A number of interesting discoveries happen each day- and if said discovery concerns the one food item that might be making you obese, that’s very favorable news. Aside from this bit of enlightenment, the week that was saw the erstwhile queen of daytime talk shows announcing the launch of her own food brand. Plus, some good and some bad news concerning food safety from two ends of planet earth.
Okay, let’s dive right in.
Avoid sugar to beat health problems- No, artificial sweeteners aren’t helping!
A recent weight loss study conducted by the Canadian Medical Association Journal found out that artificial sweeteners are irrefutably contributing to long-term weight gain, while maximizing the risk of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and ailments of the heart. While most people switch to artificial sweeteners to escape the risks associated with the consumption of the commonly available sugar, this study has negated such expectations and bought the viability of these food additives to question.
The answer? Cutting down on artificial sweeteners such as saccharin, sucralose, neotame, etc. by controlling the intake of such packaged foods as ketchup, whole wheat bread, cereal and Greek yoghurt that have been proven to be high on artificial sweeteners.
From talk-show to food brand, Oprah Winfrey is at it again
You just can’t keep the inimitable queen of talk-shows off the spotlight for too long. After ending her widely successful stint as an influential TV talk show host, Oprah Winfrey is looking to debut in the healthy packaged food business. Launched rather ambitiously last summer, the ‘O, That’s Good’ brand aims to mimic the success of Nestle or Kraft Heinz, while offering such ‘healthy’ gastronomic products as packaged foods, baked goods, spices, bottled water, energy drinks, juices and their kind. The premise might seem too ambitious – however, this is Oprah Winfrey we are talking about! Expect a ‘O, That’s Good’ promo to drop any day now.
Of tainted eggs and MLB food hygiene 
Food safety must always be given its due priority. This week, two incidents, as reported from Denmark and the hallowed greens of the Major League Baseball fields in the US, bought the question of food safety and hygiene to the fore. In Denmark, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration said in a statement that over 20 tons of insecticide-tainted eggs have been sold in the country. Already, eggs tainted with fipronil have been detected in other countries of Europe. Danish authorities finally caught up with the problem in their own backyard and hope to contain the problem before it escalates any further.
Meanwhile, in a recent Sports Illustrated study concerned with food safety and hygiene levels at 28 major baseball stadiums across the country, Seattle’s Safeco Field bagged the top spot while Tampa Bay’s Tropicana field came in last. This interesting study examined the popular food habits at one of the more casual settings- the local baseball game- and how people and vendors responded to the demand for fast food. The study did encounter some critical violations, yet nothing too serious that cannot be fixed.
Just as in the earlier story, a precise plan of attack is the only way to test for food safety and hygiene while ensuring that major food borne outbreaks can be avoided in time. Food for thought, indeed!
News that matters. Watch this space for more weekly roundup from various global markets and specialist business verticals. Technavio is a renowned market research company that caters to a global audience of enterprising businesses and can be readily reached here.
