Latest news with #BrianKavanagh
Irish Times
9 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Curragh boss says marathon World Pool programmes not a problem for racegoers
Next Sunday's €1.25 million Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby will be the centrepiece of another bumper nine-race card and Curragh officials insist such marathon programmes are not an issue for racegoers. Last year, Irish racing's HQ hosted the first nine-race meeting in modern times to facilitate the lucrative Tote World Pool betting. The Curragh first hosted the pool run by the Hong Kong Jockey Club in 2023 , when it prompted the Derby date to be switched to Sunday for the first time in 14 years. Almost €30 million in global betting turnover was generated on the Curragh action in 2023. Sunday's action could end up being worth up to €700,000 for the Tote here, as well as the Curragh and Horse Racing Ireland . READ MORE Last month's Guineas festival at the Curragh was part of the pool for the first time and also saw a nine-race programme for 2,000 Guineas day. It prompted some complaints about the length of the card, while there was also disquiet at Epsom earlier this month when Derby day there was included on the World Pool and led to an eight-race card. The pool is the biggest co-mingled market in world racing and operated at Royal Ascot last week. The Irish Champions Festival in September is also included in it. The Curragh's Derby festival kicks off on Friday and once more, a €100,000 handicap has been added to Sunday to make it nine races. Brian Kavanagh, chief executive of the Curragh, said he wasn't aware of criticism relating to the length of the programme at last year's Derby or at last month's 2,000 Guineas. 'I think the big days are days when people are here for a day out,' he said on Sunday. 'We've had days when, at the finish, people are looking for more races. 'It has worked fine. It's a chance to put on a €100,000 handicap as an extra race for three-year-olds, which was run for the first time on Derby day last year. Hopefully it will generate plenty of interest and activity." Part of the commentary at Epsom last month revolved around a lack of quality in some of the contests that backed up the big race. Kavanagh said that won't be the case this coming Sunday. Horse Racing Ireland put the fixture list together; that's not just our call — Brian Kavanagh 'These are all premier handicaps, very competitive races, backed up by a number of Listed races and obviously the Derby, the feature race itself,' said the Curragh boss. 'I think people come for the day and whether they stay for all the races or some races is a matter for themselves. It's a good opportunity to put another high-value race and Hong Kong, the World Pool, will take nine races if we put them on. That's the logic to it.' Ticket pricing for the Irish Derby has also come under the spotlight in recent years, nominated sometimes as a contributory factor to underwhelming attendance figures for Ireland's premier classic. An official figure of 11,418 was returned for Derby day last year. The capacity in the grandstand alone is 13,000. Kavanagh pointed out that the entry cost for Sunday's action is €35, providing people buy their tickets online up to Friday. He says this is 'very good value'. After the Friday cut-off, tickets increase to €45. He also confirmed that officials will look at reducing next year's Guineas festival to two days and losing the Friday evening card. However, a similar move in relation to the Derby festival won't be considered. 'Horse Racing Ireland put the fixture list together; that's not just our call. We will look at that (Guineas festival) for next year,' he said. 'But three days is well established for the Derby. The Friday for the Guineas was added just before or just after Covid. The Derby has been three days for more than 20 years, so I doubt that will change.' [ Kevin Prendergast, influential trainer, dies aged 92 Opens in new window ] An unsettled weather outlook for the week ahead could prove an important factor in deciding likely opposition to the Epsom Derby winner Lambourn on Sunday. Aidan O'Brien's star is odds-on in most betting lists ahead of Tuesday's latest acceptance stage where supplementary entries can be made. However, some ease in the going could make the Curragh a possible option for the Epsom runner Lazy Griff. The Dante winner Pride Of Arras failed to act around Epsom and is another potential cross-channel contender.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
At least a dozen states are passing laws with wide-ranging impacts on America's diet: 'Informing the public about the dangers'
When you walk around the grocery store and take a close look at many of our food products, you might notice that artificial food dyes have become a big part of what we eat. From our favorite cereals to even yogurt, food manufacturers have relied on dyes for decades. However, a dozen states have worked to pass laws to throw synthetic food coloring in the trash. And more states might be joining them soon. In New York, a bill sponsored by Sen. Brian Kavanagh and Assemblymember Anna Kelles seeks to ban the use of a number of potentially harmful additives and artificial dyes from foods sold or manufactured in the state. Referred to as the Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act, the bill has been brought to the state's Agriculture Committee. "New Yorkers need and deserve the highest level of protection when it comes to the safety of the food we eat," Kavanagh told The Legislative Gazette. One step ahead of New York, the West Virginia Senate passed House Bill 2354, designed to ban dyes such as Red No. 3, Red No. 40, Yellow No. 5, Yellow No. 6, Blue No. 1, Blue No. 2, and Green No. 3 from foods and drinks. The health impact of artificial food dyes has been known for years. Studies have shown that dyes such as Red No. 40 have been linked to the rise of early-onset colorectal cancer in mice. Another study investigated the connection between food color additives and hyperactive disorders in children. Laura Wakim Chapman, chair of the West Virginia Senate Health and Human Resources Committee, spoke to the Guardian regarding the push to ban food dyes. "Viral videos and social media content is informing the public about the dangers of unnecessary food additives," Wakim Chapman said. "I am a mother of two and care deeply about their health. I think most parents do." The dozen states working to ban artificial food dyes come as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revoked the usage of Red 3 in January 2025. The FDA has instructed manufacturers to "reformulate their products" by Jan. 15, 2027, or Jan. 18, 2028. In an effort to find alternatives, many natural food dyes have utilized ingredients such as beet powder and even crushed freeze-dried strawberries to find pops of color. What should the government do about the fast fashion industry? Set strict regulations Incentivize sustainable options Use both regulations and incentives Nothing Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
This Food Safety Bill Would Require Food Companies to Fess Up About Food Additives
New York wants its residents to know exactly what's in their food — especially the ones their children eat in school. And it's introducing major legislation to make that happen. In January, Sen. Brian Kavanagh (D-District 27) and Assemblymember Dr. Anna Kelles (D-District 125) introduced the New York Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act, a bill that — if passed — could 'amend the agriculture and markets law and the education law, in relation to prohibiting certain food additives and food color additives.' While other states have prohibited certain additives, including California, which banned red dye No. 3, potassium bromate, brominated vegetable oil, and Propylparaben in 2023, this bill comes with the unique 'disclosure' attribute. Here's what you need to know about the bill and what it means for the future of food safety and awareness. First, a little refresher on what 'food additives' are. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explained that food additives are 'any substance the intended use of which results or may reasonably be expected to result, directly or indirectly, in its becoming a component or otherwise affecting the characteristic of any food.' As Food & Wine previously explained, food additives are 'ingredients intentionally added to products for a specific purpose,' which could be improving a food's taste, texture, color, shelf life, or even nutritional value. Food additives include ascorbic acid (aka vitamin C), which helps keep foods fresh, and iodine, which was added to salt in the 1920s to help combat iodine deficiency in the general population. However, perhaps the most significant risk of food additives is that many are not regulated as thoroughly as you might expect. This is due to a loophole in the FDA known as the Generally Recognized as Safe, or GRAS, designation, which permits companies to self-declare new ingredients as "safe" without requiring additional oversight from FDA officials. Related: More Than 10,000 Chemical Food Additives Ended Up in the U.S. Food System — Here's Why Food & Wine also pointed to a 2013 report by the Pew Charitable Trust, which stated that the loophole was intended for common food ingredients, but manufacturers quickly began using the exception to get their products to market 'without agency review on the grounds that the additive used is 'generally recognized as safe.'' As a result, 'companies have determined that an estimated 1,000 chemicals are generally recognized as safe and have used them without notifying the agency.' 'One-hundred percent of the people that review them have financial conflicts of interest,' Jennifer L. Pomeranz, an associate professor of public health policy and management at NYU, shared during a panel discussion about the bill. 'So it's scary to think about them just adding it to our food supply with no knowledge by us or the FDA.'"There is psychological literature on what makes foods attractive, and that literature shows that the single most important factor in a child's choice of food is color. So there's a reason why all of those kids' cereals look like they're neon — because kids like those colors and think that's what they're supposed to be eating."Because of the loophole, the FDA reviews fewer than 1% of new chemicals entering the food supply. In early March, Robert F. Kennedy, the newly appointed head of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced that he's directing 'the acting FDA commissioner to take steps to explore potential rulemaking to revise its Substances Generally Recognized as Safe Final Rule and related guidance to eliminate the self-affirmed GRAS pathway.' However, some lawmakers, particularly in New York, are unwilling to delay action since these food additives may be particularly troubling for children. These additives consist of synthetic dyes and preservatives that have been associated with behavioral issues, including hyperactivity and potential long-term health consequences. 'There's a lot of good evidence that stepping in and making sure that our children are eating healthy foods without some of these chemicals really will benefit their health,' Kavanagh said at the event. That evidence includes a 2021 review by California state scientists that looked at 27 different human studies and found that certain food dyes caused 'microscopic changes' in children's brains and interfered with chemical signaling, which can lead to neurobehavioral issues. There is, however, a more significant issue in this, according to Marion Nestle, the founder of Food Politics and a Paulette Goddard professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health, Emerita at NYU. And that is the fact that food science in children is incredibly complex. Related: California Is Looking to Ban Ultra-Processed Foods From Public Schools — Here's What That Means 'It's complicated, and these are impossible studies to do. You can't take two sets of kids, divide half of them, give them food dyes, and watch what happens, and then the other half get a placebo,' Nestle said, explaining they'd be deemed 'unethical' studies. That means we simply don't have enough data on any of these health outcomes. However, Nestle added, the question then becomes, 'Do you leave it in the food supply and wait until it gets everybody into a lot of trouble and then get rid of it? Or do you do what the Europeans do, which is to apply what they call the 'precautionary principle,' so if there are any questions about its safety, let's not use it?' 'There is psychological literature on what makes foods attractive, and that literature shows that the single most important factor in a child's choice of a food is the color,' Nestle said. 'So there's a reason why all of those kids' cereals look like they're neon because kids like those colors and think that that's what they're supposed to be eating.' However, as Nestle noted, when General Mills attempted to replace artificial dyes in its Trix cereal with natural alternatives in 2015, sales plummeted. Consumers rejected the duller, natural colors, prompting the company to quietly reintroduce artificial dyes. Nestle added that this is precisely why industry-wide regulations are necessary, so individual companies won't hesitate to implement these changes alone and risk losing market share. Instead, everyone will have to follow suit, establishing a new standard for what our — and our children's — food looks like. With federal agencies like the FDA underfunded and slow to act on food safety concerns, state intervention is increasingly critical. 'When we're at a federal deregulation time like we are now … there's never been a better time for the states and cities to take action,' Pomeranz said. 'Although it's actually always been a great time for states and cities to take action because they can do things that can protect us. And given New York and places like California have such large economies, the food industry isn't going to create products just for our state. They're going to actually protect all Americans.' The Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act directly targets this issue by mandating transparency. If a company wants to sell a food product in New York containing a GRAS-approved additive that has not undergone independent FDA review, it must disclose this information to the state's Department of Agriculture and Markets. Companies must also submit the scientific basis for their safety claims and make this information publicly available. 'I think the most impactful thing is the disclosure,' Kavanagh shared, explaining that while scientific inquiry serves as the guidepost, it is essential that transparency, disclosure, and the 'ability of disinterested parties to review the results of that science' ensure that information 'will be made public for all to see.' Cost is a significant concern about food regulation, especially for public school meals. This bill, however, is expected to have a minimal financial impact on schools. Kavanagh noted that the bill 'will have limited financial effect on anybody.' While it is 'true that sometimes foods that are healthier cost a bit more,' the bulk of the cost is in the transportation and labor required to deliver and serve the food. So, according to Kavanagh, serving healthier foods should 'have very marginal effects.' Related: The Case for National Free School Lunch Has Never Been Stronger There's even data that points to the fact that serving healthier school meals could actually benefit the economy. A 2021 joint report by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Center for Good Food Purchasing found that the American government's $18.7 billion investment in free and reduced lunches resulted in a nearly $40 billion return, 'providing at least $21 billion in net benefit,' which includes improved public health and greater economic equity by assisting low-income families in accessing nutritious meals, easing financial strain, and fostering economic stability. As the report states, if you want even more gains, just make those meals healthier. 'We analyze investments to maximize student participation, improve dietary composition, and optimize food purchasing policies, which together would produce an additional $10 billion worth of net-positive health, equity, environmental, and economic impacts.' For starters, you can voice your support for the bill, which currently sits with the Senate Agriculture Committee. Then, you could try swapping out ultra-processed foods yourself to see how big of an impact it could make. 'I think the best advice is actually to choose less processed food,' Pomeranz said. 'We can't avoid it all, and it's also much cheaper. But if you're choosing between potato chips that are made out of potatoes, vegetable oil, and salt and then crinkles, which have 18 ingredients, it's an obvious choice.' Read the original article on Food & Wine
