May 08, 2013

08/05/13: Folic acid may decrease autism risk; grain handler dispute; USA corn planting down; research into aflatoxin-resistant corn

A study, published in the journal JAMA, has concluded that folic acid can help reduce the risk of autism in unborn children by up to 40 percent. 

The study looked at expectant mothers who took folic acid supplements during pregnancy in Norway where grains and cereals are not required to be fortified. 

Women who took the pills were less likely to have children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders than mothers who didn’t take folate supplements. 


A Northwest grain handler in the USA has locked workers out of the longshoreman's union following a labour dispute. 

Columbia Grain in Portland, locked out longshoremen on May 4, 2013 in reaction to work slowdowns. Managers and temporary workers have resumed operations and the company doesn't expect the issue to affect grain exports. 


Although the farmers in the USA intend to grow a record amount of corn this year, wet spring weather means that only 12 percent of the crop has been planted, according to the USDA.

It gets worse on the nation's biggest corn producing sate, Iowa where just 8 percent of the corn crop is in the ground, down from 62 percent the same time last year. The USDA says it's the slowest planting pace since 1995 in Iowa, which was socked by a snowstorm last week.
 

Plant scientists at the University of Arkansas, USA  are working on a transgenic corn strain that would not be affected by Aflatoxin.

The fungus that grows on corn plants stressed by hot, dry weather or sustained drought, can seriously impact the health of various farm animals and also affect humans who ingest it.
 
Although Aflatoxin poisoning is rarely a problem countries where grains are screened use in animal feed, in other countries. In other areas of the world where grain marketing is unregulated, animals and humans have died after ingesting Aflatoxin from tainted corn.
 
 
grain products: bread, rice, cornmeal, and pasta
grain products: bread, rice, cornmeal, and pasta (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
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