Established 2009 Type Research centre | Founder Jeya Henry Director Helen Lightowler | |
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Predecessor Nutrition and Food Research Group Parent organization Oxford Brookes University | ||
The Functional Food Centre at Oxford Brookes University is the first research centre in the United Kingdom dedicated to researching functional foods.
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History
The Functional Food Centre at Oxford Brookes University opened in early 2009 with a £300,000 grant from the Higher Education Funding Council for England. It was formerly known as the Nutrition and Food Research Group, which had been in existence since 1984. Its founding director, Jeya Henry, is a consultant to the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations on nutrition assessment, food safety and nutrient requirements. The centre offers research and consultancy services to the food industry, the United Nations and various Government agencies.
Areas of research
The Functional Food Centre has the goal of providing scientific information about food and health to consumers, government and the food industry. It tests popular claims about food, for example that genetically modified crops will feed the world, that substances such as omega-3 in fish oil will make children more intelligent, or that antioxidants can reduce cancer by removing free radicals. It develops new food products such as low glycemic index bread, which reduces cholesterol and blood sugar levels and help weight loss. It researches lesser-known foods such as breadfruit, cassava, sorghum and millet. The health issues that are its research priorities are diabetes, obesity and the impact of food on age-related problems.