So, let's take a look at the 2006 food headlines, and see why this may go down in history as one of the most interesting years in the history of food and nutrition!First off, and most interestingly, at the end of 2006, we saw the FDA approval of cloned foods go through. Wait, weren't we just debating the morality of cloning not too long ago? And now we've had one of the most notoriously fickle organizations, the FDA, approve cloned foods, including animal foods like pork, beef and chicken? Well, yes, it wasn't too long ago, and yes the FDA did approve foods from cloned animal to be available to the public.



There just seems to be something about eating cloned food that is "wrong". Isn't there somewhere down the line when these cloned animals and their byproducts may be found to cause some sort of health issue in the creatures that consume them (us?).

Many companies such as Ben and Jerry's ice creams want to make it clear that their ice cream is only made from animal fat (dairy fat, that is), that is from non-cloned, grain fed animals without the use of hormones. There will very likely be many other food companies that want to distinguish themselves this way as well, as they know full well many Americans will not find the idea of eating cloned animal byproducts particularly savory.

Trans fats actually make food extremely tasty, and some argue, even addictive. They have been the subject of much dire warning from the health community, to consume trans fats in extreme moderation, or even better, not at all. Trans fats really do not have one speck of nutritional value, and in fact can just be called a pure health hazard.

They raise the bad cholesterol levels in the blood and have been implicated in the increasing levels of obesity and heart disease in this country also though, and there have been many lobbyists campaigning for their elimination and outlaw for a while.

Some agree with government intervention in the health and well being of American citizens, while some disagree and believe this is undue government intervention, and that education should be used instead of seemingly intrusive laws.

One thing is for sure, 2006 has seen some pretty radical changes in the food sector, and 2007 may just bring some more interesting developments as the debate over nutrition continues to be a hot subject.