
USDA Conference Seeks to Boost Health-Enhancing Foods By Judy McBride March
9, 1998 WASHINGTON, March 9-- Enhancing the nutrition of the plants
Americans eat was the focus of a U.S. Department
of Agriculture forum today. Scientists from agriculture, nutrition, and health, as well as industry
representatives will spend the next three days in workshops discussing how
advances in biotechnology, genetics and other sciences can be used to increase
levels of natural, health-enhancing substances in plants, called "phytonutrients." "There is strong scientific evidence that a food supply enriched in
naturally occurring, healthy compounds could put a significant dent in the $200
billion annual cost of diet-related diseases," said Miley Gonzalez, USDA's
Research, Education and EconomicsUnder Secretary, who opened today's Food, Phytonutrients and Health forum and
related workshops. "Farmers have been providing the food to keep humanity alive for
thousands of years," Gonzalez said. "Joint research and knowledge
shared at these workshops will provide them with the opportunity to help people
stay healthier." Phytonutrients include the broad range of natural compounds found in
soybeans, tomatoes, garlic and many other plant foods. They have been proven to
protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer and general oxidative damage to
tissues among other functions. "We have a wealth of information on how phytonutrients help maintain a
healthy body," said conference organizer and co-chair Carla R. Fjeld, who
oversees nutrition research for USDA's Agricultural
Research Service. "Yet we still have many gaps in our knowledge and we
plan to identify and prioritize those gaps during these workshops." Consumer interest in foods that may enhance health is high. Nine out of ten
people believe they have very significant control over their own health,
according to 1998 survey data from the International
Food Information Council. Americans are interested in learning more about
health benefits beyond basic nutrition--both for themselves and their children.
They are searching for information in the media as well as from family, friends
and health professionals. "Consumer interest in the relationship between
food and health seems to be ahead of health professionals," said IFIC
president Sylvia Rowe. She notes particular interest in phytonutrients among
baby boomers. Demand for better quality and more healthful food will continue to increase
along with worldwide population increase. Some new products to help meet this
increasing demand are already in the pipeline. Robert Giaquinta, who manages biotechnology business development for E.I.
DuPont, said DuPont will release a new soybean with a heart-healthier oil
profile by the year 2000. Other new soybeans, he said, have improved protein
profiles and lowered levels of indigestible carbohydrates. "DuPont is
focusing on improving the nutritional quality of major crops, developing a whole
new generation of specialized corn and soybean products that differ from today's
commodity grains," Giaquinta said. Scientific contact: Carla R. Fjeld, National Program Leader for
Human Nutrition, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Beltsville, Md. 20705,
telephone (301) 504-6216, fax (301) 504-6231. U.S. Department of Agriculture | |