A draft decree published by Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development reveals Russia intends to permanently ban meat imports from the United States and the European Union. That conclusion can be drawn based on shipping volumes and quotas as used in 2015. The decree includes a list of areas that cannot ship meat into Russia – a list that includes the E.U. and the United States. Neither supplied meat to Russia in 2015, due to the country’s embargo on food imports from various countries over the crisis in Ukraine.

A recent USDA study finds there is no significant difference in health effects between high fructose corn syrup and other sweeteners, such as honey. Researchers found that three sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, honey and cane sugar, basically have the same impacts. The belief high fructose corn syrup may be harmful and is linked to obesity and diabetes prompted the USDA study. USDA researcher Susan Raatz said the marketers “made a big mistake when they called it ‘high-fructose corn syrup,’ and that "a sweetener is a sweetener, no matter the source."

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