Major New Review of Caffeine Health Effects
Since the last major literature review, conducted and published by Health Canada in 2003, many new, caffeinated food and beverage products have come to market and more than 10,000 papers have been published on caffeine's health effects. ILSI North America's systematic review, published in April 2017 in Food and Chemical Toxicology, represents a significant update to what we know about the health effects of caffeine consumption.
The review examines five health outcomes and over two dozen specific endpoints related to acute and reproductive/development toxicity, cardiovascular effects; bone and calcium status; and behavior.
You can read the paper itself, which was featured in The Atlantic, USA Today, and Food and Wine and on BuzzFeed.com, or get highlights of findings online.
ILSI-India Celebrates 20 Years
ILSI-India conducts research, disseminates science, and builds technical capacity in nutrition and food science, food and water safety, biotechnology, and environmental health and sustainability in one of the most densely populated areas of our world. It is a regional branch addressing shared health concerns in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.
Join us in congratulating ILSI-India on its 20 years of success in fostering public-private sector cooperation on science that improves human and environmental health and well-being. A special 20-Anniversary monograph documents ILSI-India's activities and impact. The letters of congratulations from international scholars and high-level authorities in the region demonstrate ILSI-India's value within the region's scientific community.
This month's featured number:
1970
the number of protein sequences of known or suspected allergens in ILSI HESI's new COMPARE Database: COMPARE
Recap of ILSI Europe's Annual Symposium
Professor Alan Boobis, Imperial College London, ILSI Europe President, and ILSI Board of Trustees Chair, opened ILSI Europe's 2017 Annual Symposium with a recap of ILSI Europe's impressive scientific portfolio: 20 scientific task forces; 47 expert working groups; over 400 publications and a corresponding 22,000 citations.
The symposium's forward-looking scientific program was comprehensive, covering the feasibility of food sustainability; alternatives to animal testing; realistic goals for healthy aging; the impact of "big data" on individual health; and more.
Professor Boobis' presentation and copies of other expert talks from the March event are available online: ILSI Europe 2017 Annual Symposium
HESI Launches COMPARE
HESI's Comprehensive Protein Allergen Resource (COMPARE) is a new tool for identifying protein sequences of known or putative allergens. It is a searchable, comprehensive database which will be updated with newly identified allergens on an annual basis by expert panels charged with identifying new listings of candidate allergen sequences and verifying that newly identified sequences have clinical evidence of allergenicity based on standardized criteria. COMPARE is publicly available at no charge. Learn more at: COMPARE
Evidence-Based Risk Assessment
Risk Assessment or Assessment of Risk? Developing an Evidence-Based Approach for Primary Producers of Leafy Vegetables to Assess and Manage Microbial Risks
ILSI Europe
Journal of Food Protection
This article proposes risk assessment approach based on a structured qualitative assessment requiring decisions to be based on evidence and a framework for describing the decision process that can be challenged and defended within the supply chain.
This article is open access: Risk Assessment
Gut Microbiota Functions
Gut microbiota functions: metabolism of nutrients and other food components
ILSI Europe
European Journal of Nutrition
Authors discuss bacteria and microbial pathways associated with the metabolism of dietary carbohydrates; proteins; plant polyphenols; bile acids; and vitamins, and also review existing and novel methods for exploring gut microbial pathways of metabolism.
The article is available for download: Gut Microbiota
Sodium Reduction Balancing Act
"The Safety of Sodium Reduction in the Food Supply: A Cross-Discipline Balancing Act” - Workshop Proceedings"
ILSI North America
Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition
Sodium plays a critical role in retarding the growth of pathogens and food spoilage bacteria. This paper summarizes opportunities to reduce sodium levels in the food supply while maintaining food safety and meeting consumer taste preferences.
The article is open access: Sodium
FEATURED
HESI
HESI Annual Meeting: Science Forward
13 - 15 June 2017
Dublin, Ireland
HESI's 2017 Annual Meeting features speakers who will share perspectives on new science and research priorities. Registration deadline is 31 May. Get the full program and sign-up now: Science Forward
FEATURED
ILSI Europe
"How Do Prebiotics and Probiotics Work?"
20 - 22 June 2017
Budapest, Hungary
ILSI Europe's upcoming session at the International Scientific Conference on Probiotics and Prebiotics 2017 is part of its robust program on understanding how the gut microbiota influences human health. Check out the complete program: ICP2017
FEATURED
One ILSI
ILSI at ICN 2017
15 - 20 October
Buenos Aires, Argentina
ILSI, ILSI Research Foundation, and ILSI branches worldwide are sponsoring seven scientific sessions at the 2017 International Congress of Nutrition (ICN). Held every four years, ICN is a premier gathering of nutrition and food scientists, health professionals, and health policy makers. Speaker information for each session is available online: ICN2017.
FNSP Mid-Year Meeting
ILSI North America
18 July 2017
Arlington, Virginia, USA
Preliminary details: FNSP
Seminar on Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition
ILSI Southeast Asia Region
24 July 2017
Bangkok, Thailand
Background on this important regional topic, program details, and registration: Maternal/Child Health
Are South African Consumers Moving Towards Healthy Eating?
ILSI South Africa
9 September 2017
Cape Town, South Africa
Follow-up to a successful 2015 event: Program
5th Annual South Asia Biosafety Conference
ILSI Research Foundation
11 - 13 September 2017
Bangalore, India
Complete information and FAQ: Biosafety
Save the Date: ILSI Annual Meeting 2018
ILSI, ILSI Research Foundation, & ILSI Branches Worldwide
19 - 24 January 2018
Southampton, Bermuda
More information to come soon!