Food labelling

The FoodNavigator Podcast: From clean label to clean living

20-Jul-2022 By Flora Southey

How is the ‘clean label’ trend evolving? FoodNavigator invites Mintel, SAFE, and Yuka onto the podcast to discuss ultra-processed foods, the definition of ‘natural’, and what exactly shoppers want from food and drink.

Clean label claims boost sales, but what categories benefit most?

20-Jul-2022 By Katy Askew

The clean label ingredients market is witnessing continued growth, with evidence suggesting clean labels increase consumer willingness to pay a higher price point and build loyalty. FoodNavigator digs down into the trend to profile what categories and...

Greek victory over ‘feta’ as EU court takes Danish imitation off the table

19-Jul-2022 By Flora Southey

According to the European Court of Justice, Denmark has failed to fulfil its obligations under EU law by continuing to sell ‘feta’ cheese to third countries.

Plant-based peynir? Production and sale of 'vegan cheese' outlawed in Turkey

12-Jul-2022 By Flora Southey

The legislation has been condemned by plant-based and animal rights advocates such as the Vegan Association Turkey (TVD), which has filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

UK dentists call for sweeping action on ‘as sugary as Cola’ baby pouches

08-Jul-2022 By Oliver Morrison

The British Dental Association has warned that what it calls ‘obscene’ levels of sugar in popular baby food pouches underline the need for wide-ranging government action across the early years’ food and drink sector.

Food for thought

Food marketers: Stop telling people how to think

08-Jul-2022 By Oliver Morrison

No, your consumers don’t want lectures on climate change, BLM and LGBTQ+.

Nutri-Score setback as Italian Competition Authority deems label as potentially misleading to consumers

04-Jul-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Further doubts have been raised about whether Nutri-Score will be rolled out across the whole EU after the Italian Competition Authority ruled the front-of-pack label gives a false impression about the healthiness of a product, and may even prompt consumers...

Start-up cracks GMO-free animal heme proteins for ‘meatier and more nutritious’ alternatives

01-Jul-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Belgium-based food-tech company Paleo has unveiled details of its GMO-free animal heme proteins made via precision fermentation to help food manufacturers improve the taste, aroma, colour and nutritional qualities of plant-based meat.

Rising cost of living forces consumers to tighten grip on finances and get creative with sustainability

30-Jun-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Shoppers are prioritising affordability over sustainability for the first time since the mid- pandemic, reveals the latest EY Future Consumer Index.

What do consumers want from dairy-free chocolate? ‘Plants and indulgence can go hand-in-hand’

28-Jun-2022 By Flora Southey

With vegan chocolate ‘transitioning into the mainstream’, ingredient supplier Beneo is investigating what European consumers want and need from the category.

Greek blockchain specialists create genetic barcode to protect against olive oil fraud

27-Jun-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Extra virgin olive oil is a major target of unscrupulous food fraudsters, but perhaps not for much longer.

South Africa bans meaty names for vegan products: A ‘long awaited’ or ‘counterproductive’ measure?

27-Jun-2022 By Flora Southey

The decision to prohibit terminology such as ‘veggie biltong’ and ‘plant-based meatballs’ in South Africa is polarising. Those working in the meat sector are ‘very pleased’, encouraging ‘swift and firm action’ against offenders. Plant-based stakeholders,...

Sustainable nutrition in alt cheese and butter: ‘More than ever, plant-based alternatives need to have a high nutritional value’

20-Jun-2022 By Flora Southey

As consumer behaviour evolves, so too do brands working to align with these new demands. How are plant-based cheese and butter brands responding in order to appeal to increasingly health- and sustainability-focused shoppers? FoodNavigator investigates.

Foundation Earth calls for ‘harmonised approach’ to eco-labels: 'This is our opportunity to put commercial pressure and national politics to one side'

15-Jun-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Eco-label group Foundation Earth has invited its competitors to a summit in order to build a harmonised approach and agree ‘one method and one label deployed at scale across the continent’.

Kerry talks consumer insights: From the ‘macro forces shaping out world’ to post-2022 ‘sticky’ trends

13-Jun-2022 By Flora Southey

From ‘functional upgrades’ to sustainable consumption, Kerry Group details the macro and micro drivers shaping consumer behaviour.

Calls for a clearer definition of ‘natural’ for EU food products

08-Jun-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Consumer group SAFE Food Advocacy Europe has called on the European Commission to differentiate between synthetic and natural substances.

Is reformulation forced by Ukraine sunflower shortage making foods unhealthier?

08-Jun-2022 By Flora Southey

Have food products’ nutritional profiles been negatively impacted by the substitution of sunflower oil – currently in short supply – for coconut and palm oil?

Mars Edge discusses ‘milestone’ research linking flavanols to health benefits: ‘This is a landmark moment but there is more to come’

06-May-2022 By Katy Askew

A ‘milestone’ study has been published supporting the link between flavanol consumption and cardiovascular health. FoodNavigator speaks to Mars Edge’s science and nutrition director Catherine Kwik-Uribe about the implications of this ‘landmark moment’...

Sustainable packaging: How are start-ups ‘thinking outside the box’ for snacks and booze?

04-May-2022 By Flora Southey

From reducing film in snack packets to reinventing the wine bottle, how are food and drink start-ups getting creative with sustainable packaging?

Denmark ‘first country in the world’ to develop its own climate label for food

19-Apr-2022 By Flora Southey

Denmark is investing DKK 9m (€1.2m) in the development of a government-run climate label for food.

Regulating precision fermentation: Challenges and opportunities in marketing microbially-derived foods in Europe

14-Apr-2022 By Flora Southey

The US is ‘streaking ahead’ in the regulation of precision fermentation-derived food products, while the European Commission is yet to approve its first. So what are the key challenges alt protein start-ups face on this side of the pond? And once on the...

Should alcohol health warnings and ingredient lists appear on-label, off-label, or not at all?

12-Apr-2022 By Flora Southey

The Commission has proposed mandatory labelling of ingredients and nutrient content of alcoholic beverages be enforced by the end of this year, and health warnings on labels by the end of 2023. FoodNavigator rounds up the pros and cons.

Calorie labelling ‘out of home’ kickstarts in UK as sector calls for ‘grace period’: ‘The new regulations have come at the worst possible time’

06-Apr-2022 By Flora Southey

UK calorie labelling for food and drink in restaurants, takeaways, deli counters and other ‘out of home’ settings come into force today. Is the hospitality sector ready?

JUST Egg mung bean protein wins EU approval, launch expected ‘before the end of the year’

05-Apr-2022 By Flora Southey

The key ingredient in Eat Just’s plant-based egg alternative, mung bean protein, has received approval from the European Commission. The decision ‘opens the door’ to distribution across the bloc, according to Eat Just CEO Josh Tetrick.

Is food label transparency a help or hindrance for fortification efforts?

01-Apr-2022 By Oliver Morrison

In an important legal case that may delay the advancing fortified foods sector, products containing vitamins are not required to list the chemical source of the vitamins on the labelling, the EU’s highest court has ruled.

Griffith Foods talks nutrition and plant-based innovation: ‘Think different, think centre plate transformation’

29-Mar-2022 By Katy Askew

Griffith Foods is focusing its product development might on the core pillars of nutrition and plant-based product development, with efforts informed by the ‘guiding star’ of sustainability. European President Wim van Roekel weighs in on the massive potential...

Gut support salad? Brain function soup? What the increasingly ‘sophisticated’ consumer wants from food and drink

25-Mar-2022 By Flora Southey

In a near-post pandemic world, consumers want more than ‘healthy’ food. From ‘gut health-supporting’ to ‘immunity-boosting’, terminology must catch up, argues CEO and co-founder of Tastewise Alon Chen.

‘Serious concerns’ build around PEF sustainability labelling: ‘The methodology favours intensive farming and penalises organic’

22-Mar-2022 By Flora Southey

Civil society and farmer organisations have ‘serious concerns’ about the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology being considered for the upcoming sustainability labelling initiative. FoodNavigator hears from three NGOs appealing to the Commission.

Salt campaigners take aim at meal deal snacks

15-Mar-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Almost three quarters (70%) of snacks included in meal deals sold on the high street are dangerously high in saturated fat, salt and sugar (HFSS), complains new research from Action on Salt, with some contributing to a third of an adult’s maximum daily...

The fibre dilemma: If we build it, will they come?

04-Mar-2022 By Oliver Morrison

The UK’s Food and Drink Federation is pushing manufacturers to make more fibre-rich foods. But is there a market for these products?

Promotional claims on baby foods are ‘misleading’ parents: study

01-Mar-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Researchers claim that labels often imply indirect health benefits and a healthy halo effect.

Nutri-Score creator backs alcohol warnings on label as Italian wine sector brands any move ‘an affront’ to science

09-Feb-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Italian wine makers have lashed out at ‘insulting’ Nutri-Score proposals to add a black ‘F’ to alcoholic drinks as a warning to consumers about the damaging effects of alcohol even in moderate amounts.

New environmental labelling system unveiled

08-Feb-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Belgium academics have unveiled a new environmental labelling system that enables easy recognition of the degree of environmental sustainability of food and beverages at point of sale.

Combined sustainability labelling systems more effective than single labels

04-Feb-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Sustainability labels and classifications, such as organic, fair trade and animal welfare, can have a positive impact on consumer acceptance and can raise awareness, but they are yet to actually drive more sustainable consumer behaviour, according to...

Safety concerns build over botanicals’ use in food: ‘There is no harmonised approach for their labelling and assessment’

03-Feb-2022 By Flora Southey

A campaign designed to address uncertainties in the assessment of botanicals’ health properties has been launched by SAFE.

Food and drink companies join pledge to boost fibre

03-Feb-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Over 20 food and drink brands have pledged their support to increase the amount of fibre in consumer’s diets after backing the Action on Fibre initiative launched by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

Half of shoppers want to cut their carbon footprint through food but greenwashed brands beware

02-Feb-2022 By Katy Askew

New research shows that half of UK consumers want to reduce their carbon footprint by making changes to their food choices. However, FoodNavigator hears, brands focusing in on eco messaging should be cautious: ‘Underestimating cynicism is dangerous’.

Tesco defeat at EU’s highest court exposes danger of food labels getting lost in translation

01-Feb-2022 By Oliver Morrison

A seemingly trivial legal case involving UK supermarket Tesco’s description of chocolate sold in its stores in the Czech Republic illustrates the potential pitfalls of multilingual labels and automatic translations.

‘Consumers want more than a simple score’: Behind the app rating the sustainability of products and their makers

28-Jan-2022 By Flora Southey

Impact Score allows shoppers to measure the nutritional and sustainability profiles of food and beverage products. FoodNavigator catches up with co-founder Ian Yates to find out how.

‘We could have been clearer’: Oatly misleads consumers with CO2 claims, rules advertising watchdog

27-Jan-2022 By Flora Southey

Environmental claims made by alt dairy heavyweight Oatly have been judged to mislead consumers by the ASA. Oatly and carbon footprint partner CarbonCloud respond.

Post-Brexit food labelling: What issues and opportunities face UK operators?

17-Jan-2022 By Flora Southey

In a post-Brexit setting, legislative divergence and alignments in food labelling create challenges and opportunities for UK-based food operators, according to Jessica Burt, Associate of Food Law at Mills & Reeve.

Red Tractor digs into consumer perceptions of animal welfare: ‘The majority of shoppers don’t want to know too much’

10-Jan-2022 By Flora Southey

UK food label scheme Red Tractor is investigating just how concerned consumers are about animal welfare, and whether current perceptions of production methods match reality.

New eco label promises a 'more nuanced' understanding of a product’s environmental impact

10-Jan-2022 By Oliver Morrison

A new sustainable food app has launched promising to reveal to end consumers a greater level of transparency about the environmental impact of their food choices.

Sainsbury’s talks food labelling challenges: ‘We can’t wait for perfect data to start communicating health and sustainability’

24-Dec-2021 By Flora Southey

From messaging hierarchy to space on-pack and data availability, a ‘massive amount’ of challenges face retailers when labelling food, according to Claire Hughes, Director of Product and Innovation at Sainsbury’s.

What’s the Spanish meat industry’s beef with Nutri-Score?

21-Dec-2021 By Flora Southey

From slaughterhouses to cutting plants and meat processors, Spain’s meat industry is ‘totally against’ front-of-pack nutritional labelling scheme Nutri-Score. FoodNavigator hears why.

European labelling systems added to sustainability database

10-Dec-2021 By Oliver Morrison

HowGood’s Latis ​database, which can rapidly verify the impact of more than 33,000 ingredients and products against 127 key environmental and social impact metrics, has added the EU’s Nutri-Score and French Eco-Score labelling systems into its metrics...

France accused of backing Nutri-Score to benefit its ‘big conglomerates’ in food

24-Nov-2021 By Flora Southey

In a dialogue between scientists, MEPs and citizens, the French Government is accused of acting in self-interest by supporting front-of-pack nutrition label Nutri-Score. “It’s no secret,” says Spanish MEP Adrian Vasquez Lazara. “I hope the European Commission...

FSA chief scientist says eco-labels are ‘golden opportunity’ for industry

10-Nov-2021 By Oliver Morrison

The UK Food Standards Agency Chief Scientist Robin May says urgent progress is needed on a unified eco-labelling system so that the food system can be set on a path to sustainability.

European consumers often are failing to understand on-food health claims, project reveals

10-Nov-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Differences in culture, language and enforcement policies between European countries mean consumers are failing to understand health claims on food packets.

Will inflation fears cancel out demand for sustainable food and beverage products?

09-Nov-2021 By Oliver Morrison

With COP26 in full swing, consumer demand for so-called ‘green’ food and beverage products is reportedly on the up. But how does that sit in an environment of rising inflation? Not well, according to industry observers.