08/25/06 Barley foods health claim

Washington Ag August 25, 2006 Late last year the Food and Drug Administration approved the National Barley Foods Council's petition for a health claim for barley. The beta glucans in barley can reduce the risk of cardiovascular heart disease. And compared to oats, barley has more beta glucans. Doctor Joan Conway, a USDA human nutrition researcher in Beltsville, Maryland, says barley may have other benefits for human health too. Conway: "In our laboratory we have been able to demonstrate that it also helps to moderate glucose in insulin so we that believe barley is going to be a good food for people with type two diabetes." Conway says there is a lot of research being done on the other biologically active components found in barley. Conway: "Like the phyto-nutrients, flavinoids, phenolic acids, the B vitamins and vitamin E and the minerals iron and selenium." Conway says researchers in Canada and the U.S. are teaming up to develop new barley food products. Conway: "Tortillas out of barley and once you have tortillas out of barley you can tortilla chips out of barley. Quick cooking barley and it would be an alternative to rice or pilaf. Lots of different baked products that will come. Snack foods that would have a nutty flavor but not be nuts." I'm Bob Hoff.