Tomatoes not effective in preventing prostate cancer

摘要：最新研究颠覆你的认识：番茄不能保护前列腺。先前的研究表明平时多吃番茄，则是保护前列腺简便有效的方法。 国外的一项健康调查结果表明，每周吃10份番茄食物的人发病率下降了50％。但是最新的研究却让人大跌眼镜，番茄不能保护前列腺。另外，胡萝卜素反而会增加患病的风险。研究建议，不要把自己的健康建立在某一种水果上，要多吃水果蔬菜，但是最好不要大剂量的补充维生素，尤其是胡萝卜素。

LOS ANGELES, May 19 (Xinhua)---Contrary to popular opinion, lycopene, an antioxidant found in tomatoes, does not help prevent prostate cancer, a new study has found.

    The new findings by researchers at the U.S. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) contradict a long-held theory that touts lycopene as a magic bullet for prostate cancer, according to the May issue of the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.

    In fact, a higher intake of beta-carotene, another antioxidant found in many vegetables and commonly used as a dietary supplement, appears to increase the risk of aggressive prostate cancer.

    Researchers enrolled 28,000 men in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial and collected data accordingly. All of the men had no prior history of prostate cancer.

    They were screened for the disease at the start of the trial in 1993, and then followed with regular screening until the first occurrence of prostate cancer or death by the end of the trial in 2001.

    During the course of the trial, 1,320 prostate cancer cases were diagnosed. The team found no significant difference in blood levels of lycopene between men who had prostate cancer and those who didn't.

    In fact, they found an association between increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer and a higher intake of beta-carotene.

    Beta-carotene has also been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer and heart disease among smokers, according to the findings.

    The new study "hampers our enthusiasm for the beneficial effect of lycopene," said lead author Ulrike Peters, a research assistant professor at the FHCRC.

    "Tomatoes, and tomato found in ketchup and pizza, don't reduce the risk of prostate cancer," she added.

    "People should be very cautious about taking high doses of supplemental beta-carotene," she said.

    To live an active, healthy lifestyle is the best strategy for preventing cancer, the study suggests.

    To place one's faith in a particular food is not effective in preventing cancer, the study adds.

    "Our guidelines suggest that people eat a mostly plant-based diet with a variety of vegetables and fruits," said Marji McCullough, a senior epidemiologist at the American Cancer Society.

    "We don't recommend taking multivitamins or other supplements, especially beta-carotene supplements," she said.

Starbucks Corporation Wins in a Trademark Infringement

Shanghai coffee shop finally changes name after long Starbucks dispute

2007-05-17 10:11:02 Xinhua English

SHANGHAI, May 18 (Xinhua) -- A Shanghai coffee shop that was found to be infringing on the trademark of the U.S.-based Starbucks coffeehouse chain has finally changed its name after a four-year legal battle.

Staff at the newly-titled "Fangyun" cafe on the Nanjing Road refused to comment on the outcome on Friday, despite the fact that it is still listed in directory enquiries as "Xingbake", the Chinese term for Starbucks.

A statement from the Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People's Court said, "It is the first case in Shanghai in which a company was forced to change its name because of a trademark infringement."

The court had also ordered Fangyun to make a public apology and pay 500,000 yuan (62,500 US dollars) in damages.

Starbucks registered "Starbucks" as a trademark in China in 1996 and its Chinese translation "Xingbake" in December 1999. The Chinese Xingbake had its company name reserved in October 1999, and had been using the Xingbake name, and the English word "Starbuck" on cards, menus, signs and invoices since it started trading in March 2000.

Starbucks lodged its lawsuit against the Chinese company in December 2003.

In December 2005, the court ruled in Starbucks' favor and imposed the penalties on Shanghai Xingbake Coffee Shop Ltd., which appealed. At the end of 2006, the Shanghai High Court upheld the decision on infringement and unfair competition, and issued a final judgment in favor of Starbucks.

The Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People's Court took enforcement action, freezing the coffee shop's bank accounts, and the company made a public apology in the Shanghai-based newspaper "Xinmin Evening News" in April, and agreed to pay the compensation in installments.

Starbucks, with more than 200 outlets across the Chinese mainland, was "very satisfied" with the outcome, said Eden Woon, vice-president of Starbucks in China. Intellectual property rights protection was very important for China's economic development, and the outcome would encourage Chinese companies protect their own property rights.

近日，位于南京东路、虹桥路上的原两家“上海星巴克”咖啡馆橱窗内张贴的“星巴克”标识已由“芳韵”所取代，店内也见不到“星巴克”及“STARBUCKS”等文字和图形标志的踪影。而实际上，这起备受关注的星巴克商标侵权纠纷案经过上海市二中院三个多月的艰难执行，最终以上海星巴克咖啡馆有限公司停止使用“星巴克”企业名称，正式更名为上海芳韵咖啡馆有限公司而终结。据悉，变更企业名称，这在本市法院执行工作中尚属首例。  

    被告较为抵触，执行难  

　　上海星巴克咖啡馆有限公司及其下属南京路分公司擅自在企业名称和服务标识上使用“星巴克”及“STARBUCKS”等文字、图形商标，被美国星源公司和上海统一咖啡星巴克有限公司告上法庭。此案由上海市二中院审理，并于2005年12月底作出一审判决，上海星巴克咖啡馆公司及南京路分公司被判令停止侵犯“星巴克”商标权、变更企业名称，并在指定的报刊上刊登致歉声明，赔偿原告星源公司和上海统一星巴克咖啡有限公司经济损失50万元。  

　　一审判决后，两被告不服上诉，市高级法院经二审维持原判。然而，对于法院生效的判决，两被告并没有按期履行判决内容。为此，星源公司和上海统一咖啡星巴克公司于今年1月30日向市二中院申请执行。在案件执行中，被执行人对法院判决存有较大的抵触情绪。他们认为，两被告公司的名称是经工商部门审核批准，通过合法手续取得的，故不应承担侵权责任。  

    变更企业名称，开先河  

　　面对这一难题，承办此案的上海二中院执行法官胡珏反复做被执行人的思想工作，阐明拒不履行生效判决的法律后果，积极争取被执行人自觉履行；同时果断采取冻结、扣划被执行人名下的银行帐户等强制措施，对其施加压力。通过“软硬兼施”的执行攻势，被执行人最终不得不表示愿意配合法院工作，主动向工商部门办理了企业名称的变更手续。经工商部门审核批准，该公司现已更名为“上海芳韵咖啡馆有限公司”。今年4月26日，被执行人在《新民晚报》上刊登了由法院审核的致歉声明。由于被执行人一时无力支付全部赔偿款，经承办法官与申请执行人沟通后，取得了对方的谅解。在法院的协调下，根据被执行人的经营状况，双方就分期支付赔偿款事宜达成协议。  

　　昨天，星巴克企业管理有限公司大中华区副总裁翁以登对法院的执行工作表示满意。据他介绍，除了目前在上海已审结的案子外，在外地还有类似侵犯星巴克相关权利的案子，法院维护企业合法权益的力度，无论是对保护外资企业还是中资企业的知识产权方面，都有积极的促进作用。 

300余种奥运蔬菜二三成从国外引进

国家蔬菜工程技术研究中心主任许勇11日透露，根据国外饮食习惯和北京奥运会期间的气候特点，北京市农林科学院目前已完成300余种“奥运蔬菜”的繁种工作。

    同时兼任北京市农林科学院蔬菜研究中心主任的许勇告诉记者，在300余种“奥运蔬菜”中，有二至三成属于从国外引进的新品种，以满足各路奥运人员和游客的饮食需求。经过专家培育，这些“洋蔬菜”已能适应我国的生长条件。

    许勇说，2008年8月北京奥运会期间，高温多雨的气候特点不利于非夏季国产蔬菜生长，为此专家采用技术手段，培育出“错季”蔬菜种子，尽可能丰富“奥运蔬菜”品种。专家还认为，北京北部山区、河北张家口等地适宜种植这部分蔬菜。

    许勇表示，“奥运蔬菜”不能含兴奋剂等成分，对农药残留等也有严格要求，从生产、运输到加工，每个环节都必须确保万无一失。为此，北京市农林科学院已建立了“奥运蔬菜”新品种展示基地，并开展了无公害蔬菜繁种等专项研究。

    据了解，去年部分“奥运蔬菜”已率先在北京举行的第四届中国国际农产品交易会上亮相，原产自欧洲的碟形西葫芦、长相如同凤梨一样的朝鲜蓟、五颜六色的鲜嫩甜菜等“洋蔬菜”，引起参观者的浓厚兴趣。

Unilever upgrades Asian distribution
By Neil Merrett

摘要：联合利华在越南建立分销中心，旨在提高公司在亚洲的业务。第一期工程已竣工（?12m），33,000 平方米的仓库，每天可以运送2,000 吨产品。该分销中心将会服务于亚洲市场的18个国家，包括Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan and New Zealand.
 

18/05/2007 - Unilever continues to step up its operations within Asia with the inauguration of its new distribution centre in Vietnam.

Having completed the year long initial ?12m construction, the company claims the site will boast some of the most modern equipment in Vietnam to maintain supply of its food, beverage and personal care ranges in the country.

Unilever told local press sources that its current fragmented warehousing within the country was not sufficient for its growth ambitions in the wider region, which have become increasingly significant following the country's accession to the WTO earlier this year.

As such, the site -the largets of its kind in the country - is expected to complement the group's growing interests within Vietnam and the wider Asia Pacific region.

With the first construction phase now finished, the centre will boast a 33,000 square metre warehouse space capable of shipping 2,000 tonnes of goods a day.

Outside of Vietnam, Unilever expects to supply over 18 markets within the region through the centre.  These will include countries like Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Taiwan and New Zealand.

Greg Sullivan, Unilever's vice president of supply chains in the country, told AP-FoodTechnology.com that the construction was an important step in fully realising the potential for its products in the area.

"Vietnam is regarded as a bright star because of its high economic growth rate, young population with most people being under 25, and stable micro-economic environment," he said.

"We started in Vietnam in 1995, and are very pleased with the growth of Unilever Vietnam over the past 12 years."

继帝亚吉欧成功收购水井坊之后，又一四川名酒剑南春旗下的文君酒也被另一洋酒大鳄———法国轩尼诗控股收购。昨日记者从有关部门证实，目前文君酒厂正在积极筹办工商变更事宜，由内资企业变更为中外合资企业，本周新版营业执照有望发放，这意味着轩尼诗收购文君酒大局已定。

　　收购之举“相亲”始于一年前

　　虽然我国2003年制定的《外商投资指导目录》中，把黄酒和中国名优白酒列为限制外商投资的行业，但是洋酒企业总能找到机会收购合适的企业，世界洋酒巨头帝亚吉欧和轩尼诗就先后把“触角”伸进了中国并获得成功。

　　据透露，2006年4月中旬，酩悦轩尼诗亚太区董事总经理贝靖康就曾率队亲赴全国最大的白酒原酒生产基地邛崃考察。其间，贝靖康明确表达了投资邛崃白酒业的愿望。实际上，轩尼诗已把目标放在了文君酒身上。

　　“轩尼诗主要是跟剑南春在谈，文君只是剑南春控股的子公司而已，不负责此事。”文君酒厂方面称对具体的谈判不知情，而剑南春方面则是三缄其口。

　　收购之变外资控股文君酒

　　文君酒是我国白酒业最具历史文化价值的品牌之一，但进入20世纪90年代以来，由于经营不善，企业和产品每况愈下，资不抵债，2000年，文君酒厂由蓝剑出资1.2亿元收购。2001年，蓝剑引入剑南春作为文君酒厂的战略投资者，剑南春以持股62%成为文君酒厂的控股方。资料显示，2004年文君酒厂已扭亏为盈，实现利税2000多万元，净利润600多万元。目前年产各类饮料酒三万多吨，拥有文君系列品牌100多种，年产原酒能力2800吨，生产、包装各类白酒能力为8000吨以上。

　　“收购后，顺利完成相关工商手续没有任何问题”。昨日记者从工商部门获悉，轩尼诗收购剑南春旗下白酒品牌文君酒一事已成定局，目前拥有新身份的文君酒厂正在办理相关的工商变更手续。

　　据工商部门经办人介绍，上周五文君酒厂代表曾到工商外资注册部门，递交了企业变更申请———被轩尼诗收购后，企业性质将发生变化，必须变更工商营业执照。据悉，5月11日（上周五）文君酒厂已递交了变更资料，原本可当场换发新营业执照，然而由于其资料稍有欠缺，得回去补齐。据称，只要本周内补齐资料，工商将当场完成执照变更。

　　关于收购后轩尼诗和剑南春的持股比例，记者了解到，拥有新身份的文君酒厂将由外商控股，不过详细持股比例还有待确认。

　　收购结局轩尼诗将酿高档白酒

　　这将是一桩双赢并购。一方面，剑南春将文君酒厂出售给轩尼诗后，将极大缓解剑南春当年实行MBO时带来的资金压力；另一方面，轩尼诗也可借助此举进入中国高档白酒的制造领域。目前轩尼诗XO虽然每年在中国市场销售7万箱，但随着中国“酒民”收入水平的提高，消费者对高端白酒的消费需求增大，轩尼诗更看好这一黄金市场。

　　记者了解到，在洽购文君酒厂以前，轩尼诗曾先后接触过泸州老窖、崇阳酒业和丰谷酒等川酒。“轩尼诗拿下文君可能只是预热。”业内人士称，其很可能以文君为跳板收购文君背后的剑南春。

Moet Hennesy hopes to lift Chinese spirits
By Neil Merrett
18/05/2007

摘要：四川名酒剑南春旗下的文君酒被洋酒大鳄———法国轩尼诗控股收购。

Moët Hennesy has acquired a majority stake in Chinese group Wen Jun Distillery as it moves to expand its global premium spirits and wine brands range.

The company expects the purchase of a 55 per cent share in one of China's premium spirit makers from minority partner Jiannanchunto to grant it instant access to the country's spirits market.

In recent years, China's spirit market has been booming but the sector stills lags behind the surging demand for wine and beers.

As such, Moët plans to work with Jiannanchun to push its spirits brands in the country, according to the company. The group said that in addition to the marketing drive, it would also invest in updating Wen Jun's production facilities.

Company president Christophe Navarre stressed that the buy was a crucial move for the group in increasing its revenues in China's dynamic beverage sector.

"This investment in China's spirits industry signals an important move for Moët Hennesy as it seeks to contribute to the development of the Chinese premium spirits market," he stated.

Between 2000 and 2010, the total market within the country for spirits is expected to grow by about 44.6 per cent to $28.6m (?19m), according to figures supplied by consumer analyst Datamonitor.

However, there still remains a great discrepancy between spirits sales compared to those of wine and beer. Over the same period, sales of wine are estimated to grow by 68.2 per cent to $5.1bn (?3.7bn).

Even these figures pale into insignificance when compared to the market for beer in the country though, which leads the alcohol sector both in growth and sales.

By 2010, annual beer sales over the decade are estimated to have grown by 75 per cent to $43bn (?31bn).

Typhoo set to debut in India

SUTANUKA GHOSAL

摘要：Typhoo品牌曾经属于英国John Summer，后来被Apeejay公司购得，现在Apeejay公司准备在印度推广Typhoo茶品牌。12月底新工厂即可完工。卫报称，2005年第一食品公司以8000万英镑的价钱将旗下的Typhoo品牌卖给了位于加尔各答的Apeejay国际茶叶公司。第一食品公司是在1903年由伯明翰杂货商John Summer创建的，当时Typhoo品牌是英国市场上继PG Tips和Tetley之后的第三大茶叶品牌。第一食品的经营哲学是，让自己的品牌拥有数一数二的市场份额。

Typhoo, UK’s iconic tea brand which was launched in 1903 by Birmingham grocer John Summer, is poised to debut in India. The Apeejay Tea Group (ATG), which acquired Typhoo 2005 along with other speciality tea brands such as London Fruit & Herb, Natureland and Heath & Heather fruit from Premier Foods plc, will introduce it in the country in the current fiscal.

Talking to ET, Deepak Atal, managing director of Apeejay Tea said: “We are setting up a tea bag and packing factory in Kolkata on Hyde Road for Typhoo and other speciality tea brands. Construction work has already begun. We are importing tea machinery from UK.” “The factory will be ready by end-December and we hope to launch the brands in India this fiscal. This will be Typhoo’s first major foray outside UK. It is present in a small way in Australia and New Zealand,” he added.

Incidentally, ATG is also putting in place a strong marketing team for marketing Typhoo and other associated brands. “Apeejay Tea is essentially a bulk tea player and we don’t have a marketing team than can facilitate movement of value-added tea. We also need to work out a brand promotion strategy to position the Typhoo brand in the market,” said Mr Atal.

Incidentally, after it bought over Typhoo from Premier Foods, ATG was investing and reviving it in the UK market. “We are now ready to expand the reach of the brand,” he said.

Typhoo has a wide range of products within its fold. Apart from decaffeinated tea, it also has Typhoo Fruit & Herb, Typhoo Green Tea and Typhoo QT, the instant white tea. It also has a number of speciality teas like Freshbrew, Glengettie, Melroses and Ridgeways within its fold. At present, the entire blending and packing for Typhoo is done at Moreton, Wirrel in the UK.

“Once Typhoo gets to India, it will become easier to market it in the neighbouring countries. It will be cost competitive. However, a final decision on the expansion strategy will have to be decided by the Typhoo team in the UK,” Mr Atal said.

ATG, which has 17 gardens in Assam, will use its own teas for the Typhoo tea bags. It will also buy tea from the Nilgiris and Darjeeling gardens. “We may also buy teas from Sri Lanka for Typhoo tea bags,” he elaborated.
The company is also sprucing up its Mantra and Mahamantra brands. While the Mantra brand is available in polypacks, Mahamantra is available in 5 kg packs. ATG will use a significant portion of its total production of 22 million kg for these two brands in the current fiscal year.

Pea protein seen as promising microencapsulator

By Stephen Daniells

摘要：巴西研究人员研究发现，豌豆蛋白可以包埋高浓度的Ve，因此有望成为新型微胶囊包埋壁材。研究人员利用豌豆蛋白，CMC，以及两者与麦芽糊精的混合物（及豌豆蛋白+麦芽糊精，CMC+麦芽糊精）作为微胶囊包埋壁材来包埋Ve，然后利用喷雾干燥制得微胶囊。结果发现Ve的保留率高于70%，粒子呈球形，小于7微米。单纯使用豌豆蛋白或者CMC+麦芽糊精，粒子甚至可以更小。

Researchers in Brazil have identified pea protein as a possible novel encapsulator after results showed the protein capable of encapsulating vitamin E at high concentrations.

"The results obtained in this work show that the pea protein use for alpha-tocopherol microencapsulation is a promising system for further application in food," wrote lead author Anna Pierucci from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro.

Microcapsules are tiny particles that contain an active agent or core material surrounded by a shell or coating, and are now increasingly being used in food ingredients preparation. The technology can be used to deliver a host of ingredients - flavours, oils, peptides, amino acids, enzymes, acidulants, colours and sweeteners - in a range of food formulations, from functional foods to ice cream.

The technology is attracted growing interest because it can also decrease costs for food makers, particularly those using sensitive ingredients like probiotics, and by reducing the need for preservatives.

The new research, published in the Journal of Microencapsulation, taps into this growing trend by investigating the potential of pea protein (PP), carboxymethylcellulose (CMC), or mixtures of these materials with maltodextrin (PP-M and CMC-M) to microencapsulate alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) using the spray drying technique.

Pierucci and co-workers report that the retention of alpha-tocopherol within all the microparticles produced was over 77 per cent in all cases. The particles were also characterised as having spherical shapes with average particle sizes below seven micrometres.

The smallest particles were found to be produced using exclusively pea protein, or the CMC-M mixture.

The authors concluded that the work showed the potential of pea protein as a microencapsulation material in food systems.

Pea protein is classed as an alternative protein, a market that is growing at a rapid pace, for a variety of reasons. Alternative sources of protein are having a profound influence on the formulation of weight conscious food and diets based on low glycaemic index (GI) and high protein intake, and traditional manufacturers are beginning to take a look at new protein sources as a means of enriching their products.

There are also economic advantages. Caseinates, which are typically used in dietetic foods like infant formula, sports products and slimming foods, currently cost around ?6.50 per kg while soy protein isolates cost ?3.50 to ?5kg for the same amount of protein. Pea protein can cost around half the price of caseinates.

来源：新华网

   据当地媒体14日报道，调查显示，在韩国排名前五位的快餐店销售的炸薯条中，麦当劳炸薯条的反式脂肪含量最高。

　　韩国食品和药品管理署当天发表声明说，麦当劳每100克炸薯条中含1.6克反式脂肪，汉堡王和肯德基每100克炸薯条均含1.3克反式脂肪，派派思和乐天这两个韩国快餐品牌每100克炸薯条分别含1克和0.7克反式脂肪。

　　这一调查是4月16日至5月1日期间在韩国首都首尔进行的，是韩国食品和药品管理署“加强儿童食品健康和安全运动”的一部分。

　　反式脂肪又名反式脂肪酸，一般是植物油等食用油经过氢化技术处理后产生的。与一般植物油相比，经过氢化处理的食用油具有耐高温、不易变质等优点，广泛应用于面包、饼干、薯片、炸薯条和色拉酱中。

　　近年来欧美一些研究显示，经常食用反式脂肪含量高的食品易增加心血管疾病风险，育龄妇女过多食用反式脂肪含量高的食品还会面临不孕的风险。一些国家已开始立法限制食物的反式脂肪含量。

　　韩国将从今年12月起加强对反式脂肪使用的管理，将要求所有食品包装必须标明反式脂肪含量。

来源：中国贸易新闻网

   日前，在完成对山东省七家水产养殖加工企业的全面检查后，韩国海洋水产部官员表示:山东对韩国出口的水产品是安全的，希望更多的山东水产品出口到韩国。

　　4月中旬，韩国海洋水产部国立水产品质检查院一行三人在山东出入境检验检疫局检疫官员的陪同下对山东省两家水产养殖场和五家水产加工企业进行了全面检查。韩国海洋水产部代表团认为:山东水产品出口法律法规体系科学完善，水产养殖加工企业的自检自控体系是规范的，山东出入境检验检疫局对注册养殖场、加工厂的监管有效，检验检疫工作程序各环节非常严谨。他们表示，山东对韩国出口的水产品是安全的，希望更多的山东水产品出口到韩国。

　　山东是出口水生动物的大省，今年第一季度全省共出口水生动物5300多吨，货值950多万美元，出口的主要品种有泥鳅、鲤鱼、鲫鱼、活章鱼、海肠、河豚鱼、贝类等。出口国家主要是韩国和日本，其中韩国占山东出口水生动物总量的98％以上，是山东最大的出口水生动物贸易国。

Mars maker angers vegetarians with product reformulation
By Catherine Boal
摘要：英国玛氏Mars由于更改产品配方激怒素食主义者，这些产品包括Twix, Snickers, Mars Bars and Maltesers ，因为玛氏更改了配方换用乳清，而乳清含有凝乳块（由反刍动物的胃膜制成的干的提取物，用来制干酪和凝乳等），对于英国300万素食主义者而言令其大动肝火。而先前使用的凝乳块则是霉菌发酵制成，相对成本较高。

14/05/2007 - Confectionery company Masterfoods has come under fire in the UK for altering the formulation of some of its best-known chocolate brands.

Vegetarians in Britain are set to boycott products such as Twix, Snickers, Mars Bars and Maltesers following the manufacturer's decision to begin using animal-derived whey.

The company began using whey, which contains rennet - an ingredient obtained from animal's stomachs - at the beginning of May.

According to the UK's Vegetarian Society, there are around three million vegetarians in the country - making them a group with considerable consumer clout.

The Society is now urging consumers to contact Masterfoods directly with their concerns.

In a statement, the organisation said, "at a time when more and more consumers are concerned about the provenance of their food, Masterfoods' decision to use non-vegetarian whey is a backward step."

"Mars products are very popular with young people and many will be shocked to discover that their manufacture now relies on the extraction of rennet from the stomach lining of young calves," he added.

Masterfoods has adopted the use of whey in most of its core brands due to changes in the sourcing of its ingredients.

The company says products with an expiry date before October 1^st are still vegetarian-friendly, and they are offering refunds to consumers who bought the new products in ignorance of the change.

Rennet is a complex of enzymes produced by mammals that allows them to digest milk. Vegetarian rennet is generally produced from moulds but is more complex and expensive to produce on a large scale.

Syngenta eyes Chinese corn potential with Sanbei investment
By Jess Halliday

背景知识：

瑞士先正达公司将购买中国种业公司sanbei的49%，共同开发玉米种子，以满足国内需求。

瑞士先正达公司致力于通过创新的科研技术为可持续农业发展做出贡献。公司在全球植保领域名列前茅，并在高价值商业种子领域排名第三。公司 2006 年的全球销售额约 81 亿美元。目前，先正达的业务遍及全球 90 多个国家和地区，拥有员工 19,500 人左右。先正达在瑞士（ SYNN ）和纽约（ SYT ）股票交易所上市。
先正达在中国的总投资已达 1.8 亿美元，拥450 多名员工，建有 4 家合资企业、 1 家独 资公司和 数家代表处。

公司资料详见 先正达全球网页。

14/05/2007 - Syngenta is to acquire a 49 per cent take in Chinese seed company Sanbei with a view to jointly developing corn seed products to meet growing demand driven by changing food patterns and agronomic trends.

Swiss Syngenta has operated in China for the last decade, offering both seed and crop protection products. But the company has spied new opportunities as the economy in China is growing and more food is needed to feed the swelling population.

Sanbei is a leading player in the development and distribution of corn seeds in China.

A spokesperson told FoodNavigator.com that dietary patterns in the country are shifting "from green to protein", spurring demand for meat, which in turn calls for more feed - of which corn is a major component.

Another factor is the huge demand for energy in China, which goes hand-in-hand with growing awareness of biofuels.

And agricultural trends, such as the decline in arable lands, are also conspiring to create demand for high-yield, disease-resistant crops. By combining the two companies' technology and knowledge of corn, they expect to bring more varieties of corn seeds, different products that can combat disease and environmental factors, and speed development of new products to suit the Chinese market.

Michael Mack, chief operating officer of seeds at Syngenta, said: "[Sanbei] has strong commercial operations and an attractive product portfolio. Together with Syngenta's expertise in corn breeding this will result in improved and broader product availability for Chinese growers."

The deal is not regarded as one that will have a bearing on Syngenta's global operations. Syngenta will not exploit Sanbei's technology outside of China, since Chinese law provides that home-spun intellectual property should stay in the country.

The Sanbei deal is expected to significantly grow Syngenta's corn business in China. In 2006 Sanbei reported sales of approximately US$30m, but due to the fragmented market Syngenta prefers not discuss market share.

The terms also not being disclosed, since the transaction is subject to approvals by the Chinese authorities. Syngenta expects no problems, but such procedures can take quite some time, and it is difficult to predict when it will be concluded.

In full year 2006 Syngenta's earnings per share were up 14 per cent to $8.73, crop protection sales were up 1 per cent at $6.4 billion and new product sales up 25 per cent to $985 million.

Although sales were one per cent lower than the previous year at $8.05 bn, the company was bullish about its performance.  

BEIJING, May 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Thin people might be fat on the inside and suffer from risks posed by the internal fat surrounding vital organs, British researchers has warned.

    "Being thin doesn't automatically mean you're not fat," an AP report Thursday quoted Dr. Jimmy Bell, a professor of molecular imaging at Imperial College, London, as saying.

    Bell's team has scanned nearly 800 people with MRI machines since 1994 to find out where fat is stored in their bodies.

    Data show people who keep slim through diet rather than physical exercise are likely to have major deposits of internal fat.

    Doctors worry that thin people, without a clear warning signal, may falsely assume that they're healthy just because they're not overweight.

    "Just because someone is lean doesn't make them immune to diabetes or other risk factors for heart disease," said Dr. Louis Teichholz, chief of cardiology at Hackensack Hospital in New Jersey.

    Even normal Body Mass Index (BMI) scores cannot assure healthy levels of fat deposits inside.

    Of the women scanned by Bell and his colleagues, as many as 45 percent of those with normal BMI scores (20 to 25) actually had excessive levels of internal fat. Among men, the percentage was nearly 60 percent.

    Experts say there is no short-cut when it comes to being fit. "If you just want to look thin, then maybe dieting is enough," Bell said. "But if you want to actually be healthy, then exercise has to be an important component of your lifestyle."

来源：南方都市报

   出售广东李宁20％股权，后者变身李宁全资子公司

　　李宁有限公司（下简称李宁公司）与广东健力宝彻底终结了资本关系，李宁公司昨日宣布，公司间接全资子公司上海悦奥与广东健力宝签订收购协议，以约1781.7万元收购广东健力宝所持的20％广东李宁股权。收购完成后，广东李宁将成为李宁的间接全资子公司，分别由上海李宁持有80％股权，及上海悦奥持有20％股权。而广东健力宝及其最终控股股东除为广东李宁之主要股东外，为独立于本公司及本公司关联人士之第三方。

　　李宁公司称，收购完成后，广东李宁将成为集团服装样品技术中心和供应链快速反应中心。

　　李宁逾1700万元回购股权

　　根据广东李宁的介绍，目前，广东李宁是李宁公司旗下的骨干生产企业，是“李宁牌”服装的最大生产基地之一。截至2006年，广东李宁资产净值为8908万，同年税前利润为385.5万元，较上年增长24.6％。

　　据悉，上海悦奥体育用品有限公司为李宁公司的间接全资控股公司，收购广东李宁20％股权的代价1781.7万元，将由李宁集团透过内部资源以现金支付。据悉，服装产销是李宁公司目前最大的业务项目，占到公司2006年营业总额的55.7％。1998年，李宁公司还在广东佛山建成了中国最大的设计开发中心。李宁公司认为，收购可加速实现集团将广东李宁发展为集团服装样品技术中心和供应链快速反应中心的策略，对于进一步增强集团核心竞争力，实现业务持续增长有重要意义。

　　根据李宁公司年报，公司库存效率已显著提高，平均存活周转期从2005年的84日缩短到去年的70日。2006年公司营业额上升29.8％，达到31.8亿元，毛利率为15.1亿元，较上年增长34.0％。每股盈利为28.65分，增长57.0％。

　　李宁、健力宝股权关系终结

　　公告称，广东健力宝出售广东李宁的想法由来已久，主要原因在于两者的核心业务不符，广东李宁主业为运动服装生产，而健力宝则主营饮料业务。而回顾李宁公司和健力宝集团之间的渊源，回购广东李宁对于这两家曾经关系密切的公司而言有着更深远意义。

　　李宁公司去年年报显示，广东李宁全称为广东李宁体育发展有限公司，注册成立日期为2001年12月31日。在李宁公司现有的26家间接子公司中，广东李宁是唯一一家非全资持有的企业。而在广东李宁公司网站上，则显示该公司成立于1990年。

　　据知情人士表示，李宁与健力宝集团创始人李经纬的关系紧密，广东李宁就是李宁公司的发家之所。广东李宁原名“健力宝运动服装公司”，由健力宝集团和新加坡康基实业于1990年在佛山三水成立，中方握有51％股权。而自1994年后，李宁出于品牌发展考虑，有意从健力宝集团中独立出来，并在当年底获得三水政府和时任健力宝集团董事长的李经纬的同意。此后，李宁公司又分几次偿还了健力宝对其1600万的投资，健力宝运动服装公司成为双方的唯一联系，由李宁公司掌握80％股权，健力宝集团握有余下的20％股权。在健力宝的“李经纬时代”结束后，广东李宁实际上成为了一个具有纪念意义的服装生产厂。

　　据悉，本项收购完成后，广东健力宝将成为独立于李宁及其关联子公司的第三方，换言之，双方已经没有其他股权瓜葛。健力宝集团人士在接受记者采访时甚至表示，并不清楚李宁公司与健力宝之间的关系。

来源：四川新闻网-成都商报

  沃尔玛的纸巾，家乐福的杯子、麦德龙的饮料……目前，成都各大超市琳琅满目的商品中除了大众熟知的名牌商品外，不乏超市推出的包装简单、价格低廉的自有品牌商品。不过，昨日记者获得的信息却可能对热衷于生产自有品牌的超市泼上一盆冷水。据悉，中国连锁经营协会目前正在起草《超市自有品牌开发经营规范》，预计明年初能正式出台，该规范将从各个环节来约束自有品牌商品的质量。

　　自有商品毛利率可达40％

　　记者昨日走访了成都市区内家乐福、沃尔玛、易初莲花等多家超市后发现，各大卖场几乎无一例外地推出自有品牌商品。昨日，沃尔玛成都分公司有关人士对记者表示，沃尔玛单店经营的2万多种商品种中，有百分之十几的品种都是超市自有品牌，产品范围涵盖了办公用品、服装、食品等多个领域。

　　据称，发展自有品牌将是沃尔玛公司未来几年努力的方向。超市自有品牌能和市场上的名牌产品形成互补。发展自有品牌产品的好处还在于可以减少生产的中间环节，从一定程度上控制生产成本。家乐福中西区有关人士昨日也表示，自有品牌价格低廉，加上产品都是超市授权给知名企业生产，产品品质也容易得到保证，超市自有品牌商品也受到一部分消费者青睐。

　　不过，四川省商业连锁投资联合会会长冉立春却指出，超市之所以愿意发展自有品牌，最大的动因在于自有品牌商品的平均毛利率高达40％，利润空间十分巨大，成为超市赚钱的一个重要渠道。不过，目前在成都乃至国内的超市自有品牌所占比重都还比较小，基本上不到10％，而欧美一些国家超市就特别强调发展自有品牌，比如说瑞士超市自有品牌高达40％，英国超市自有品牌占有率也接近30％。

　　自有品牌商品将有统一质量标准

　　超市自有品牌商品以价格低廉来吸引消费者的眼球，但是由于产品包装简单、产品质量缺乏消费者信任，产品销售额占超市总销售额的比重还不大。业内人士指出，超市自有品牌产品质量参差不齐是导致其整体销量下降的主要原因。去年，中国连锁经营协会公布的一项数据显示，消费者对超市自制食品的投诉，已超过了对超市食品安全投诉量的一半。食品变质、有杂物异物、商品过期等问题也成为超市自制食品被消费者投诉的主要问题。

　　记者昨日获悉，中国连锁经营协会目前正在起草《超市自有品牌开发经营规范》，该规范预计明年初能正式出台。中国连锁经营协会信息部主任杨青松此前曾透露，国家商务部根据中国连锁经营协会制定“超市自制食品国家标准”的申请，决定委托协会起草《超市自有品牌开发经营规范》。

　　据了解，该标准将引导零售商从产品研发、厂商选择、商品运输及销售等一系列生产环节入手来保证自有品牌商品的质量。此外，规范还将对自有品牌商品监管做出明确的规定。届时，超市自有品牌产品将不再成为安全盲区，超市品牌信誉度也将得到提升。

    随着人们生活水平的提高，肥胖已经成为了一件令都市人最为头疼的事情。据统计，全美大约有三分之一的成年人体重超过正常标准。毫无疑问，肥胖将会极大程度地影响人们的健康，因此这个问题已经受到了来自于全社会越来越多的重视。

    据美国福布斯网站4月7日报道，去年美国仅仅在减肥食品和减肥教科书方面的花费就超过了460亿美元。下面就是全美流行的几种奇怪减肥法。

    好莱坞48小时奇迹减肥法

    这个减肥方法承诺：将会帮助参与者在短短的两天之内减掉10磅或者更多的体重。在这48小时之中，参与者不能喝其它东西，而要喝一种特殊配方的果汁。这个减肥怪方的广告词是“为您的身体、思想和精神放个假”。

    卷心菜汤减肥法

    提供这种低脂肪高纤维的减肥食谱的人承诺，如果这些减肥者能够坚持连续7天都喝卷心菜汤的话，他们就能在这段时间内减掉10磅的重量。在减肥过程中，人们还可以进食一些其他的东西，如一天可以吃些香蕉和脱脂牛奶，第二天可以吃些牛肉和番茄。这种减肥方法的爱好者表示，此法甚至能让你在减掉体重的同时也能去除体中的废物。

    柚子减肥法

    见识到这种减肥方法之后，那些曾经被虚假水果减肥法伤透了心的减肥者将会重新获得希望。此种方法的支持者表示，这种甜美多汁的水果可以燃烧体内脂肪，起到很好的减肥效果。减肥者需要做的仅仅是减少零食和大部分复合碳水化合物的摄入，同时每天喝几杯水，这样您就会发现以前臃肿的腰身慢慢变得苗条多了。

    鸡汤减肥法

    也许您听说过抚慰心灵的《心灵鸡汤》这本书，不过现在向您推荐的是具有瘦身功效的鸡汤。这种方法十分简单，减肥者每天可以进食一些非常简单的早餐和很多鸡汤，鸡汤的摄入量是不受限制的。但仅仅是鸡汤而已，绝对不能加入面条之类的东西。每天如此，这样坚持一个礼拜就会有不错的减肥效果。

    苹果醋减肥法

    苹果醋减肥法的狂热者们表示，发酵的苹果中含有果胶，而人们相信这种果胶可以帮助降低脂肪含量。因此减肥者需要做的仅仅是在每餐前喝几小勺苹果醋，如此而已，轻轻松松地燃烧多余的脂肪。

    反复咀嚼减肥法

    此项有趣的减肥方法是上个世纪初，由美国旧金山的一位名为赫莱斯。福拉克特的商人首次推广普及的。这种方法倡导人们在咀嚼食物的过程中尽可能仔细一些，争取把食物嚼成液体状态然后再送到胃中。福拉克特相信，延长咀嚼时间可以避免人们过量饮食。

    据总后军需物资油料部门今天公布的消息，经国家财政部批准，全军和武警部队食用植物油供应等级标准，自今年起由三级油调整为一级油。

    总后有关专家告诉记者，此次调整部队食用植物油供应等级标准，是继国家提高部队米面供应等级标准后，对军粮供应标准的又一次重大调整。调整后的供应标准，是国家食用植物油标准中的最高等级，充分体现了党和国家对提高部队生活质量的重视和对全军官兵的关怀。新标准的颁发执行，对于优化部队营养结构、提升官兵生活质量、提高军粮供应水平、增强部队凝聚力和战斗力具有重要意义。

    总后有关部门日前向全军下发了《关于调整部队食用植物油供应等级标准的通知》，要求各级后勤部门做好宣传工作，了解掌握食用植物油相关知识，提高鉴别食油质量和安全的能力；规范采购渠道，坚持到国有油脂加工企业、大型粮油批发市场和地方军粮供应网点采购，并选择适合部队饮食习惯的国内优质品牌产品供应部队；加强各个环节的管理，采取有效措施，积极组织筹措供应，确保部队官兵吃上新质量等级标准的食油。

   5月11日讯记者从今天闭幕的全省海洋经济工作会议上获悉，从我省兴起的中国五次蓝色产业浪潮，成为山东海洋科研成果惠及全国人民的优秀范例，使我国水产品总量超过5000万吨，稳居世界第一。人均40公斤水产品占有量大大改善了13亿人民的食品结构，为我国粮食及食品安全作出了重要贡献。

    中国蓝色产业的“五次浪潮”均从我省兴起。上世纪60年代以来，以海带养殖为代表的海洋藻类养殖浪潮使我国海藻干品产量超过80万吨，连续十几年世界第一；80年代以来，以中国对虾为代表的虾类养殖浪潮使对虾产量超过50万吨，稳居世界第一；90年代以来，以海湾扇贝为代表的贝类养殖浪潮使全国贝类产值超过300亿元；“九五”以来，以经济鱼类为代表的海洋鱼类养殖浪潮、以海洋药物为代表的海洋天然产物开发浪潮方兴未艾，大有后来居上之势。

    据省科技厅副厅长李乃胜介绍，依靠科技进步，我省的海洋科技工作者成功引进驯化了海湾扇贝、南美白对虾、英国大菱鲆、美国红鱼、墨西哥湾扇贝等10多个世界优良品种。利用分子水平的基因转移、多倍体诱导、性别控制、细胞克隆等现代化技术培育出了三倍体牡蛎、全雌性对虾、转基因海带等十个海水养殖品种，使我国海水养殖业进入现代生物技术的新阶段。

    五次蓝色产业浪潮也造就了山东海洋渔业强省的地位。我省水产品总产量、产值、出口创汇等指标连续十多年保持全国首位。2006年，全省海洋渔业产量达到640万吨，总产值达到1260亿元；海水养殖产量达到373.5万吨，远洋渔业产量达到20万吨，水产品出口达到32.4亿美元，占全省农业出口的40%。

    为应对日本实施肯定列表制度所带来的影响，福建出入境检验检疫局日前出台出口食用菌和保鲜、速冻蔬菜溯源标识管理，将于8月1日起实施。

    据介绍，肯定列表制度实施以来，日本提高了食用菌和保鲜、速冻蔬菜准入门槛，对出口企业溯源管理体系提出更高要求。为此，溯源标识管理规定，督促辖区出口食用菌和保鲜、速冻蔬菜企业，建立包含备案基地代码、卫生注册登记代码、产品名称编码、生产批次代码在内的出口产品溯源标识管理体系，并向所在地检验检疫机构报备，确保每个企业每个出口品种均有唯一性标识并可追溯；出口企业在出口食用菌和保鲜、速冻蔬菜的外包装上，标注符合要求的可追溯性标识，并在出口产品检验检疫的申报材料上，申明符合要求的可追溯性标识。