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Food Micro-Fifth Edition: Microbiology Testing In the US Food Industry Report Includes Projections for Test Volumes …

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DUBLIN, March 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/lxq3kc/food_microfifth) has announced the addition of the "Food Micro-Fifth Edition: Microbiology Testing in the US Food Industry" report to their offering. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130307/600769 )

Food Microbiology Testing Shows Healthy Growth

New regulations and public demand for safe food fuel growth in testing volume in the food processing industry and competition among industrial diagnostics companies. Woodstock, VT Industrial diagnostic companies competing in the food sector will continue to face exciting but turbulent times in the coming few years, according to a new report from Strategic Consulting, Inc., a leading knowledge resource for the industrial diagnostics industry.

In its new report, Food Micro, Fifth Edition: Microbiology Testing in the U.S. Food Industry (Food Micro5), Strategic Consulting (SCI) tracks changes to microbiology testing practices as the U.S. food industry strives to produce safe and wholesome foods in an increasingly global market. According to the report, new regulatory requirements and heightened public concern about food safety issues have increased concern and testing in the food sector: In 2010, 213.2 million microbiology tests were collected in the US food processing industry, a 14.4% increase since 2008.

After a decade of solid but quiet growth, the microbiology testing requirements of the food processing industry have been thrust into the public spotlight again, driving healthy growth in food diagnostic testing, says Thomas Weschler, president of SCI and lead author of Food Micro5. Given the op- portunities in this market, strong industrial diagnostic companies prone to action should do well, he says.

Food Micro5 examines the market, methods, technologies and key companies involved in microbiology testing in the food processing industry.

Primary research was conducted with more than 100 food processing plants producing a broad range of products in the meat, dairy, fruit/vegetable, and processed food segments. SCI also contacted many of the senior quality and food safety officers at the top-30 food companies in order to include both the strategic and the operational perspective on the U.S. food processing industry.

TVO, Coliform/E. coli, Yeast/Mold, and Staphylococcus are the routine microbiology tests that are generally used in the food processing industry as indicators of microorganisms in the plant or food product. The test volume for routine/indicator organisms went up by just over 10% between 2008 and 2010. During that same two-year period, however, testing for specific pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter, and E. coli O157 increased by more than 30%.

While food companies make continuous investments in food safety improvements, new regulations and public demand will drive even more testing, and as a result, new diagnostic technologies and companies are entering the market, Weschler says.

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Food Micro-Fifth Edition: Microbiology Testing In the US Food Industry Report Includes Projections for Test Volumes ...

LONGEVITY TIGWELD 200EX STICK ARC WELDING 316L STAINLESS TEE JOINT – WELDING TIPS – Video

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LONGEVITY TIGWELD 200EX STICK ARC WELDING 316L STAINLESS TEE JOINT - WELDING TIPS
In this episode of the Longevity Learning Lab, Scott uses the Tigweld 200ex to stick weld 316L stainless on a TEE joint. You can see his tips and tricks usin...

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LONGEVITY TIGWELD 200EX STICK ARC WELDING 316L STAINLESS TEE JOINT - WELDING TIPS - Video

Longevity Global Inc Now Offers The Most Powerful Plasma Cutter With Adorable $ 100 Discount

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Longevity Global Inc, a renowned company for providing reliable welding, cutting and power generating equipment stocks PlasmaPro 100 from Plasma cutters category. They offer full range of ForceCut and MaxArc series.

Hayward, Ca (PRWEB) March 14, 2013

PlasmaPro 100 is a 100amp 3 Phase Plasma Cutter capable of cutting up to 2' thick steel! This plasma cutter is designed to cut through the heaviest gauges of metal material and cuts all metal materials including copper, stainless steel and aluminum! Also, this plasma cutter is adjustable from 20-100 amps making it a versatile plasma cutter capable of cutting thin material as well as thick.

Longevity Global Inc, suggests its customers to always opt for cheap plasma cutters with the least number of consumable parts or one that has inexpensive Plasma Cutter consumables. Replacing expensive big branded consumables can be very costly and could lead to high operating cost and hence going for plasma cutters could be costly.

Nonetheless, Longevity Consumable parts are always affordable and priced far lesser than the leading brand consumables allowing you to use your inexpensive plasma cutter without any worries. The company is known for its inexpensive plasma cutters for sale and plasma cutting equipment with the best warranty on the market for years.

Most of the welding or cutting equipment is insured with the industrys leading 5 year parts and labor warranty; thus, buyers have plenty of benefits when they buy welding equipment and cutters from the company.

About the Company

Longevity Global Inc is recognized worldwide for providing reliable welding, cutting, and power generating equipment. Since their inception 2001, it has earned slogan, "The Power to Last" through innovation, customer satisfaction, and industry leading production. The organization constantly strives to provide global dealers, distributors, and users with the most innovative welding and cutting machines in the market. Their engineering team works together with their dealers and customers to develop the best equipment in the market.

To know more visit: http://www.longevity-inc.com/

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Longevity Global Inc Now Offers The Most Powerful Plasma Cutter With Adorable $ 100 Discount

Longevity Global Inc. Now Offers the Most Prominent Welders for Cutting and Wielding Any Metal

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Longevity Global Inc. offers the most prominent welders to cut and wield any metal with ease and in accurate manner. They conduct extensive research to design and develop most innovative welding machines and equipment offering their clients finest innovations and technologies.

Hayward, CA (PRWEB) March 13, 2013

Longevity welders have played a role and made the mark in many industries. These welders can work much faster depending on the efficiency of the person handling them. It cuts faster and avoids the scraps and other wastages. Longevity Global Inc. manufactures and supplies the most preferred range of welding machine and equipment.

Their wide assortment of products includes inverter welding machine, DC inverter machine, welding machine, welding rods, gas welding equipment, arc welder, wire welder, plasma cutting machines, etc. amongst others. They take into account the prevailing trends and standards of the industry and offer suitable range of Welding Machine and welding supplies.

The entire range of products offered by Longevity are widely appreciated for their unique features and cost effectiveness. Owing to these factors, these products are very popular among their wide client base. Their engineering team works together with dealers and customers to develop the best equipment.

They also sample products to the top welders in the United States to receive crucial feedback, which drives their innovation. Their welding, cutting, and power generating products are sold all over the world with the help of distributors in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, United Kingdom, and multiple other countries.

About the Company

Longevity Global Inc is recognized worldwide for providing reliable welding, cutting, and power generating equipment. Since their inception 2001, it has earned slogan, "The Power to Last" through innovation, customer satisfaction, and industry leading production. The organization constantly strives to provide global dealers, distributors, and users with the most innovative welding and cutting machines in the market. Their engineering team works together with their dealers and customers to develop the best equipment in the market.

To know more visit: http://www.longevity-inc.com/

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Longevity Global Inc. Now Offers the Most Prominent Welders for Cutting and Wielding Any Metal

Project Longevity Divides Mayoral Hopefuls

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by Paul Bass | Mar 14, 2013 9:12 am

One said it unfairly targets black people. Two others applauded the basic conceptthough one said it took the city too long to embrace it and still needs more government back-up.

Those views emerged Thursday morning about New Havens Project Longevity as the three announced candidates for mayor gathered for their first joint forum.

The New Haven Register hosted the forum from 8 to 9 a.m. and live-streamed it on its website. The Registers Shahid Abdul-Karim (at left in photo) moderated the discussion with Democratic candidates (from left next to Abdul-Karin) Gary Holder-Winfield, a Newhallville state representative; Sundiata Keitazulu, a Newhallville plumber; and Justin Elicker, an East Rock alderman. All three are seeking to succeed Mayor John DeStefano, who plans to retire at years end after two decades in office. Other candidates are expected to emerge in coming weeks.

The three offered differing takes on Project Longevity, a joint federal-city-community campaign that targets violent drug gangs.

The project began late last year as part of Police Chief Dean Essermans broader efforts to revive community policing in New Haven.

Modeled on successful similar programs in other cities, Project Longevity identifies the small number of people committing the most shootings in town; maps out their gang affiliations, then brings them to call-ins with prosecutors, cops, social workers, educators, and community leaders. At the call-ins, theyre told that if any one member of the gang commits a shooting, law enforcement will swoop down on all members of the gang and lock them up on any charges they can find. Prosecutors vow to give the cases highest priority. At the same time, leaders offer immediate front-of-the-line spots in programs offering job-training, housing, continuing education if the gang-bangers agree to go straight. Click here to read more about it; click on the play arrow to watch the principal of New Havens Adult Ed deliver the programs message.

Since Project Longevitys roll-out late last year, the city has grown relatively quieter. After a 50 percent drop in murders and 30 percent drop in shootings in 2012, violent crime has continued dropping precipitously so far in 2013. Its too early to attribute the drop on any one of a host of new community-policing initiatives or to judge the long-term impact.

So far, Elicker said in the Register forum Thursday morning, he likes what he sees in Project Longevity.

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Project Longevity Divides Mayoral Hopefuls

Depeche Mode, "pessimists at heart," never imagined longevity

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By Corrie MacLaggan

AUSTIN, Texas (Reuters) - Depeche Mode has come a long way since its 1980s debut as part of Britain's New Wave scene, and as it prepares to tour behind its 13th album, no one appears more surprised at the group's longevity than the band members themselves.

The British synthpop pioneers - singer Dave Gahan, guitarist-keyboardist Martin Gore and keyboardist Andy Fletcher - are marking their fourth decade in the music industry with the release of "Delta Machine" on March 26.

"We've always been pessimists at heart, so we never think further ahead than whatever's coming next," Gore, 51, told Reuters at the South by Southwest Music Conference this week.

The band has sold more than 100 million records worldwide since its 1981 debut album "Speak & Spell," thanks to hits along the way like 1984's "People are People" and 1989's "Personal Jesus."

Depeche Mode's textured sound and moody lyrics made it one of the biggest bands to emerge from the British New Wave in the early 1980s, alongside groups such as The Boomtown Rats.

The title "Delta Machine" reflects the musicians' contradictory sounds - they're influenced by the Delta blues, but they also use technology like computers and synthesizers.

"We feel like our music is a blend of organic and inorganic," Gore said.

NEW TOUR, NEW APPROACH

The band's appearance at the SXSW conference is unusual, as was its performance on "The Late Show with David Letterman" this week. Depeche Mode has typically gone straight from rehearsal to tour without leaving time to properly promote a new album, Gore said.

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Depeche Mode, "pessimists at heart," never imagined longevity

Discover Chemistry

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Discover Chemistry Biochemistry at USciences
The chemical sciences touch virtually every aspect of the natural world Over the course of four years students in the Department of Chemistry Biochemistry at usciences are exposed to all five major areas of chemistry analytical biochemical inorganic organic and physical and receive additional education in mathematics physics and computer science fully readying you for a diverse future With expertise distributed over all five of chemistry #39;s primary areas the faculty engage in diverse awardwinning ...

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Discover Chemistry

Art Ragauskas on Team Investigating Lignin Conversion to Biodiesel Fuel

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Art Ragauskas on Team Investigating Lignin Conversion to Biodiesel Fuel

Art Ragauskas

March 14, 2013 - IPST Professor Art Ragauskas of Georgia Techs School of Chemistry and Biochemistry has been named to a multi-university team conducting a two-year research project that is aimed at engineering a microbe to break lignin down into a lipid, or fat, and then into biodiesel.

According to a recent article in Biodiesel magazine, the research has the potential to make cellulosic ethanol refineries more profitable, while providing new feedstock for biodiesel production growth.

The $2.4 million project recently awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy is headed by Joshua Yuan, a Texas A&M University AgriLife Research plant pathologist. The team includes scientists from Georgia Institute of Technology, University of British Columbia and Washington State University.

To see the entire Biodiesel article, click on this link: Texas researcher looks into biodiesel production from lignin

For more information about IPST, please visit: http://www.ipst.gatech.edu .

SOURCE: Institute of Paper Science and Technology (IPST)

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Art Ragauskas on Team Investigating Lignin Conversion to Biodiesel Fuel

Science PhD Students Discover Career Opportunities at Symposium March 19 at Stony Brook University

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Newswise Stony Brook University, in collaboration with Brookhaven National Laboratory, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, will be holding an all-day career symposium on Tuesday, March 19, in the Charles B. Wang Center. The Research Your Future Career Symposium is sponsored by the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) and is open to graduate students and postdocs at the participating institutions.

This event is being run by Stony Brook University graduate students and postdocs, and includes a series of panel discussions by professionals in the areas of academia, biotech and finance, industry and government, and patent law. Stony Brook University President Samuel L. Stanley Jr., MD, will give the welcome address. The days schedule also includes lunch and an afternoon networking session with local businesses from the tri-state area, including Pall Life Sciences, forteBio, Regeneron, Hoffmann & Baron LLP, Advanced Microscopy Group (part of Life Technologies), The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Merck Inc., Mirimus Inc., Molecular Medicine, New York Genome Center and North Shore LIJ.

P. Roy Vagelos, MD, retired Chairman and CEO of Merck Inc. and Chairman of the Board at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc., is the keynote speaker.

We have filled our registration quota and are really excited about the success of this event, said Nadine Dalrymple, postdoctoral associate in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, who is one of the event organizers. This is the first time we are holding this career and networking symposium. The main organizers of the event submitted a proposal to ASBMB and won support to bring the event to Stony Brook. We then received a number of sponsorships, which allowed us to open this event up to more than 300 grads and postdocs. Our goal is to showcase the variety of career options available to those with a science PhD.

The event organizers, all from Stony Brook University, include faculty advisor Peter J. Tonge, a professor in the Department of Chemistry; PhD students Peter Chahales and Krithika Venkataraman; and postdoctoral associate Nadine Dalrymple. The organizing committee, also from Stony Brook University, includes Lynn Allopenna, Assistant Dean in the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs; Alfreda S. James, Assistant Director in the Career Center; and PhD students Azeez Aranmolate, Mel Pilar Espaillat, Nikki Evensen, Ellie Ivanova, Mahalakshmi Ramadass and Perry Y. Woo.

Registration will be in the Main Lobby of the Wang Center, and businesses will have tables in the Skylight Lobby. Panel sessions will be held in the Wang Theater and Lecture Halls 1 and 2. Lunch will be in the Zodiac Lobby and Chapel, with networking opportunities in both the Main Lobby and Skylight Lobby. Vendor tables featuring Biotix Inc., Enzo Life Sciences, Eppendorf, VWR and WorldWide Medical Products Inc. will be displayed throughout the Wang Center.

Symposium panel discussions include:

Academia with Jorge L. Benach, PhD, Chair, Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University; David Bynum, PhD, Director, Center for Science and Mathematics Education, Stony Brook University; and Doreen Ware, PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Biotech and Finance with Prakhar Verma, PhD, Senior Analyst, Prescient Life Sciences; Jeffrey Saelens, PhD, Regional Center Director, Small Business Development Center, Stony Brook University; Mark Lesko, JD, Executive Director, Accelerate Long Island; and James Egan, PhD, Director of Business Development, IRX Therapeutics, Inc.

Industry and Government with Karim Berrada, PhD, Director, DNA Formulation, Applied DNA Sciences Inc.; Zygmund Roth, PhD, Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Quality Assurance, IRX Therapeutics Inc.; John C. McKew, PhD, Chief, Therapeutics Development Branch, NIH Center for Translational Therapeutics; and Melpomeni Melek, PhD, Global Head of Hematology, Global Regulatory Affairs, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.

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Science PhD Students Discover Career Opportunities at Symposium March 19 at Stony Brook University

Canterbury scientist’s study on Cystic Fibrosis in adults

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MEDIA RELEASE

Friday March 15, 2013

Canterbury scientists study on Cystic Fibrosis in adults to be published

A Canterbury biochemistry scientists study on Cystic Fibrosis in Adulthood an evolving spectrum disorder, is to be published next month.

Sandy Woods scientific paper has just been accepted for publication in the NZ Journal of Medical Laboratory Science and will be appearing in the April issue.

Sandy is a Medical Laboratory Scientist in Specialist Biochemistry for Canterbury Health Laboratories and says she chose to study Cystic Fibrosis in adulthood after noticing she was testing more adults as part of her job.

Up until about 2005 these tests were mainly performed on children and babies, Sandy says.

Noticing a steady increase in the number of adult appointments for tests, I was curious to know what we were finding?

In Sandys study she reviewed 15 years worth of adult cases investigated through CHL where Cystic Fibrosis was suspected.

It was evident there were many cases of what has been termed atypical Cystic Fibrosis. So what had previously been considered a defined diagnosis for the disorder is actually much broader. I expect more cases of atypical Cystic Fibrosis will be found in future, Sandy says.

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Canterbury scientist’s study on Cystic Fibrosis in adults

Minneapolis Facial Plastic Surgeon Reverses Signs of Aging With No-Downtime Treatment

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN--(Marketwire - Mar 14, 2013) - Dr. Jess Prischmann, a facial plastic surgeon in Minneapolis, MN, says new research is showing that a regimen of light-based treatments can rejuvenate skin, resulting in long-term anti-aging benefit for patients. The procedure, called Broadband Light (BBL), is a highly effective treatment that not only creates visible improvement, but has also been shown to make skin behave younger on a genetic level. [1] As an added benefit, Dr. Prischmann also says the noninvasive nature of the procedure makes BBL attractive to those patients that want to look younger, but may not be ready for a surgical procedure.

Dr. Prischmann uses a laser-type device to perform the treatment, termed "Forever Young BBL." This protocol has been shown to make aged human skin more closely resemble younger skin in two recent studies. In an August 2012 study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, "Forever Young BBL" treatments resulted in improved genetic behavior of skin. The authors stated that skin treated with BBL "became 'rejuvenated' to be more like youthful skin, resulting in decreased elastosis and more uniform collagen deposition; leading to improvements in fine wrinkles and pigmentation." [1, 2] In a February 2013 study in Cosmetic Dermatology, researchers were able to show that a regimen of BBL treatments can "reduce and delay long-term signs of aging." [3]

While Dr. Prischmann stresses the need to develop a unique and customized approach to each patient at her Minneapolis facial plastic surgery practice, she adds that there are several characteristics that good candidates for BBL have in common, including:

Regardless of whether patients decide to pursue a noninvasive or surgical approach, Dr. Prischmann says that BBL is not an either/or procedure and requires a regular regimen to maintain youthful skin and delay the signs of aging. Additionally, she says BBL is often combined with other surgical and nonsurgical methods of facial rejuvenation, such as BOTOX Cosmetic, dermal fillers, or chemical peels, to help patients achieve the aesthetic appearance they desire. Dr. Prischmann also stresses the importance of consulting with an experienced, fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon:

"Aging occurs on every level, from the bony framework, to the outermost layers of skin. That's why it is important to seek the advice of a facial plastic surgeon."

About Jess Prischmann, MD

Dr. Jess Prischmann earned her medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine, where she was elected to the National Medical Honor Society, Alpha Omega Alpha. She completed a fellowship in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, as well as a residency in Otolaryngology. Dr. Prischmann was also the co-host of "Medical Edge Weekend," a medical radio talk show. She is available for interview upon request.

[1] Chang AL, Bitter PH Jr. Rejuvenation of gene expression pattern of aged human skin by broadband light treatment: a pilot study. J Invest Dermatol. 2013 Feb;133(2):394-402. doi: 10.1038/jid.2012.287. Epub 2012 Aug 30.

[2] "Results Now. Results Forever. Clinical Evidence." Forever Young BBL. Sciton, Inc. Accessed March 4 2013: http://www.foreveryoungbbl.com/clinical_evidence.php

[3] Bitter P, Pozner J. (2013) . Retrospective evaluation of the long term anti-aging effects of Broadband Light Therapy. Cosmetic Dermatology, February 2013, 34-40.

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Minneapolis Facial Plastic Surgeon Reverses Signs of Aging With No-Downtime Treatment

Prolotherapy | PRP | Stem Cell Therapy | The Prolotherapy Institute – prolotherapyinstitute.com – Video

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Prolotherapy | PRP | Stem Cell Therapy | The Prolotherapy Institute - prolotherapyinstitute.com
Prolotherapy | PRP | Stem Cell Therapy | The Prolotherapy Institute prolotherapyinstitutecom. Uploaded by Guillermo Mata on Mar 11 2013. Suffering from chronic pain Dr Darrow can help Prolotherapy | PRP | Stem Cell Therapy in Southern California Call The Prolotherapy Institute today Call Us Today to Make an Appointment800 7342210.

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Army making open-source physiology engine

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http://www.armytimes.com/news/2013/03/TSJ-030813-peck-physiology-army/

By Michael Peck - Staff writer Posted : Tuesday Mar 12, 2013 12:20:40 EDT

An open-source physiology engine that anyone can use to develop medical simulations is being developed by the U.S. Armys Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center.

Its not altruism thats spurring the $7 million PhACTS (Physiologically Accurate Community-based platform for Training Systems) project. Rather, TATRC hopes that the new engine will enable the public to develop medical simulations that will benefit military as well as civilian medicine.

We thought if we had an engine that we could give away freely to everybody, it would make it a lot easier for everyone to experiment with the simulations that use them, and make it less expensive for people to develop their own novel things, said Thomas Talbot, chief scientist at TATRCs Armed Forces Simulation Institute for Medicine. Current physiology simulations are either oriented toward university research, or are only available as expensive commercial products.

But TATRC is paying contractor Applied Research Associates, which won the project in February, for open-source licensing of a product that ARA will own, but that the public can download from a Web site.

People could use this for their own for-profit products, said Talbot, a former Army pediatrician turned medical simulations researcher.

PhACTS will be based on an existing ARA physiology engine called HumanSim.

It will be based on a common data model that will create standard inputs and outputs, making it easy to extend this format to additional models. The platform will be modular and extensible, said ARA researcher Rachel Clipp. PhACTS will not generate fancy visuals of the human body, other than simple graphics like an electrocardiogram. What it will do is provide the underlying models so a medical simulation can realistically depict how the body responds to various stimuli such as drugs.

Though PhACTS will be dual-use, it will also contain specific military features, such as modeling blast injuries. Perhaps just as important, the physiology engine will include plug-ins for various game engines, including Unreal and Unity.

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Army making open-source physiology engine

Healthy tips for National Nutrition Month

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March is National Nutrition Month and the arrival of Spring is just around the corner which means it is the perfect time to make over your fridge and pantry to rearrange, diminish clutter, and make space for healthy and tasty food!. Melissa Herrmann Dierks RD, LDN, CDE has some quick tips for a healthy kitchen check-up on what foods and beverages you should stock up on for a healthier fridge and pantry this season! National Nutrition Month is a perfect time for us to learn more about the importance of making informed food and beverage choices so we can develop more sound eating habits to support a healthy lifestyle. The more you know, the better your plan will be. Keep in mind that a healthy diet is about balance, variety and moderation. Labeling individual foods or beverages as simply good or bad is not productive and typically does not work for a long term strategy. Its best to really learn about calories, fiber and fat so you can make the best decisions about what will work best for you and your diet goals.

Here are some quick tips to get started with your healthy kitchen check-up:

1. Read food labels and look for at least 3 grams of fiber in the breads, cereals, bagels, English Muffins, and rolls in your kitchen. Fiber is found in plant foods and helps with digestion, weight management and controlling blood sugar.

2. Aim for cheese that offers no more than 3 grams of fat per one ounce serving. Low- fat cheese helps with weight management and keeping your diet heart healthy.

3. Look for whole wheat or whole grain pasta and brown rice. Whole grains offer a variety of health benefits and tastes great!

4. Make sure your kitchen contains a variety of vegetable options including fresh, frozen or canned. Avoid butter or cheese sauces. Canned vegetables can be an affordable way to increase vegetable intake, if possible look for reduced sodium versions or pour the liquid off to reduce sodium intake.

5. Do you have healthy fats on hand such as a healthy margarine like Brummel and Brown, olive oil, avocado, walnuts, almonds or reduced fat salad dressing? Avoid stick margarines which often contain trans fats, and full-fat salad dressings that can be loaded with calories.

6. Don't forget about healthy hydration. Too often we mistaken hunger for thirst and that could lead to overindulgence and dehydration. While water is best, you may want a little flavor so look to a beverage such as vitaminwater zero with its excellent blend of B and C vitamins. It tastes great and has zero calories. If soda is a favorite, choose diet soda or look for the 90 calorie mini can size options.

Supermarket Savvy offers a Name Brand Shopping List at http://www.supermarketsavvy.com that lists healthy food choices by brand name making shopping easier. http://www.choosemyplate.gov can help you determine your calorie needs and provides information on healthy food choices.

Melissa Herrmann Dierks RD, LDN, CDE owner of the Huntersville, NC based Eat Smart Nutrition Co. is a consultant to food and beverage industry including The Coca-Cola Company.

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Healthy tips for National Nutrition Month

Access to Nutrition Index Calls on World´s Largest Food & Beverage Manufacturers to Address Global Nutrition Challenges

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The report assesses the nutrition-related commitments, performance and disclosure practices of 25 of the worlds largest food and beverage manufacturers as measured against international guidelines, norms and accepted best practices.

Danone, Unilever and Nestle are the top performers on the ATNI, receiving the highest scores on both the obesity and undernutrition rankings. But even the top performers have significant room for improvement with the highest score being 6.3 on a 10.0 point scale. In addition, both Danone and Nestle have been reported to be in violation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes, which affected their scores. The ATNI recommends that both companies, along with other breast-milk substitute manufacturers, take immediate action to ensure full compliance with the International Code.

"Obesity and undernutrition affect billions of people and threaten a global health catastrophe. The Access to Nutrition Index is an urgent call to action for food and beverage manufacturers to integrate improved nutrition into their business strategies. It is not only good for public health; it is a business imperative and key to their long-term sustainability, " said Inge Kauer, Executive Director of ATNI.

The three-year initiative was funded by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust. Development of ATNI was housed at GAIN and involved an extensive, multi-stakeholder process that included input from governments, international organizations, civil society, academia, and investors at every phase of the process. It was also guided by advice from an independent, multi-stakeholder advisory panel and a group of experts on nutrition. Company research and assessments were conducted by MSCI ESG Research using publicly available documents supplemented by additional information requested from each company.

ATNI evaluated companies on:

"The Access to Nutrition Index offers companies a comprehensive, independent assessment of how well their practices align with competitors in the food and beverage industry and provides benchmarks against which they can improve their approach to nutrition, " said Keith Bezanson, chair of the ATNI Independent Advisory Panel. "The aim is to promote a more objective public debate and encourage companies to do more to address nutritional needs of customers."

Thirty-nine investment organizations which collectively manage more than USD 2.6 trillion in assets have signed a statement of support for the Index. The ATNI Investor Statement recognizes health and nutrition as drivers of future growth in the food and beverage sector, and that those manufacturers that are most effective in anticipating and responding to these factors will be better positioned to deliver superior and more sustained financial performance.

Key findings include:

The report challenges companies to:

Later this year, ATNI will also publish three Spotlight Indexes assessing 10 of the largest food and beverage manufacturers operating in India, Mexico and South Africa, respectively. The ATNI Global Index will be published every two years.

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Access to Nutrition Index Calls on World´s Largest Food & Beverage Manufacturers to Address Global Nutrition Challenges

Cedar Crest nutrition expert evaluates advantages of Greek yogurt

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Barbara Carlson's reasons for buying Greek yogurt also explain why it has grabbed other consumers' attention and cash.

Carlson, assistant professor at Cedar Crest College's Allen Center for Nutrition, says, "I like its taste (less sweet) and its consistency (thicker and richer than conventional yogurt). It's a healthy snack."

Comparing 6-ounce cups of Greek and regular yogurt, Carlson reports, "Greek yogurt provides more than double the amount of protein (10-14 grams vs. 5 grams) and contains less added sugar (about a teaspoon, or the equivalent of 16 calories)." Greek yogurt, like standard yogurt, provides calcium. Label-reading is necessary to determine which manufacturers have added Vitamin D to their yogurt brands, she says.

No matter which brand of Greek yogurt you prefer, she advises buying non- or low-fat varieties.

Greek yogurt is created by removing more liquid (whey) from milk or regular yogurt. She says, "It takes three times as much milk to make Greek yogurt, which explains its higher price $5 vs. $2 for a quart.

"Greek yogurt isn't new; it's just new to us. It's a very old style of yogurt used in Mediterranean countries and other parts of the world for hundreds of years," she says.

Although she uses ready-made Greek yogurt for snacks and quick lunches, Carlson also buys regular yogurt for her shortcut-method of making Greek yogurt at home.

"By straining yogurt myself, I can cut Greek yogurt's cost by a third," she reports. The nutrition instructor substitutes it for cream, sour cream or whipped cream cheese when cooking and also makes creamy salad dressings, dips and spreads with it. She advises, "If you're afraid you won't like it, start by mixing in a little or try using it, half and half, with higher-fat products."

Her method: Line a three-quart strainer with coffee filters, adding an extra layer or two to the bottom. Add a quart of regular yogurt to the strainer that's placed over a bowl (to catch the liquid). Cover the top of the yogurt with a dampened paper towel to keep it from drying out. After 12 hours in the fridge, it should be the consistency of "whipped cream cheese." Want it thicker? Strain it longer.

Diane Stoneback

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Cedar Crest nutrition expert evaluates advantages of Greek yogurt