News Watch 2007-01-22 (3)

PORK BOARD PARTNERS WITH CELEBRITY CHEFS

DES MOINES, Iowa — Representing the National Pork Board, five celebrity chefs will help keep the other white meat in the forefront of menu trends this year. This is the 11th year of the board's Celebrated Chefs program, financed by the pork check-off program, and aimed at keeping pork top of mind when it comes to choosing a center-of-the-plate protein. “The chefs participate in key industry events throughout the year, sharing information about pork's versatility, convenience and how it fits in today's busy lifestyles,” said Larry Cizek, NPB director of culinary and niche marketing development. The chefs selected for the program are Kalus Happel from the Renaissance, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Michael Maddox, Le Titi de Paris, Arlington Heights, Ill.; Dean Thomas, Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino, Lakeside, Calif.; Celina Tio, The American Restaurant, Kansas City, Mo.; and Frank Scibelli, Mama Ricotta's & Cantina, Charlotte, N.C.

USDA RULES IN FAVOR OF ‘UGLY’ TOMATOES

WASHINGTON — A new U.S. Department of Agriculture rule clears the way for marketers to sell “UglyRipe” tomatoes outside Florida during the winter months. Published in the Federal Register last week, the rule amends the Florida Tomato Marketing Order to exempt the UglyRipe from the shape standards that are part of the USDA grade standards as long as the UglyRipe is grown, packed and distributed under USDA's Identity Preservation Program. The program uses the unique genetic fingerprint of a produce variety to assure that it is the product claimed by the grower. The UglyRipe, an heirloom beefsteak variety, will still have to meet all other grade standards imposed under the marketing order. The rule is a victory for Philadelphia-based Procacci Brothers Sales Corp., which developed the sweet-tasting but misshapen tomato. For the last three years, the Florida Tomato Committee found that the UglyRipe did not meet its standards, which are based on size and shape but not taste. The rejection prevented marketers from selling the tomatoes outside the Florida growing region in the winter.

NEW STUDY SHOWS WALNUTS IMPROVE BONE HEALTH

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — New clinical research from Pennsylvania State University suggests that eating walnuts can decrease the breakdown of bones, the California Walnut Marketing Board said last week. Walnuts are rich in alpha-linolenic acid, an essential omega-3 fatty acid. The study, the first to evaluate the effect of plant-based sources of omega-3 fatty acids on bone health, suggests higher consumption of ALA can result in a reduction in bone turnover and a shift from bone degradation to bone formation. The results of the research were published in Nutrition Journal last week.

REPORT: TOMATOES-BROCCOLI Mix FIGHTS CANCER

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Eating broccoli and tomatoes together is more effective at fighting prostate cancer than if they're eaten alone, according to a new study conducted by University of Illinois researchers. The researchers fed a diet containing 10% broccoli powder and 10% tomato powder to a group of rats that had been implanted with prostate cancer cells. Other groups of rats received either tomato powder or broccoli powder alone, a supplemental dose of lycopene, the red pigment in tomatoes believed to be an anticancer agent, or finasteride, a drug prescribed for men with enlarged prostates. Another group of rats was castrated. After 22 weeks, researchers found the combined tomato/broccoli diet was the most effective at prostate-tumor reduction. Of the other treatments, castration was the only one that came close to being as effective, the researchers found. The study was published in the Jan. 15 issue of the journal Cancer Research.

DAIRY CO-OP EARNS ‘FREE FARMED’ CERTIFICATION

DENVER — Humboldt Creamery, a Fortuna, Calif.-based family dairy farm cooperative that supplies ice cream and other products to retailers, has qualified for the American Humane Association's Free Farmed certification, a program that provides independent verification that livestock and poultry are raised in a humane way. Producers certified through American Humane's program must ensure that their animals have ready access to fresh water, a nutritious diet and medical care. Farmers also must provide their animals with a comfortable environment that limits stress and enables them to freely express their normal behaviors. According to officials at Humboldt, dairy cows are allowed to roam and graze freely in an open pasture for most of the year. A leading ice cream and milk producer in the western United States, Humboldt produces ice cream for Costco Wholesale and other stores and supplies milk for Safeway's organic “O” brand and Whole Foods Market's organic “365” brand. Humboldt has more than 60 member dairies. Based here, the American Humane Association is a nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to protecting children and animals.

STARBUCKS TO BECOME RBGH FREE

SEATTLE — Starbucks Corp. announced last week it will begin taking steps to eliminate artificial growth hormones from the dairy products it serves. Food and Water Watch, a Washington, D.C.-based environmental watchdog group, had been campaigning to get the company to stop using and selling products that contain the controversial hormone rBGH. The dairy products involved include fluid milk, half-and-half, whipped cream and eggnog. Initially, the changeover will affect the 5,500 company-owned stores in the United States, though some 3,000 franchised locations are also being looked at, according to company officials. Some market areas already have rBGH-free products, including New England and southern California. The decision follows the recent announcement that Starbucks was eliminating trans fats from its food products.

SAMPLES MATCH TACO JOHN'S E. COLI STRAIN

WASHINGTON — The Food and Drug Administration announced that two environmental samples gathered from dairy farms near a lettuce-growing area in California's Central Valley tested positive for the same strain of E. coli responsible for the outbreak at Cheyenne, Wyo.-based Taco John's Restaurants. The incident sickened approximately 81 people late last year. The FDA and the state of California are working with state health officials in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin to continue the investigation. Additional field samples are being obtained to determine if and how material from the dairy farms may have contaminated the lettuce growing in the same area.

WEGMANS' EGG FARM MAY BE SOLD

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Wegmans Food Markets here was recently approached by a regional egg producer interested in buying the retailer's 750,000-chicken farm in Wayne County, N.Y., according to a published report. Negotiations are under way and it was reported that all 71 farm employees would be able to keep their jobs under the new buyer, should the sale go through. The potential sale has nothing to do with the 2004 controversy involving animal rights activists entering the egg farm and calling law enforcement officials to investigate practices there, the retailer was quoted as saying in the report. Over the course of their investigation, officials found no evidence of abuse.