WETENSCHAP

Health claims rejected

13:05u 3 March 2010 - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has rejected the vast majority of the health claims for food products and supplements. Renger Witkamp, professor of Nutrition and Pharmacology, is not surprised. 'These are very sound scientists at the EFSA evaluating what are often poorly substantiated claims. There won't be many that get through.'

WETENSCHAP

Charting new waters for the yellowtail kingfish

12:26u 3 March 2010 - Imares lends a hand in breeding and marketing. Tuna-like fish has all it takes to become a success.

WETENSCHAP

Fake meat still too fake

14:28u 20 January 2010 - Vegetable-based meat substitutes are still not good enough to persuade meat eaters to abandon their pork chops or steaks. Fake meat is too far removed from the real thing, but it is unfamiliarity with such new products in particular that is preventing people from putting them in their shopping trolleys.

WETENSCHAP

Conquering Asia with the pink tomato

14:18u 20 January 2010 - Plant Research International has discovered the gene that makes tomatoes pink. Plant breeding companies are showing a great deal of interest in this gene; they are hoping to use it to conquer the Chinese and Japanese markets.

WETENSCHAP

Poor communication by organic food sector about risks

14:13u 20 January 2010 - Organic meat is not as healthy as it may seem. It has a greater risk of being infected by bacteria and parasites than regular meat. Communication about these negative aspects should be improved, say researchers at Wageningen UR Livestock Research and Plant Research International (PRI) in December's Journal of Food Protection.

WETENSCHAP

Beer, anyone?

16:51u 3 December 2009 - The Knowledge Institute for Beer aims to conduct scientific research into health conscious consumption of beer. The institute brought out its first publicity material this fall: the beer guide. The catchy little folder shows at one glance information about the number of calories in beer, other alcoholic drinks and the snacks which go with beer. The chairman of the institute is Frans Kok, professor of the Human Nutrition Division. That this nutrition professor has taken on this role has ruffled some feathers. 'Conflict of interests', says Martijn Katan, nutrition sciences professor at the VU Amsterdam.

WETENSCHAP

Low-fat mayonnaise that tastes good

21:41u 13 November 2009 - Emulsions such as mayonnaise are becoming low-fat, tastier and more sustainable thanks to a promising new technology. This has been developed by Koen van Dijke, who until recently worked in the Food process engineering group. Koen received his PhD on Friday 13 November for his thesis on Emulsification with microstructures.

WETENSCHAP

Food4you puts Wageningen in the spotlight - for a bargain

9:08u 9 October 2009 - Sponsors are paying for the food festival. Critic says money would be better spent on teaching and research.

WETENSCHAP

Kok heads knowledge institute

16:17u 8 October 2009 - First it was wine, now it is beer which is in the scientific spotlight. The brand new Kennisinstituut Bier (Knowledge Institute for Beer), an initiative by the brewery companies, aims to use literature studies to separate fact from fiction regarding this popular beverage. Wageningen is a prominent participant. Frans Kok, a professor in human nutrition, is the chairman of the institute. Kok: 'There are still so many gaps in our knowledge about beer, and so many misconceptions.' In addition to Kok, the board consists of two other professors and a brewer. The breweries are providing the institute with support to the tune of a quarter of a million euros a year.

WETENSCHAP

Fruit & veg better than pills

7:34u 24 September 2009 - Our diet is woefully inadequate, and puts us at risk from illnesses such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. Or so the dietary supplement industry would have us believe. Two Wageningen professors take up the cudgels.