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2010-12-27T11:15:00.001+08:00

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FDA warns of cough drug effects on young children

2010-12-15T09:58:00.000+08:00

The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers on Tuesday that the accidental ingestion of Tessalon liquid cough capsules pose a serious risk of side effects or death to children under 10 years old.

Tessalon is approved by the agency to treat cough symptoms in patients older than 10. But, the agency said, the capsules may attract children because of their candy-like appearance. Brand name Tessalon is sold by Forest Pharmaceuticals Inc., though the product has been on the market for decades and several generic companies make versions of the product, also known as Benzonatate.

"Benzonatate (Tessalon) should be kept in a child-resistant container and stored out of reach of children," said Carol Holquist, director of the FDA's division of medication error prevention and analysis, in a statement. "The FDA encourages health care professionals to talk with their patients and those caring for children about the risk of accidental ingestion or overdose."

The agency has identified seven cases of accidental ingestion between 1982 and 2010. Five of those cases resulted in death in children 2 years of age and younger.

Common side effects include heart attack, coma, and convulsion. Signs and symptoms can occur within 15 minutes of ingestion and some of the deaths reported in children occurred within hours of accidental ingestion.

‘Botanical’ drink from eel extracts

2010-12-13T13:05:00.000+08:00

MELAKA: The word ‘eel’ elicits various reaction from many but quite a number also realise that this fish constitutes several delicacies particularly from the east coast and northern part of the peninsula.

Known to locals as ‘belut’ or ‘ikan linang’, the eel is a familiar part among the rice and soup dishes in Kelantan such as eel soup and eel tom yam rice apart from nasi kerabu eel.

These rice dishes are common within the town and district

of Tumpat in Kelantan.

In the northern states of the peninsula, it is common for cooks to use the flesh of eels as the main composition of the gravy for laksa (rice noodles).

The eel or Monopterus Albus is a long slimy fish that resembles the snakehead and has gills.

Despite the fact that many refrain from eating eels, it is also a known statement that this fish exhibits a number of ‘nourishments’.

It is believed that eels can improve the body’s resistance to diseases, stabilise the blood pressure, smoothens the skin, inhibits eye infection, improves memory and prevents hepatitis. The eel is also rich in fatty acids, calcium, vitamins and iron.

Many say that eating eels helps to have healthy kidneys, prevents asthma and palpitations, erectile dysfunction and hastens wound healing.

Rancak Niaga, a Bumiputera firm based in Melaka has introduced the botanical drink with eel extracts under the brand name ‘Hibaat’. There is also a lotion under the same brand.

It is the company’s initiative for those who shy away from consuming eels due to their slimy character.

Rancak Niaga marketing director A Razak Kamis said the two products have been in the market for two months and received warm response from the public.

He said the botany drink with eel extracts was specially formulated to enhance the ‘male strength’ and stamina apart from stabilising the blood pressure and easing joint pains.

Among the constituents of the drink are eel extracts, herbs such as Tribulus terrasteris, Ginkgo biloba, Guarana and other spices.

The company markets the drink in two forms — 390 ml bottles and boxes of five 30 ml sachets each.

A Razak said the eel extract lotion was specially formulated to enhance facial beauty and skin care.

The lotion is enriched with extracts from white rose and chamomile believed to be good for the skin.

He said initially the focus of the products is in Melaka before being expanded to other states next year.

“In the first phase, the company produces 5,000 units of each product and in January next year the figure will be scaled to 10,000 units for each product,” he told Bernama here.

“This is only until December. Our turnover target is RM200,000 but for next year we expect RM5 million,” he said adding that RM70,000 was used as the initial outlay for both products. — Bernama

A Razak said the firm plans to produce another two items — the eel botany extract drink for women and massage oil from eel extracts.

A Razak said the idea to produce both items came about after he met a friend by the name of Zulkifle Ahmad at a restaurant in Duyong near here.

They were enjoying eel soup then.

“I actually did not have a taste for eels but my friend has and at that moment it crossed my mind why not make drinks and massage oil from eels,” he said.

He said the eel extracts were processed at a mill in Negeri Sembilan.

A Razak said the firm sourced the eels from local suppliers.

It plans to breed eels commercially in the future. — Bernama

North Korea 'creates super drink'

2010-11-30T10:24:00.000+08:00

North Korea has claimed it has developed a "super drink" that can multiply brain cells and stop skin ageing.

The anti-oxidation drink contains 60 kinds of "microelements" extracted from more than 30 species of plants, according to the communist state's official news agency KCNA.

"It, with effects of both preventive and curative treatment, helps improve mental and retentive faculties by multiplying brain cells," KCNA said.

The drink can also protect skin from wrinkles and black spots, and prevent common conditions such as heart disease by removing "acid effete matters", it said.

Man charged with eat and run at top restaurants

2010-11-29T10:16:00.000+08:00

LONDON - An unemployed man has been charged with wining and dining at a series of London's top restaurants, running up massive bills and then disappearing without paying, police said on Wednesday.

Latvian Janis Nords, 27, is accused of carrying out the scam on three occasions between October 14 and November 15.

He is accused of running off after amassing a 349-pound bill at the Glass House restaurant in Richmond, southwest London, and a 965-pound bill at the Connaught Hotel in central London.

The largest unpaid bill was at L'Oranger French restaurant in central London where he is accused of failing to pay for 1,021 pounds worth of food and drink.

Nords was due to appear in court later on Wednesday.

China milk campaigner 'forced to sack lawyers'

2010-11-23T10:32:00.001+08:00

HONG KONG (AFP) - – A Chinese father jailed for "inciting social disorder" after campaigning for victims of melamine-tainted milk may have been forced to sack his lawyers, a rights group said Monday.

Zhao Lianhai, whose child was one of 300,000 sickened in the scandal in 2008, when six died, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison earlier this month.

The China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group, a Hong Kong-based organisation, said his two lawyers had tried to visit him at the Daxing detention centre, near Beijing, on Monday, but were not allowed to meet him.

In a statement the CHRLCG said his pair "suddenly received a note, with Zhao's signature and fingerprint, indicating to dismiss them as his lawyers" from the chief of the detention centre.

Pointing out that Zhao had stated his intention to appeal and Monday was the last day for him to do so, the CHRLCG said it was "strange" for him to sack the lawyers at that point and the note "might not represent Zhao's own wish".

"It was suspected that the Chinese government has been aggressively applying every measure to stop Zhao from lodging an appeal," the group said, adding that the move was "seriously violating the two lawyers' right to represent their client.

"We are very concerned whether Zhao has been coerced and faced any torture in the detention centre," it said, adding that Zhao's wife had given them a similar note.

The development came as state media said that authorities in central China were searching for a batch of dairy products containing high levels of melamine, the chemical involved in the scandal.

The government in Hubei province's Xiangfan city has asked all local businesses to look for 50 packages of a corn-flavoured dairy drink, the official China Daily newspaper reported.

Tests showed the melamine levels in the drinks were high, suggesting that the chemical -- which is normally used in making plastics -- was deliberately added during the production process, the report said.

It was not clear how many individual drinks were in one package.

The report said the company that made the drinks being sought in Hubei had bought milk powder as a raw material from a supplier in another province without knowing it was tainted with melamine.

China's dairy industry was rocked in 2008 by revelations that melamine was added to powdered milk to make it appear higher in protein content, sickening babies and causing worldwide recalls of products containing Chinese dairy ingredients.

The government said at the time it had destroyed all tainted milk powder and gave the all-clear, but reports of melamine-laced products have regularly re-emerged since then.

In July, authorities in China said they found 25,000 tonnes of milk powder tainted with melamine earlier this year.

The human rights group Amnesty International has condemned Zhao's conviction and imprisonment, saying it was "appalled".

High-caffeine energy drinks linked to alcohol abuse: study

2010-11-21T09:03:00.001+08:00

WASHINGTON (AFP) - – Regularly consuming high-caffeine energy drinks significantly increases the risk of becoming alcohol-dependent and engaging in bouts of heavy drinking, a study published Tuesday found.

The study of more than 1,000 students at a US university found that those who consumed the caffeinated drinks on a weekly or daily basis drank alcohol more often and in greater quantities, and were more likely to become alcohol dependent than students who used energy drinks occasionally or not at all.

High consumers of energy drinks also had greater risk for alcohol-related problems such as blackouts or missing class because they were hung over, and were more susceptible to self-injury than non- or light users of energy drinks, said the study led by University of Maryland researcher Amelia Arria.

The study, which was released online ahead of publication next year in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, adds to earlier research that found links between heavy energy drink consumption and substance abuse and high-risk behavior.

The energy drinks, including Red Bull, Monster and Rockstar, deliver the equivalent caffeine dose of a cup and a half of brewed coffee but do not have to disclose their caffeine content on their label, which could lead to consumers of the drinks taking in more caffeine than they realize.

The researchers also noted that youngsters are tending more and more to mix energy drinks with alcohol, thinking that the caffeine, which keeps them awake, is counteracting the effects of the alcohol.

"They're under the misguided notion that they're not impaired when they are just as impaired as a person with the same blood-alcohol concentration. It's their subjective perception of drunkenness that is impaired," Arria told AFP.

Arria and her co-authors on the study called for greater regulation of caffeine-containing beverages to safeguard public health, and for consumers to be more aware of the dangers of the drinks.

"These drinks are distributed widely and the consequences of using them cost everyone, economically and socially. This doesn't affect a minority -- these things are pretty popular," Arria told AFP.

Nearly two thirds of the more than 1,000 students interviewed for the study used energy drinks at some time in the past year, and 10 percent consumed them on a weekly or daily basis.

Italian giant truffle sold for 105,000 euros

2010-11-18T11:23:00.002+08:00

ALBA, Italy (AFP) – A giant white truffle was sold off on Sunday to a Hong Kong buyer for 105,000 euros (144,000 dollars) at a lavish auction near the town of Alba in northern Italy, organisers said.

The truffle weighed 900 grammes and the auction was held at the medieval Castello di Grinzane in a part of Italy famous for its wine and truffles.

The price per gramme for the truffle was therefore 117 euros -- lower than the rate of 133 euros per gramme paid at the same auction last year.

Last year's truffle also went to a buyer from Hong Kong.

Proceeds from the auction will go to scholarships for Italian students, a children's charity in Hong Kong and local charities in Alba.

"Truffle allows gourmets and gourmands from around the world to meet up in this corner of the Piemonte region to give life to an event with a big following," said Tomaso Zanoletti, a senator and one of the organisers.

Supermarket blasted for selling reindeer meat in UK

2010-11-16T11:20:00.001+08:00

LONDON (AFP) - – A supermarket chain was under fire on Monday for selling reindeer meat in its British stores in the run-up to Christmas.

German discount chain Lidl is selling frozen Siberian reindeer leg steaks at six pounds (9.60 dollars, seven euros) for a 350-gramme pack as part of its deluxe range.

Reindeer are traditionally associated with the festive season -- the story going that Father Christmas travels around the world delivering presents on a sleigh pulled by a team of flying reindeer.

Animal rights campaigners blasted Lidl, which defended its decision to sell the unusual meat by saying the reindeer had been well treated.

"Lidl is destroying the magic of Christmas by selling dead reindeer," said Justin Kerswell, the campaigns manager for Vegetarians International Voice for Animals.

"What they term 'luxury cuisine' belies the truth behind an industry that exists to exploit wild animals," he told trade magazine The Grocer.

Siberian reindeer were often herded by snowmobiles and in some cases by helicopters and motorbikes, Kerswell said.

"This and lassoing them cause huge stress. They can become so distraught their muscle can waste away."

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said: "The idea of 'Rudolph' being slaughtered and sliced into steaks for a novelty Christmas dinner is revolting.

"Christmas is supposed to remind us of peace and goodwill -- and the rest of the animal kingdom could do with a taste of it, rather than being tasted."

Lidl, which has more than 530 stores in Britain, said the reindeer were fed on "local aromatic herbs and grass.

"They live in their natural habitat and have plenty of space to move around," a spokeswoman said.

The supermarket is also selling pheasant, venison and springbok in the Christmas build-up.

Non-stick cookware may boost cholesterol: study

2010-09-07T11:48:00.000+08:00

WASHINGTON (AFP) - – Exposure to chemicals used to make non-stick cookware and which are found in microwave popcorn may raise blood cholesterol levels in children, a study says.

Researchers led by Stephanie Frisbee of West Virginia University School of Medicine assessed blood lipid levels in 12,476 children and teens aged one to 18 years for the study published in Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association.

The children who took part in the study were part of a health project that began after a lawsuit was settled in 2002 after perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was found in the water supply in the mid-Ohio River Valley.

To be part of the project, children had to have been exposed for at least a year to the contaminated drinking water.

For the study, believed to be the first to look at the link between perfluoroalkyl acids and serum lipids in youngsters, blood samples were taken from the children and teens in 2005 and 2006.

The average PFOA concentration in their blood was found to be 69.2 ng/mL and the average perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) concentration was 22.7 ng/mL -- both much higher than the national median.

PFOA and PFOS are part of the family of manmade compounds called perfluoroalkyl acids, which humans are exposed to through everything from dust to food packaging to microwave popcorn and non-stick pots and pans.

Among 12- to 19-year-old study participants who had drunk water from the contaminated supply for at least a year, PFOA concentrations were found to be substantially higher than those found nationally in kids -- 29.3 ng/mL for the study group and 3.9 ng/mL for the others.

Kids with higher PFOA levels had higher total cholesterol -- the most common measurement of blood cholesterol -- as well as increased levels of LDL or "bad" cholesterol.

Higher levels of PFOS, meanwhile, were associated with increased total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL, or "good," cholesterol.

"PFOA and PFOS specifically, and possibly perfluoroalkyl acids as a general class, appear to be associated with serum lipids, and the association seems to exist at levels of PFOA and PFOS exposure that are in the range characterized by nationally representative studies," the authors of the study said.

High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 600,000 lives a year, and stroke is the third-biggest, killing 136,000 people a year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Total cholesterol levels should be less than 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), according to the American Heart Association.

The study found an average difference of 8.5 mg/dL in total cholesterol levels between the one-fifth of participants with the highest and the fifth with the lowest PFOS levels.

Up to now, few studies have been conducted into the effects of long-term exposure to perfluoroalkyl acids and how they might affect health and development in humans, and the authors of the study called for more research into exposure to the family of chemicals.

Controversy over meal packs for YOG volunteers

2010-08-14T22:01:00.001+08:00

By Republic Polytechnic’s Fann Sim
Local internet forums are buzzing over the sub-standard food being served to the volunteers at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

The issue surfaced after a volunteer snapped a photo of the meal and uploaded it onto his Facebook page.

According to the volunteer, a typical lunchbox consists of a piece of meat (fried chicken in this case), long beans, corn and white rice. Debate has raged on since the photo was posted on Tuesday.

Netizen Chris Liew, 33, an investment banker said, “Even if the meal was an isolated incident, such a logistics oversight of providing sub-standard meals to our volunteers should have been avoided at all costs.”

Another full-time NS man Leslie Wong, 20, who was stationed at the Marina Bay floating platform, was quoted on The Straits Times as saying, “One of the meals was a dry, tasteless piece of chicken with a few slices of carrot and soggy rice. I ended up throwing most of it away.”

Online socio-political website The Temasek Review even had an anonymous volunteer comparing the bland meals to “dog food”.

Food for the volunteers is provided by Singapore Food Industries (SFI), a subsidiary of the Singapore Airport Terminal Services (Sats). Sats has confirmed that the meal in the picture above was indeed part of a meal that was provided to the YOG volunteers.

“We have received feedback from the workforce regarding the meals served. We take their feedback very seriously and have promptly taken action to improve and ensure that the portions and variety served will provide the workforce with a balanced meal,” said the Sats spokesperson.

YOG’s organising committee have also been quick to respond: “We are aware of the feedback (on the meal) and have taken immediate action. We will work with the caterers to continually improve the meal standards.”

YOG volunteers Yahoo! Singapore spoke to had a mixed experience.

20-year-old Audrey Ng, a volunteer at the National Sailing Centre had a better dining experience.

Ms Ng said volunteers there are given meal coupons they can redeem at various food vendors.

When asked if she’s been given lunch like the one pictured above, she said ‘no’.
“The food at the other venues seems lousy. Ours is not that bad and we have free flow of drinks here. I’ve heard from my friend that the food provided was quite bad on the first day of rehearsal but it’s getting better,’’ said Ms Ng.

But 21-year-old Md Raziman Sani, a full-time NS man activated to volunteer at the YOG floating platform, agreed that the food he’s being served is similar to the lunchbox pictured above.

“Our meal consists of rice that’s cold, vegetables and a meat usually chicken or fish. It’s nice and generally enough to fill us,” he said.

For dinner, volunteers are given free drinks such as a can of Coca-Cola, green tea or ice lemon tea. On top of that, they get a packet of wet wipes and dry tissue and once a week, they get ice cream.

“We also got vouchers from McDonald’s and some Old Chang Kee vouchers,” said Raziman.

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2010-08-09T11:39:00.001+08:00

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2010-07-16T18:41:00.001+08:00

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Sushi-hungry Japan sells monster tuna

2010-07-16T18:33:00.001+08:00

TOKYO (AFP) - – A monster tuna caught off Japan turned heads at a Tokyo fish market Friday, where the 445 kilogram (981 pound) bluefin -- the biggest caught here since 1986 -- sold for 3.2 million yen (36,700 dollars).

"Many of the people who work at the market have never seen a tuna that big," said an official of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, which runs the Tsukiji fish market, the world's biggest seafood market.

The fish, which was auctioned at 7,200 yen per kilogram, had already been gutted and cleaned of its gills, meaning it must have weighed more when it was caught off Nagasaki prefecture this week, the official said.

"It is extremely rare to see a tuna heavier than 400 kilograms," he said.

The biggest Japanese tuna sold at Tsukiji was a 496-kilogram beast caught in April 1986 -- but the biggest tuna from the world's oceans to be sold here was a Canadian fish caught in 1995 weighing 497 kilograms.

Decades of overfishing have seen global tuna stocks crash, pushing some Western nations to call for a trade ban on endangered Atlantic bluefin tuna.

Japan consumes three-quarters of the global bluefin catch, a highly prized sushi ingredient, known in Japan as "kuro maguro" (black tuna) and dubbed by sushi connoisseurs as the "black diamond" because of its scarcity.

A piece of "otoro" or fatty underbelly can cost 2,000 yen (22 dollars) at high-end Tokyo restaurants.

Giant burgers cause jaw injuries in Taiwan

2010-07-11T22:24:00.001+08:00

TAIPEI (AFP) – Taiwanese dentists have urged fast food chains to drop over-sized hamburgers from their menus following a growing number of jaw injury cases, a report said Thursday.

Patients have developed sore jaws or had difficulties opening their mouths after consuming giant burgers, the China Post quoted professor Hsu Ming-lung of the School of Dentistry at National Yang-Ming University as saying.

Problems can arise when fast-food fans tuck into hamburgers larger than eight centimetres (three inches) high, Hsu said according to the paper.

A human mouth is designed to gape over objects measuring up to four centimetres, and overextending can hurt the joint between the jawbone and the temporal bone in front of the ears, Hsu said.

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2010-07-06T18:28:00.001+08:00

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Suppressing your appetite

2010-06-19T21:33:00.002+08:00

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Aussie man jailed for blowing bubble in court

2010-06-19T13:02:00.000+08:00

SYDNEY (AFP) - – An Australian man was jailed for 30 days for blowing a bubble in court, reports said Friday.

Mirza Zukanovic, 20, was up an assault-related charge when he blew his gum into a bubble and popped it as he looked at magistrate Rodney Crisp, News Limited newspapers said.

Instead of demanding an apology or fine, an incensed Crisp issued a jail term and sent Zukanovic down to the cells for scandalising the court and challenging its authority.

He was later freed by Melbourne's Supreme Court pending an appeal against the sentence, which his lawyer described as too harsh.

Cafe claims world's biggest burger

2010-06-15T14:55:00.000+08:00

SYDNEY patty that took 12 hours to cook and four men to flip.

The monster burger cooked up by Sydney cafe owners, Joe and Iman El-Ajouz, weighed in at 90 kg in total, eclipsing the previous record of 84 kg, set in Michigan in the United States.

"Just flipping the patty was the main challenge for us, but it all went well," Iman El-Ajouz told Reuters.

"My husband had to prepare special metal holders and a metal plate, he had one at the bottom one at the top, locked them together and they flipped the burger with that," she added.

The giant burger contained the giant beef patty, 120 eggs, 150 slices of cheese, 1.5 kg of beetroot, 2.5 kg of tomatoes and almost 2 kg of lettuce all topped off with a special sauce on a giant sesame seed bun. It was eaten by employees at the cafe.

The variety of burger will be on the menu at the cafe for the next year in order to meet the conditions for a Guinness world record, but will set hungry patrons back around A$1,500 .

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2010-06-14T09:58:00.001+08:00

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2010-06-09T09:26:00.001+08:00

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Cafeteria next to S'pore Pavilion offers local food at Shanghai Expo

2010-06-08T08:52:00.001+08:00

SINGAPORE : A cafeteria has been set up next to the Singapore Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo to highlight the republic's unique food.

On offer are local delights like Hainanese chicken rice and laksa.

But the dishes are a little more expensive because the ingredients cost more than in Singapore.

The owner said her chefs, half of whom are from Singapore, work 12-hour shifts to ensure the food sold is fresh.

She expects to sell more than a thousand meals a day, with laksa forming the majority

Recall raises questions about promotional glasses

2010-06-06T16:35:00.001+08:00

MILLVILLE, N.J. (AP) -- A recall of 12 million cadmium-tainted "Shrek" drinking glasses sold by McDonald's raises questions about the safety of millions of similar cheap promotional products that have been sitting in Americans' kitchen cabinets for years.

Only glasses produced for the latest "Shrek" movie are included in the voluntary recall announced Friday by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, but they were made by a company that McDonald's has worked with for 15 years. And many other companies make similar glassware with cartoon characters or other designs baked in.

"It could have been any glass company," said Ron Biagi, an executive with Arc International, which made the glasses. "We all do the same thing using materials from the same suppliers."

McDonald's said the U.S.-made glasses met federal guidelines for cadmium under testing conducted by a CPSC-approved lab. CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson, however, said the glasses fall short of standards for the toxic metal that the agency is in the process of developing.

The CPSC warned consumers to immediately stop using the glasses McDonald's sold as part of a promotional campaign for the movie "Shrek Forever After." The fast-food giant said it issued the recall "in an abundance of caution" and "in light of CPSC's evolving assessment of standards for consumer products."

"We believe the Shrek glassware is safe for consumer use," McDonald's USA spokesman Bill Whitman said. "However, again to ensure that our customers receive safe products from us, we made the decision to stop selling them and voluntarily recall these products effective immediately."

On its website, McDonald's said customers can learn how to return the glasses and request a refund by visiting http://www.mcdonalds.com/glasses or calling McDonald's toll-free number, 1-800-244-6227. It also said previous promotional gimmicks and Happy Meal toys are not involved in the recall.

Cadmium is a carcinogen that research shows also can cause bone softening and severe kidney problems. Research also suggests that it can, like lead, hinder brain development in the very young. The CPSC said in its recall notice that long-term exposure to the element "can cause adverse health effects."

In the case of the Shrek-themed glassware, the potential danger would be long-term exposure to low levels of cadmium, which could leach onto a child's hand and enter the body if the child puts that unwashed hand to his or her mouth.

Michael Wilcox is among those concerned about the recalled glasses and similar items in their homes. The Winston-Salem, N.C., man said his wife collects the glasses and bought the last three Thursday night to complete the set.

"Obviously, if there's a carcinogen involved, I'm wondering, too, if the ones we've been using for the past three years, if we've got the same problem going on, if we've been exposed to something," Wilcox said.

He said the recall also makes him "a little more curious" about other McDonald's items such as the toys in Happy Meals. "I don't know what's going on with some of this stuff," he said.

Concerns about cadmium exposure emerged in January, when The Associated Press reported that some items of children's jewelry sold at major national chains contained up to 91 percent of the metal. Federal regulators have recalled many pieces of jewelry containing cadmium, concerned that kids could ingest it by biting, sucking or even swallowing contaminated pendants and bracelets.

All the recalled jewelry was made in China. The drinking glasses are the first American-made products to be recalled.

Wolfson said the recalled glasses have "far less cadmium" than the recalled jewelry. He would not say how much cadmium leached from the glasses in tests, only that it was "slightly above the protective level currently being developed by the agency."

Arc is a French company with a plant in New Jersey; its origins as a glassmaker date to 1825. The company said that it has been making glasses for McDonald's for 15 years and that levels of cadmium used in the enamel baked into the glass were within current federal safety guidelines.

Biagi, Arc's vice president of North American sales, said the company was surprised and confused when it got word of the recall Thursday night.

"Our feeling is these glasses are safe," Biagi said.

Biagi said the images on the glasses were made with enamel baked into them rather than paint, a common process. He did not identify Arc's suppliers.

The 16-ounce glasses were sold for about $2 and were available in four designs depicting the characters Shrek, Princess Fiona, Puss in Boots and Donkey. "Shrek Forever After," the latest installment of the successful DreamWorks Animation franchise, has been No. 1 at the box office since its May 21 release.

Cadmium can be used to create reds and yellows on glassware. Whitman, the McDonald's spokesman, said a pigment on the glasses contained cadmium.

"A very small amount of cadmium can come to the surface of the glass, and in order to be as protective as possible of children, CPSC and McDonald's worked together on this recall," said Wolfson, the CPSC spokesman.

Whitman said about 7 million of the glasses had been sold since the promotion began May 21, and another 5 million or so were in restaurants or had not yet been shipped.

Associated Press reporters tried unsuccessfully to buy the glasses late Thursday at McDonald's in New York, Los Angeles and northern New Jersey but were alternately told the merchandise was sold out, no longer available or "there'll be more tomorrow."

Federal scrutiny of the glasses began last week. The Washington office of U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier, a California Democrat who has proposed strictly limiting cadmium in jewelry, received what a spokesman described as an anonymous tip that the glasses contained cadmium.

Speier's office said the tipster tested the glasses with an X-ray gun that estimates how much cadmium an item contains. Speier's office requested samples of the glasses from the tipster, and upon receiving them May 27 sent them to the CPSC for further investigation.

"Our children's health should not depend on the consciences of anonymous sources," Speier said in a statement Friday. "Although McDonald's did the right thing by recalling these products, we need stronger testing standards to ensure that all children's products are proven safe before they hit the shelves."

The Associated Press National Investigative Team can be reached at investigate(at)ap.org. Justin Pritchard reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press Writer Jamey Keaten in Paris contributed to this report.A "Shrek"-themed glass distributed in McDonald's Happy Meals featuring the character, Donkey, is displayed at Cindy Matta's home on Friday, June 4, 2010, in West Hollywood, Calif. Cadmium has been discovered in the painted design on "Shrek"-themed drinking glasses being sold nationwide at McDonald's, forcing the burger giant to recall 12 million of the cheap U.S.-made collectibles while dramatically expanding contamination concerns about the toxic metal beyond imported children's jewelry.(AP Photo/Adam Lau)

AdShouts - Sponsored Post

2010-06-04T14:00:00.001+08:00

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Recall of specialty coffee in 100g glass jar

2010-05-26T09:24:00.001+08:00

From AVA:
20 May 10: Nestle Singapore Pte Ltd has notified the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) of the voluntary recall of Alta Rica, Alta Rica Decaff, Cap Colombie, Suraya, Espresso soluble coffee range speciality variety of Nescafe manufactured in the United Kingdom. The products are contained in a specific type of 100g glass jar with distinctive plastic sleeve. Some of these jars may be susceptible to breakage during delivery process to the customers and subsequently may contain small pieces of glass.

Following this notification, AVA has directed the importers and retailers to recall the affected product from the market immediately.

AVA advises consumers who have bought the implicated products to return them to the retail outlets.

AVA will monitor the situation to ensure that the affected products are not available for sale in the market.

Cool Dry Food Dispenser

2010-05-17T22:41:00.002+08:00

Is your kitchen always in a mess full of opened cornflakes, candies and other stuffs like rice, cereal and beans??

Fret not, as this retro looking dry food dispenser will come to your rescue!

Designed with a capacity of 1 gallon per canister, this handy food dispenser dispenses approximately 1 ounce with one quick twist, and it is airtight to preserve freshness of your foods!

Great for weight watchers!

Pork test to bust cheats

2010-05-10T13:55:00.000+08:00

Reuters - Tuesday, May 4

ALMATY - Scientists in mainly Muslim Kazakhstan have come up with an instant test for the presence of pork in food, a popular newspaper reported on Monday.

The plastic-stick test detects food molecules that are found only in pork, which is forbidden by Islam but is easily found in the Central Asian state, Megapolis weekly said.

"It's no secret that some chefs cheat and add pork to beef to make the dish cheaper," the newspaper wrote on Monday, saying the practice was widespread in Kazakhstan.

"When you get your beef patty, cut off a couple of small pieces and drop them in a glass of water. Stir, shake, put the test stick in ... In a minute or two you will see the result."

Megapolis said it was unclear when the test, in which the stick changes color as in a pregnancy test, would become widely available.

KitchenAid Mixer Contest - Sponsored Post

2010-04-30T08:41:00.001+08:00

KitchenAid Mixer Contest - www.beso.com

Thinking of a mixer contest?

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Fish floss recalled

2010-02-14T20:59:00.001+08:00

Fragrance Foodstuff has taken steps to recall some packets of expired fish floss after these were mistakenly delivered to customers.

Part-time workers at Fragrance's factory in Woodlands East Industrial Estate had unintentionally packed the fish floss, which expired on 31 Dec last year, for delivery.

A spokesman for Fragrance, known for its barbecued meat (bak kwa), told The New Paper: "Fragrance has carried out a thorough investigation and found that the expired fish floss was set aside for disposal in our head office in Woodlands."

"These were placed in a box and part-timers made a mistake of packing the goods for delivery."

She could not give numbers but said at least 12 packets were delivered to customers.

She added: "At the present moment, affected customers are being contacted and we're allowing them to exchange the packets of expired fish floss for new ones."

Recall of Bonsoy Soy Milk in Singapore

2010-01-08T20:38:00.002+08:00

From: AVA

The Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has issued an alert on the recall of a soy milk product, Bonsoy Soy Milk (1 Litre). This is due to the presence of unusually high levels of iodine in this product.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) has conducted tests on the Bonsoy soy milk products that have been imported into Singapore and confirmed similarly high levels of iodine in these products. AVA has therefore required the importer and retailers to recall the implicated product from the market.

Excessive consumption of high levels of iodine may affect the thyroid gland, leading to thyroid disorders. It is strongly advised that individuals who have consumed the above product and feel unwell should seek medical attention immediately. All pregnant women who have consumed BonSoy Soy Milk should inform their obstetrician so that the appropriate tests can be conducted for their babies at birth.

Make up for food

2010-01-01T09:21:00.001+08:00

Ever wondered why food seen on TV appears to be much more appetizing compared to what you see in real life?

Here's why:

Taiwan 'considering world's first junk food tax'

2009-12-22T06:18:00.000+08:00

TAIPEI (AFP) - – Taiwan is planning the world's first tax on junk food in a bid to encourage the public to eat healthily and cut obesity rates, a report said Monday.

The Bureau of Health Promotion is drafting a bill to levy the special tax on food deemed unhealthy, such as sugary drinks, candy, cakes, fast food and alcohol, said the Apple Daily.

Revenue from the tax would finance groups promoting health awareness or subsidise the island's cash-strapped national health insurance programme, the report said.

The bill is expected to be submitted to the parliament for approval next year and could take effect around 2011, it said, citing the bureau's director Chiou Shu-ti.

Health officials contacted by AFP were not immediately available for comment.

Taiwan would be the first government in the world to impose junk food tax if the bill is passed, according to local health advocacy group John Tung Foundation.

"Overweight problems are getting worse in Taiwan with 25 to 30 percent of children obese, and it will cause more strain on our national health system," said Beryl Sheu, chief of the foundation's food nutrition division.

"Hopefully the tax will dissuade people from eating junk food and snacks and prompt food companies to make healthier products," she said.

Fancy some century-old Butter?

2009-12-17T06:06:00.000+08:00

WELLINGTON (AFP) - – Two blocks of butter have been found intact after nearly a century in an Antarctic hut used by British explorer Robert Falcon Scott on his doomed 1910-12 expedition, a report said.

Television New Zealand reported that conservators found the two blocks of New Zealand butter in bags in stables attached to the expedition Hut at Cape Evans in Antarctica.

The extreme cold of the polar region has preserved the hut and expedition equipment inside, but recent signs of deterioration had prompted the Antarctic Heritage Trust to launch a preservation project.

The trust's Lizzie Meek said the butter was a "treasure find".

"It's quite amazing how strong the smell is after nearly 100 years," Meek said at the hut. "I'm not sure I'd want it on my toast."

Scott used the Cape Evans hut as a base for his expedition to the South Pole, which he and four others reached on 17 January, 1912. But they found that Norwegian Roald Amundsen had beaten them by five weeks to reach the South Pole for the first time.

Scott and his four companions all died on the return journey to Cape Evans.

The latest find follows news last month of the discovery of two crates of Scotch whisky under a hut used by another British explorer, Ernest Shackleton, during his 1907-09 expedition to Antarctica.

HSA warns public not to consume illegal drug "Huo Luo Jing Dan"

2009-12-10T22:18:00.001+08:00

SINGAPORE: A traditional Chinese medicine has been found to contain illegal ingredients that can cause serious adverse reaction.

The drug, "Huo Luo Jing Dan", was said to promote blood circulation and relieve aches and pains, including rheumatism and arthritis. It is sold in a dark coloured plastic bottle with a gold—coloured label that contains small red capsules.

The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has warned the public not to consume the product because it contains potent, undeclared Western medicines that cause dangerous side effects like increased blood pressure, weak bones, stomach ulcers and kidney failure.

A 50—year—old woman who had been taking the drug for several years developed swelling of the throat, following an infection that did not heal quickly. Her face also swelled to a ’moon face’, caused by prolonged corticosteroid consumption.

Her doctor alerted the authorities after he suspected that she had suffered from an adverse effect from the product and was hospitalised.

The patient has since recovered and was discharged from the hospital after discontinuing the product.

Investigations revealed that the manufacturer printed on the label, China Tian Jin Ren Ji, is fraudulent and does not exist. The friend from whom the patient originally purchased the product also could not be contacted.

The HSA advises members of the public who had bought the product not to consume it and to seek medical attention immediately if they feel unwell after taking this product.

It also reminds consumers to be wary of products that promise a quick cure for serious conditions.

Anyone who is aware of the illegal sale of this product should call the HSA Enforcement Branch’s 24—hour hotline at 6866—3485 or email to hsa_is@hsa.gov.sg. — CNA/ha/al

Herkimer Foods Ida Mae

2009-11-29T21:09:00.000+08:00

New!" Herkimer Foods Ida Mae Sports Jels Refueling Gelatine Cubes are available in the USA in Lemon Lime and Fruit Punch flavors from Herkimer Foods. They are sold in 2-count, 12 oz. sleeves containing single-serve 6 oz. cups. Package text reads, "Electrolytes - Carbohydrates."

5 million dollar chocolate?

2009-11-29T10:07:00.000+08:00

Feast your eyes:

5 Million Dollar Chocolate
Uploaded by DiagonalView. - See more comedy videos.

Yan Bao Sheep Liver Soup

2009-11-27T21:11:00.001+08:00

Fancy Sheep Liver soup anyone?

Yan Bao Sheep Liver Soup Green Bean is new on Chinese market launched by Shenyang Yanbao Foodstuff Co., Ltd. There are six products in this series - Sheep Liver Soup - Green Bean, Strawberry, Hawthorn, Primary Taste, Chestnut and Flat Taste.

2009-11-23T21:06:00.000+08:00

New Frutels Acne Care in a Chocolate is available in the USA from Frutels, LLC. The individually wrapped Premium Dark confection is sold in a 4 box, one month supply format.

This product claims to stop pimples before they form by fighting internal causes: stress, hormones, and diet.

According to manufacture claims:"Frutels contains vitamins and minerals shown to strengthen the body against these internal causes and help clear skin of acne. Unlike vitamins in pill form which are difficult for the body to use, Frutels' vitamin formula is blended into premium dark chocolate, this makes the vitamins easily available to the body, along with the additional antioxidants found in dark chocolate. All of the vitamins our body needs can be found in nature, so Frutels doesn't contain any harsh chemicals. 100 percent vegetarian and kosher (OU) - Sugar-free - All natural, no artificial ingredients - No side effects - For general use we recommend: For mild acne 2 Frutels a day - For moderate acne 3 to 4 Frutels a day - For severe acne 5 plus Frutels a day."

Katokichi Ashita no Asa Gohan Misoshiru Tsuki

2009-11-19T21:05:00.000+08:00

Meaning breakfast for tomorrow, this new ready meal in an aseptic pack contains rice fortified with GABA [gamma-aminobutyric acid] (30mg). A separate sachet of miso [fermented paste of soybeans and cereals] for making an instant soup is also packed together to create a set of traditional Japanese style breakfast.

The miso soup is provided by Nagatanien, and the company's trademark is shown on the package. The rice can be heated in a microwave oven. The main target is consumers with a busy lifestyle.

Foods Shunkan Bishoku Kaoru Green Curry

2009-11-16T21:04:00.000+08:00

These are new freeze-dried instant ready meals. Consumers only need to add hot water to reconstitute the curry; it only takes 10 seconds, and this is signified on the package. Both varieties are medium spicy and are made with more than 17 types of spices for an authentic flavor. There are no artificial flavorings added.

Aged Black Garlic

2009-11-12T21:01:00.000+08:00

product of Korea, new Black Garlic Aged Black Garlic is available in the USA from Black Garlic, Inc. Two whole cloves are sold in a 1.27 oz. (36g) packet with a windowed back for viewing the product.

Package text reads, "Sweet & soft in taste with a hint of garlic flavor! It's the black garlic without smell, fermented with hand selected garlic for a month!" Promotional literature reads, "It has a tender, almost jelly-like texture with a melt-in-your mouth consistency similar to a soft dried fruit.

Black garlic is all-natural. There is no additives and no preservatives. It's loaded with nearly twice as many antioxidants as raw garlic. It also contains S-Allycysteine, which is fancy talk for a natural compound that has been proven to be a factor in cancer prevention. As an ingredient, black garlic is versatile enough to use as a dominant flavor or as a subtle garnish."

Marmite Cereal Bar

2009-11-08T20:59:00.000+08:00

Touted as "the world's first savoury cereal bar", Marmite Cereal Bar is now available on the market in the United Kingdom. The snack has a signature Marmite yeast extract flavor, and is said to be rich in B-vitamins and fiber.

Each 25g bar contains 93kcal and is free from artificial additives or preservatives.

Savoury snack bars, anyone?

Australia throwing away $5.2b of food

2009-11-06T06:57:00.000+08:00

Source AAP

The average Australian household dumps $616 worth of food in the bin each year, according to a new survey.

That's a whopping $5.2 billion in wasted food for the country as a whole - and bad news for the environment.

The survey's authors conservatively estimate that it creates as much carbon emissions as that of the iron and steel industries in Australia.

The What a Waste survey, which took in the responses of 1,603 Australians during October, found that despite being concerned about wasted food - and guilty - households threw out an average $616 worth of food annually.

Queenslanders were the worst, dumping $678 each year, followed by NSW households on $643.

Canberrans were next, followed by those in Western Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, with South Australians the best - only putting $517 worth of food in the dumpster.

Fruit and vegetables were the most thrown out items, followed by restaurant and takeaway leftovers and then meat and fish.

The survey also found the richer the household the more likely the residents were inclined to throw out food, with the amount of discarded items rising in tandem with the average household income.

Smaller households were also more likely to throw out food.

"Food waste has a major financial and environmental impact," campaigner Jon Dee said.

"It costs Australians billions of dollars per year, and the millions of tonnes of food waste left rotting in landfill gives off methane - a greenhouse gas 22 times more potent than the CO2 that comes out of exhausts."

The authors of the Australia Institute report believe the onus is on government to introduce policies to get people thinking smart about food shopping and waste.

They've suggested banning free plastic bags at supermarkets, which would make shoppers take their own and therefore, plan their shopping more thoroughly.

Most of those surveyed said financial reasons was the key motivator to stopping food waste, rather than environmental or humanitarian concerns.

Imported Dried Plums and Prunes Available for Sale in Singapore Do Not Contain Elevated Level of Lead

2009-10-26T13:27:00.000+08:00

From: AVA

Following the alert issued by the Texas Department of State Health Services on elevated levels of lead found in certain imported dried plums/prunes and products containing imported dried plums, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore has stepped up checks on imported dried plums/prunes from countries such as China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the United States of America for testing of lead.

So far, the results of the test showed that the samples are satisfactory and do not contain elevated level of lead.

Yow Blaisins

2009-10-18T22:54:00.001+08:00

YOW Snacks, including Blaisins, are distributed in the USA by Jupiter, FL-based Yow Snacks, Inc. Identified as a "handy snack in cupholders, desks, backpacks, lunch boxes, briefcases, glove compartments, tackle boxes or anywhere," they are presented in an 11 oz. (314g) plastic bottle.

Label copy reads, "7 servings of blueberries - Dried blueberries pack the highest antioxidant content among dried fruits and contain four times the antioxidants of their fresh counterparts. Right out of the bottle or added to cereal, yogurt, salads and entrees."

Del Monte Healthy Kids

2009-10-15T22:52:00.000+08:00

The Del Monte Healthy Kids(tm) line of "fortified canned fruit for children" has been introduced in the USA by Del Monte Foods.

Literature states, "With the introduction of Del Monte Healthy Kids(tm) canned fruit, children can now enjoy class Fruit Cocktail for a nourishing snack or dessert with the added nutritional value that will help them to live healthier lives."

The line also includes Enriched Peach Chunks in a 15 oz. can. Touted as "the first fortified canned fruit product," they are said to be preservative free and fortified with vitamins A, C and calcium.

Picante de Bachaco Culon

2009-10-12T22:51:00.000+08:00

Fancy ants is your diet?

New Picante de Bachaco Culon product is being touted as a natural aphrodisiac in Venezuela.

The sauce is marketed under the Dona Flora brand name and is said to have a formulation that includes yucca juice (catara) and giant ground ants. The claim is made that the spicy sauce is a source for zinc and natural proteins.

Launch Omega Frozen Bars

2009-10-09T22:46:00.000+08:00

Launch Omega Frozen Bars are sold in the USA in a 3 bar pack box containing individual 2 3/4 fl. oz. (81ml) bars by Launch Frozen Innovations Inc.

The line includes Chocolate Monkey (Chocolate Banana), Too-Berry (Strawberry-Raspberry), and Pomonade (Pomegranate Lemonade) varieties.

The labels are flagged, "Delicious - Healthy - Indulgent - 9g protein - 540mg Omegas." Promotional literature for the frozen treats reads, "All natural - Low fat - Snack with multiple health benefits - Great source of protein - High DHA (Omega smart fats) - No cholesterol - Lower carbohydrates."

Banlanhua Herbal Tea Drink

2009-10-06T10:44:00.000+08:00

'Banlanhua Herbal Tea Drink' comes in two types - Rock Candy and Xylitol.

claimed, it is made of herb essence and suits for different ages.

Its amazing how traditional herbal drinks in the Chinese market are getting fast onto the sugar-free trend!

Bonbon au Chocolat Drink Chocolate

2009-10-03T22:42:00.000+08:00

Bonbon au Chocolat Drink Chocolate (Individual Chocolates for Drinking Chocolate) has been recently made available to consumers in Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada, Russia and Japan under the Beschle brand name.

The product, which is touted as "bonbons of chocolate for easy hot chocolate", is retailed in a 200g cardboard box containing individually wrapped 'chocolates'. According to literature, one chocolate in a cup with milk will yield a mild hot chocolate while 2 chocolate will yield an intense drink.

Kirin Tiramisu Latte

2009-09-26T22:41:00.000+08:00

]. This new chilled coffee drink is added to the series based on household recipes from around the world. It is inspired by the Italian dessert tiramisu.

This drink consists of bitter espresso coffee and Mascarpone cheese plus milk and fresh cream. The Mascarpone cheese is produced in Hokkaido. This drink has a smooth texture.

Matcha Magic

2009-09-22T22:33:00.000+08:00

Matcha Magic Powdered Green Tea is produced in Japan and available in the USA from Overseas Trading Support Inc. The "leaves are carefully milled by specially made stone mill to make high quality Matcha."

Presented in 100g (3.5 oz.) and 500g (17.64 oz.) resealable foil pouches, the varieties are Matcha Delight (good for mixing with bread, pasta and cookies), Matcha Fun (good for mixing with baked items such as cookies and pie), Matcha Joy (good for mixing with bread and pasta), Matcha Super (mix with any ice cream or chocolate item), and Matcha Supreme (is mainly used for tea ceremony).

Convenience for bakers!

Nanoparticles could pose threat to humans: scientists

2009-09-21T21:27:00.000+08:00

VIENNA (AFP) - – They can make fabric resistant to stains, improve the taste of food and help drug research, but nanoparticles could also pose a danger to human health, experts warned Wednesday.

Susanne Stark, of the Consumer Information Association, told a seminar in the Austrian city of Salzburg that companies should be forced to indicate on labels whether a product contains the tiny particles.

"There are more questions than answers on the effects of nanoparticles" on human health, the chemist said.

Cosmetic and food products should indicate whether their products contain nanoparticles by 2012, she said.

Nanoparticles, measuring no more than 100 nanometres (0.00001 centimetre), have helped to revolutionise how everyday products are made.

The particles are used to make stain-resistant paint or creamy cosmetic and food products. They can also change colour to indicate whether a product has expired.

But their risk to humans remains largely unknown.

Nanoparticles can enter the body through the mouth and nose, the digestive system or the skin, and spread inside the body through blood vessels, said Hans Peter Hutter, a doctor specialised in environmental hygiene in Vienna.

"These tiny particles could without a doubt go all the way to the placenta," he said. But he warned that little was known about their behaviour inside human tissue.

Snow Brand Glucosamine Skim Milk Powder

2009-09-18T22:29:00.000+08:00

This functional skim milk powder is fortified with 50mg N-acetyl glucosamine per 16g single portion stick sachet. Each sachet also contains 30mg collagen and milk calcium.

The N-acetyl glucosamine is a world first, derived from crab and shrimp shells and produced by Yaizu Suisan Kagaku Kogyo Co. This low-fat skim milk powder is a refreshing yogurt flavor.

Jack In The Box New Commercial mini sirloin burgers

2009-09-17T21:50:00.001+08:00

Fancy bit-sized burgers?

Here's one commercial that will tickle you:

Dr. John's Herbal Candy Sugar-Free Anti-Cavity Orange Lollipops

2009-09-15T22:13:00.000+08:00

Dr. John's Herbal Candy Sugar-Free Anti-Cavity Orange Lollipops have been created by microbiologists at the UCLA School of Dentistry.

Available in the USA from Dr. John's Candies, they are said to be infused with "a natural ingredient found in licorice that kills the primary bacterium causing tooth decay: Streptococcus mutans."

Wise Organic Pastures Uncured Beef Hot Dogs

2009-09-12T22:11:00.000+08:00

The Wise Organic Pastures line of products, available in the USA from Brooklyn, NY-based Wise Kosher Natural Poultry, Inc., includes Organic Uncured Beef Hot Dogs. Touted as "the world's first organic & kosher hot dogs," the "gluten free" product is sold in a 12-count, 12 oz. (340g) vacuum pack.

Literature states that the refrigerated product is "double-certified kosher and organic to bring you the healthiest, best-tasting hot dogs possible." The cattle "eat only organic vegetarian feed, free of synthetic pesticides, genetically-modified grains, and animal-by products. They are never given antibiotics or growth-promoting hormones. The result? The best quality, purity, and taste you'll find anywhere."

Fighting prostrate cancer

2009-09-10T18:33:00.001+08:00

Prostrate cancer in one of the main forms of cancer that afflicts men.

While many studies have shown that dietary amounts of certain foods, vitamins, and minerals can contribute to prostate cancer risk. Dietary factors that may increase prostate cancer risk include the mineral selenium. A study in 2007 cast doubt on the effectiveness of lycopene (found in tomatoes) in reducing the risk of prostate cancer. Lower blood levels of vitamin D also may increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. This may be linked to lower exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, since UV light exposure can increase vitamin D in the body.

A large study has implicated dairy, specifically low-fat milk and other dairy products to which vitamin A palmitate has been added. This form of synthetic vitamin A has been linked to prostate cancer because it reacts with zinc and protein to form an unabsorbable complex.

Antioxidants are generally found in abundance in fruits and vegetables. These foods are also rich in substances known as phytochemicals , some of which have cancer-protective effects. Last year, a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that men consuming four servings of vegetables a day had a 35 percent. reduced risk of prostate cancer compared to those consuming two servings of vegetables a day. Eating three or more servings of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts and cabbage) was found to reduce risk by about 40 per cent compared to eating only one serving a week.

Also, eating foods such as fruits and soy based products will not only reduce the risk of an enlarged prostate, but also reduce the need for medications like Viagra and cialis. If you are getting Viagra online, why not try an alternative method by giving this foods a try?

New Hillside Self Heating Canned Soups

2009-09-05T22:10:00.000+08:00

New Hillside canned Soups in 9.5 fl. oz. (281ml) Self-Heating containers are distributed in the USA by OnTech Operations, Inc. The varieties at this time include Tomato Vegetable and Classic Chicken. Package text for the Tomato Vegetable Soup reads, "Self heating container - Push button - Do not microwave - OnTech has combined centuries-old knowledge with state-of-the-art packaging to create a revolutionary container that heats itself!

Pressing the button of the container breaks a foil seal and allows water to drain into the heating chamber, which contains quicklime. This combination creates heat. The beverage is heated without ever touching the mixture. For best results activate at room temperature (65 - 75 degrees Fahrenheit). Step 1 Turn container upside down. Pull off metal tamper-proof bottom. Step 2 Place on flat surface.

With thumb, firmly push button downward until green water drains. After 10 seconds, turn container right-side-up. Step 3 This spot (shown at the right) changes color from pink to white (5-8 min.) when beverage is hot. After spot is white, twist lid to align opening. Shake, open and enjoy!"

Heineken - Every Man's Dream?

2009-09-04T22:52:00.000+08:00

Red Rush High Energy Chocolate Bar

2009-09-01T22:08:00.000+08:00

The Red Rush High Energy Chocolate Bar with Avec, Caffeine, Taurine and Guarana is sold in Canada in a 50g laminate wrapper by Niche Brands Inc.

The bilingual wrapper is tagged, "Natural health product."

Trader Joe's Dried Sweetened Hibiscus Flowers

2009-08-29T22:06:00.000+08:00

New Trader Joe's Dried Fruit is available in the USA in a Dried Sweetened Hibiscus Flowers variety from Trader Joe's.It is said to feature the tangy sweetness of the petals that make it a treat right out of the bag.

This snack can also be used on a freshly tossed green salad, in recipes "and in a few simple steps they can be transformed into a jewel-like ruby-red beverage that will dazzle and, of course, refresh!"

Tic Tac Chill Flavored Mints

2009-08-25T21:54:00.000+08:00

Tic Tac Chill Sugar Free Artificially Flavored Mints will be introduced in the USA in a new "large" size by Ferrero USA.

A "product of Italy", the mints contain "Xylitol, a natural sweetener with oral care properties" and will be available in Paradise Mint and Exotic Cherry flavors.

They will be sold in a shrink wrapped, 0.95 oz. (27g) "sleek, cool and modern" plastic dispenser that "opens with one hand." The dispenser has an "innovative dual opening (with) traditional flip-top (and) sliding door for easier access."

Himalania Goji Berries with Wasabi

2009-08-22T21:52:00.000+08:00

Himalania Goji Berries are now available in a Wasabi Covered version. BrandStorm Inc. offers this "unique healthy snack" in a 4 oz. (113g) laminated pouch that is resealable and designed for rack display.

The "combination of dried goji berries and the hot crunch of the wasabi coating creates a distinctive sweet and spicy treat that is 100 percent natural, with no artificial color - a rare feat for wasabi."

Said to be loaded with nutrients, Himalania's "all-natural Goji berries contain no added sweeteners, no artificial ingredients and are rich in high-potency antioxidant vitamin C, beta carotene, B vitamins, amino acids, potassium, protein, and polysaccharides."

You will definitely be tickled! Goji!

PickleSickle Frozen Pickle Juice Treats

2009-08-16T21:50:00.000+08:00

Manufactured by Picklesickle.com LLC, new PickleSickle Frozen Pickle Juice Treats, in a Regular variety, are sold in the USA in a 16-count package containing single-serve, plastic tubes.

They are claimed to be made from freshly squeezed pickles, to have no fat and to have less than 1 gram of sugar. Promoted with the "PickleSickle Bob" character (as seen in the picture accompanied), they are said to be a healthy alternative for kids and more nutritious than sugary sweets.

Rotong Green Pea Sticks

2009-08-13T09:49:00.000+08:00

Cocoaland Industry Sdn. Bhd. has reportedly introduced Green Pea Sticks (stik kacang hijau) to the market in Vietnam. The sticks are claimed to be made with natural ingredients and to be free from fat.

They are marketed under the Rotong brand name in 125g canisters.

This is sure one 'green' snack!

MAXXED Energy Pop

2009-08-10T21:46:00.000+08:00

Need some energy on the go?

The new MAXXED Energy Pop is sold in the USA in a can with a pull-off lid for freshness by Tri Sales Co., a division of Charms.

The MAXXED Lollipop is "a unique nutrient blend of the leading supplements that revitalize energy. Maxxed is infused with: taurine, ginseng, guarana, vitamins B6 & B12 and caffeine."

They are said to require no refrigeration, to be very portable and conveninet to use.

Win great food prizes this National Day

2009-08-08T22:01:00.002+08:00

The Food Innovation Resource Centre is having a National day special!

Just be their top poster in the forum and you get to walk away with attractive food prizes.. check it out!

Nestle KitKat Kit Mail

2009-08-07T21:44:00.000+08:00

You've got mail with this interesting product!

This is a new package of the chocolate wafer sandwich snack KitKat. The package design has a space for writing messages and sending this product as a gift by post.

The company states that this is the first product in Japan with this function. Consumers in Japan only need to stick stamps (with correct fare) on the box and post it via post boxes just as sending a greeting card. This product is suitable for many occasions including birthdays.

Wunderbar Intellimune Antioxidant Bar

2009-08-04T21:41:00.000+08:00

Certainly not a wonder bra!

But equally amazing for its lifting properties..

The Intelligent Nutrients line of products, available in the USA from Minneapolis, MN-based Intelligent Nutrients, Inc., includes Wunderbar Intellimune Antioxidant Bar. Touted as an "omega-rich super-antioxidant and immune-boosting whole foods bar perfect for snacking and lunches," it "contains both the seed oil and meal complexes, uniting the seed oils and meals into a super-nutrient." Sold singly in a laminated wrapper, the 1.5 oz. (42.6g)

It contains the "Certified organic Antioxidant Intellimune(tm) Seed Oil Complex of black cumin, pumpkin, red grape, red raspberry and cranberry seed oils."

Sweetleaf Sweetener

2009-08-01T21:39:00.001+08:00

Sweetleaf Sweetener(tm) is touted as the "purest, most natural formulation of stevia available. Introduced in the USA in a new formulation from Wisdom Natural Brands, the "kosher certified" product is said to be the only stevia-based sweetener that uses only pure water in its proprietary extraction process. It comes in packets that are sold in a 50-count box priced at $6.99.

According to its accompanying literature, All Natural SteviaPlus has absolutely nothing artificial in it! (and) is safe for diabetics." It is also "completely calorie-free, all-natural, and has a zero glycemic index."

Organic food not healthier, says British study

2009-08-01T00:17:00.000+08:00

LONDON (AFP) - - Organic food supporters defended the benefits of naturally-grown produce on Friday, after a report suggested there are no significant health advantages from it.

In a study published in a US journal this week, researchers at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) found there were no major differences between organic and conventionally-produced food.

"A small number of differences in nutrient content were found to exist between organically and conventionally-produced crops and livestock, said Dr. Alan Dangour, principal author of the study.

"But these are unlikely to be of any public health relevance."

And he added: "Our review indicates that there is currently no evidence to support the selection of organically over conventionally-produced foods on the basis of nutritional superiority."

Organic food, devoid of additives and produced without chemicals such as fertilisers and pesticides, has become an increasingly popular choice on supermarket shelves in recent years.

But it is typically more expensive than regular foodstuffs, and as such has already been hit by the global recession, making shoppers think twice about paying more for organically-grown vegetables and such like.

The study, commissioned by Britain's Food Standards Agency (FSA) and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, threatens to deal a new blow to the organic food lobby.

But its supporters underlined other benefits of organic produce, notably for the environment.

"Organic farming is a holistic, integrated approach which conserves soils, encourages biodiversity, eliminates greenhouse gas-intensive nitrogen inputs, conserves genetic diversity, and brings more income to the grower," said Andrew Lee of the Sustainable Development Commission.

"And is very probably healthier to boot," he wrote in a letter to the Guardian newspaper.

Molly Connisbee of the Soil Association said that organic farms have on average 30 percent more species and 50 percent more wildlife like birds, butterflies and bees.

"Other environmental benefits are self-evident -- there's less dangerous waste on organic farms and almost no pesticide use. Artificial nitrogen fertiliser is banned in organic farming, so there's less runoff of nutrients that cause algae blooms in coastal waters," she said.

The British study was based on a review of all studies published over the last 50 years relating to nutritional content and health differences between the two kinds of produce.

Pub Corn

2009-07-29T21:35:00.001+08:00

With an intresting name like pub-corn, one should be able to imagine its flavour!

Pub-Corn Alcohol Flavored Popcorn is now available in the USA. Offered in Beer, Pina Colada and Irish Cream varieties, the ready-to-eat popcorn is presented in a 1 lb. plastic bag that retails for $4.00. Blue X is the distributor.

Dole Easy-Open Salad Bag

2009-07-26T21:33:00.000+08:00

No scissors, no headaches, no struggle," Dole Easy-Open Salad Bag is now available in the USA and Canada.

"A simple pull, and customers can enjoy the fresh-tasting goodness of Dole's farm-fresh salads."

Consumers are said to enjoy the fresh, new, innovative, pinch and pull feature. Offered in Italian and American varieties, the product is presented in a "new, innovative" plastic bag. Dole Food Co., Inc. is the manufacturer

Thomy Mayonnaise

2009-07-23T21:31:00.000+08:00

Mayonnaise is included in the Thomy line of products packaged in "hygienic, resealable" metal tubes with stand-on caps. The Mayonnaise comes in a 279ml size that is said to keep the product fresh and easy to dispense and apportion.

Certainly less messy compared to conventional packaging!

Cadbury Eyebrows

2009-07-22T13:57:00.000+08:00

Hot off the tube with its catchy ditty song...

Will eating Cadbury chocolate give you a sensation like this?

Das Lolli

2009-07-20T21:27:00.001+08:00

Das Foods has launched a "new line of adventurous, uniquely flavored and affordable Lollipops called Das Lolli." Sold singly in the USA, each 0.3 oz. plastic wrapped Lollipop - Caramel Me Happy (caramel and lavender made with caramelized cane sugar, chewy Das Salty Caramel, real lavender extract and tiny crystals of Fleur de Sel sea salt), Fab-O-Pom (pomegranate and orange with real pomegranate extract, orange oil and tiny pieces of orange zest), Man Bait (maple bacon with real smoky bacon bits and maple syrup) and Naughty Ginger (ginger and lemon with small bits of spicy candied ginger and all-natural lemon extract) - has a suggested retail price of 50 cents.

Literature states, "At only 30 calories each, Das Lolli are all natural, corn syrup-free, free of chemical preservatives and additives, and contain no artificial flavors or food coloring."

Ribena with Lemon: A perfect Match.

2009-07-19T23:29:00.001+08:00

This TV commercial for Ribena with Lemon seems to be so Hindie inspired!

Anyone dancing behind the tree with a pack of Ribena in your hand?

Water & Energy

2009-07-17T21:24:00.000+08:00

Watermelon and Lychee, Verbena and Lemongrass, and Mint and Lime are three varieties in which a new 'energizing' Bottled Water is now available under the Water & Energy brand name.

Recently introduced to consumers in Slovakia, this water with real fruit, panax ginseng, guarana and caffeine is claimed to be free from sodium, artificial colors, and preservatives. Enriched with vitamins, each variety is presented in a 500ml plastic bottle.

Crystal Head Vodka

2009-07-14T21:22:00.000+08:00

Produced by Diamond Estates Wines & Spirits Ltd. out of Newfoundland, new Crystal Head Vodka is offered in the USA, by Dan Aykroyd, in an overboxed, 750ml glass bottle in the shape of a human skull.

The idea for the bottle is claimed to have come from Aykroyd's fascination with ghosts, spirits and extraterrestrial life.

The Vodka is said to be free of any additives such as sugar, glycerin and citrus oil, to be made with water from a deep aquifer, to be quadruple distilled and to be triple filtered through polished crystals known as Herkimer diamonds.

House Foods: House Megashaki

2009-07-11T21:20:00.000+08:00

Megashaki refers to mega refresh.

This new functional drink is designed be consumed when concentration is needed, such as when working, taking exams or driving. It contains ginger extract, chili extract, caffeine and arginine as active ingredients.

Apple juice and lemon juice are added to produce a palatable taste; the fruit juice content is 20%.

We're Live on Twitter!

2009-07-09T15:47:00.002+08:00

Yes..

We've jumped onto the Twitter bandwagon...

Do follow us @sgfoodfad !

SnapDragon Beauty Beverage

2009-07-08T21:17:00.000+08:00

SnapDragon Beauty Beverage is part of the Votre Vu line of products available in the USA from Votre Vu. Presented in a 30 fl. oz. (885ml) bottle, it is sold in a 2-pack and a 4-pack with suggested retails of $23.00 and $39.00, respectively.

Literature states, "This delicious private blend of powerful anti aging super-fruits and botanicals features mango, pomegranate and acai berry juices. A melange of teas (green, white and gorgeous red) infuse some spices to your life. Seven daily vitamins plus collagen, aloe vera, foti, ginkgo biloba and baobab fiber round out this exotic beauty mix, supported by naturally safe extracts, fruits and minerals which may enhance energy. No preservatives or sugar added."

Used daily, Snapdragon "may help repair, restore and re-balance your body's internal systems, naturally giving your skin a radiant, beautiful glow. It may boost your overall vitality when added to your daily beauty regimen for optimal health, inside and out."

Viagra-Laced Coffee Confiscated After Selling as 'Energy Drink'

2009-07-07T13:26:00.000+08:00

More than 900 boxes of Viagra-laced coffee confiscated in Malaysia were being marketed as an energy booster.

“The coffee mixture had been distributed in sachets nationwide,” said a report in the New Straits Times Online. “Investigations revealed the distributor attempted to mislead the public by claiming the coffee mixture could provide an energy boost, besides being beneficial for men.”

The impotence drug Viagra was initially developed to treat high blood pressure and certain symptoms of heart disease. However, scientists discovered during trials that it also could be used to treat sexual problems in men. It should only be used with a doctor’s supervision.

Nippon Milk Community: Megmilk Astaxanthin Power

2009-07-06T22:56:00.001+08:00

. This new functional drink is a mixed vegetable juice (carrot juice and tomato juice). It is fortified with astaxanthin which is a red pigment carotenoid occurring naturally in fish and shellfish and hematococcus seaweed.

In this product, the astaxanthin used is derived from seaweed. Each bottle supplies 4mg astaxanthin, and the vegetable content is more than 120g (calculated as fresh vegetables).

The main target is consumers in their 40s and above.

SG Food Fad marked as SPAM?

2009-07-02T20:56:00.000+08:00

Just in case you've been getting some warning when you try to assess SG Food Fads. Google has apparently labelled this as a spam site!

We hope that the problem will be solved soon!

Do continue to support us!

Nakano All Natural Seasoned Rice Vinegar

2009-07-02T19:40:00.002+08:00

Its benefits were so great that the ancient Babylonians inscribed its virtues on stone tablets over 7000 years ago; Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used it to treat his patients in 400 B.C. ;Helen of Troy bathed in it as a way of relaxing.!

Just what is this miraculous product? It's vinegar! In this new and modern age, vinegar too gets a new makeover with NAKANO All Natural Seasoned Rice Vinegars which are currently available in lots of tasty flavors like Original Seasoned, Roasted Garlic, Basil & Oregano, Red Pepper, Balsamic Blend, and Italian Herb.

NAKANO All Natural Seasoned Rice Vinegar is: All natural, fat free, low calorie, gluten free.
The NAKANO range of all natural seasoned rice vinegar is so versatile. Thinking of how to use in your diet?

Here's some Splash Tips: you can splash it on sliced, fresh tomatoes, greens and other vegetables to add flavour and profile to your salads; incorporate it into a mayonnaise recipe for interesting and unique tastes; season and marinate meats; tenderize meats and vegetables; to inhibit the growth of bacteria during the processing of pickles; add onto steamed white rice for flavour enhancement.

The possibilities are just endless... you just need to use your imagination!

For the health conscious, here's why you should have make vinegar a part of your diet: Vinegar can also be used as a salt alternative for those wishing to reduce the amount table salt in their diet. Vinegar also dulls the craving for sweets and does not contains no fat.

Uncured Duck Sausages

2009-06-28T22:21:00.001+08:00

The new line of "gourmet" D'Artagnan Hot Dogs is available in the USA in an Uncured Duck version from D'Artagnan, Inc. They are sold in a 4-count, 12 oz. vacuum-sealed wrapper.

Promotional literature for the line reads, "Fully cooked - No nitrates, nitrites, preservatives or animal by-products - No growth hormones or antibiotics - No artificial ingredients - No casings - Shelf life: 21 days." The Ducks are said to be raised on a small family farm with an all vegetarian feed of corn, soybean and wheat; to never be given any antibiotics or hormones and to be richly flavored, juicy and plump.

10 Food Safety Tips for having a BBQ

2009-06-26T22:11:00.000+08:00

1. Defrost any frozen foods thoroughly before you cook them, or at least check that they are cooked right through before serving.

2. Don’t place or prepare raw meat next to cooked or partially cooked meat or other ready-to-eat foods.

3. Use a meat thermometer to check meat is cooked. If you don’t have one, cook minced meat burgers and sausages thoroughly (right through to the centre) and cook poultry until the juices run clear.

4. Turn the food regularly so it cooks evenly.

5. If you’re expecting lots of guests, consider cooking the food in a conventional oven first then finishing it off on the barbecue.

6. Before you serve it, ensure the centre of the meat is piping hot – don’t assume that if it’s charred on the outside it will be cooked thoroughly on the inside.

7. Keep raw and cooked meat and poultry separate on the grill.

8. Don’t use the same plate to transport raw and cooked foods.

9. It’s OK to leave cooked meat for a short time on a corner of the barbecue or covered on a plate for late arrivals; just ensure it’s protected from flies.

10. Handle food with tongs or other equipment, and use separate equipment to handle raw and cooked meats.

Nissui O-sakana Sausage

2009-06-25T22:19:00.001+08:00

This new fish sausage contains enough calcium to make a nutritional supplement claim on the package. One sausage contains calcium to the equivalent of 300ml milk. The sausages are packed in a film and sealed with a new type of clip called Eco clip instead of the traditional steel clip. The packaging material is environmentally friendly and easy to open. This product does not contain eggs. There are no preservatives and curing agent.

Food Safety Tips: Handling Leftovers

2009-06-23T22:10:00.000+08:00

Holiday meals often result in some tasty leftovers, which can make for easy catering the following day, but again because of the higher summer temperatures, take some extra care:

• refrigerate or freeze any leftovers within two hours of their preparation

• cool leftover food in a shallow tray (to help it cool quickly and evenly) then store in a covered container in your fridge

• don’t reheat leftovers more than once

• eat leftovers within two days

• when in doubt – throw it out.

Marina Azul Kids

2009-06-22T22:14:00.003+08:00

Launced in Mexico, the Trozos de Atun Aleta Amarilla is a new flavored tuna product that is marketed under the Marina Azul Kids label and is offered in Pizza and Catsup flavors.

It is claimed to be a natural source of omega 3, to contain no artificial preservatives, and to not require refrigeration.

New Improved Formula...

2009-06-20T23:28:00.002+08:00

Not any food product...

But our humble little website has undergone a slight transformation, just in case you did not notice...

The addition of a third column on the right hand side will enable more infomation to be shared!

Hope you enjoy your daily read here!

Do continue to support Food Fads...

Food Safety Tips for having a BBQ

2009-06-19T22:09:00.000+08:00

When asking friends around for a barbecue, you don’t want the FBI (foodborne illness) to crash the party. Cooking outdoors in warm spring and summer temperatures provides the ideal situation for pathogens to multiply and cause foodborne illness. Outdoor chefs need to take special care when preparing, cooking and storing food for a barbecue.

Before firing up the barbie, make sure all cooking paraphernalia and the surfaces food will be put on are spotlessly cleaned with soap and hot water and then thoroughly dried. Have one set of utensils for raw meat and poultry, and another set for cooked foods. Using just one set almost guarantees that you’ll transfer pathogens from raw meat to cooked foods.

Make sure meat, poultry and other perishable foods are stored cold until they are ready for cooking. Once cooked, it is important to put food on a clean plate – not the one the raw meat was stored on.

It is recommended that chicken, meat patties and sausages are precooked before going on the barbecue to ensure they are thoroughly cooked by the time they turn brown and crisp. Cooking on a barbecue is not as accurate or consistent as using a kitchen cooker, so when cooking outdoors you should use a meat thermometer. If you don’t have one – and you should – keep an eye on the meat to ensure the juices run clear and it is steaming hot right though (although this is still no guarantee of safety).

Summer and picnics go hand in hand. Following a few simple guidelines will make your outdoor meal a pleasurable experience. Transporting your food in cooled chilly bags or bins and keeping it cold until it’s time to eat will slow the growth of pathogens. Also keep food covered as much as possible to keep unwanted insects and bugs out.

Organic Healthy Wake Up Drink

2009-06-18T22:11:00.000+08:00

Yves Rocher launched Boisson Bio Reveil Sante (Organic Healthy Wake Up Drink) in three varieties in France.

This product is said to contain all 5 recommended daily portions of fruit and vegetables in a single drink, and is claimed to be organic.

The line includes:

Forme et Tonus (Form & Tone), which contains Barbados cherry, kiwi pulp, mango, sea buckthorn, and lentils;
Comfort Digest, made of fennel seeds, aniseed, coriander seeds, blueberry, and blackberry
Equilibre Cholesterol (Cholesterol Balance), which contains pomegranate, artichoke, coconut, pomace and apple.

Are you putting yourself / guests at risk?

2009-06-13T22:08:00.000+08:00

While everyone should take care to handle food safely, some people need to take more care. If you have low immunity, your immune system is weaker than usual and you are at higher risk of getting infections, including those carried by food. If you do get ill from what you eat, your illness may also be more serious.

Or you might have a food allergy, and consuming certain foods could have severe or even life-threatening consequences.

While there is no such thing as foods that are guaranteed to be safe for everyone, there is plenty of information to guide those more at risk to identify high-risk foods and select safer options.

Many things can make a person more vulnerable to foodborne illnesses. Having advanced cancer or undergoing chemotherapy, for example, can suppress the immune system. Low stomach-acid levels, whether caused by a stomach operation or medication, also place someone at higher risk of getting a foodborne illness as stomach acid normally provides a defence by killing many pathogens. Pregnant women, premature babies and sick children are part of the at-risk group too. If in doubt, your doctor will be able to help assess whether you have low immunity.

At-risk people are advised not to eat some foods, such as foods containing raw eggs or uncooked fish, but plenty of others can be safely enjoyed as long as extra caution is exercised when preparing and consuming them. Yoghurt for example should be eaten within two days of opening, so buying single-serve pots may be better than large containers. Eating stuffing from a chicken or turkey is not advisable if it is cooked in the bird, but can be eaten when cooked in a separate dish and eaten hot.

If you have food allergies and are invited out to dinner, let your hosts know what you need to avoid. If you’re cooking for someone with an allergy, take special care as even minute traces can cause severe reactions in some people.