USDA develops edible wrap

IT&#39;S A WRAP: You may be what you eat, but if the Department of Agriculture has its way, you also could be what you wrap your leftovers in. <br> <br> Scientists at the agency have developed edible wrap made of fruits and vegetables that keep food fresh. The point of the project is to provide more nutritional options to people and reduce waste, said Tara McHugh a research food technologist at the USDA&#39;s research arm in Albany, Calif. <br> <br> When heated, the wrap transforms into a condiment for the food they&#39;re protecting. For example, wrap made of tomato puree that&#39;s covering a bowl of leftover pasta dissolves into sauce when placed in a microwave oven. <br> <br> They really do have the color and taste of the vegetable or fruit they&#39;re made from, a reporter recently found. The vinyl-textured peach wrap, for example, resembles a fruit roll-up. <br> <br> Popular Science magazine named the wrap to its list of 100 of the best innovations in 2001. <br> <br> <br> <br> WHAT THEY REALLY THINK: Despite the recent wave of layoffs, many U.S. companies consider employee retention to be a critical business priority, according to a recent survey by MetLife, the financial services and insurance company. <br> <br> Of the 481 businesses polled, 78 percent said they viewed employee retention as their No. 1 benefits-related concern. Controlling health/welfare benefits costs ranked second (cited by 73 percent), followed by attracting employees (51 percent) and increasing employee productivity (29 percent). <br> <br> ``Employers face a difficult balancing act,&#39;&#39; said William J. Mullaney, MetLife&#39;s senior vice president of institutional business. ``They must retain employees while continuing to find cost reduction opportunities and efficiencies.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> <br> <br> STAYING EMPLOYED: If you sense layoffs are imminent at your company, don&#39;t wait for that pink slip to land on your desk. <br> <br> The Five O&#39;Clock Club, a New York-based career counseling network, says getting downsized doesn&#39;t have to be a foregone conclusion. It suggests trying to improve your standing with your bosses and and to make yourself more valuable by keeping your skills updated. <br> <br> Signing up for a class or joining a trade group helps keep you on the cutting edge. Taking the initiative - rather than being told what to do - accepting assignments, volunteering for important responsibilities are other good ways to remain relevant. <br> <br> You also might want to refrain from behaving foolishly or gossiping, the group said. Instead, let your best character traits shine.