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Last week we reported on how the United States Cattlemen's
Association (USCA) has joined low-carb advocates in calling on
federal agencies to delay the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for
Americans (DGA) until they include advice for Americans who suffer
from diet-related chronic disease.
The guidelines, which are being drafted by the US Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) and USDA, will be based on a
scientific report with the latest research on nutrition and healthy
eating.
The report, however, is focused on prevention, and its
conclusions were based on studies that focused on healthy consumers
- an issue that low-carbohydrate diet advocates say is problematic
because an estimated 60% of Americans suffer from diet-related
conditions, such as excessive weight, obesity or type 2
diabetes.
Speaking to the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) and
agency officials, advocates for diets that are rich in protein and
low in carbohydrates, along with USCA, urged the agencies to hold
off on finalizing the guidelines and rethink the scope of advice
they offer.
The seafood industry and advocates have clashed in their views
on what seafood advice should look like in the next DGA.
While stakeholders have called on federal officials to build
upon the seafood recommendations included in the scientific report
by the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC), they have
also voiced conflicting requests for USDA and the Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) - the two agencies in charge of
drafting the final 2020-2025 DGA based on the committee's
report.
In Europe, a French left-wing member of the European Parliament
(MEP) asked the European Commission last week when it was going to
suspend the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement
(CETA) in view of the fact that the Cypriot national parliament
voted to reject it at the end of last month.
Emmanuel Maurel from the European United Left/Nordic Green Left
(GUE/NGL) political group, pointed out that CETA "has provisionally
been in force for almost three years pending ratification by the
Member States."
Just over half - 14 - have already ratified the deal, but
ratification is still pending in the rest, including Cyprus after
its parliament vetoed the move on 31 July. Cypriot lawmakers
contend that CETA does not offer enough protection to its halloumi
cheese since it is not a registered EU geographical indication.
The European Union has temporarily suspended the entry of
Argentinean lemon and oranges Citrus limon (L.) N. Burm.f.
and Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, alleging that citrus black spot
(CBS) - Phyllosticta citricarpa - was found in imported bulk during
inspections carried on in May, June, July and the first week of
August this year.
The ban, imposed on 16 August, will remain in place until 31
April 2021 for the specified citrus fruit "regardless [that] the
raw material is destined to the juice processing industry or other
issues," as stated in the Official Journal of the European
Union.
COVID hits more meat plants
BP Food Group confirmed last week that eight employees at their
meat factory in Tipperary, Ireland, had tested positive for
COVID-19.
Following a single confirmed case the previous week (13 August),
ABP Food Group said seven more workers at their meat processing
site in Cahir had tested positive for the coronavirus.
ABP Cahir's assessment protocols following the first case meant
that close contacts of the worker concerned were subsequently
tested by Ireland's Health Service Executive (HSE).
Meanwhile, in Demark, Danish Crown pushed ahead with plans to
reopen one of its plants in Denmark after retesting hundreds of
employees for COVID-19.
The Ringsted facility closed the previous week after around 150
employees tested positive for the virus. Danish Crown has since
carried out further tests - with two more cases emerging on Monday
of last week.
Greek Conservative member of the European Parliament (MEP),
Emmanouil Fragkos, pressed the European Commission to help market
gardeners and greenhouse growers suffering from the COVID-19
crisis.
"Market gardeners and greenhouse growers in the municipality of
Ierapetra in Crete are complaining that, despite the enormous
damage they have sustained because of the COVID-19 pandemic, they
have not, to date, received any financial support," wrote Fragkos
introducing a written question on "Direct financial support to
greenhouse growers necessitated by COVID-19."
Animal welfare concerns
In France, the government launched an investigation into the
abuse of ducks on a farm that produces fois gras, after images of
showed the presence of dead birds, maggots and rats.
The Ministry for Agriculture said that on 19 August, government
officials visited the farm identified in secret footage from animal
rights activists and were able to confirm some of the abuses as
well as breaches of welfare regulations. A veterinarian was due to
arrive on 20 August to examine the condition of the birds and take
the necessary protective measures.
Coming up next week will be an informal meeting of EU
agriculture ministers from 30 August to 1 September with animal
welfare high on the agenda and mandatory labelling a key point.
The meeting will be hosted in Berlin by German Agriculture
Minister Julia Klöckner, as part of her country's current six
months' reign in the EU Council presidency, where she will lead
discussions on the European Commission's plan to tighten EU rules
around livestock transport to third countries.
