Latest ARS Food & Nutrition Research Briefs Posted

The Agricultural Research Service has posted the October 2002 Food & Nutrition Research Briefs on its web site at:

http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/fnrb

The Research Briefs present concise, timely updates about ARS research in human nutrition, food freshness and safety, and new foods. Web visitors can search the newsletter, including past issues. They can also sign up to receive future issues of the Briefs by e-mail.

Included in the October 2002 issue:

• A special orchard in northern California is home to more than 100 different kinds of figs from around the globe.
• Twelve-year-old girls drink significantly more milk--and less soda beverages--than 19-year-old females, a new ARS analysis of food survey data has shown.
• Colds, flu, arthritis, or even recent surgery can skew results of the standard test used to estimate the body's store of vitamin A.
• America's most authoritative source of information about the vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in some 6,000 familiar foods is now better than ever.
• A delicious new pear called Blake's Pride is now being offered as budwood to nurseries.
• Adults and children allergic to any of the dozens of foods made with soy may be helped by a new, hypoallergenic soybean now under development.

ARS is the chief scientific agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Contact: Marcia Wood, USDA-ARS Information Staff, Beltsville, MD 20705; phone (301) 504-1662, fax (301) 504-1641, e-mail marciawood@ars.usda.gov.