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Frequently Asked Questions

Many visitors are concerned about the same issues. Select from the fields below to view how the scientific experts have responded to these questions.

A year ago I have changed my nutrition. Now I am suffering from flatulence. What may be the reason?

Apart from its sweet taste, does sugar have any other properties?

Are caffeine's effects addictive?

Are cysteamine or cysteamine chloride approved food additives in the EU? Are they present in any food today?

Are dairy-product/calcium requirements overestimated in Western society? Taking an opposite example, the Chinese don’t consume any, and they don’t suffer from osteoporosis.

Are dried pulses fattening?

Are dried pulses rich in iron?

Are preservatives bad for me and what does the E number stand for in the ingredient list?

Are preservatives bad for you?

Are processed foods as nutritious as fresh foods?

Are processed foods less nutritious than fresh foods?

Are sweet potatoes with green sprouts still safe to eat?

Are the additives in processed foods really necessary?

Are the minerals in natural mineral waters well absorbed?

Are there any drawbacks with having too much vitamin C in a child’s diet (4 to 6 year old)?

Are there any positive effects of caffeine?

Are there any recommended daily amounts for nutrients and vitamins?

Are there disadvantages of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) and how to they work? What are the regulations in the EU?

Are there nutritional differences between fresh and frozen berries?

Are vegeterian diets healthier than meat based diets?

Can BSE affect humans?

Can caffeine cause cancer?

Can Calcium Propionate be used in making confectionary?

Can diabetics eat dried pulses?

Can fish replace meat?

Can fruit juice replace fruit?

Can I eat as many fruits as I like?

Can I eat as much fruit as I want?

Can I lose weight by missing meals?

Can I use cold-pressed oil for frying?

Can you avoid indigestion by not taking fluids with meals?

Can you do without milk and dairy products and still have sufficient calcium intake?

Can you drop pounds fast if everything you eat is fat-free?

Can you give 5 Examples of foods processed in Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP)?

Can you give a brief history of Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) and its development?

Can you lose weight by becoming a vegetarian?

Can you please explain the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?

Can you recommend using diet pills to avoid gaining weight during holidays?

Could allergens be transferred by biotechnology?

Could you advise me how to store food properly in the fridge?

Do bananas contain starch?

Do biscuits contain too much fat or sugar?

Do carbohydrates make you fat? How much is acceptable?

Do dried pulses provide vitamins?

Do food cravings indicate a nutrient deficiency?

Do food's color and structure influence the perception of their taste?

Do foods like chillies and ginger and drinks like coffee and cola speed up your metabolism so that you burn calories faster?

Do fruit and vegetables have the same nutritional qualities whether cooked or raw?

Do fruit diets work?

Do probiotics for example in yoghurt prevent colon cancer?

Do processed foods offer any benefits?

Does a law exist which defines where nitrate can be used in food production?

Does alcohol make one put on weight?

Does aspartame have side effects?

Does biotechnology improve the quality of a food product?

Does biotechnology include the technique of cloning plants and animals?

Does biotechnology lead to different end products?

Does caffeine adversely affect the health of children?

Does caffeine increase the risk of heart disease?

Does eating acidic foods, like oranges, disturb the acid/alkaline balance in the body?

Does eating butter give one cholesterol?

Does every kind of bread have the same nutritional composition?

Does exercise always make you lose weight?

Does fasting help to shrink the stomach?

Does food or additives which contain traces of allergens have to be labelled?

Does grape juice contain functional components and if so, can they affect our health?

Does microwaving reduce the nutrients in vegetables? Are the microwaveable bags of vegetables designed to prevent nutrient loss?

Does rice have fewer calories than pasta?

Does sugar cause diabetes?

Does tea contain antioxidants?

Does the ingestion of genetically modified organisms have any long-term effect on health?

Does the stability of product change if you add conjugated linoleic acid?

For breakfast, should I opt for bread, sweet pastries or cereals?

Have all the risks of gene modification been evaluated?

How are biotechnology food products controlled and regulated?

How are new food additives evaluated in Europe?

How can biotechnology bring nutritional improvement to certain foods?

How can boar taint be avoided?

How can I gain weight?

How can micro-organisms contaminate poultry and eggs and what are the diseases they cause?

How can one speed the ripening of an avocado?

How can the consumer be sure that biotechnology products are safe?

How can you calculate the amount of calories and fat you are allowed to eat in relation to your weight, size and age to actually lose weight?

How common is boar taint?

How do I know which country meat and meat products have come from?

How does the home-canning of food work and what is the effect for shelf life?

How does the Jakfruit compare to the Banana in terms of an energy source for people participating in sport?

How does the sugar content of food influence the blood sugar level? Which fruits should I avoid as a diabetic?

How is BSE diagnosed?

How is BSE transmitted?

How is it possible for transgenic plants to provide a higher nutritional value?

How is sugar absorbed and used in the body?

How is the consumer going to be informed about new foods?

How is the safety of biotechnology food products tested?

How is UV light being used in food processing technology?

How long can I store opened condensed milk cans in the fridge? Is it possible to freeze it for longer storage?

How long does it take from eating to defecation?

How long is the storage time for ground almonds in a plastic container?

How many times in a week shoud we eat meat?

How much bread should I eat each day?

How much dairy food must one consume in order to absorb enough calcium?

How often should we eat oily fish?

I am a vegan and have heard that iron in vegan plant food is less well absorbed than iron from meat. If it is true that ascorbic acid can help my absorption of iron, does this mean that it is a protection against iron deficiency? What is the truth about the iron inhibitors in my diet?

I am a vegetarian considering a vegan diet and I would like to know if it is healthy to cut out dairy products from my diet or if they should be incorporated into any balanced diet?

I am looking for food which can be cooled quickly just by cracking, rubbing or chemically. Do these cooling technologies exist?

I am so busy at work, that I don’t have enough time for intensive sports. How much activity do you need to stay healthy?

I am the mother of two children aged six and nine years old who love desserts. How can I prepare healthier desserts for them?

I am twelve years old and we are doing an essay on “food additives” at school. The following question will help me with my essay. Do food additives cause certain diseases and do they make children hyperactive?

I get very confused over the issue of preservatives. I would like to know what kinds are harmful to eat regularly for adults and children.

I have a 1 year old daughter. What are her most important nutritional considerations?

I have a 4 years old son and I am worried about his oral health. How is tooth decay caused and how can I avoid it?

I have a tomato allergy. Is it only against fresh tomatoes or also cooked tomato sauce?

I have an intolerance for E 282 (calcium propionate) - is there any way I can find out if this is contained in foods if the E numbers are not displayed in the contents description on the packaging?

I have been exercising every other day for the last six weeks, but I am still not satisfied with my weight loss. Is exercise therefore a waste of time for weight control?

I have been reading about partially hydrogenated oils and its adverse effects on health and especially for children’s development. Is this right?

I have got lactose intolerance and newly fructose intolerance. What are the consequences for my diet?

I have got lactose, fructose and sorbitol intolerance. What consequences does this have for me and for my diet. What are the therapy options?

I have heard about a low carbohydrate diet. Which foods do not contain carbohydrates?

I have heard that a diet high in animal protein is a risk factor for kidney stones. Is that true?

I have high cholesterol; how many eggs can I consume each week?

I have lost weight successfully. What is my energy intake to keep this weight with an hour sports per day? (female, 30 years old, 1,70m height , 57 kilograms)

I have problems with high blood pressure. Is it possible to reduce my blood pressure with the right type of diet?

I have read about dioxins being high in farm fed salmon - would this mean that salmon oil supplements or omega fat supplements would also be high in dioxin?

I have read about extrinsic and intrinsic sugars. What is the difference between them and how do they affect my dental health?

I have read that tomatoes can reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Is this really true and how does is work?

I heard it is unhealthy to reheat spinach. Is this true?

I know that Modified Atmosphere Packaging creates good conditions for the multiplication of anaerobic bacteria, and that some of them can be pathogenic. What is done to guarantee the safety of Modified Atmosphere Packaged (MAP) products?

I practise sport late in the evening and am very hungry afterwards. Please give me some facts about eating at night!

I suffer from different adverse reactions, stomach-ache, flatulence, nauseas and vomits after particular dishes, like mushrooms, ready-to-eat meals and sauces. What component might cause these symptoms?

I would like to know how to store lemons? Shall I put them in the refrigerator or in cold storage?

I would like to know if salmon is rich in fat, and if this fat is good or not. What kind of fat (e.g. in salmon) reduces bad cholesterol?

I would like to know if there are disadvantages of diet products and why there are not more people using them.

I would like to pickle vegetables in oil or vinegar. Is there a hazard caused by botulism?

I would like to receive some nutritional information about monosodium glutamate.

I’ve got "cholesterol"; can I continue to eat meat?

I’ve have a five month old baby. When is the best time to stop breast feeding?

If both your mother and grandmother are overweight, does that mean that you will be too?

If I eat lots of fruit, will I get all the fibre I need?

If you are an athlete what amounts of carbohydrates should you consume and why. Why are carbohydrate inportant if you are an athlete?

If you follow a very strict low-calorie diet, is it possible to shed 3 kilos of fat in a week?

In order to prevent osteoporosis I decided to buy some calcium tablets. I have heard there are several types of tablets containing different compounds such as calcium citrate, calcium carbonate, calcium sulphate and calcium phosphate. Does it matter which type of calcium compound is in the product?

In the newspaper I have read that conjugated linoleic acids might help to protect against cancer, is that true? What are conjugated linoleic acids and which foods contain them?

In the press I read a lot that fat is bad for us. Shall I cut out any of fat from my diet?

Is (brown) rice milk nutritious?

Is a fat free diet actually good for you?

Is biotechnology really necessary?

Is Bisphenol A used in food packaging safe and how is it regulated?

Is caffeine a risk factor for osteoporosis?

Is chocolate a drug and addictive?

Is cochineal red as food additive used in yogurts and milkshakes?

Is cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil better for you than other oils?

Is conjugated linoleic beneficial to high blood pressure?

Is eating meat recommended for elderly people?

Is exercise futile for weight control?

Is in spinach any substance that causes incompatibility like flatulence?

Is it "normal" to consume milk as an adult?

Is it always better to eat vegetables raw?

Is it bad to eat between meals?

Is it is true that vitamins are not destroyed while processing milk (UHT)? Why is information about vitamins not included in the table of nutritional contents which appears on the side of the tetra pack?

Is it possible to develop a milk and peanut allergy at the age of forty?

Is it possible to get all essential fatty acids from eating oily fish?

Is it possible to use green tea for more than one extraction ?

Is it true that a diet too rich in proteins (including dairy products) causes a loss of bone calcium?

Is it true that even the oiliest fish is still leaner than the leanest meat?

Is it true that if you take supplements, you don't need to bother about what you eat?

Is it true that vitamin A promote cancer in smokers? Is it the same with vitamin B?

Is it true that you cannot digest more than one type of food at a time?

Is it true that you need less food in hot weather than when it is cold?

Is it unhealthy for my child to be Vegan?

Is it unhealthy to drink orange juice in the morning because of its acid on an empty stomach?

Is labelling the only way to inform consumers?

Is milk a complete food?

Is organic food more nutritious than conventional food?

Is organically farmed beef any safer?

Is ozone used for the treatment of food?

Is processed food less nutritious than raw food?

Is sugar a source of empty calories?

Is sugar addictive?

Is the Atkins or South-beach diet healthy?

Is the calcium content the same in whole, semi-skimmed and skimmed milk?

Is the feed additive calcium iodate regulated in the EU?

Is the use of the food additive Microcrystalline Cellulose (E460) regulated? Is this additive dangerous for children?

Is there a concern for occurrence of Bisphenol A (BPA) in food products?

Is there a fast help for an allergy to peanuts as there is for hay fever? If I have already eaten some, what can I do?

Is there a legal definition of Food and processed food?

Is there a legislation that food additives have to be labelled with the E-number instead of the name only?

Is there an RDA for dietary fibres in the EU? Is there an RDA for Ireland?

Is there any legislation governing the level of salt in food?

Is there any value in eating biscuits as an after school snack?

Is titanium dioxide used as a food colour?

It is possible that food additives create addiction?

Many organic products are labelled with "k.b.a." which means controlled biological cultivation. Is this allowed?

May I freeze food which is wrapped in a modified atmosphere packaging (MAP)?

May I store canned pineapple in the open can for some days in the fridge? Or will the acid solve unhealthy substances out of the can?

My 26 months old son does not like milk. Does he need to drink milk?

My daughter (14 months old) doesn’t like to eat my cooked meals. What can I do to motivate her into participating at our family dinners?

My daughter has anemia due to an iron deficiency. What kinds of foods contain iron?

My daughter is fourteen and does not like to eat meat anymore. Is a vegetarian diet really healthier than a meat-based diet as often claimed in some magazines?

My doctor recently advised me to lose weight because I am a bit overweight. I read in a journal about “fat reducing ingredients”. What are these substances, what foods are they in and are they unhealthy?

My grandpa is 90 years old and loses weight. He has 52 kilo, is this still normal?

My hair is thinning. I saw a nutritionist who said this was due to an imbalance between acid and alkaline foods in my diet. (I eat too much meat and fast food and not enough green vegetables). Is it possible there is a link?

My husband watches TV every evening and doesn’t do any exercise. I am worried about his health. How can I convince him of the benefits of physical activity?

New food products appear as a consequence of consumer demand. What exactly does consumer demand mean?

Q&A on Avian Influenza: Is it safe to eat poultry meat and eggs?

Questions et réponses sur la grippe aviaire : Peut-on sans danger consommer de la volaille et des œufs ?

Recently I felt sick after I visited the Chinese restaurant next door. I have heard that monosodium glutamate is commonly used in Chinese food and could cause allergic reactions. Why is this food additive used?

Should I cut cheese out of my diet if I am watching my weight?

Should pregnant women or those trying to get pregnant avoid caffeine?

Should red wine be consumed to prevent cardiovascular illness?

Should water be drunk during or outside meals?

Should you really "feed a cold and starve a fever"?

The often recommended intake of fruits and vegetables is five a day, but how much exactly is it in kg or piece? Is this enough to ensure an adequate supply of vitamins and minerals?

There are EU directives relating to the authorisation of GM foods and a separate directive relating to novel foods. What is the difference between these directives regarding to the process of authorisation?

There have been fewer headlines on the BSE problem lately. What are the scientific facts about this disease and what can you say about the current situation?

Was ist der Vorteil einer MAP Verpackung?

We will be moving back to Germany from the United States with our 8 month old son. The references for child nutrition seem to differ especially for iron, is that true?

What animals are affected by BSE?

What are complexing agents and anti-foaming agents?

What are fortified and enriched food products? Can you tell me actual examples?

What are functional foods and why are they useful?

What are gluten proteins and what is their role in bread making?

What are stabilizers and emulsifiers?

What are the advantages of vacuum sealing of food? Are there other kinds of preservation of nutritional value of food by eliminating contact with food?

What are the benefits of dairy proteins?

What are the benefits of wholegrain cereals?

What are the best food sources of vitamin B1

What are the cut-offs of BMI percentiles to define underweight, normality, risk of obesity and obesity (and its subclasses) in children and adolescents?

What are the differences and similarities between irradiation and pasteurisation of food?

What are the differences in food produced with the help of biotechnology?

What are the disadvantages of Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP)

What are the major sources of carbohydrates and main energy food?

What are the most important facts parents should know about child nutrition? What kind of lack of nutrients can damage the children’s health?

What are the nutritional benefits of dry fruit?

What are the opportunities opened up by food biotechnology?

What are the potential benefits of genetic improvement?

What are the proper foods to lose weight?

What are the properties of coconut water?

What are the regulations for “intelligent packaging”?

What are the regulations for food additives in Europe?

What are the signs of nutrient deficiencies caused by a bad diet?

What are the storage times for foods in a freezer or fridge?

What are the symptoms of a food allergy? Could it cause abdominal pain and flatulence?

What are transgenic foods? What are positives effects and what are adverse effects for human beings?

What can you tell me about avocados (nutrition, health benefits, storage...)?

What can you tell me about the safety and the chemical structure of the sweetener Xylitol?

What causes boar taint?

What causes BSE?

What causes food spoilage?

What causes more weight gain – fat, calories, or sugar? Which fats are good and which are bad for your health?

What do “unprocessed” and "hydrogenated" mean?

What does "trans" mean?

What does bread contribute to the diet? Does bread meet all nutritional needs?

What does food irradiation mean and does it make food radioactive?

What does gelatine consists of?

What does high biological value protein and low biological value protein mean? And what is an example food of each?

What does the E stand for in the food additives known as E numbers

What does the World Health Organization recommend regarding BSE?

What foods are allowed in cases of allergy to cow’s-milk proteins?

What foods contain fibre?

What is a "moderate" intake of caffeine?

What is a mineral?

What is a moderate consumption of alcohol?

What is biotechnology or genetic modification?

What is Bisphenol A and how is it used?

What is boar taint?

What is meant by sustainable agriculture?

What is melamine and how is it used?

What is saturated fat?

What is the Alcat test?

What is the basis of a healthy diet?

What is the current stage of affairs concerning acrylamide? Can I still eat French fries, biscuits, cookies, potato crisps, etc.?

What is the danger zone for food where bacteria multiply rapidly in degrees Celsius?

What is the definition of the term healthy in terms of healthy food?

What is the difference between “light”, “reduced” and “low” for calories regarding to the fat content in food?

What is the difference between butter and margarine from a dietary point of view?

What is the difference between food allergy and food intolerance?

What is the difference between natural and artificial emulsifiers?

What is the difference between organic and conventional food?

What is the difference between white, split-top, butter-top wheat and whole grain bread? Does whole grain flour have health benefits?

What is the difference between wholemeal bread and white bread? What are the advantages of using wholemeal flour?

What is the HACCP principle?

What is the incidence of BSE?

What is the incidence of vCJD and what are the future trends?

What is the meaning of raw vegetables for our health?

What is the meaning of the “glycaemic index”?

What is the nutritional value of eating liver?

What is the nutritional value of eggs?

What is the nutritional value of pistachio? Is it an healthy snack ?

What is the process of caramelisation?

What is the recommended calorie intake for adults, children and toddlers?

What is the recommended intake of fruits and vegetables in the different European countries?

What is the recommended milk intake for young children (16 months old)? Is it possible to replace milk?

What is the recommended salt intake for an 11 month old boy?

What is the risk of vCJD?

What kind of foods are carbohydrate free?

What kind of foods are permitted for people who suffer from coeliac disease?

What kind of nutrient deficiencies are related with fatigue?

What nutrients in fresh milk get lost after the different types of processing: UHT versus pasteurisation? Are there other kinds of losses, such as taste, physical properties, etc.?

What nutritional differences are there between fresh, tinned, smoked and frozen fish?

What safety measures are in place to prevent the spread of BSE?

What would be the effect of a higher time-temperature combination (78°C for 66s) during pasteurisation on proteins in skim milk? Is this likely to cause any denaturation?

When on a jar of jam is written without additives and artificial colours, are there really no additives inside or does the law allow certain concentrations without labelling?

When should I eat fruit: at the start of a meal, at the end, or inbetween meals?

Where can I get more information?

Which additives in ice-creams are allowed in Europe?

Which are the most vitamin-rich fruits and vegetables?

Which beer contains more energy per volume - with alcohol, or without?

Which fats are rich in unsaturated fatty acids?

Which foods are high in serine (amino acid)?

Which fruits and vegetables have the highest mineral content?

Which fruits have the most sugar? Which have the least sugar?

Why are my teeth starting to erode terribly?

Why are peanuts not advisable for children under the age of 2?

Why are pesticides used and how is their use regulated?

Why do foods getting brown during cooking/baking?

Why do gnocchi and German potato klösse swim in boiling water when they finished cooking?

Why does cheese have holes?

Why focus on food biotechnology these days?

Why is boar taint detected during cooking?

Why is it advisable to eat dried pulses together with cereals?

Why is it recommended not to reheat mushrooms. Are there any differences between fresh and canned mushrooms?

Why is meat nutritious?

Why is Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) process used?

Why should I eat fruit and vegetables? How many portions should I eat per day?

Source: European Food Information Council

Safe Food Handling Food Contaminants Risk Communication Farm to Fork Food additives Animal health

GMOs Food processing

Protein Fats Carbohydrates Fibre Salt Sugar Vitamins, minerals & phytonutrients Functional foods Food labelling & claims Nutrigenomics Understanding food

Healthy eating Diet & weight control Food choice Food for all ages Physical activity Food allergy & intolerance Eating disorders

Obesity Cardiovascular Diabetes Osteoporosis Dental care Deficiencies Cancer

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