News Update
March 13, 2012
New Study Suggests Red Meat Increases Risk of Death
Yesterday, the Archives of Internal Medicine, a peer-reviewed scientific journal published by the Journal of the American Medical Association, published a new study which suggests that red meat consumption is associated with an increased risk of death. According to the study and accompanying press release, consuming one serving a day of unprocessed red meat increased relative risk of death from cardiovascular disease by 18% and a serving a day of processed meat increased the risk by 21%.
At this time the story has generated coverage within several top tier media outlets, including The New York Times, ABC News and CBS. Shalene McNeill, director of human nutrition research, National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), and contractor to the Beef Checkoff, has been quoted in several media outlets, including USA Today, U.S. News, WebMD and Bloomberg. Here is McNeill's response:
"The scientific evidence to support the role of lean beef in a healthy, balanced diet is strong and there is nothing in this study that changes that fact. Research clearly shows that choosing lean beef as part of a healthful diet is associated with improved overall nutrient intake, overall diet quality and positive health outcomes. Overall, lifestyle patterns including a healthy diet and physical activity, not consumption of any individual food, have been shown to affect mortality.
"Additionally, it is significant to note that this was an observational study. Observational studies cannot be used to determine cause and effect.
"If there is one thing scientists agree on, it is that responsible dietary advice must be drawn from a look at the entire body of evidence, including rigorous, gold standard randomized control trials when they are available. In the case of beef, there are several randomized control trials that have convincingly shown that lean beef, when included as part of a healthy, balanced diet, improves heart health by lowering cholesterol. Most recently, the BOLD (Beef in an Optimal Lean Diet) study showed that eating lean beef every day, as part of a heart-healthy diet, could reduce LDL cholesterol by 10% ... as much as any other recommended heart healthy diets.
"In addition to being physically active, the most important thing we can do as Americans to live healthfully is to choose a balanced diet including a variety of nutrient-rich foods such as whole grains, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and protein-rich foods like lean beef. A 3-ounce serving of lean beef provides a powerhouse of 10 essential nutrients, such as protein, zinc and iron, for about 150 calories, on average. Through scientific research, nutrition education and increased lean beef availability, farmers and ranchers are committed to helping Americans enjoy lean beef as part of a healthy diet."
You can also find additional resources about beef's healthfulness at BeefNutrition.org.
Consumers Requesting Information from
CFI Surpasses 100,000
More than 100,000 consumers have requested ongoing information about food and agriculture through the Center for Food Integrity (CFI) successful Farmers Feed US program. The database includes email addresses for consumers in 12 states who have "opted in" for additional information while registering in Farmers Feed US sweepstakes (Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania). The list is currently being used on a national level to distribute CFI's monthly Best Food Facts (www.BestFoodFacts.org) newsletter and by state-level organizations to communicate with consumers who live in their state.
"We look forward to engaging with consumers in the database who are actively seeking more information about food and farming," says Charlie Arnot, CEO of CFI, which coordinated the Farmers Feed US program with state-based organizations. "Whether that's communications from CFI, or state-based groups, it's a great resource to reach a portion of the population who is highly interested in food production."
According to Arnot, CFI is currently recruiting partners for "On America's Table," a regular e-newsletter to be distributed to the entire database. "CFI will continue to use ongoing, two-way communications to engage with consumers and build trust in today's food system," Arnot said. Those interested in more information about "On America's Table" can contact Mark Crouser at Mark.Crouser@foodintegrity.org.
Youth "Telling the Beef Story" Video Blog Contest Launched
The Beef Checkoff launched a new video blog contest designed to engage youth, ages 16-20, in telling the beef story using the power of YouTube. Videos must be two minutes or less and will focus on one of eight beef-related topics, including common beef misconceptions, cattle care, beef's nutritional value and more.
The contest runs from March 5-23, 2012, and is open to youth across the country. Program Manager Sarah Bohnenkamp said, "Many students will be on spring break at some point during this three week period, so we're hoping they choose to use some of their time away from school to put their beef knowledge and creative ideas to work."
Tammi Didlot, president of the American National CattleWomen Inc. (ANCW), the organization that manages this contest for the Beef Checkoff Program, is excited about leveraging YouTube video messages to engage consumers and youth in the beef story. "The videos submitted for this contest will help to build a diverse, online library of videos directly linked to beef topics consumers are asking about."
The grand prizewinner of the video blog contest will receive $750 cash and a trip to an annual Cattle Industry Convention. Second prize will receive $250 and third prize will walk away with $100. Visit http://www.ancw.org/youthbeefstorycontest.aspxto view the official contest rules. Contact Bohnenkamp at 303-850-3440 or sbohnenkamp@ancw.org for additional information.
Women In Agriculture Spring Fling Is March 30
Information, inspiration, humor and advice are on tap at the Women in Agriculture Spring Fling, scheduled for March 30 at Sidney, Neb. The event will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Holiday Inn, 664 Chase Blvd., Sidney, NE.
The conference is intended for women who are involved in day-to-day farm and ranch business decisions; who want to learn more about farm and ranch management; who are landowners; or who want to broaden their knowledge of agribusiness.
The $25 registration fee covers conference materials, breaks and lunch. Advance registration is due by March 23, after which the fee is $30. Registration forms and more information are available at the UNL Extension office at 920 Jackson Street in Sidney; phone 308-254-4455 or 866-865-1703; email Extension Educator Karen DeBoer at kdeboer1@unl.edu; or visit http://ckb.unl.edu/home.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Lists Two Freshwater Mussels
as Endangered
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (The Service) has listed the sheepnose and the spectaclecase, two freshwater mussels found in river systems in the eastern half of the United States, as endangered under the Endangered Species Act.
Sheepnose are currently found in Alabama, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. The sheepnose occurs in 25 streams, down from 76, a 67% decline. Very few of these populations are known to be reproducing.
The spectaclecase once occurred in at least 44 streams but now occurs in 20 streams, a 55% reduction in the number of occupied streams. Of the 20 remaining populations, six are represented by only one or two known specimens each. Spectaclecase mussels are currently found in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
In listing the two mussels, the Service evaluated factors related to the species that could lead to extinction. Threats to both the sheepnose and the spectaclecase include loss and degradation of stream and river habitat due to impoundments, channelization, chemical contaminants, mining and sedimentation. Freshwater mussels require clean water; their decline often signals a decline in the water quality of the streams and rivers they inhabit.
The Service's final rule will appear in the March 13, 2013, Federal Register. The Service will now develop a recovery plan for the two species and work cooperatively with partners to conserve their habitats.
It is illegal under the ESA to kill, harm or otherwise "take" a listed species, or to possess, import, export or conduct interstate or international commerce without authorization from the Service. The ESA also requires all federal agencies to ensure actions they authorize, fund or undertake do not jeopardize the existence of listed species.
More information on mussels and endangered wildlife can be found at www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered.
Editor’s Note: The articles used within this site represent a mixture of copyrights. If you would like to reprint or repost an article, you must first request permission of Angus Productions Inc. (API) by contacting the editor at 816-383-5200; 3201 Frederick Ave., Saint Joseph, MO 64506. API claims copyright to this web site as presented. We welcome educational venues and cattlemen to link to this site as a service to their audience.