Did You Know?

Cinnamon: Taking a Bite Out of Salmonella
Research conducted by Dr. Daniel Y.C. Fung and his colleagues at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas indicates, that when added in small quantities, cinnamon can reduce the amount of bacterial growth in apple juice. Dr. Fung recently presented these findings at the annual meeting of the American Society for Microbiology in Orlando, Florida. For the study, Dr. Fung and his research team added cinnamon to commercially pasteurized apple juice which had been tainted with one of three common foodborne pathogens: Salmonella, Yersinia or Staphylococcus aureus. Researchers measured the bacterial levels over a seven-day period and found levels in the apple juice with cinnamon were reduced compared to the juice without the spice. Dr. Fung was quoted as saying “We recommend pasteurization of apple juice to ensure food safety, but the addition of cinnamon will provide added protection.”
[Note: To read a September 2000 FTS Forum “Trendsetters” interview with renowned microbiologist Daniel Fung—a pioneer in the field of rapid-detection of food pathogens, click here.]

MSH Linked to Weight Control
Researchers at Denver’s Eleanor Roosevelt Institute (ERI) have found evidence that low levels of the hormone MSH has a direct link to obesity. The findings, published in the March 27 issue of the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, came from a study in which mice were fed a diet high in MSH lost weight. Scientist hope their research will one day lead to a pill, patch or nasal spray which could be used by humans to trigger fat cells to release their stored energy resulting in weight loss. Doctors hope to begin clinical trials on humans later this year.

Prion Protein Detection and Removal Studies
Bayer Corporation scientists recently reported that purification processes used in the manufacture of Bayer’s human plasma-derived pharmaceutical products have the ability to remove pathogen prion proteins (PrPs), including those associated with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). The announcement came after studies using a Western Blot assay method—a faster, more efficient process for assessing removal of the infectious agents—verified earlier findings based on a methodology which employed longer and more expensive rodent tests. Although PrPs capable of producing diseases such as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) have not been known to be passed intravenously in humans, it has been known to be passed in experimental animals, thus making finding a solution extremely important.

New Microtiter Salmonella Detection Unit
Gen-Trak Systems, a leading manufacturer of food diagnostics, recently unveiled a system for the rapid detection of Salmonella. The Gen-Trak Sequepoint Salmonella uses a hybrid DNA probe assay technology in a microtiter format that can be used manually or with an automated processor for high throughput of microbiological analysis of food samples. The assay can detect as few as one salmonella cell in 25 grams of a food sample. Sequepoint Salmonella is designed to provide sensitivity and specificity equivalent to traditional culture methods. The combination of DNA hybridization technology in a 96 well microtiter format offers flexibility, convenience, and reliable results. Gene-Trak Systems manufactures a variety of rapid detection test for foodborne pathogens.

Proposed Food Labeling Guidelines
The Food Allergy Issues Alliance, whose members include the National Food Processors Association and Grocery Manufacturers of America, recently released a list of proposed labeling guidelines designed to make it easier for consumers to identify ingredients they may be allergic to. Among the proposed changes: potentially harmful ingredients are to be clearly identifiable using plain language—for example, “milk” instead of “casein” and “eggs” rather than “albumen”. The proposed guidelines will also discourage food makers from the indiscriminate use of warning labels such as “May contain peanuts” which is often included unnecessarily in an attempt to protect against lawsuits. The FDA has welcomed the proposed guidelines calling them a “significant step forward” and a “major health benefit to the food allergy sensitive consumer”.