Australian agency, university launch Bioplastics Innovation Hub | Big food enters the meat alternative market | FAO studies safety risks of supplementary foods
September 4, 2024
Global fats and oils news powered by the AOCS Foundation
China has announced an anti-dumping investigation into Canadian canola imports in apparent retaliation for Canada imposing a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicles and 25% duties on Chinese steel and aluminum. China currently gets most of its canola from Canada, consuming about half of the country's production of the oilseed, and China says imports of Canadian canola increased 170% between 2022 and 2023.
Don't miss your opportunity in plant-based proteins Innovate, test and scale new plant-based proteins at Crown's Global Innovation Center. Crown's proven technologies and custom-engineered solutions help you develop and produce products with the highest protein quality while reducing operating costs and waste. Partner with Crown to claim your position in this fast-growing market. Learn more.
Meat producers, including some of the world's largest food companies, are investing in plant-based alternatives and researching cellular meat products. For example, Nestlé, the world's largest food producer, has marketed multiple meat alternative products and confirmed it is "evaluating innovative technologies to produce cultured meat or cultured-meat ingredients with several external partners," such as Israeli start-up Future Meat Technologies.
Children facing malnutrition in food-insecure regions are often given lipid-based nutrient supplements and ready-to-use therapeutic foods, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations studied the impact exposure to toxic fatty acid esters found in these foods might have on them. While the FAO determined the risk is low, the organization is encouraging manufacturers to reduce the amount of these substances in such foods.
Scientists who tested 36 bottles of store brand avocado oils sold in the US and Canada found that almost two-thirds of them contained cheaper seed and vegetable oils, which, besides being misleading, could pose a danger to those with food sensitivities or allergies. Avocado oil is expensive to produce, as experts in this article explain, and Selina Wang, the lead researcher and an associate food science professor at the University of California at Davis, advises "if a buyer finds that an oil is quite a bit lower in price compared to others, there's probably a reason for that."
Pregnant women who consumed fish were 20% less likely to have children later diagnosed with autism, according to a new study funded by the Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes Program at the National Institutes of Health. No such association was found for mothers who consumed fish oil supplements while pregnant.
A new analysis suggests that prenatal fish oil supplementation may improve the risk for childhood atopic dermatitis, but only in women with a particular genotype. The effect was found in the children of women with the cyclooxygenase-1 (COX1) genotype, and the child's genotype was not related to outcomes.
Access the most reliable, validated collection of analytical testing methods for fats and oils. Ensure your lab maintains proficiency and accuracy in testing by updating to the new edition, which features 400+ methods - including 120+ revisions. Shop AOCS methods.
Join AOCS before October 2 to attend a new member-only masterclass led by Rick Theiner, Technology Manager at Evonik. This course offers a deep look into nonionic surfactants, with a focus on ethoxylated alcohols. Whether you support research and development or work directly with surfactants, this new masterclass will provide valuable insights into the formulation behavior of nonionic surfactants. Become an AOCS member today to receive access.
AOCS advances the science and technology of oils, fats, proteins, surfactants and related materials, enhancing the lives of people everywhere. As the AOCS member magazine, INFORM offers global news and features about vegetable oils, fats, surfactants, detergents, personal care products, and related materials.
Contact Us
AOCS Headquarters 3356 Big Pine Trail, Ste C&D
Champaign, IL 61822 USA Main Phone: +1 217-359-2344
AOCS Mailing Address PO Box 7230 Champaign, IL 61826 USA
SmartBrief publishes more than 200 free industry newsletters - Browse our portfolio