CATCH THE BUZZ - HFCS DANGEROUS?

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CATCH THE BUZZ

HFCS Potentially Dangerous When Even Slightly Heated

From Eureka Alert

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Researchers have established the conditions that foster formation of potentially dangerous levels of a toxic substance in the high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) often fed to honey bees. Their study, which appears in the current issue of ACS' bi-weekly Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, could also help keep the substance out of soft drinks and dozens of other human foods that contain HFCS. The substance, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), forms mainly from heating fructose.

In the new study, Blaise LeBlanc and Gillian Eggleston and colleagues note HFCS's ubiquitous usage as a sweetener in beverages and processed foods. Some commercial beekeepers also feed it to bees to increase reproduction and honey production. When exposed to warm temperatures, HFCS can form HMF and kill honeybees. Some researchers believe that HMF may be a factor in Colony Collapse Disorder, a mysterious disease that has killed at least one-third of the honeybee population in the United States.

The scientists measured levels of HMF in HFCS products from different manufacturers over a period of 35 days at different temperatures. As temperatures rose, levels of HMF increased steadily. Levels jumped dramatically at about 120 degrees Fahrenheit. "The data are important for commercial beekeepers, for manufacturers of HFCS, and for purposes of food storage. Because HFCS is incorporated as a sweetener in many processed foods, the data from this study are important for human health as well," the report states. It adds that studies have linked HMF to DNA damage in humans. In addition, HMF breaks down in the body to other substances potentially more harmful than HMF.

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CATCH THE BUZZ - Marker For CCD Found

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A Single molecular marker found for Colony Collapse Disorder. Proteins are the key.

 

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Protein feeding pays off with better bee health, better survival, better production, and better wintering.  Learn More.

If your ribosome is compromised, then you can't respond to pesticides, you can't respond to fungal infections or bacteria or inadequate nutrition because the ribosome is central to the survival of any organism. So says a report in Science Daily. You need proteins to survive," says May Berenbaum, entomology professor and department head at the University of Illinois, along with being an affiliate of the Institute for Genomic Biology at Illinois. This observation is the result of work conducted there, funded and assisted by the USDA, with Reed Johnson, a University of Illinois

doctoral student in entomology and first author on the study, and Gene Robinson, entomology and neuroscience professor at U of I and co-principal investigator, and Director of the neuroscience Program at Illinois. Johnson was the recipient of the Eastern Apicultural Society’s prestigious Student Award this year, presented at their annual meeting in August.

 

Their study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is the first to identify a single, objective molecular marker of the disorder, and to propose an explanation to the mysterious disappearance of American honey bees.

The study made use of the honey bee genome (only recently completed at U of I by Robinson and others) and a genome-based tool, the microarray, to look for differences in gene expression in the guts of healthy honey bees and in those from hives afflicted by CCD.

 

Berenbaum said that they saw that CCD bees suffered "more than their share" of infections with viruses that attack the ribosome, a finding reflected in the Penn State study released last week and reported on here.

 

These so-called picorna-like viruses "hijack the ribosome," she said, taking over the cellular machinery to manufacture only viral proteins, not those needed for the bee to survive or thrive. The list of picorna-like viruses that afflict honey bees is long and includes Israeli acute paralysis virus, which was once suspected of being the primary cause of CCD.

 

The varroa mite is a carrier of picorna-like viruses, and is thought by most researchers to be a key in explaining the virus loads carried by U. S. bees.

 

The researchers summed up - bees under stress would not be able to handle those stresses, or handle them as well when the ribsomone functions were compromised and the proteins needed to compete were not being produced.

 

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CATCH THE BUZZ - WORLD ALMOND PRODUCTION DOWN

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CATCH THE BUZZ

World Almond Crop Predicted to be Down. Will Prices Increase?

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India may produce only 1,200 tonnes of almonds in 2009-10

Almond production in India is likely to remain stagnant at 1,200 tonnes in 2009-10, while the world output is forecast to dip by 13 per cent in the same period, a recent report said.

Almond production in India for 2009-10 is pegged at 1,200 tonnes, which is the same as last year, the US Department of Agriculture said in its trade report.

Almond cultivation in the country is restricted to selected hilly areas of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

The USDA data showed that India's production of almonds has been stagnant at 1,200 tonnes since 2004.

The report highlighted that the world's almond output may decline by 13 per cent at 7,60,000 tonnes due to an expected smaller crop in the US, where over 80 per cent of the world's almonds are produced.

According to USDA, almond production in America is expected to fall 17 per cent to 6,12,350 tonnes in 2009-10, compared with 7,39,350 tonnes last season.

Almond production in Europe may rise marginally to 88,950 tonnes from 79,800 tonnes last year. The output in Australia is expected to increase to 30,000 tonnes from 26,000 tonnes, the report said.

 

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Central Beekeepers Alliance : Central Beekeepers meet 8 September 2009

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Central Beekeepers meet 8 September 2009 Posted: 22 Aug 2009 09:31 PM PDT Tuesday, 8 September 2009 Central Beekeepers Alliance Meeting Agricultural Research Centre, Fredericton, NB 7:30 p.m. Want to learn more about Beekeeping? Central Beekeepers meet on the second Tuesday of the month. Visitors and new beekeepers are always welcome! Most meetings include an educational session, group discussion, or hands-on demonstration for the benefit of beginning beekeepers in central New Brunswick. The Agricultural Research Centre ("Experimental Farm") is located at 850 Lincoln Road, Fredericton, New Brunswick. Entry is from the parking lot at the back of the building, at door "B". For a map to the Agricultural Research Centre, see our Next Meeting page. Central Beekeepers meet 8 September 2009 comes from the Central Beekeepers Alliance of New Brunswick, Canada. For more information on Honey Bees and Beekeeping, please: * Visit http://cba.stonehavenlife.com * Subscribe to our RSS feed * Get free updates by e-mail

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CATCH THE BUZZ - Honey Hucksters Guilty

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CATCH THE BUZZ

Honey Importers Caught, Convicted and  to be Sentenced in November. A good day for U.S. Beekeepers

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By Alan Harman

 Chinese executive Boa Zhong Zhang pleads guilty to conspiracy to smuggle goods into the United States by using false statements and to introducing adulterated foods into interstate commerce.

   The Seattle Times reports the plea agreement in U.S. District Court in Seattle means the vice president of Changge Jixiang Bee Products Ltd. in Henan, China, faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on Nov. 30.

   Still facing trial are  Chung Po Liu of Bellevue, 68, owner of Rainier Cascade and Evergreen Produce, and Yong Xiang Yan, 60, board chairman of the Chinese honey company.

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Investigators say they mislabeled honey containing three antibiotics as coming from other countries to avoid antidumping tariffs.

 

   A U.S. Department of Justice statement says Boa Zhong Zhang was accused of rerouting 21 shipments of Chinese honey worth $1.6 million to avoid $3.3 million in punitive antidumping tariffs. The honey was shipped from China to the Philippines or Thailand, where it was relabeled and sent on to the U.S.

   One shipment in January 2008 is believed to have been contaminated with ciproflaxin -- an antibiotic sometimes sold under the trade name Cipro.

   “Submission of false customs documentation to avoid paying tariffs defrauds not only the U.S. government, but the public who is unaware of the scheme and unwittingly purchases the products,” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent-in-Charge Leigh Winchell says in a statement.

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CATCH THE BUZZ - Country Of Origin Honey Label Means Business

CATCH THE BUZZ

USDA Revises Regulations to Include Country of Origin Labeling of Honey

Comments Accepted Through September 8, 2009

By American Beekeeping Federation News

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USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is establishing a new regulation addressing country of origin labeling for packed honey bearing any official USDA mark or statement, such as U.S. Grade A.

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The 2008 Farm Bill requires that packaged honey bearing any combination of USDA marks or statements must also display the name or names of the one or more countries of origin of the lot or container of honey so that the name or names are legible, permanently in close proximity to the USDA marks or statement -- such as on the same side(s) or surface(s), of a comparable size to the USDA marks or statements, and are preceded by the words "Product of" or other words of similar meaning.

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To allow the industry to clear the market of labels that do not comply with the new rules, this interim final rule becomes effective October 6, 2009. The rule was published in the July 8, 2009, Federal Register.

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Written comments must be received by September 8, 2009, and should be sent to:

Chere L. Shorter
Processed Products Branch
Fruit and Vegetable Programs
Agricultural Marketing Service
USDA
Stop

0247
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20250-0247

You can also e-mail to chere.shorter@usda.gov or fax your comments to 202-690-1527.

Copies of the Federal Register notice are available and comments may be submitted electronically at www.regulations.gov - enter keyword AMS-FV-08-0075.

A violation of the new requirements may be deemed by the Secretary of Agriculture to be sufficient cause for debarment from inspection and certification of honey.

For more information, contact chere.shorter@ams.usda.gov or call 202-720-4693.

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Meanwhile, The ABF also released this today, regarding their new web site...take a look.

 

ABF Unveils New, Enhanced Web Site

 The American Beekeeping Federation (ABF) is pleased to announce the launch of the new and improved ABF Web site at abfnet.org.

The ABF has been working on a Web site design that will serve as the industry standard and is the key resource for beekeeping contacts, industry communications, and legislative news and updates. With its fresh navigation and improved functionality, the new site is focused on user friendliness for both ABF members and the public.

The enhanced Web site will now allow ABF members to log-in with an assigned username and password. This log-in feature enables members to:

• Renew their membership online and maintain an up-to-date membership profile

• Access exclusive, member-only content

• Register online for the 2010 North American Beekeeping Conference & Tradeshow, Jan. 12-16, 2010, in Orlando, Fla.

• Donate online to the ABF and the Foundation for the Preservation of Honey Bees

 

The site also affords non-members the opportunity to learn more about the activities and initiatives of the ABF, as well as the online capability to join the organization in a few easy steps.

Questions regarding the site or ABF membership can be directed to Kari Freeland, ABF membership coordinator, at 404.760.2875 or via e-mail at mailto:karifreeland@abfnet.org.

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CATCH THE BUZZ - U.S. Honey Produer Board Comments

CATCH THE BUZZ

USDA Seeks Comments on Proposed U.S. Honey Producer Board

Comments Accepted Through September 14, 2009

Release from American Beekeeping Federation

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The proposed Board would be responsible for carrying out activities intended to strengthen the position of U.S. honey in the marketplace, developing, maintaining and expand existing markets, and enhancing the image of domestic honey.  The proposed order would be administered by a seven-member board.

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Only producers of U.S. honey would pay an assessment of 2 cents per pound of domestic honey produced. A producer who produces less than 100,000 pounds of U.S. honey per year would be eligible for a certificate of exemption.

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It is seen by proponents as a counterpart to the National Honey Board, which is funded and controlled by packers and importers and promotes imported as well as domestic honey.

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The proposed rule was published in the July 14, 2009, Federal Register, along with a proposed rule on the procedures to be used in the referendum to determine if the program will go into effect.  Comments on both rules must be received by September 14, 2009.

 Interested parties are invited to submit written comments on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov, or mail them, in triplicate, to:

Research and Promotion Branch
Fruit and Vegetable Programs
AMS
USDA
Stop

0244
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20250-0244

You can also call 888-720-9917 or fax your comments to 202-205-2800.

Copies of the proposed rule and any comments that are received may be requested from the same address or viewed at www.ams.usda.gov/FVPromotion (see also: Federal Register Notices). They are also available at www.regulations.gov - enter keyword AMS-FV-07-0091.

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