Fresh Produce Discussion Blog: Top ten stories Dec. 2

Here is a scan of the Web and my list of my top ten stories of this morning:

10. Fruit and vegetables regulate the cell cycle to prevent cancer
This research presents evidence that dietary agents identified from fruits and vegetables can act to modulate the effects of deregulated cell cycle checkpoints. It is through this mechanism that cancer may be prevented by dietary choice.
Compounds from fruits and vegetables that appeared particularly noteworthy were apigenin (celery, parsley), curcumin (turmeric), epigallocatechin-3-gallate (green tea), resveratrol (red grapes, peanuts and berries), genistein (soybeans), and silymarin (milk thistle).

9. Shoppers leave Tesco for rivals at record rates

Previously unpublished “switching” data provided by the industry analysts TNS Worldpanel reveals that, in the 12 weeks to November 2, about £22 million of spending was switched directly from Tesco to Asda.

Just over £10 million more went from Tesco to Aldi, the German-owned discount retailer, in the period and almost as much again to Morrisons.

8. U.S. recession could last until 2010

The economy's yearlong downturn, officially declared a recession Monday, could last well into next year or even beyond, challenging the government to devise new responses as traditional methods show limited results.

The National Bureau of Economic Research, the private body charged with determining the onset of a recession as well as its endpoint, said Monday that the current downturn met its definition of a recession: "a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months."

7. FDA reports on food supply safety

"Science and 21st century technologies help drive the FDA's efforts to transform our food safety efforts from the Food Protection Plan into a reality," said FDA Commissioner von Eschenbach" title="Andrew von Eschenbach" class="tpstyle">Andrew von Eschenbach. "Every day, the FDA is working with foreign countries, state and local governments, regulated industry and consumer groups to ensure the safety of the food supply."

6. McDonald's staple kicked of $1 menu

Say it ain't so...

Forget new numbers showing that the United States has been in a recession since December 2007.

Americans have another barometer of tough economic times: Beginning Monday, the price of a McDonald's double cheeseburger, a popular Dollar Menu staple, went up $1.19.

5. Pilgrim's Pride files for bankruptcy

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., which became the nation’s largest poultry producer under the leadership of one of Texas’ most controversial political donors, filed for federal bankruptcy protection Monday.

4. Homeland security pick expected to reassert federal authority on immigration

As governor of Arizona, Janet Napolitano pushed the federal government to take more responsibility for illegal immigration. When it didn't do so, she signed a state law that filled the vacuum, establishing the nation's toughest penalties for companies that hire illegal workers.

3. More immigration losers

Virginia Republican Congressman Virgil Goode's narrow loss to Democrat Tom Perriello became official last week, and it caps another bad showing for immigration restrictionists. For the second straight election, incumbent Republicans who attempted to turn illegal immigration into a wedge issue fared poorly.

2. Media bombardment linked to ill effects during childhood

In a detailed look at nearly 30 years of research on how television, music, movies and other media affect the lives of children and adolescents, a new study released today found an array of negative health effects linked to greater use.

1. Tesco sales beat estimates

Tesco said it will “maintain rather than accelerate” the pace of store openings in the U.S., where it operates the Fresh & Easy chain. The chain’s first stores “have now moved strongly into like-for-like growth,” the statement shows.