Health, Personal Health

A report commissioned by the U.S. beef and pork checkoff funds found no association between cancer and the consumption of red and processed meats. This report discusses epidemiological science and summarizes current studies on this link, based on a review by consulting firm Exponent.

This study, funded by the U.S. beef and pork checkoff programs, concludes that epidemiological studies finding a link between cancer and consumption of red meat (and/or processed meat) "is not supportive" of a causal relationship.

The world's largest food service company, Compass Group, announced the launch of their "Flexitarian" eating campaign, developed jointly with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The campaign promotes incorporating healthier, more sustainable, and more humane eating in the group's 8,500 U.S. corporate and academic food service cafeterias across the country.

Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found increased levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria on the surfaces of and in the air inside cars traveling behind trucks carrying broiler chickens.

According to this year's National Restaurant Association's annual survey, What's Hot in 2010, experts predict that local produce, bite-sized desserts, organics, healthful kids' meals, and new cuts of meat will be the most popular food items in 2010.

As part of a strategy to cut global warming emissions, England's National Health Service (NHS) is encouraging the development of meat-free menus for hospitals.

According to a review of 17 U.S. airports by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, most of these airports are exhibiting a steady increase in healthful food options with the exception of Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago O'Hare, which lost points compared with the past survey.

According to a study of 500,000 middle-aged U.S. adults, researchers found that those who ate about 4 ounces of red meat per day were 30% more likely to die in the next 10 years from heart disease or cancer than those who consumed average amounts of these meats.

This 2008 report from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) describes the highest level of food insecurity (15%) among U.S. households since the department first began reporting figures in 1995.

Based on a review of 27 previously published studies, researchers found that those who follow a vegetarian or vegan diet combined with nuts, soy, and fiber experience the greatest reduction in risk factors for heart disease.