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In the News: UN Lacks Money For Food Aid; Nutrient Profiling; Meat Recall Repercussions

Posted by Emily Koh, February 26, 2008 at 5:30 PM

• The UN: Not enough money for food aid: The United Nations announced that their current budget is no longer enough to maintain the current level of their food aid program, due to rising food prices and fuel costs. [Guardian]
• Nutrient profiling to help make healthier choices at grocery stores: Groups like the Nutrient Rich Foods Coalition are developing nutrient profiling systems, which assign scores to food based on how nutritious and healthy it is, taking into account factors like added sugar, salt, and trans fat. Coming soon to a grocery store near you? [Washington Post]
• Chinese chefs learn to whip up British grub for the Olympics: Around 1,000 Chinese chefs are taking a week-long crash course on Western cuisine in England to prep for the Olympics in Beijing this summer: "I think it is very necessary for China to offer the genuine Western food to foreigners. It is their need and it is our duty." [Reuters]

• Meat recall has costly repercussions for companies: Food retailers and small meat companies are facing millions of dollars in loss and damage as a result of the recent meat recall in the U.S., with many pulling or destroying affected products as a cautionary measure. [WSJ]
• South Korea imports GMO corn for food for the first time: Leading corn starch and sugar producers in South Korea signed a joint contract to import 50,000 tons of genetically-modified corn from the U.S. in May as a result of rising food prices. [Chosun Ilbo]
• Shanghai McDonald's now delivers to your door: Facing stiff competition from rival Yum! Brands, Shanghai's McDonald's are now offering home delivery of their burgers and fries, with plans to offer the service in other Chinese cities in the future. [Reuters]
• Fruit-flavored products pack lots of flavor but no real fruit: The Food Commission say companies are misleading consumers by not clearly labeling fruit-flavored products as not including natural ingredients, favoring heavy use of artificial additives instead. [BBC]
• "Noodle Wars" in the instant noodle market: Companies are scrambling to get a piece of the $6.6 billion instant noodle industry in China, offering varied options like low-fat, non-fried, or "high-end" noodles, to attract consumers. [Reuters]
• New case of mad cow found in Canada: A six-year old dairy cow in Alberta, Canada, was found to have been infected with the mad cow disease, but officials say no part of the carcass has entered food or animal feed systems. [AFP]
• Creepy crawlers could help with famines: Crickets, caterpillars and other bugs could be an important source of protein-rich food during periods of famine, and are trying to think of ways to utilize insects, whether it's supplementing food aid programs or adding them to meal powders. [AP]

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