Archives for March 17, 2008

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New evidence for diacetyl, lung disease risk

By  Charlotte Eyre

Diacetyl - a chemical used in butter flavouring - damages the lungs of mice when inhaled over a period of three months, according to a new US study.

FDA to step up checks on Chinese food

By  Chris Jones

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to begin carrying out checks on Chinese food products following approval from the State Department.

Ghanaian cocoa hybrids have no nutritional drawbacks

By  Jess Halliday

Four hybrid cocoa species developed in Ghana to have improved resistance to pest damage during storage have similar nutritional properties to conventional cocoa, says a study that topples a barrier to commercial trade.

Weekly comment

Allergen-free: time for clarity

Claiming 'free from' is not a light statement to make. Lives depend on it. As scientific progress questions the validity of such claims, it is time to establish exact guidelines and communicate these to people for whom ingredients are a matter of life...