Labelling Assessment of Greek "Quality Label" Prepacked Cheeses as the Basis for a Branded Food Composition Database.

A labelling assessment study of Greek prepacked "quality label" cheeses was conducted with a view to provide an overview of the whole category. In total, 158 prepacked products belonging to 19 "quality label" cheeses were identified in the Greek market. Among them, Feta had the highest share followed by Kasseri, Graviera Kritis, Kefalograviera and Ladotyri Mitilinis with 81, 16, 15, 11 and 9 products found in the market, respectively. For the rest of the 14 cheeses, the share was limited, ranging from 1 to 4. All labelling indications, nutritional information, claims and other labelling data were recorded and analysed in relation to their compliance against European food law requirements. The results of the analysis showed that for only 6 of the 19 cheeses, all products fully complied with EU labelling legislation. Among the 14 mandatory labelling requirements, the lowest overall compliance was observed for allergens declaration (65%). The analysis of the nutritional data showed a remarkable variability between cheeses and products. Differences in the nutritional characteristics were more pronounced among soft, semi-hard, hard and whey cheese. The above data were entered into an archival database. Application of global harmonisation and standardisation guidelines and tools lead to the initialisation of a branded food composition database (BFCD), conceptualising a specialised database for "quality label" foods.

Consumption of Dairy Products and the Risk of Developing Breast Cancer in Polish Women.

Lack of consistency in the relationship between dairy products consumption and breast cancer (BC) risk motivated us to evaluate this association in a case-control study of BC among Polish women. The study includes 1699 women 26-79 years of age, 823 BC cases identified in Cancer Registries and 876 randomly selected controls from the national population registry. Using a validated, semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), the consumption of dairy products was collected for a time period of 10-15 years prior to BC diagnosis. We used logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders, to assess the relationship between total dairy consumption as well as individual dairy groups of milk, cottage cheese and hard cheese and BC risk for premenopausal and postmenopausal women. For total consumption, a significant decrease in BC risk was observed with increased consumption of one serving/week, OR trend = 0.98, 2% decrease in risk, for premenopausal women only. For milk, a significant decrease in BC risk was observed for an increase in consumption of one glass/week, OR trend = 0.95, 5% decrease, in both strata of menopause. In contrast, for hard cheese, a significant increase in the risk of 10% was observed only in premenopausal women, OR trend = 1.10. Cottage cheese consumption significantly reduced BC risk by 20%, OR trend = 0.80, for an increase in one serving/week for postmenopausal women only. Our results show that individual dairy products have a statistically significant but bi-directional relationship with BC risk, which differs for premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

The Effect of Verbal and Iconic Messages in the Promotion of High-Quality Mountain Cheese: A Non-Hypothetical BDM Approach.

To ensure the sustainable development of mountain livestock farming, the adequate remuneration of high-quality dairy products is fundamental. In this sense, communication strategies aimed at promoting mountain products and ensure better positioning and higher market prices are fundamental. The present research seeks to expand the literature regarding consumers' willingness to pay for mountain foods by using an online real auction experiment aimed at evaluating the premium price that consumers are willing to pay for summer over winter mountain cheese, depending on the information provided concerning the taste anticipation or animal welfare. The results showed an overall small premium price given to the higher quality summer cheese; this could be, partially, due to a generally low degree of consumer knowledge about mountain dairy farming. With reference to communication strategies, the results provide evidence about the effectiveness of the rational messages founded upon sensorial characteristics and the anticipated taste of cheese. In addition, this study explored that adding a logo had no main effect on the price premium participants were willing to pay. This may be due to the fact that logos and claims, having a lower information content, are more indicated to lead the choice of consumers with a higher level of awareness. In the conclusion section, policy and agribusiness implications of the findings are provided.

Dairy Products and Cancer Risk in a Northern Sweden Population.

The role of dairy products in cancer is unclear. We assessed consumption of fermented milk, non-fermented milk, cheese, and butter, estimated from semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires, in relation to prospective risk of breast, prostate, colorectal, smoking-, and obesity-related cancers in 101,235 subjects, including 12,552 cancer cases, in the population-based Northern Sweden Health and Disease Study. Most analyses (n = 20) rendered null results. In men, we observed an increased prostate cancer risk among high-consumers of cheese (hazard ratio (HR) for highest vs. lowest quintile (Q5-Q1), 1.11; 95% CI, 0.97-1.27; Ptrend = 0.013). In women, high-consumers of cheese had a decreased risk of overall cancer (HR Q5-Q1, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.88-1.04; Ptrend = 0.039), smoking-related (HR Q5-Q1, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.72-0.97; Ptrend ≤ 0.001), and colorectal cancers (HR Q5-Q1, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.63-1.07; Ptrend = 0.048). Butter yielded a weak decreased obesity-related cancer risk in women (HR Q5-Q1, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.81-1.02; Ptrend = 0.049). Fermented milk yielded HRs below zero in women, but with no clear linear associations. In conclusion, this study does not support any major adverse or beneficial effects of fermented milk, non-fermented milk, cheese, and butter in the diet from a cancer risk perspective.

Current Sodium Intakes in the United States and the Modelling of Glutamate's Incorporation into Select Savory Products.

Most Americans have dietary sodium intakes that far exceed recommendations. Given the association of high sodium with hypertension, strategies to reduce sodium intakes are an important public health target. Glutamates, such as monosodium glutamate, represent a potential strategy to reduce overall intakes while preserving product palatability; therefore, this project aimed to model sodium replacement with glutamates. The National Cancer Institute method was used to estimate current sodium intakes, and intakes resulting from glutamate substitution (25%-45%) in a limited set of food groups for which substitution is possible. Data sets for individuals aged ≥1 year enrolled in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2016 (n = 16,183) were used in the analyses. Glutamate substitution in accordance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food codes was modeled by conservatively altering estimates of sodium intake reductions derived from the published, peer-reviewed literature. The addition of glutamates to certain food categories has the potential to reduce the population's sodium intake by approximately 3% overall and by 7%-8% among consumers of ≥1 product category in which glutamates were substituted for sodium chloride. Although using glutamates to substitute the amount of sodium among certain food groups may show modest effects on intakes across the population, it is likely to have a more substantial effect on individuals who consume specific products.

Avaliação da composição de queijos parmesão ralados de diferentes marcas comerciais / Assessment of the composition of parmesan cheeses rolled from different trademarks

O queijo parmesão é obtido a partir de massa pré-cozida e prensada, caracterizado por apresentar baixa umidade e tempo de maturação igual ou superior a 6 meses. Objetivou-se analisar a composição de amostras comerciais de queijos parmesão ralados. Foram adquiridas 3 diferentes marcas (A, B, C) de queijo parmesão ralado, em embalagens hermeticamente fechadas, submetidas a análises de composição química e características físico-químicas. Os resultados foram analisados estatisticamente por meio de análise variância univariada (ANOVA) e as médias foram submetidas ao teste Tukey ao nível de 5% de probabilidade. Observou-se que uma das amostras diferenciou-se estatisticamente das demais, estando fora dos padrões legais exigidos pela legislação para queijo parmesão ralado, saindo dos padrões para queijo parmesão ralado.

Caracterização de queijos coalho e utilização de análise multivariada na identificação de origem de queijos produzidos em diferentes mesorregiões da Bahia / Characterization of coalho cheese and use of multivariate analysis in identification of origin of cheese produced in different mesoregions of Bahia

O queijo coalho é um dos produtos mais tradicionais da região Nordeste do Brasil. Considerando a escassez de registros da caracterização dos queijos coalho produzidos na Bahia, objetivou-se com este trabalho caracterizar queijos coalho de diferentes mesorregiões da Bahia como etapa para identificação de origem, utilizando análise multivariada. Umidade, pH, cinzas, gordura e proteína estavam de acordo com a legislação. Queijos obtidos do Extremo-Oeste se diferiram dos produzidos no Sul e Centro-Sul e a maioria dos parâmetros analisados associou-se a altos coeficientes de variação, possivelmente, devido a particularidades regionais e falta de padronização do processamento. Foi possível caracterizar os queijos das mesorregiões analisadas e diferenciá-los com base nas suas identificações de origem. Com a análise multivariada observou-se a separação das amostras do Extremo-Oeste das demais e os parâmetros gordura, umidade, EST e derretimento contribuíram significativamente para tal.

Qualidade físico-química de queijo minas frescal clandestino / Physical-chemical quality of minas frescal cheese clandestine

A venda de leite cru diretamente aos consumidores é uma prática proibida por lei no Brasil. O consumo deste e seus derivados podem acarretar riscos à saúde do consumidor. O objetivo consiste em avaliar a qualidade físico-química de queijo minas frescal (QMF) comercializado de forma clandestina e sem a fiscalização dos órgãos governamentais. Foram analisadas vinte amostras de QMF clandestinos. As amostras foram divididas em dois períodos e/ou grupos de coleta. As análises físico-químicas realizadas foram a umidade, proteína, lipídeos, gordura no extrato seco (GES), pH e ácido-lático. Ensaios de proteína, lipídios e GES apresentaram diferenças estatísticas superiores no grupo 01 comparado com o grupo 02 (p<0,05). Em relação as análises de acidez e pH, o grupo 01 apresentou um valor estatisticamente menor de pH e maior de ácido lático comparado como grupo 02. É necessário que haja um maior rigor em relação a fiscalização de QMF para que seja assegurada a integridade de seus consumidores.

Consumption of dairy products in relation to the presence of clinical knee osteoarthritis: The Maastricht Study.

PURPOSE: Observational studies showed inverse associations between milk consumption and knee osteoarthritis (knee OA). There is lack of information on the role of specific dairy product categories. We explored the association between dairy consumption and the presence of knee osteoarthritis in 3010 individuals aged 40-75 years participating in The Maastricht Study. METHODS: The presence of knee OA was defined according to a slightly modified version of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) clinical classification criteria. Data on dairy consumption were appraised by a 253-item FFQ covering 47 dairy products with categorization on fat content, fermentation or dairy type. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI), while correcting for relevant factors. RESULTS: 427 (14%) participants were classified as having knee OA. Significant inverse associations were observed between the presence of knee OA and intake of full-fat dairy and Dutch, primarily semi-hard, cheese, with OR for the highest compared to the lowest tertile of intake of 0.68 (95%CI 0.50-0.92) for full-fat dairy, and 0.75 (95%CI 0.56-0.99) for Dutch cheese. No significant associations were found for other dairy product categories. CONCLUSION: In this Dutch population, higher intake of full-fat dairy and Dutch cheese, but not milk, was cross-sectionally associated with the lower presence of knee OA. Prospective studies need to assess the relationship between dairy consumption, and in particular semi-hard cheeses, with incident knee OA.

Farmer survey to assess the size of the Australian dairy goat industry.

OBJECTIVE: To better understand the commercial food-producing Australian dairy goat industry. METHODS: We contacted all licensing boards and telephone surveyed a large sample of Australian dairy goat farmers producing food products on demographics, production and labour. RESULTS: Jurisdictional licensing boards confirmed there were 68 licensed dairy goat farms in Australia in 2016. We surveyed representatives from 41. Of the farmers surveyed 20 were female and 19 were male; 81% were over 40 years old. The median number of milking goats per farm was 96 and the median total number of goats per farm was 150. The mean number of litres of milk produced per milking goat per day was 2.5. A total production of 9.6 million litres of milk was reported from these 41 farms alone in 2016, suggesting an increase in production since 2012. Production included 60% sold as cheese, 18% as fresh milk and the remaining as milk powder or other products. Most of the respondents (73%) supported the development of an industry group. CONCLUSION: If the farmers surveyed are representative, we estimate that in 2016 there were 30,550 milking goats in the Australian national herd, producing 16,867,792 litres of milk with a farm-gate value of AU$20-27 million. This is a significant increase on the estimates made in 2009 and 2012 and suggests the industry is expanding.

Reducing GHG emissions while improving diet quality: exploring the potential of reduced meat, cheese and alcoholic and soft drinks consumption at specific moments during the day.

BACKGROUND: The typical Western diet is associated with high levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and with obesity and other diet-related diseases. This study aims to determine the impact of adjustments to the current diet at specific moments of food consumption, to lower GHG emissions and improve diet quality. METHODS: Food consumption in the Netherlands was assessed by two non-consecutive 24-h recalls for adults aged 19-69 years (n = 2102). GHG emission of food consumption was evaluated with the use of life cycle assessments. The population was stratified by gender and according to tertiles of dietary GHG emission. Scenarios were developed to lower GHG emissions of people in the highest tertile of dietary GHG emission; 1) reducing red and processed meat consumed during dinner by 50% and 75%, 2) replacing 50% and 100% of alcoholic and soft drinks (including fruit and vegetable juice and mineral water) by tap water, 3) replacing cheese consumed in between meals by plant-based alternatives and 4) two combinations of these scenarios. Effects on GHG emission as well as nutrient content of the diet were assessed. RESULTS: The mean habitual daily dietary GHG emission in the highest tertile of dietary GHG emission was 6.7 kg CO2-equivalents for men and 5.1 kg CO2-equivalents for women. The scenarios with reduced meat consumption and/or replacement of all alcoholic and soft drinks were most successful in reducing dietary GHG emissions (ranging from - 15% to - 34%) and also reduced saturated fatty acid intake and/or sugar intake. Both types of scenarios lead to reduced energy and iron intakes. Protein intake remained adequate. CONCLUSIONS: Reducing the consumption of red and processed meat during dinner and of soft and alcoholic drinks throughout the day leads to significantly lower dietary GHG emissions of people in the Netherlands in the highest tertile of dietary GHG emissions, while also having health benefits. For subgroups of the population not meeting energy or iron requirements as a result of these dietary changes, low GHG emission and nutritious replacement foods might be needed in order to meet energy and iron requirements.

Dairy Products, Dietary Calcium, and Risk of Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results From a European Prospective Cohort Investigation.

BACKGROUND: Dairy products may be involved in the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease by modulating gut microbiota and immune responses, but data from epidemiological studies examining this relationship are limited. We investigated the association between prediagnostic intake of these foods and dietary calcium, and the subsequent development of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). METHODS: In total, 401,326 participants were enrolled in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition cohort. At recruitment, consumption of total and specific dairy products (milk, yogurt, and cheese) and dietary calcium was measured using validated food frequency questionnaires. Cases developing incident CD (n = 110) or UC (n = 244) during follow-up were matched with 4 controls. Conditional logistic regression analyses were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusted for total energy intake and smoking. RESULTS: Compared with the lowest quartile, the ORs for the highest quartile of total dairy products and dietary calcium intake were 0.61 (95% CI, 0.32-1.19, p trend = 0.19) and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.28-1.42, p trend = 0.23) for CD, and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.50-1.30, p trend = 0.40) and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.49-1.34, p trend = 0.60) for UC, respectively. Compared with nonconsumers, individuals consuming milk had significantly reduced odds of CD (OR 0.30, 95% CI, 0.13-0.65) and nonsignificantly reduced odds of UC (OR 0.85, 95% CI, 0.49-1.47). CONCLUSIONS: Milk consumption may be associated with a decreased risk of developing CD, although a clear dose-response relationship was not established. Further studies are warranted to confirm this possible protective effect.

Metabolomics investigation to shed light on cheese as a possible piece in the French paradox puzzle.

An NMR-based metabolomics approach was used to investigate the differentiation between subjects consuming cheese or milk and to elucidate the potential link to an effect on blood cholesterol level. Fifteen healthy young men participated in a full crossover study during which they consumed three isocaloric diets with similar fat contents that were either (i) high in milk, (ii) high in cheese with equal amounts of dairy calcium, or (iii) a control diet for 14 days. Urine and feces samples were collected and analyzed by NMR-based metabolomics. Cheese and milk consumption decreased urinary choline and TMAO levels and increased fecal excretion of acetate, propionate, and lipid. Compared with milk intake, cheese consumption significantly reduced urinary citrate, creatine, and creatinine levels and significantly increased the microbiota-related metabolites butyrate, hippurate, and malonate. Correlation analyses indicated that microbial and lipid metabolism could be involved in the dairy-induced effects on blood cholesterol level.

Carbon footprint of Canadian dairy products: calculations and issues.

The Canadian dairy sector is a major industry with about 1 million cows. This industry emits about 20% of the total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the main livestock sectors (beef, dairy, swine, and poultry). In 2006, the Canadian dairy herd produced about 7.7 Mt of raw milk, resulting in about 4.4 Mt of dairy products (notably 64% fluid milk and 12% cheese). An integrated cradle-to-gate model (field to processing plant) has been developed to estimate the carbon footprint (CF) of 11 Canadian dairy products. The on-farm part of the model is the Unified Livestock Industry and Crop Emissions Estimation System (ULICEES). It considers all GHG emissions associated with livestock production but, for this study, it was run for the dairy sector specifically. Off-farm GHG emissions were estimated using the Canadian Food Carbon Footprint calculator, (cafoo)(2)-milk. It considers GHG emissions from the farm gate to the exit gate of the processing plants. The CF of the raw milk has been found lower in western provinces [0.93 kg of CO2 equivalents (CO2e)/L of milk] than in eastern provinces (1.12 kg of CO2e/L of milk) because of differences in climate conditions and dairy herd management. Most of the CF estimates of dairy products ranged between 1 and 3 kg of CO2e/kg of product. Three products were, however, significantly higher: cheese (5.3 kg of CO2e/kg), butter (7.3 kg of CO2e/kg), and milk powder (10.1 kg of CO2e/kg). The CF results depend on the milk volume needed, the co-product allocation process (based on milk solids content), and the amount of energy used to manufacture each product. The GHG emissions per kilogram of protein ranged from 13 to 40 kg of CO2e. Two products had higher values: cream and sour cream, at 83 and 78 kg of CO2e/kg, respectively. Finally, the highest CF value was for butter, at about 730 kg of CO2e/kg. This extremely high value is due to the fact that the intensity indicator per kilogram of product is high and that butter is almost exclusively fat. Protein content is often used to compare the CF of products; however, this study demonstrates that the use of a common food component is not suitable as a comparison unit in some cases. Functionality has to be considered too, but it might be insufficient for food product labeling because different reporting units (adapted to a specific food product) will be used, and the resulting confusion could lead consumers to lose confidence in such labeling. Therefore, simple units might not be ideal and a more comprehensive approach will likely have to be developed.

[Relashionship between the mother's educational level and child feeding in a series of preschool children in Bacau Town]. / Relatia între nivelul educational matern si alimentatie la un lot de prescolari din orasul Bacau.

UNLABELLED: Child growth and development are decisively influensed by feeding. This depends on parent's financial resources and food habits, most often tradition-related. AIM: To determine how important mother's educational level is in this respect. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was carried out on a series of 153 preschool children from two kindergartens in Bacau town. Their parents filled out a questionnaire on the frequency of weekly food consumption. RESULTS: 64.5% of the mothers of the children included in this study had a higher education. Most children had milk 4-7 times a week, cheese 2-3 times a week, eggs and chicken 2-3 times a week, and fruits 4-7 times a week. The diffrences in feeding provided by mothers with higher education and those less educated were statistically insignificant, food habits being quite similar. CONCLUSIONS: A good knowledge of food habits in a poplation is essential for developing programs aimed at changing the unhealthy ones.

Association of erosion with dietary factors among 5-year-old children in India.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the association of dental erosion with dietary factors and oral hygiene practices among 5-year-old schoolchildren in Belgaum, Karnataka, India. METHODS: A random sample of 1,002 5-year-old children was drawn from Belgaum schools. Erosion was assessed using the modified Smith and Knight index. A self-designed questionnaire was used to probe into the details of the children's dietary practices. RESULTS: Frequency of consumption of beverages, canned juices, tamarind, and honey, a mixed diet, and frequency of teeth cleaning were significant predictors of dental erosion. Oral hygiene practices like timing of cleaning teeth and materials used did not show significant association with dental erosion. CONCLUSION: Certain dietary factors like canned juice, raw mango, gooseberry, tamarind, honey, buttermilk, and beverages showed significant correlation with dental erosion. Dietary counseling must take this into consideration.

[Dietary behaviours of volleyball and basketball players]. / Zachowania zywieniowe sportowców wyczynowo uprawiajacych siatkówej i koszykówke.

BACKGROUND: In sports, such as basketball and volleyball, players must demonstrate the speed, strength, stamina and concentration. Correct nutrition affects the strength of the muscles and the extension of capacity. It is also necessary for the proper functioning of the nervous system and determines the rate of regeneration after physical effort. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess dietary behaviours of professional volleyball and basketball players and compare the prevalence of correct behaviours in both groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 209 professional volleyball and basketball players from sports clubs localized in six Silesian cities were survived with the mean of author questionnaire. The chi-square test was used to examine differences in the prevalence of the correct behaviours among players. RESULTS: Analysis of the results obtained showed that 52% of the players had 4-5 meals a day. 35% of respondents had wholemeal bread and/or groats daily. Milk and dairy products daily ate 71% of surveyed players, meat and sausages 70% respectively. 41% of respondents had cottage cheese and 28% had fish several times a week. Vegetables and fruit were eaten by 21% and respectively 23% of respondents. Sweets were eaten daily by 40% of surveyed, while fast-food were eaten several times a week by 17% of players. Nutrients for athletes were used by 32%, and vitamin supplementation by 48% of respondents. Prevalence of correct dietary behaviour in the group of professional volleyball and basketball players differed. Basketball players statistically more frequently than volleyball players had 4-5 meals a day, had wholemeal bread and/or thick groats, milk and dairy products, meat and sausages, especially poultry. They had raw vegetables and fruit several times a day. They drank more than 2.5 liters of fluids per day. They also significantly more frequently than volleyball players consumed the fast-food occasionally or never. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary behaviours of surveyed players were incorrect. Comparison of prevalence of proper behaviours showed that a group of basketball players had more favourable nutrition habits.

Dairy consumption and calcium intake and risk of breast cancer in a prospective cohort: the Norwegian Women and Cancer study.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association between consumption of dairy products and calcium intake and risk of breast cancer risk according to menopausal status. METHODS: In a population-based prospective cohort study of 64,904 Norwegian women followed from 1996/1999 through 2006, we examined total dairy consumption and consumption of various dairy products in relation to pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer risk. We also examined breast cancer in relation to calcium intake and to milk consumption during childhood and performed additional analyses corrected for measurement errors in the dietary data. In total, 218 premenopausal and 1,189 postmenopausal incident breast cancer cases were diagnosed during follow-up. RESULTS: Total dairy, adult, and childhood milk consumption was not associated with either pre- or postmenopausal breast cancer risk. Premenopausal women with the highest consumption of white cheese had half the risk of breast cancer compared to those with the lowest consumption (hazard rate ratio in the 4th quartile vs. the 1st quartile 0.50, 95% confidence interval 0.29-0.87). Total calcium intake tended to be inversely related to premenopausal (hazard rate ratio in the 4th quartile vs. the 1st quartile 0.65, 95% confidence interval 0.39-1.08) and postmenopausal breast cancer (hazard rate ratio in the 4th quartile vs. the 1st quartile 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.70-1.04). Correcting for measurement errors did not alter the results substantially, nor did exclusion of early cancer cases. CONCLUSION: Dairy consumption is not strongly related to breast cancer risk in this prospective study. A non-significant negative association between calcium intake and breast cancer risk was seen, particularly among premenopausal women.

[Alpine cheese--healthy for your heart or just a lifestyle product?]. / Alpkäse--herzhaft gesund oder ein Lifestyle- Produkt?

Until the 19th and the early 20th century, milk and milk products, particularly of alpine origins, seemed of special nutritional and health value and were highly recommended for the therapy resp. the therapeutic adjunct of various diseases, particularly for pulmonary tuberculosis. More recently, the association of saturated fat intake and arteriosclerosis led to the reduced use of milk and cheese resp. to the introduction of low-fat milk products. Again, alpine milk and cheese seem to differ somewhat from the others, since they appear to contain 4 times more alpha linolenic acid, three times more conjugated linoleic acid, a lower n-6:n-3 ratio, more total n-3 fatty acids and less palmitic acid as a measure of total saturated fat compared to cheese produced with silage feed in the lowlands (e.g. english cheddar). Even cheese from cows fed with linseed supplementations did not reach the n-3 concentrations of the alpine probes. Thus, alpine milk products from cows kept traditionally, and fed predominantly with alpine grass seem to have an interesting cardiovascular and possibly an economically favourable potential.

Use of butter and cheese in 10 European countries: a case of contrasting educational differences.

BACKGROUND: This paper aims to analyse socioeconomic variation in the use of cheese and butter in Europe by reviewing existing dietary surveys. It explores whether socioeconomic differences in the intake of these foods follow a similar pattern in all countries. METHODS: An overview of available studies on socioeconomic differences in food habits in Europe over the period 1985-1997 was performed. Twenty studies from 10 countries included information on cheese and butter. A simple directional vote-counting method was used to register the association between educational level and consumption of cheese and butter (animal fat) for each study. FAO's food balance sheets were used to classify the countries according to consumption trends of these foodstuffs. RESULTS: In all countries higher social classes used more cheese than lower classes. The results for butter were less consistent. In the Nordic countries higher social classes used less butter than lower ones. In the other countries an opposite pattern or no differences could be observed. However, in countries where the use of both butter and animal fats could be analysed, animal fats were used more by the lower social classes. CONCLUSIONS: Higher and lower socioeconomic groups have different sources of saturated fats. Higher social classes use more cheese whereas lower social classes use more butter or animal fats. This can be observed especially in countries where the consumption of cheese is increasing and that of butter decreasing. Higher social classes prefer modern foods, lower classes traditional foods.