Saturated Fats Tied to Lower Sperm Counts in Danish Study

Tuesday, January 8th, 2013

Saturated fats, which are found in cheeses and meats, are being blamed for falling sperm counts among Danish men in a new study.  More from Reuters:

Researchers, whose report appeared in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that young Danish men who ate the most saturated fats had a 38 percent lower concentration of sperm, and 41 percent lower sperm counts in their semen, than those who ate the least fat.

“We cannot say that it has a causal effect, but I think other studies have shown that saturated fat intake has shown a connection to other problems and now also for sperm count,” said Tina Jensen, the study’s lead author from Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, the Danish capital.

The research is not the first to connect diet and other lifestyle factors to sperm production and quality. In 2011, Brazilian researchers found that men who ate more fruit and grains suchs wheat, oats or barley had faster and more agile sperm, as well as more sperm overall.

But that study and most others looked at these associations using data on men seeking fertility treatments, which may not be representative of all men.

Image: Steak, via Shutterstock

Kosher Cheese Recalled over Listeria Concern

Tuesday, January 3rd, 2012

Several types of cheese made by the World Cheese Company under the kosher brand Haolam have been voluntarily recalled after a Wisconsin packaging facility that handles the cheese tested positive for listeria, a bacteria that is particularly dangerous to pregnant women.

The listeria-positive cheese was not, World Cheese Company emphasizes, the kosher cheese itself, but rather a separate brand that is only sold in Wisconsin.  No Haolam cheese has tested positive for listeria.

Customers can return the recalled cheese products to the store for a full refund, including:

– All 8-ounce and 16-ounce bags of Haolam shredded cheese (Pizza, Mozzarella, Cheddar, Fancy, Muenster, R/F Muenster, R/F Cheddar), with an expiration of June 5, 2012, through Sept 4, 2012.

– All 32-ounce bags of Haolam shredded Mozzarella and Gourmet Blend with an expiration date of February 6, 2012, through May 7, 2012.

– All 5-pound bags of Haolam shredded Mozzarella, Cheddar and Muenster with a pack date of September 8, 2011, through Dec 7, 2011.

Miller’s Cheese Corp, another kosher cheese maker whose product was processed at the Wisconsin plant, announced a similar voluntary recall of shredded cheese products:

– All 8-ounce and 16-ounce bags of Miller’s shredded cheese (Pizza, Mozzarella, Cheddar, Fancy, Muenster), with an expiration of June 5, 2012, through Sept 4, 2012.

– All 32-ounce bags of Miller’s shredded Mozzarella with an expiration date of February 6, 2012, through May 7, 2012.

- All 5-pound bags of Miller’s shredded Mozzarella, Cheddar, Muenster and Monterey Jack with a pack date of September 8, 2011, through Dec 7, 2011.

This summer, a major listeria outbreak linked to tainted cantaloupe claimed 30 lives and sickened nearly 150 people across America.

Image: Shredded cheese, via Shutterstock.