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How much does an average apple weigh and how much of the meat is lost when you fry a pork steak? A new guide from the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, for food professionals makes it easier to ensure that official dietary recommendations are followed by indicating measures, weights and portion sizes of various food products.
One of the most important developments in controlling microorganisms and infectious diseases in more than 100 years; this is the perspective of the new Global Microbial Identifier initiative according to the report following the meeting on 27-28 February 2013, where up to 200 experts from all over the world met at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.
None of the pesticide residues detected in fruit, vegetables and corn constitute a health risk, show the results of the Danish pesticide control in Q4 2012 from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.
The National Food Institute invites to Leonardo Victor de Knegt’s PhD defense on the proportion of Salmonella infections in humans in EU, derived from animals. The defense takes place 22 April 2013 at 13.00.
On 4-5 April 2013, in its capacity as EU reference laboratory for antimicrobial resistance, the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, hosted the annual workshop, where representatives from almost all EU member states participated. The overall purpose of the meeting was to improve the determination of antimicrobial resistance in foodborne pathogens and to facilitate the harmonization of antimicrobial monitoring between the veterinarian, food and the public health sector.
Danish consumers who believe they have healthy eating habits are not always right. A new study made by the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, shows that not knowing the official dietary guidelines partly explain this finding.
The National Food Institute invites to Pernille Rosenskjold Jacobsen’s PhD defense on environmentally relevant substances with endocrine disrupting effects. The defense takes place 05 April 2013 at 13.30.
The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, has prepared a summary of key results achieved from the co-operation with the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration in the microbiological field in the period 2000-2010. The summary mainly focuses on meat and covers the areasfoodborne pathogens, hygiene and antimicrobial resistance.
The European network for zoonoses research, MedVetNet, is organizing an international conference on challenges for combating zoonotic diseases. The conference is held on 24-25 June 2013 at the Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, and is hosted by the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark. Deadline for submitting abstracts is 15 March.
Too little fish, vegetables and dietary fibre, and a growing trend to choose white bread and fast food over healthier rye bread sandwiches – these are the findings of a new survey on dietary habits of Danish children and youth that the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark has prepared for the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration. The survey report can be used as a reference work for academics and as a proposal for determining ways to ensure that the dietary habits of children in general move closer to food-based dietary guidelines for a healthy diet.
The European Commission has asked the European Food Safety Authority, EFSA, and the European Medicines Agency to carry out an assessment of the risks to human health from the presence of the drug phenylbutazone in horsemeat. The request follows the recent identification of beef products contaminated with horsemeat.
The National Food Institute invites to Paul D’Alvise’s PhD defence on use of probiotics to prevent disease in marine fish larvae. The defence takes place 18 March 2013 at 13.00.
From 27 to 28 February 2013, the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark hosted an international meeting and welcomed 170 global disease control experts under the Global Microbial Identifier initiative. The initiative is based on ground-breaking new technology that can create a major change in the battle against infections.
The National Food Institute invites to Henna Lu Fung Sieng’s PhD defence on the applicability of marine phospholipids intended for food enrichment. The defence takes place 10 December 2012 at 13.00.
None of the pesticide residues detected in fruit, vegetables and corn constitute a health risk, show the results of the Danish pesticide control in Q3 2012 from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.
There is no absolute correlation between the stability of proteins to digestion in the gastrointestinal tract and their capacity to induce food allergy. Even very small peptide fragments may induce food allergy. These are the findings of a PhD study conducted at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.
Several European institutions have evaluated the much spoken-about French study of the effect on rats’ consumption of genetically modified corn and the herbicide Roundup. All evaluations point towards the conclusion that the study does not comply with scientifically accepted standards.
New mass spectrometer in the Technical University of Denmark (DTU)-National Food Institute will support research in relation to the EU Commission's standards for arsenic and nanomaterials in food. The mass spectrometer is sponsored by the company Thermo Fisher Scientific and is an example of how collaboration between researchers and industry to provide research-based solutions that can enhance food security.
The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, has studied the occurrence of Salmonella in Danish slaughter pigs in the period 1993-2011. The study shows that since 1998 there has been a continuous increase in the number of Salmonella occurrences to a remarkably higher level than before the implementation of programmes that would monitor and control Salmonella in pigs. The main results of the study have been made public in the report of 2011 on the occurrence of disease that can be transmitted from animals and foods to humans.
31 October 2012 the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, and the University of Copenhagen hosted a seminar on One Health in a developing country perspective. The seminar focused on results from DANIDA-funded projects which, using the interdisciplinary and cross-sectional One Health approach, had added value.
The National Food Institute invites to Karolina Sulek’s PhD defence on how useful bacteria, probiotics, and useful carbohydrates, prebiotics, influence the composition of substances, which are formed by the bacteria in the gut. The defence takes place 8 January 2013 at 13.00.
On behalf of the Steering Committee of the Global Microbial Identifier, GMI, the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark invites you to participate in the 5th meeting under the initiative. GMI focuses on the use of genome sequencing techniques in a global system for microbiological identification and epidemiological surveillance. The meeting will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, 27-28 February 2013. The aim of the meeting is to develop an overall roadmap, including a three-year action plan, as well as to share important updates related to the technology.
Is there a correlation between what you actually eat and what you say you eat? What is your first choice on the plate – potatoes, meat or salad? With the new sensory laboratory, Obsense, the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark has been given optimal conditions for observing and analysing why we eat like we do.
Denmark has taken a leading role on the international stage in relation to combating salmonella and limiting the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria. These successes are the result of a unique combination of scientific methods and collaboration across sectors. This is evident from a journalistic analysis of the factors which have affected Danish efforts in these areas since the 1990s.The analysis was carried out by Kontrabande and commissioned by the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.
The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark has assessed a French study on the impact on rats fed genetically modified maize and the Roundup herbicide. The National Food Institute concludes that the study fails to meet scientifically accepted standards.
Nordic women eat healthier than their male counterparts, and less than one Nordic child in ten maintains a healthy diet. These are some of the findings of the first Nordic study with comparable results on diet, physical activity and overweight, headed by the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.
The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark has for the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration completed an evaluation on the efficancy of heat treatment to inactivate norovirus in berry products, such as juice and tart. The evaluation discusses which time - temperature combinations that are required during heat treatment of berry products in order to reduce norovirus.
Vegetables and vegetable products are expected to be the cause of an increased number of foodborne disease outbreaks within the next decade. This appears from a questionnaire carried out in the Northern countries, which the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, took part in composing.
The Danish Society for Food Science and Technology invites to a debate event 29 November 2012 regarding the European Food Safety Authority, EFSA, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its formation. The focus of this day will be a retrospect on the past ten years of work and a forward look on the expectations for EFSA the next ten years. The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark will contribute with a range of presentations as the institute play an important role as EFSA’s Danish Focal Point and contributes to EFSA’s advisory and scientific work.
None of the pesticide residues detected in fruit, vegetables and corn constitute a health risk, show the results of the Danish pesticide control in Q2 2012 from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.
In 2011, more Danes became infected with MRSA bacteria, and the number was the highest in over 25 years. The increase was primarily seen in otherwise healthy people without any hospital relation. Although the number of MRSA positive pig herds is on a par with the level seen in 2010, significantly more pigs at slaughter were found to be infected with the so-called pig MRSA, and the number of people infected with pig MRSA is increasing. This appears from the Danish surveillance report, DANMAP, for 2011.
The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark and the University of Copenhagen invite you to a one-day seminar on 31 October 2012 on One Health in a developing country perspective. The seminar will focus on the results of DANIDA-funded projects which, using the interdisciplinary and cross-sectional One Health approach, have had an additional impact. Come and hear more at the One Health seminar which will be opened by Christian Friis Bach, the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation.
The Danish surveillance report, DANMAP, for 2011 report shows an increasing occurrence of multiresistant bacteria in Danish patients. The increase is seen for both the so-called ESBL bacteria and CPE bacteria, and infections caused by multiresistant bacteria are difficult to treat.
National Food Institute, Technical University of Demark invites you to Professor Ulla Hass and Professor Anne Marie Vinggaard's inaugural lectures on Friday 12 October 2012. Ulla Hass and Anne Marie Vinggaard are researching endocrine disrupters and will talk about the background, status and prospects of their research. Their research into endocrine disrupters is aimed at acquiring more knowledge of the effects of these compounds and human exposure to combinations of them, as well as at developing methods for predicting the effects of combinations of endocrine disrupters, also known as cocktail effects.
Our food products contain various nutrients necessary to us humans, but some foods might contain harmful substances as well. Before sounding the alarm, the authorities therefore need assessments of how harmful a specific substance might be. The tool is science-based risk assessments in Denmark submitted to the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and the Danish Environmental Protection Agency by, among others, the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.
Nearly half of the samples from chicken meat imported into Denmark contain ESBL bacteria and for the first time the level is almost as high in Danish chicken meat. By contrast, the occurrence in Danish pigs has decreased significantly since farmers stopped using cephalosporins for pigs. This appears from the Danish surveillance report, DANMAP, for 2011. ESBL bacteria are resistant to antimicrobial agents that are essential for treatment of severe infections in humans.
The National Food Institute invites to Dominika Alicja Przybylska’s PhD defence on the development of models for investigating biological alternatives to medication that can reduce the risk of illnesses in fish and improve their welfare. The defence takes place 21 September 2012 at 13.00.
Mathematical tool quickly detects and identifies the source of pathogenic Salmonella bacteria in slaughterhouses. Researchers from the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, the Netherlands and Germany have contributed to developing the tool based on large volumes of data from pig slaughterhouses. By counting the number and determining the type of Salmonella bacteria, the project has provided a unique insight into how bacteria are transmitted to pork in a slaughter-line.
The total consumption of antimicrobial agents per pig is significantly lower in 2011 than in 2010. But at the same time, consumption of broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents for pets is increasing. This appears from the Danish surveillance report, DANMAP, for 2011.
Anders Permin is new Deputy Director at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark as of September 1, 2012. He comes from a position at the GTS institute DHI as Head of Department for Environment and Toxicology.
In 2011, the overall human consumption of antimicrobial agents remained at the same high level as in 2010. From now on doctors have to specify why they prescribe antimicrobial agents, this information will an offer better understanding for the background for the high consumption. This appears from the DANMAP report for 2011.
Flemming Bager and Dorte Lau Baggesen are new heads of divisions at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark. They will be leading the two new microbiological divisions, formed at the turn of the year to bring in extra focus and to strengthen the institute’s work within the area.
Some salmonella types have greater success than others, when it comes to surviving the production process in for instance the slaughter line in a slaughterhouse and later on cause disease in humans. A PhD thesis from the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark has examined the causes for success for these types of salmonellas.
A computer model developed at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark can contribute to the evaluation of chemical safety in food, drugs and consumer products – and thus help to identify and catch substances before they do any harm. The model has identified 8,000 potential endocrine-disrupting substances so far.
Geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol occur naturally in lakes and watercourses, but excessive concentrations of these two substances can give fish a "muddy" taste. Researchers at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, have now developed sensory profiles that can predict problems with taste in aquaculture fish and thus make it possible to eliminate such problems entirely.
Marine bacteria that produce antimicrobial agents have been found as part of a PhD project at National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark. The project suggests that it may be possible to find alternatives to conventional antibiotics in the marine environment.
The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, in cooperation with the German and French sister organisations BfR and ANSES invite you to an international symposium on food crises on 13 - 14 September in Berlin. European experts will deal with questions concerning responsibilities in the event of food safety crises, the role of the state and institutions, cooperation between authorities, as well as the precautionary principle and instruments of crisis management and crisis prevention in the area of food safety.
New research conducted at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark shows that novel antimicrobial agents have the potential to combat multiresistant bacteria. The focus of Line Hein-Kristensen’s PhD project is that a new class of chemically produced antimicrobial agents could constitute a future alternative to conventional antibiotics.
None of the pesticide residues detected in fruit, vegetables and corn constitute a health risk, show the results of the Danish pesticide control in Q1 2012 from the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration and the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.
In 2011, the number of Danes suffering from Salmonella infections fell to the lowest level since the 1980s. For the first time in 17 years, no human Salmonella cases could be related to Danish chicken, and the number of cases attributed to eggs was at a record low. These are the findings presented in the annual report on the occurrence of food-borne diseases that can be transmitted to humans, prepared by the Zoonosis Centre at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.
On June 26th The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, and EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, hosted a seminar on health claims. The seminar focused on giving a general understanding of the work on health claims in the EU and Denmark – and the parties, expectations and challenges involved. It is now possible to download the presentations from the seminar.
Professor Erik Huusfeldt Larsen from the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, has gained wide recognition for his food chemistry research, which in recent years has focused on nanomaterials. He has now received the Nordic Torch Award on Plasma Spectrochemistry.
The global consumption of antimicrobial agents for animals is almost twice the size of human consumption. Since the mid-1990s, Denmark has reduced animal consumption of antimicrobial agents by 60% without reducing its agricultural output. In a comment in the journal Nature, Professor Frank Møller Aarestrup, the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, gives his explanation of the success of the Danish efforts.
The National Food Institute invites to Anna Charlotte Schultz’s PhD defence on identification and inactivation of norovirus in raspberries. The defence takes place 2 July 2012 at 13.00.
The National Food Institute invites to Berit Worm Rothausen’s PhD defence on measurement of energy intake, dietary patterns on weekdays and weekend days and the relationship between sleep length, BMI and diet among children. The defence takes place 2 July 2012 at 13.00.
A group of researchers from the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark have extracted a group of substances from potato peelings that prevent the development of rancid smells in minced fish.
45 students will get the chance to cultivate their entrepreneurial skills this August at a three-week beer brewing and entrepreneurship camp hosted on the joint initiative of the University of Copenhagen, the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark and Copenhagen Business School. The National Food Institute contributes to the summer school with a practical course in brewing beer and developing the students’ skills in entrepreneurship.
The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, and EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority, invite you to a seminar on health claims being held on 26 June 2012, 9 am - 12.30 pm The seminar will focus on the ins and outs of the work on health claims for foodstuffs and dietary supplements in the EU and Denmark – and the parties, expectations and challenges involved.
The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark invites you to a seminar on foodborne diseases on 14 June 2012. The seminar is being held to mark the publication by the Zoonosis Centre at the National Food Institute of its annual report on the incidence of diseases that can be transmitted to humans from animals and food. The emphasis is on the most important topics from the national surveillance, such as the Salmonella source accounts, which estimate where Salmonella infections came from in 2011, and how the incidence of Campylobacter in chickens has developed since the action plan was launched in 2008.
The National Food Institute invites to Katrine Lindholm Bøghs PhD defence on which allergenic capacities of proteins from peanuts and cow’s milk, that prompt the ability to cause food allergy. The defence takes place 8 June 2012 at 13.00.
The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark invites to Maria Randrup Rasmussen’s PhD defence on how the performance in fish supply chains can be improved to increase the chain’s competitive position. The defence takes place 4 June 2012 at 13.00.
Danes need a wider choice of healthier and more sustainable fast food. A new development project at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, is helping to ensure this becomes a reality. The goal is to develop delicious new fast food products which live up to the requirements of the Keyhole nutrition label and examine the effect it has on consumer health, the environment and business finances. The project is supported by the Danish AgriFish Agency’s Green Development and Demonstration Programme, GUDP.
The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, would like to invite you to an open seminar on endocrine disrupters on 7 June 2012. Men's sperm quality is decreasing, the number of boys with malformed sexual organs is increasing, and young girls are reaching sexual maturity earlier. Studies show that endocrine disrupters are the culprits, and the most recent research has established that it is not individual substances, but a combination of the endocrine disrupters that could threaten human fertility. Join the seminar to learn about the most recent results within the field.
The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, would like to invite you to an open seminar on risk assessment of feed on 31 May 2012. Some of the most pressing food safety problems originate in animal feed. In a joint venture with the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, the National Food Institute has conducted a study of the impact of feed on food and animal safety. Join the seminar to hear more about the study findings.
The National Food Institute invites to Katrine Uhrbrands PhD defence on the development and evaluation of standard methods for recovery of norovirus from food, water and air. The defence takes place 25 May 2012 at 13.00.
The National Food Institute invites to Louise Boysen’s PhD defence on the development of the campylobacter situation in the Danish broiler production to the benefit to future decisions regarding management of campylobacter. The defence takes place 11 May 2012 at 14.00.
The National Food Institute invites to Line Hein-Kristensen’s PhD defence on new types of antimicrobial substances that have potential asfuture treatment of infectious diseases. The defence takes place 11 May 2012 at 13.00.
From 23 to 24 April 2012, the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DTU, will host the annual workshop in its capacity as EU reference laboratory for antimicrobial resistance. Representatives from almost all EU countries will attend the event. The purpose of the meeting is to improve comparability of surveillance results for antimicrobial resistance in order to document and predict issues.
The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark has assessed the possible toxic effects of eating ramson, which in recent years has become a popular plant to gather and eat in Denmark. As such, ramson does not contain any substances that are toxic for humans, but they can be confused with poisonous plants. In particular, before flowering, ramson leaves can be confused with autumn crocus and lily of the valley. Several cases of poisoning have been reported in other European countries with fatal consequences as a result of this confusion.
Teachers are seeing increased student motivation for learning when schools hand out fruit, and the majority of the participating schools want to continue the scheme. This is the conclusion of the evaluation of an EU-funded school fruit scheme, which the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark has conducted for the Danish AgriFish Agency.
Most Danes eat snacks every day that contribute significantly to their daily diet and energy. However, our snacks often contain too much sugar. The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark has now prepared a proposal for dietary criteria for healthier snacks to be used by professionals. The criteria are described as guidelines in a new report.
A new study concludes that intake of vitamin A, vitamin E and beta-carotene seems to increase mortality. The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark finds the study thorough and reliable and thus recognises the results.
inSPIRe – a platform for research-based innovation and problem-solving in the food industry – hereby invites you to attend the conference: ‘Competitiveness for the Danish food sector through research-based innovation’ on 22 May 2012. inSPIRe is a collaboration between universities, GTS institutes and the food industry which is managed by the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.
Vitamin experts from all over the world are meeting in Copenhagen on 23-25 May 2012 for the second international vitamin conference organised by the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU). The conference covers all 13 vitamins in foods and supplements, centring on the analytical challenges, while also focusing on the vitamins’ content, activity, biomarkers and on optimum dietary intake.
National Food Institute invites to Karoline Müller’s PhD defense of her thesis: ”Genetic and phenotypic characteristics of importance for clonal success and diversity in Salmonella” April 25 at 13.00 hrs.
In future, mathematical computer models will help researchers to assess the risks associated with combining chemical substances in foods. The models will help to improve how we assess the action of chemical substances in our bodies. These are the perspectives of a PhD project which Trine Klein Reffstrup has completed at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.
Plants treated with ultraviolet B (UVB) light have a higher vitamin D content and therefore have the potential to become a new source of vitamin D throughout the year. These are the provisional findings of a PhD thesis at the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark.
Danish experiences with the surveillance and control of antimicrobial agent consumption and resistance are being increasingly used as an example to follow by other countries. Denmark was the first country in the world to ban antimicrobial growth promoters on a scientific basis, and where national farm to fork surveillance was established. National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark was involved from the outset, and has participated in the surveillance of antimicrobial agent consumption and resistance over the past 15 years.
Within the next 10 years, determining the cause of human infections will become much faster and cheaper thanks to new ways of analyzing DNA from pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses, opening up the possibility of treating patients more speedily and preventing the spread of infectious diseases globally. This is the joint conclusion of a meeting organized by the Technical University of Denmark, DTU, at which internationally recognized researchers from both developed and developing countries were participating in Brussels on 1-2 September 2011 together with international organizations.
The first joint Nordic survey is currently being conducted and will enable comparison of results on diet, physical activity and overweight across all five Nordic countries. By conducting the survey every other year, developments can be monitored over time. The National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark is heading the project in collaboration with researchers from Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
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