Agricultural Research Magazine March 2012
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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Agricultural Research Magazine Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska 3-2012 Agricultural Research Magazine March 2012 Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaagresmag Part of the Agriculture Commons, Animal Sciences Commons, Food Science Commons, and the Plant Sciences Commons "Agricultural Research Magazine March 2012" (2012). Agricultural Research Magazine. 132. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/usdaagresmag/132 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Agricultural Research Service, Lincoln, Nebraska at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Agricultural Research Magazine by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service March 2012 Agricultural Research Service6ROYLQJ3UREOHPVIRUWKH*URZLQJ:RUOG 9255_March2012r2-15.indd 1 2/15/12 11:50 AM healthcare costs in 2009 the conservators of the gold standard reached an estimated $2.5 of nutrient-profile data compilations trillion, yet America still ranks below worldwide. Read about the many U.S. severalcountriesinlife expectancy and Provides software makers who download and many key indicators of healthy living. import this premier nutrient database “These statistics underscore the vast a Wealth of into nutrition products on page 8. potential of a healthful diet and lifestyle Information Public and private sector users also to prevent chronic diseases before they rely on results of the annual ARS na- begin and to reduce healthcare costs,” tional “What We Eat in America”sur- says Molly Kretsch, Agricultural Re- vey ofthe foodspeople consume, when search Service Deputy Administrator the ‘Healthy Eating’ message of the and where the foodsare consumed, and for Nutrition, Food Safety and Quality. National Prevention Council.” the amountsconsumed. Read about Monitoring theamount and type ARS survey findings show that how the modern national dietary-intake of food consumed by the U.S. although the U.S. food supply is survey was developed and how results population is important to researchers abundant and some segments of the are used by federal, state, and local who track related health biomarkers population are overfed, many people policymakers on page 16. and to policymakers who evaluate still fall short of recommended intakes Together, researchers at the ARS nutrition policies. One key reason for for key nutrients. To figure out what’s Beltsville [Maryland] Human Nutrition monitoring what we eat in America is missing in their diets, nutrition sci- Research Center support America’s that the National Prevention, Health entists must know what nutrients are public nutrition policies and food and Promotion, and Public Health Council being consumed by people in different nutrition programs. This feature series of the Surgeon General referenced segments of the population—and that also highlights the “science behind the 68 percent of adults and 20 percent requires scientifically proven food- plate.” ChooseMyPlate.gov—a free, of children aged 6 and under as analysis methods. Read about how consumer-friendly, U.S. Departmentof overweight or obese. Kretsch is a ARS researchers develop cutting-edge Agriculture website—was introduced designee appointed to the council by food-analysis methods on page 4. as a reminder for healthy eating and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Other ARS researchers compile vali- is updated based on the 2010 Dietary Vilsack. dated nutrient data of what’s in foods Guidelines forAmericans. (See page “The council’s report cited the ARS into an authoritative national nutrient 13 for details.) national dietary-intake survey as a database and keep it current. Policy- These ARS researchers provide a key data source to track the ability makers rely on the evidence-based wealth of knowledge for monitoring of everyday people to advance their national nutrient database to make America’s nutritional bottom line. health through improving diet,” says recommendations that help Ameri- Kretsch. “Themission of the ARS na- cans know what foods to consume to Rosalie Marion Bliss tional program for human nutrition is get all or most of their nutrients from Public Affairs Specialist to define the role of food components the food supply. Researchers at the USDA-ARS Information Staff in optimizing health throughout the life ARS Nutrient Data Laboratory are Beltsville, Maryland cycle. Our research directly supports 2 Agricultural Research O March 2012 9255_March2012r2-15.indd 2 2/15/12 11:50 AM March 2012 Vol. 60, No. 3 ISSN 0002-161X Solving Problems for the Growing World Agricultural Research is published 10 times a year by the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Secretary of Agriculture has determined that this periodical is necessary in the Read about the transaction of public business required by law. science behind Tom Vilsack, Secretary ChooseMyPlate.com, U.S. Department of Agriculture where consumers Catherine E. Woteki, Under Secretary Research, Education, and Economics enjoy free interactive Edward B. Knipling, Administrator tools based on ARS Agricultural Research Service national nutrient Sandy Miller Hays, Director databases. Story Information Staff starts on page 8. Editor: Robert Sowers (301) 504-1651 Associate Editor: Sue Kendall (301) 504-1623 Art Director: BA Allen (301) 504-1669 Photo Editor: Anita Daniels (301) 504-1609 Staff Photographers: Peggy Greb (301) 504-1620 Stephen Ausmus (301) 504-1607 Monitoring Best Practices for Most information in this magazine is public property and may be reprinted without permission (except where Food Analysis copyright is noted). Non -copyrighted articles and high- ;OL-PYZ[:[LW·4VUP[VYPUN>OH[ resolution digital photos are available at ars.usda.gov/ar. >L,H[ Paid subscriptions are available from the U.S. Government Printing Office (Superintendent of Documents). See back cover for ordering infor mation. Monitoring Food-Supply Complimentary 1-year subscriptions are available Nutrients directly from ARS to public libraries, schools, USDA ;OL:LJVUK:[LW·*VUZLY]H[VYZVM[OL employees, and the news media. Call (301) 504-1638 or e-mail [email protected]. 5H[PVUHS5\[YPLU[+H[HIHZL This magazine may report research involving pesticides. It does not contain recommendations for Monitoring the U.S. Population’s their use, nor does it imply that uses discussed herein have been registered. All uses of pesticides must be Diet registered by appropriate state and/or federal agencies ;OL;OPYK:[LW·;OL5H[PVUHS¸>OH[>L before they can be recommended. ,H[PU(TLYPJH¹ :\Y]L` Reference to any commercial product or service is made with the understanding that no discri mination is intended and no endorsement by USDA is implied. The Stealth Sodium Revolution The USDA prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income ARS National Program for is derived from any public assistance program. (Not allprohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons Human Nutrition Monitoring with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, Cover: The USDA-ARS human nutrition monitoring program is featured in this issue as S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795- a three-part series covering food-analysis procedures, the national nutrient databases, 3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an and the national dietary-intake survey called “What We Eat in America.”Photo by equal opportunity provider and employer. Peggy Greb. (D2463-1) Agricultural Research O March 2012 3 9255_March2012r2-15.indd 3 2/15/12 11:50 AM The First Step—Monitoring What We Eat 1XWULWLRQ0RQLWRULQJ nutrition center’s research programalso meetings, and scientific contracts,” says AThree-Part Series includes investigating the role of food Harnly. nutrients at the cellular level as well as ● Monitoring Best Practices for The most recent addition to the labo- in animal models and in human studies. ratory’s capabilities is a high-resolution Food Analysis p. 4 One of the nutrition center’s five mass spectrometer (HRMS). Harnly’s ● Monitoring Food-Supply laboratories is the Food Composition and group is using new spectrometry methods Methods Development Laboratory, where to discover compounds in foods that have Nutrients p. 8 researchers ensure that good food-analysis never before been documented. ● Monitoring the U.S. Population’s methods exist. “You can’t monitor people’s The researchers produce an extrac- Diet p. 16 nutrient intakes from their diets without tion from a food or supplement sample knowing what’s in the foods they eat,” with which to conduct different types says Yates. of analyses. They can look at the entire Headed by chemist James Harnly, the extraction—with no separation—to create laboratory’s researchers design, develop, a “spectral fingerprint.” Using pattern- and improve analytical