 snacks that contained about 100 calories per serving -- an amount that nutrition experts say is appropriate for ...

August 02, 2007

Burger King and Wendy's Fries Flunk Trans Fat Test in New York City

Though New York City now requires restaurants to use trans-fat-free frying oils, Burger King and Wendy’s are still serving New Yorkers French fries with more trans fat than is safe to consume in an entire day, according to new test results. McDonald’s...

November 06, 2006

Consumer Reports tests find trans fats in Wendy’s fries

Consumer Reports purchased large servings of fries from three Wendy's restaurants in Westchester County, N.Y., in early September. We sent the fries to an independent lab for fatty-acid analysis. We were surprised to find that the lab tests showed the...

June 08, 2006

Wendy's Significantly Cuts Trans Fats -- Switch to New Cooking Oil Under Way

In a move that significantly reduces trans fatty acids (TFAs) on its menu, Wendy's® is making the switch to non- hydrogenated cooking oil for its French fries and breaded chicken items. The oil has zero grams of trans fat per serving.