The EDGE: Stockton, Calif., is top city for dietitians, report says

Eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily may prolong life | FDA proposes tighter arsenic limits in apple juice | Berry popularity and demand fuels research, sales

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July 12, 2013

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Healthy Start

Eating 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily may prolong life
People who ate fewer than five servings of fruits and vegetables daily were at an increased risk of early death, according to a study of more than 71,000 people in Sweden. The risk of early death was 53% higher among those who didn't eat fruits and vegetables compared with those who got their five daily servings. The study appeared in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Reuters (7/11)

Dietary Health

Stockton, Calif., is top city for dietitians, report says
Stockton, Calif., is the best city for dietitians, according to a report by ValuePenguin that considered salary, cost of living and job concentration. Three California cities were in the top 10, including Vallejo in ninth place and Redding in second place. Pittsfield, Mass., came in third, followed by Rochester, Minn., and Trenton-Ewing, N.J. Times-Herald (Vallejo, Calif.) (7/12)

FDA proposes tighter arsenic limits in apple juice
Studies have shown that apple juice contains very low arsenic levels, but the FDA has proposed to lower the acceptable levels to 10 parts per billion, equal to the Environmental Protection Agency's arsenic limit for drinking water. The move was made to "give guidance to industry and to assure ongoing safety and quality," FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg said. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (7/12), The Washington Post (tiered subscription model)/The Associated Press (7/12)

Berry popularity and demand fuels research, sales
Affluent, health-conscious U.S. consumers are fueling a rise in blueberry, raspberry and blackberry consumption, which is driving growers and researchers to experiment with new berry varieties including acai, aronia and goji berries. Smaller berries, like goji berries and bilberries, can be tart, so many companies mix them with sweeter, more common types when incorporating them into new products. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (7/9)

Science & Research

Study links fish oil to increased prostate cancer risk
Men who consumed the most omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish and fish oil supplements were 43% and 71% more likely to develop prostate cancer and aggressive prostate cancer, respectively, U.S. researchers found. The study, which involved more than 2,200 men, appeared online in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. HealthDay News (7/10)

Ketogenic diet may slow bone development in pediatric epilepsy
Following the ketogenic diet for more than six months was associated with a slower rate of bone development in children with epilepsy, according to an Australian study presented at the International Epilepsy Congress. The dietary intervention was linked to an increased risk of micronutrient deficiencies, researchers said. Family Practice News (7/11)

Produce consumption drops amid growth of processed food
Consumers in the U.S. and Western Europe are eating fewer fresh vegetables and fruits partly because of a burgeoning market for processed food. Research from Rabobank cites a belief that fresh produce is more expensive than processed food. "Surveys have shown that, in principle, consumers are positive-minded about healthy eating, but in practice they are easily swayed by creative marketing of processed food and beverages and exhibit a strong bias for convenience products," Rabobank analyst Cindy van Rijswick said. FoodNavigator (7/9)

Fitness

"Let's Read! Let's Move!" focuses on literacy, health
The U.S. Department of Education kicked off its "Let's Read! Let's Move!" summer program on Wednesday, which encourages students to exercise their minds -- and bodies -- over the summer break. At an event in Washington, D.C., Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan and others were on hand to help students make healthy snacks, compete in a "Shopping Cart Nutrition Race" and talk about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.)/The Associated Press (7/10)

Institutional Foodservice

What's behind one district's decline in school meal participation?
New federal guidelines regarding school meals are being cited as one cause for a drop in school meal participation in a New Hampshire school district -- from 50,000-plus lunches served two years ago to fewer than 40,000 last year. Officials also say a decline in breakfasts served to middle-school students has been caused by school construction efforts that allow students to bypass the cafeteria on their way to class. As a result of the declines, officials plan to increase the cost of meals by 25 cents. SeacoastOnline (Portsmouth, N.H.) (tiered subscription model) (7/11)