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The Notebook: a potpourri of items of interest gathered from FDA news releases, other news sources, and the Federal Register (designated FR, with date of publication). The Federal Register is available in many public libraries. It is also available electronically through GPO Access at the Government Printing Office.
High-fructose corn syrup--used widely to sweeten foods such as sodas, juices, and canned goods--has been affirmed by FDA in a final rule to be generally recognized as safe (GRAS) in most formulations. An FDA rule published in 1988 proposed a comprehensive evaluation of the sweetener while allowing it to remain on the market. The new rule covers the commonly used formulations of 43 and 55 percent fructose, but not a 90 percent formulation, which the agency says has "minor uses" in low-calorie foods and will need further evaluation before GRAS status can be affirmed. (FR Aug. 23)
Food labels can claim that various sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol and xylitol do not promote tooth decay, according to an FDA final rule effective Jan. 1, 1998. These sweeteners are used in some chewing gums. FDA announced the action in response to a petition by the National Association of Chewing Gum Manufacturers Inc. and several sugar alcohol manufacturers. (FR Aug. 23)
High-intensity pulsed light may be used safely to control microorganisms on the surface of food, according to an FDA final rule. Foods may be exposed to wavelengths ranging from 200 to 1,100 nanometers, emitted as high-intensity flashes by xenon lamps. This range covers the entire spectrum of visible light, as well as small portions of ultraviolet and infrared light regions. FDA placed no restrictions on the types of foods that can be treated with pulsed light. (FR Aug. 15)
Cats may spread multidrug-resistant bacteria, which can cause serious illness, say researchers at the UK Public Health Laboratory Service in London. They found that of 110 cases of infection by Salmonella bacteria in cats, 78 were the species Salmonella typhimurium. Of those, 40 were of a type resistant to six commonly used antibiotics in humans, which would make infection in humans difficult to treat. The researchers say cats may pick up the infection from their food, possibly from eating scraps of contaminated human food or from eating raw or undercooked meat. They also warn that cats should not be given free access to unprotected food and food preparation areas and that people who touch cats should wash their hands before eating or preparing food. (The Lancet, Aug. 17)
Men with early prostate cancer who have the prostate surgically removed have a high 10-year survival rate, according to research at the University of Chicago. Doctors monitored outcomes of 2,758 men in the United States and Europe, all but 91 of whom had radical prostatectomies. Researchers found that tumor grade--a gauge of the tumor's aggressiveness--was the most important factor in determining the outcome of those who underwent the surgery. Men with a grade 1 tumor (the least aggressive) had a 94 percent chance of 10-year survival. This dropped to 80 percent for grade 2 tumors and to 77 percent for grade 3. (Journal of the American Medical Association, Aug. 27)