Friday 8 February 2013

Horsemeat tests ordered on beef products


Horsemeat tests ordered on beef products
Catherine Brow
Food retailers have been told to carry out tests on all processed beef products after some Findus lasagnes were found to contain 100% horsemeat.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA), which ordered the UK tests, said it was "highly likely" criminal activity was to blame for the contamination.
It said there was no evidence of a health risk, but its chief executive said it was an "appalling situation".
Findus has apologised to customers and withdrawn the meals from sale.
Findus is the latest company to be caught up in the controversy surrounding contamination of meat products, which has affected companies in the UK, Irish Republic, Poland and France.
Findus's affected products were made by a third-party French supplier, which had alerted the company to concerns that the beef lasagne product did not "conform to specification".

“Start Quote

We will take whatever action we consider necessary if we discover evidence of criminality or negligence”
Owen PatersonEnvironment Secretary
'Criminal trade'
Catherine Brown, the FSA's chief executive, told the BBC: "I have to say that that the two cases of gross contamination that we see here indicates that it is highly likely there has been criminal and fraudulent activity involved.
"We are demanding that food businesses conduct authenticity tests on all beef products, such as beef burgers, meatballs and lasagne, and provide the results to the FSA. The tests will be for the presence of significant levels of horsemeat."
The agency has asked for test results by next Friday.
It has also ordered Findus to test the contaminated lasagne for the veterinary drug phenylbutazone, or "bute".
"Animals treated with phenylbutazone are not allowed to enter the food chain as [the drug] may pose a risk to human health," it said.
Findus had withdrawn its beef lasagne in 320g, 360g and 500g sizes as a precaution on Monday.
The FSA said Findus had tested 18 of its beef lasagne products and found 11 meals containing between 60% and 100% horsemeat.
It advised people who had bought any Findus beef lasagne products not to eat them and to return them to the shop from which they were purchased.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said the findings were "completely unacceptable" and the presence of unauthorised ingredients "cannot be tolerated".
Mr Paterson said the government was working closely with businesses to "root out any illegal activity" and enforce regulations.
TescoSupermarket chains Tesco and Aldi have also withdrawn some beef products
"Consumers can be confident that we will take whatever action we consider necessary if we discover evidence of criminality or negligence," he said.
Shadow environment secretary Mary Creagh said the latest revelations raised questions about the extent of the scandal.
"This is no longer just a food safety issue but possibly a criminal trade," she said.
Findus confirmed the product was manufactured by a third-party supplier and said all its other products had been tested and were not affected.
Supplier concerns
The company said: "We understand this is a very sensitive subject for consumers and we would like to reassure you we have reacted immediately. We do not believe this to be a food safety issue.
"We are confident that we have fully resolved this supply chain issue. We would like to take this opportunity to apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused."
Earlier this week, French food supplier Comigel had alerted Findus and Aldi and advised them to withdraw Findus Beef Lasagne and Aldi's Today's Special Frozen Beef Lasagne and Today's Special Frozen Spaghetti Bolognese.
Tesco also decided to withdraw Everyday Value Spaghetti Bolognese.
The Tesco product was produced at the same Comigel site but there was no evidence of contamination, the supermarket said.
The wider food contamination controversy arose in mid-January when Irish food inspectors announced they had found horsemeat in some burgers stocked by a number of UK supermarket chains, including Tesco, Iceland and Lidl.
Asda has withdrawn products supplied by Newry-based Freeza Meats, which was storing meat found to contain a high proportion of horse DNA. Two samples were found to contain 80% horsemeat.
The horsemeat controversy has hit the Irish meat-processing industry, with a number of suppliers on both sides of the border affected.

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Wednesday 30 January 2013

DMAA


Claire Squires inquest: DMAA was factor in marathon runner's death

Claire Squires' boyfriend Simon van Herrewege: ''Claire was passionately against the use of drugs''
Continue reading the main story

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A now-banned drug in a sports nutrition supplement was a factor in the death of a runner during the London Marathon, a coroner has ruled.
Claire Squires, 30, of Leicestershire, collapsed and died on the final stretch of the 26.2-mile course last April.
The inquest heard the drug DMAA, found in some nutrition supplements and not banned at the time, was in her system.
The coroner said she died of cardiac failure caused by extreme exertion, complicated by DMAA toxicity.
'Tragic loss'
Her boyfriend said she had put a scoop of a product containing DMAA into her water bottle.
Recording a narrative verdict at the hearing at Southwark Coroners' Court, Dr Philip Barlow said: "Claire Squires collapsed during the final stages of the London Marathon.
Continue reading the main story

DMAA

  • Products containing DMAA have been withdrawn in various European Union countries and the world
  • In August 2012, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) advised people not to consume products containing the stimulant
  • It said DMAA could be fatal and linked it with high blood pressure, nausea, cerebral haemorrhage and stroke
  • DMAA is also listed on packaging as geranium extract, geranamine, methylhexanamine and 4-methylhexane-2-amine.
"She had taken a supplement containing DMAA which, on the balance of probabilities, in combination with extreme physical exertion, caused acute cardiac failure, which resulted in her death.
"My hope is that the coverage of this case and the events leading up to Claire's death will help publicise the potentially harmful effects of DMAA during extreme exertion."
He offered his condolences to her family "for a very tragic loss of an obviously dear person".
Miss Squires, a hairdresser from North Kilworth, aimed to raise £500 for the Samaritans, but her death led to donations totalling more than £1m.
'Bit like caffeine'
DMAA (1,3-dimethylamylamine), which increases the heart rate, was being sold in the UK at the time in some sports nutrition supplements.
In August last year, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency ruled DMAA was an unlicensed medicinal product.
Claire Squires Claire Squires collapsed on the final stretch of the 26.2-mile London Marathon course in April last year
It said all products containing DMAA needed to be removed from the UK market due to concerns about potential risks to public safety.
Miss Squires' boyfriend Simon van Herrewege said she had put a scoop of sports supplement Jack3D, containing DMAA, into her water bottle before setting off on the race.
Products containing DMAA were not banned in the UK at the time.
Miss Squires had run the London Marathon two years before and wanted to beat four hours for the race.
She had also completed the Great North Run and the Belfast Marathon.
Mr van Herrewege told the inquest: "Claire ended up getting a tub of this supplement Jack3D to give you a bit of an energy boost. It is a bit like caffeine.
"Claire never really got on with it. She never really liked it.
"She said she would take one scoop in her water bottle.
Mother volunteered
"She said that if 'I hit a bit of [a] wall I will take it'."
DMAA has been banned by the US Army following the deaths of soldiers who had taken it.
The hearing was told Jack3D is still being sold on Amazon but DMAA has been removed as an ingredient.
Outside court, Mr van Herrewege called for better supervision of the "so-called health food and supplement industry".
He said her death had left a "gaping hole in their hearts and lives".
"The outcome of the inquest left us feeling a little numb. Claire took part in the marathon to do some good and challenge herself in the same way she did for many other events.
"Claire was passionately against the use of drugs and would never, ever, have taken anything that would have caused her harm, or even worse, risk her life."
Miss Squires chose to raise money for the Samaritans partly because her mother had volunteered for the charity for 24 years.
Her death led to a public outpouring of support for the organisation.
It has worked with her mother Cilla Squires to develop The Claire Squires Fund - a programme of projects to reflect how she would have wanted the money to be used.

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  • KL.FM 96.7Tragic London Marathon Runner Used Stimulant3 hrs ago

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Vegetarians 'cut heart.?


Vegetarians 'cut heart risk by 32%'

By James GallagherHealth and science reporter, BBC News
Vegetables

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Ditching meat and fish in favour of a vegetarian diet can have a dramatic effect on the health of your heart, research suggests.
A study of 44,500 people in England and Scotland showed vegetarians were 32% less likely to die or need hospital treatment as a result of heart disease.
Differences in cholesterol levels, blood pressure and body weight are thought to be behind the health boost.
The findings were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Heart disease is a major blight in Western countries. It kills 94,000 people in the UK each year - more than any other disease, and 2.6 million people live with the condition.
The heart's own blood supply becomes blocked up by fatty deposits in the arteries that nourish the heart muscle. It can cause angina or even lead to a heart attack if the blood vessels become completely blocked.
Scientists at the University of Oxford analysed data from 15,100 vegetarians and 29,400 people who ate meat and fish.
Over the course of 11 years, 169 people in the study died from heart disease and 1,066 needed hospital treatment - and they were more likely to have been meat and fish eaters than vegetarians.

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Choosing the veggie option on the menu is not a shortcut to a healthy heart”
Tracy ParkerBritish Heart Foundation
Dr Francesca Crowe said: "The main message is that diet is an important determinant of heart health, I'm not advocating that everyone eats a vegetarian diet.
"The diets are quite different. Vegetarians probably have a lower intake of saturated fat so it makes senses there is a lower risk of heart disease."
The results showed the vegetarians had lower blood pressure, lower levels of "bad" cholesterol and were more likely to have a healthy weight.
Tracy Parker, from the British Heart Foundation, said: "This research reminds us that we should try to eat a balanced and varied diet - whether this includes meat or not.
"But remember, choosing the veggie option on the menu is not a shortcut to a healthy heart. After all, there are still plenty of foods suitable for vegetarians that are high in saturated fat and salt.
"If you're thinking of switching to a vegetarian diet, make sure you plan your meals carefully so that you replace any lost vitamins and minerals, such as iron, that you would normally get from meat."

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Tuesday 29 January 2013


Nov 22, 2011 | By Brett Denton
List of Foods That Are Rich in Magnesium, Potassium & Calcium
Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
Magnesium, potassium and calcium all play vital roles in the body. Magnesium aids in bone mineralization, protein synthesis, enzyme activity, muscle contraction and immunity. Potassium is an electrolyte and acts as an electrically conducive medium that activates muscles and neurons. Two main roles calcium has are the mineralization of bones and teeth, giving them their strength and hardness, and aiding in muscle contraction and relaxation. Other areas that calcium plays a part in include immunity, blood pressure, nerves and blood clotting. To get sufficient amounts of these minerals, consume a well-balanced diet of legumes, vegetables (especially greens) and milk products.

LEGUMES

Legumes contain all three minerals plus vitamins, fiber and amino acids that are essential to the body. Legumes that contain high amounts of calcium, magnesium and potassium include adzuki beans, black beans, garbanzo beans, kidney beans, great northern beans, lentils, navy beans and soybeans. The American Heart Association recommends consuming four to five servings per week of legumes, seeds and nuts if following a 2,000-calorie-per-day diet. If following a 1,600-calorie-per-day diet, the group recommends three to five servings per week.

VEGETABLES

Vegetables are nutrient-dense foods. Nutrient-dense foods contain a high amount of nutrients per calorie of food consumed. Vegetables contain vitamins, fiber, antioxidants and other minerals as well as potassium, magnesium and calcium. Greens that are high in magnesium, potassium and calcium include broccoli, artichoke, potatoes, beet greens, cooked bok choy, carrot juice, cooked Swiss chard, kale, luffa, okra, spinach, sweet potatoes, sun-dried tomatoes and turnip greens. The American Heart Association recommends consuming four to five servings per day if you are eating 2000 calories, or three to four servings per day for a 1,600-calorie diet.

DAIRY

Dairy is an especially rich source of calcium. Legumes and vegetables tend to contain more magnesium and potassium than do dairy products, but dairy tends to contain more calcium. Dairy products also give the body vitamins, amino acids and other minerals. Dairy products rich in potassium, calcium and magnesium include cheddar cheese, Parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, sweet cream, goat milk, cow milk, kefir and yogurt. The American Heart Association suggests consuming two to three servings of low- or no-fat diary products per day.


Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/70088-list-foods-rich-magnesium-potassium/#ixzz2JOO1g9hT
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Leprosy Patients Hope for a Brighter Future


Leprosy Patients Hope for a Brighter Future

By  - January 28, 2013

A cast around his left leg re­minds 23-year-old Ngin Sothea that leprosy ulceration, from which he has been suffering for almost 10 years, has eaten away parts of his foot. He uses crutches to walk around Kien Khleang Na­tional Rehabilitation Center in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district in Chroy Changvar commune.
“I noticed swelling in my foot and was brought to a hospital in Siem Reap,” Mr. Sothea said re­counting the moment a decade ago when doctors diagnosed him with leprosy. He was immediately transferred to Kien Khleang, the country’s only hospital specializing in leprosy treatment.
Mr. Sothea was among dozens of other leprosy patients who on Friday marked International World Leprosy Day alongside of­ficials from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Before a tour of the center, Ros Roeun, undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Social Affairs, said there is still a lot of social stigma surrounding leprosy in Cambo­dia.
“Leprosy was confused as a contagious, incurable [disease] or as a punishment by God. This leads to the discrimination of leprosy affected persons within their communities and makes it difficult for them to start a family,” he said outside the center, which is equipped with 50 beds.
Due to social stigma and the be­lief that leprosy patients have no future due to the disfigurement caused by the disease, not everyone seeks treatment, said So Visal, a public health officer for the Order of Malta’s International Committee, which finances the Kien Khleang center.
“In Kompong Cham, there is still a leper village, where people go to hide themselves from their communities,” he said.
The order’s head of mission, Ha­rald Schmid de Gruneck, said that with their annual budget of $700,000, many leprosy patients in Cambodia are now diagnosed at an early stage.
Had Mr. Sothea not been di­agnosed at an early stage, he could have lost larger parts of his legs and fingers due to the disease, which attacks the nervous system.
“With the early detection and prevention center and outreach programs, we find the cases earlier, so the number of patients is actually going up because pa­tients seek treatment,” Mr. Schmid de Gruneck said, adding that in 2012, there were about 400 new cases of leprosy detected in Cambodia.
“The socioeconomic program is very important, and we try to rehabilitate the patients by giving them microloans and teaching them computer skills,” Mr. Schmid de Gruneck said.
By providing scholarships, young leprosy patients are also given some hope, like Mr. So­thea, who is interested in computers and speaks fluent English.
“Next year maybe, if I get one of the scholarships, I want to move out from my uncle’s house and study I.T. in Phnom Penh,” Mr. Sothea said.
© 2013, The Cambodia Daily. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in print, electronically, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without written permission.
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Two more children have died in Cambodia of bird flu

imageAssociated Press

Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia—Two more children have died in Cambodia of bird flu, bringing the number of fatal cases this year to four and the number of cases overall to five.
The Cambodian office of the U.N.'s World Health Organization said a 17-month-old girl from central Kampong Speu province and a 9-year-old girl from southern Kampot province died Monday after being hospitalized.
A Cambodian woman buys chicken at a market in Phnom Penh on Tuesday.
That followed a report Friday of three new human cases, two of them fatal, in the first three weeks of this year. That was already as many cases as the Southeast Asian country reported in all of 2012. All three cases last year were fatal, as have been 23 of the 26 cases reported since 2005.
WHO says bird flu, also known as avian influenza, or H5N1, has killed 360 other people worldwide since surfacing in 2003. Most human cases have been linked to contact with infected poultry.
Friday WHO and Cambodia's health ministry announced that a 15-year-old girl in a village in southeastern Takeo province and a 35-year-old man in central Kampong Speu province had died. An 8-month-old boy in the capital, Phnom Penh, was treated and survived.
The disease remains hard for people to catch, but experts fear it could mutate into a more deadly form that spreads easily from person to person. So far, most human cases have been linked to contact with infected poultry.
Last week, international scientists who last year halted controversial research with the deadly bird flu virus said they were resuming their work as countries adopt new rules to ensure safety.
An outcry had erupted when two labs in the Netherlands and the U.S. reported they had created easier-to-spread versions of bird flu. Amid fierce debate about the oversight of such research and whether it might aid terrorists, those scientists voluntarily halted further work last January.
Those scientists announced Wednesday they were ending their moratorium now that health authorities have had time to determine how they will oversee high-stakes research involving dangerous germs. Several countries have already issued new rules.
In letters published in the journals Science and Nature this week, scientists wrote that those who meet their country's requirements have a responsibility to resume studying how the bird flu might mutate to become a bigger threat
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