Response to World Health Organization Reviews of Aspartame

BRUSSELS, Belgium, July 14, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In response to two World Health Organization (WHO) evaluations of aspartame, one of the most thoroughly researched ingredients in the world, released today, the International Sweeteners Association (ISA) applauds the WHO’s reaffirmation of aspartame’s safety by its leading scientific body responsible for evaluating the safety of food additives, the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). These conclusions are consistent with the findings of over 90 global food safety agencies who have confirmed aspartame’s safety, including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), that has reviewed aspartame twice, and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“JECFA has once again reaffirmed aspartame’s safety after conducting a thorough, comprehensive and scientifically rigorous review,” said ISA Secretary General Frances Hunt-Wood. “Aspartame, like all low/no calorie sweeteners, when used as part of a balanced diet, provides consumers with choice to reduce sugar intake, a critical public health objective.”

As part of its comprehensive assessment, reconfirming the safety of aspartame, JECFA examined IARC’s conclusions and found no concern for human health. Importantly, IARC is not a food safety body and its 2B classification does not consider intake levels nor actual risk, making an IARC review far less comprehensive than the thorough reviews conducted by food safety bodies like JECFA and potentially confusing for consumers.

To put this in context, IARC’s 2B classification puts aspartame in the same category as kimchi and other pickled vegetables. IARC would be the first to say that they don’t suggest people should stop using kimchi at meals.

As part of an overall healthy diet and lifestyle, aspartame can be used to further public health objectives on sugar intake reduction and ultimately assist in weight and diabetes management, as well as with dental health.

For media enquiries, please contact the ISA PR agency:
media@sweeteners.org – Phone (24/7): +1 (833) 318-2430

www.sweeteners.org/news

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8874554

‫رد على مراجعات منظمة الصحة العالمية للأسبرتام

بروكسل، 14 يوليو 2023: ردًا على تقييمين تم إصدارهما اليوم لمنظمة الصحة العالمية (WHO) للأسبرتام، أحد أكثر المكونات التي قُتِلت بحثًا في العالم، تشيد الرابطة الدولية للمُحليِّات (ISA) بإعادة تأكيد المنظمة على سلامة الأسبرتام من خلال هيئتها العلمية الرائدة المسؤولة عن تقييم سلامة المُضافات الغذائية، وهي لجنة الخبراء المشتركة بين منظمة الأغذية والزراعة ومنظمة الصحة العالمية بشأن المُضافات الغذائية (JECFA). تتوافق هذه الاستنتاجات مع النتائج التي توصلت إليها أكثر من 90 وكالة عالمية لسلامة الأغذية أكدت على سلامة الأسبرتام، ومن بينها الهيئة الأوروبية لسلامة الأغذية  (EFSA) التي راجعت الأسبرتام مرتين وإدارة الغذاء والدواء الأمريكية إدارة الغذاء والدواء الأمريكية  (FDA).

“أعادت لجنة الخبراء المشتركة بين منظمة الأغذية والزراعة ومنظمة الصحة العالمية بشأن المُضافات الغذائية (JECFA) التأكيد مرة أخرى على سلامة الأسبرتام بعد إجراء مراجعة شاملة ودقيقة علميًا” حسب ما قالته الأمين العام للرابطة الدولية للمُحليِّات فرانسيس هانت-وود. حيث “يوفر الأسبرتام، مثل جميع المُحليِّات منخفضة السعرات/ الخالية من السعرات الحرارية عند استخدامه كجزء من نظام غذائي متوازن، للمستهلكين خيار تقليل مقدار كمية السكر التي يتناولونها، وهو هدف مهم متعلق بالصحة العامة”.

كجزء من تقييمها الشامل، لإعادة التأكيد على سلامة الأسبرتام، قامت لجنة الخبراء المشتركة بين منظمة الأغذية والزراعة ومنظمة الصحة العالمية بشأن المُضافات الغذائية (JECFA) بفحص استنتاجات الوكالة الدولية لبحوث السرطان (IARC) ولم تجد أي مخاوف متعلقة بصحة الإنسان. والأهم من ذلك، أن الوكالة الدولية لبحوث السرطان ليست هيئة سلامة أغذية ولا يأخذ تصنيفها 2B ممستويات الجرعة ولا المخاطر الفعلية في الحسبان، ما يجعل مراجعتها أقل شمولية بكثير من المراجعات الدقيقة التي أجرتها هيئات سلامة الأغذية مثل JEDFA وقد تكون أكثر تشتيتًا للمستهلكين.

لوضع هذا الأمر في سياق واضح، فإن تصنيف 2B للوكالة الدولية لبحوث السرطان (IARC) يضع الأسبرتام في الفئة نفسها مع الكيمتشي والخضراوات المخللة الأخرى. ستكون IARC أول من تقول بأنها لا تشير إلى أنه ينبغي للأشخاص التوقف عن استخدام الكيمتشي في الوجبات.

كجزء من نظام غذائي ونمط حياة صحيين بشكل عام، يمكن استخدام الأسبرتام لتعزيز أهداف الصحة العامة المتعلقة بتقليل كمية السكر التي يتم تناولها والمساعدة في النهاية على إدارة الوزن ومرض السكري، بالإضافة إلى الحفاظ على صحة الأسنان.

النهاية

للاستفسارات الإعلامية، يُرجى الاتصال بوكالة العلاقات العامة للرابطة الدولية للمُحليِّات:

media@sweeteners.org – هاتف (متاح على مدار الساعة طوال أيام الأسبوع): 318-2430 (833) 1+
www.sweeteners.org/news

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 3597658

Vytelle Expands to Brisbane, Australia with Sixteenth Global Bovine In Vitro Fertilisation Laboratory

BRISBANE, Australia,, July 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vytelle, a precision livestock company, is progressing on their five-year plan to provide accessible, hormone-free, bovine in vitro fertilisation to producers across the globe. Announced today, Vytelle has expanded to Brisbane, Australia with its sixteenth global laboratory.

Vytelle’s integrated technology platform combines Vytelle ADVANCE, a breakthrough in vitro fertilisation (IVF) technology, with Vytelle SENSE, an animal performance data capture system, and Vytelle INSIGHT, an artificial intelligence based genetic analytics engine.  The platform provides progressive cattle producers the technology to make reliable data-driven mating decisions that improve the predictability of genetic progress, replicating the right genetics faster.

The Brisbane-based, Australia laboratory brings accessibility to modern reproduction technology like never before to Australia’s eastern states’ beef herds. Vytelle’s hormone-free in vitro fertilisation process, including their proprietary media, will deliver high-quality embryos to producers allowing them to make more valuable calves, faster to maximise sustainability.

“Vytelle is the fastest growing bovine IVF company in the world,” commented Kerryann Kocher, CEO of Vytelle. She continued, “We are thrilled to open our doors in Brisbane, positioning Vytelle to serve 70% of the total beef herd in Australia from this location.”

 Vytelle has a long history in Australia through its Vytelle SENSE phenotypic data capture technology to measure and select for feed efficiency. With this investment, Vytelle is positioned to help Australian producers improve efficiencies and make faster genetic progress across the supply chain to consistently market more efficient and sustainable beef. “The large-scale adoption of IVF will be driven by the successful use of frozen embryos,” stated Andrew Donoghue, Regional Manager for Australia and New Zealand. He continued, “Unlike other technologies, the Vytelle system allows us to deliver frozen results producers can count on, providing reliable IVF to herds historically underserved with fresh programs.”

The Australian-based team is serving beef and dairy producers with on-farm ovum pick-ups immediately. Visit www.vytelle.com or contact Andrew Donoghue at andrew.donoghue@vytelle.com or +61 428 442 1555 to accelerate your herd’s genetic progress today.

Attachment

Andrew Donoghue
Vytelle
+61 428 442 1555
andrew.donoghue@vytelle.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8874359

No Significant Change to Load Shed Regime

Karachi, July 14, 2023 (PPI-OT): Following a periodic assessment of the network, 71% of the city remain exempt from load shed under the schedule published by K-Electric, effective immediately. The schedule, which is publicly available on the company’s website and KE Live app, is based on a review of KE’s network of 2,000 feeders for electricity theft and non-payment of bills, which form the basis for loadshed. The last review was conducted in March 2023. Spokesperson KE clarified that “71% of KE’s network continues to receive uninterrupted power supply. These are areas where bills are paid on time and electricity theft is low. The remaining areas include regions where up to 90% of electricity is stolen and bills against actual consumption are unpaid. Areas with this profile account for about 25% of the network and receive 14 hours of electricity supply every day.”

The spokesperson reiterated that supply improves in areas where bills are paid regularly and theft decreases. Examples of such improvement can be seen in areas like Behar Colony and Tannery Road in Lyari associated with “Offbeat Street” with reported AT and C losses of 27.9% in comparison to March this year. “Roshanabad” feeder providing electricity to Shah Faisal Colony no. 5, located near the Airport has also recorded losses of 30.7% which is resulting in a decrease of 4 hours in the duration of loadshed. Similarly, areas like Gulshan-e-Areesha, Jehangir Town, Johar Complex served by “Areesha CHS” feeder have recorded losses of 22.3%; “New Iqbalabad” feeder in Shah Faisal serving Drigh Road Cantt, Al-Haider, and Tandoor Colony, has also reported AT and C losses of 21.1% which is resulting in a reduction of loadshed duration by up to 6 hours.

KE has installed smart meters on its infrastructure which enables the company to rigorously monitor the number of electricity units dispatched, billed, and lost in any part of the network. This tracking and data-based approach leads to actionable insights and maintains transparency in the periodic assessment. Conversely, loadshed duration has increased in areas where electricity theft has risen or the propensity to pay has been negatively impacted owing to macroeconomic conditions and government-mandated increases in price of electricity. Examples of this has been seen in areas associated with feeders named “Punjab Town” in Malir serving Moria Khan Goth, Falak Naz Towers, and Falak Naz Height, which has recorded an AT and C loss of 28% in comparison to March the same year.

Similarly, “Soomra CHS” feeder Johar associated with Soomra Society has recorded 48.6% losses, while “Bilalabad” feeder in Landhi powering areas like Sector 4D, 5D, and 5C stood at 36.2% losses. Areas in Orangi such as Sector 11-A, 11-E, 12-L and Urdu Chowk among others served by “Zia-ul-Haq Colony” feeder in Orangi have reported a loss of 36.6%. Spokesperson clarified that these areas will be monitored closely until the next review and appealed to elected area representatives to work with the company in addressing the challenge of theft and non-payment of bills. In the prevailing macroeconomic conditions, “free electricity” cannot be provided to such areas where bill payment is low or continues to decline.

KE regularly establishes facilitation camps in coordination with area representatives to inculcate a culture of regular bill payment. Distribution field teams are also conducting kunda removal activities around the clock to reduce theft. All stakeholders from the customer to the Federal Government have a role to play to help adapt and adjust by adopting energy conservation measures amid a tough economic climate and ensure the long-term sustainability of the power sector. The first step is to end theft and ensure payment of bills.

For more information, contact:

Media and PR Department,

K-Electric

KE House, 39-B, Sunset Boulevard, Phase-II,

Defence Housing Authority, Karachi, Pakistan

Tel: +92-21-32637133, +92-21-38709132

Cell: +92-300-2281183, +92-346-8223641

Website: https://www.ke.com.pk

3 out of 5 (58%) Pakistanis claim they watch the Television: Gallup and Gilani Pakistan

Islamabad, July 14, 2023 (PPI-OT): According to a survey conducted by Gallup and Gilani Pakistan, 58% Pakistanis claim to watch the Television.

A nationally representative sample of adult men and women from across the country, was asked the question “Do you watch television?” In response, 58% said yes and 42% said no.

Question: “Do you watch Television?”

For more information, contact:

Head Office,

Gallup Pakistan

Islamabad, Pakistan

Tel: +92-51-8445080

Email: isb@gallup.com.pk, caf@gallup.com.pk

Website: www.gallup.com.pk

Pakistan People’s Party Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari paid tribute to party leader and former Minister of State Wadira Shahnawaz Junejo on his death anniversary

Karachi, July 14, 2023 (PPI-OT): Pakistan People’s Party Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has paid tribute to the party’s top leader and former Minister of State Wadira Shahnawaz Junejo on his death anniversary. According to a statement issued by Media Cell Bilawal Hawass, the PPP Chairman said that late Vadira Shahnawaz Junejo was a brave and principled politician and public figure.

He said that the deceased played an active role during the MRD, due to which he had to bear the hardships of imprisonment. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the political and social services of late Shahnawaz Junejo will be remembered, and he will always live in our hearts. He said that I am praying that Allah Ta’ala may give the late Shahnawaz Junejo high ranks in His mercy.

For more information, contact:

PPP Media Cell (Sindh)

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)

Peoples Secretariat Shikarpur Colony,

Behind Mazar-e-Quaid-e-Azam, Karachi, Pakistan

Cell: +92-305-3370383

Email: contact@ppp-tu.com

Website: https://www.ppp.org.pk