Summary of newsmakers of the previous day – 7.4.2008

Gandalovič: Growth of food prices in last year should not repeat

According to the Minister of Agriculture Petr Gandalovič growth of prices of agricultural crops and foods in last year should not repeat this year. Of course, it will depend on a harvest but wheat acreage is bigger this year and the European Union has increased milk quotas, Gandalovič said today at opening of fairs Techagro, Animal Vetex and Silva Regina in Brno. Also he refused speculations that support of bio-fuels and growing of crops for energy purposes would negatively influence growth of prices in the Czech Republic.

Two Spaniards died of mad cow disease

Spain announced today that two its citizens died of a human form of Kreutzfeld-Jakob disease (BSE) know also as a mad cow disease. The information was published by Spanish broadcast. Deaths are reported from a province Castilla-León in north-west part of the country. According to the broadcast one person died two weeks ago and the second at the beginning of this year. Meanwhile it is not clear why Spanish offices did not inform earlier about the first death. A panic connected with this disease hit first of all Great Britain in 90'.

Forget superstitions and stop drinking water

If you conform to a generally deep-rooted rule that a person needs to drink minimally eight glasses (1,5 - 2 liters) daily, it is time to reevaluate it. Scientists from Pennsylvania University have found out that drinking of big amount of water will not anyhow improve health. Results of a research which were published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology proved that there is no reason why a person should drink such an amount of water daily. So, no evidence that in consequence of increased reception of liquids toxic substances would be washing out from a body and health would be improving was successfully found out.

The only Czech product got a prize of Techagro: a new variety of oat

An appraisal Grand Prix Techagro for specially original, ecological or innovative products was obtained by only one of five nominated Czech exhibits. In a competition which opened the international agricultural fair Techagro at the fairground in Brno ten products in total from 28 nominated ones succeeded. From Czech representatives in the competition the title was obtained by a newly registered variety of oat Raven from a Prague firm Selgen; remaining prizes will be carried from Brno by producers from Germany, the USA, Sweden and Belgium. Martina Kremlová said it to ČTK today.