Tainted Chinese products have hit the headlines again as pesticide-laced meat dumplings made in China sickened more than 175 people in Japan leading Tokyo to call on Beijing to do more to improve the safety of its products. Japan imports more food from China than the United States does. Although there are disputes on the number of people who have become sick, with some sources attributing 500 cases of food poisoning to the tainted Chinese food.

Officials had tried to reassure people, but concerns over food safety turned into near hysteria and many retailers responded by pulling all Chinese-made processed foods from their grocery or department store shelves

A research study concluded that a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet proven to aid in reducing the number of epileptic seizures for children has the same effects on adults.

Experts at the Johns Hopkins University arrived at the conclusion by conducting an experiment that involved monitoring the diets of 30 adult epileptics who have found no relief from at least two anti-epilepsy drugs. The subjects were said to have experienced an average of 10 epileptic seizures every week

A study concluded that the usual "western" diet consisting of heavy amounts of meat, fried food, and refined grains ups the risk of an individual developing type 2 diabetes, as well as heart complications.

The research, conducted by experts from the University of Minnesota, determined the results by examining the eating habits of nearly 10,000 people. The study showed that a daily diet consisting of two portions of red meat results in a 26 percent increase in the susceptibility to a condition known as metabolic syndrome

A new Social Security Institute study said by 2018 Mexicans will overtake Americans as the most obese people, unless measures are instituted to curb the rising incidents of obesity. The institute blamed this unhealthful trend to Mexicans' passion for eating and preference for junk food.

A 2006 National Health Survey said 70 percent of Mexicans have weight problems. Forty percent are obese, while another 30 percent are overweight

A meatpacking company in Minnesota has recalled 188,000 pounds of ground beef patties distributed to food establishments nationwide after five cases of illnesses caused by a bacteria in the product was found.

Lacrossetribune.com reported on Monday that the U.S. Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced on Saturday the recall issued by the Rochester Meat Co. of Rochester for its beef patties produced on Oct. 30 and Nov. 6