Food

SEOUL -- Thousands of North Korean women fleeing famine in their homeland in recent years say they have been sold as "brides" to Chinese men, who often force them into backbreaking labor and subject them to constant fear, physical assault and sexual abuse.
Women who were trafficked into China, lured by the promise of food and a decent living, described their experiences in an unprecedented series of interviews by Radio Free Asia's Korean service.
"A woman from our village who said she'd been to China told me that we could make some money there, so I followed her and crossed the Tumen River," said Jeong Soo-ok, who was caught and sold by trafficking rings after crossing the border from North Korea into China in March 2004.
"Before I even knew it, I was taken to a man's house," Mrs.

Natural Milk Protein Could Lead to Super Nutritious Foods

Technion-Israel institute of Technology researchers have engineered a way to deliver health-promoting nutrients using protein particles naturally present in milk as carriers. The breakthrough could lead to low fat or non-fat foods that contain nutrients now present only in fat-containing foods, and could be used to enrich foods with other important nutraceuticals like vitamins and antioxidants. .

SG fails to seek benefits of APEDA funds

Jabalpur, Feb 28: At the time when State Government and private entrepreneurs are seeking funds from Agriculture and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) to strengthen their business making it more export-savvy and playing a crucial role in nation-building, not a single proposal from Madhya Pradesh has been tabled before APEDA, comments President of Mahakaushal Association of Women Entrepreneurs (MAWE).

MAWE chief Archna Bhatnagar came up with this comment after her return from Chhindwara where she attended the foundation-laying ceremony of Rs a Rs 4.5 crore Pack House and Cold Storage funded by APEDA. The pack house is being executed by NAFED and would provide facility of cold storage of produce to local farmers.

The MAWE chiefe as also a member of APEDA Board, played an important role in clearance of the project by APEDA.

My dirty little secret: an hour of daytime TV

If my children ever read this, I'll deny it, but the truth is, I recently did something really naughty. I watched daytime TV.
I never watch daytime TV. I know all about Oprah, in theory, but I could count on one hand the number of times I've actually seen her show. I don't watch soap operas, either. I also don't watch "The View" (though the Rosie/Donald Trump thing made it tempting).
I don't even watch morning news shows while getting dressed.
However, one day about a week ago, while making lunch for myself, I decided to take my sandwich into the den and see if I could find a creative idea for dinner by watching a few minutes of the Food Network. When your regular menu includes several dishes prepared with Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup, you need inspiration every now and again.

The Monarch vs. Mayor McCheese: Prince Charles Denounces McDonald's

Prince Charles' comment occurred during the launch of a public health awareness campaign at the Imperial College London Nutrition Centre in Abu Dhabi, aimed at increasing awareness of diabetes. At this event, children were tested on which foods to put in their lunches; the "good" foods (vegetables and water) or the "bad" foods (chocolate and chips). Under the watchful eyes of the Prince and the Centre's nutritionist, the kids packed the vegetables and water. Charles was delighted. Encouraging increased consumption of fruits and vegetables is certainly a good thing, but suggesting the ban of a certain type of restaurant and labeling foods as either "good" or "bad" is taking a far too simplistic approach to preventing obesity. The key is a balanced, varied diet with adequate exercise. There is room for chocolate and even a McDonald’s hamburger, as long as it's in moderation.McDonald's is a large corporation that makes cheap, popular, and often calorically dense food. It is easy to see why it would be the target of politicians, activists, and now, royals who are concerned about increasing rates of obesity. What many fail to recognize is the fact that overweight and obesity are the result of consuming more calories than are expended over a period of time. These calories can come from food of any source, be it McDonald's, a five star restaurant, or your very own kitchen. (See also: "A Slow Burn on Fast Food.")Restaurants are being held accountable for consumers' health on this side of the pond, too. Restaurants in New York City will have to find an alternative to cooking their food with trans fats. The health implications of consuming trans fats have been greatly exaggerated and are another example of employing a seemingly simple solution to a very complex problem, at the expense of restaurants and consumers. See our publication on trans fats. Of course, trans fats' effects on cholesterol should not be confused with calories and obesity, as they have been by some advocates.Obesity is not just a problem in the United States, where 64% of adults are overweight and 30% are obese. The obesity rate in the United Kingdom is not far behind and rates are increasing globally as well. Prince Charles and others have good reason to be concerned. However, pointing the finger at fast food and ignoring all other factors that contribute to obesity, including lack of adequate exercise, is a disservice to the many who are trying to lose weight and improve their health. Again, the key is moderation. Hopefully, those kids in Abu Dhabi will continue to choose vegetables for lunch well into adulthood (even without the Prince watching), but a chocolate bar or a Big Mac as a treat every now and then won't hurt.Molly Lee is the Earhart Foundation Research Associate at the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH.org, HealthFactsAndFears.com).