The European Union moved a step closer to improving the transparency of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and its food safety assessment process this week in an effort to boost trust.
Industry organisations representing the UK food chain have called on the government to halt “non-Brexit related policy consultations or initiatives”, insisting that they are overwhelmed with the need to prepare for the possibility of a no-deal withdrawal.
The UK has issued guidance to food businesses on what they will need to include on labels if the UK leaves the EU without a withdrawal agreement on 29 March.
EU and Japan close ties, Poland recalls suspect meat, Europe addresses sustainability goals, and a French shellfish is granted PGI status. FoodNavigator brings you the latest news from Brussels.
Representatives of the European food industry met with the European Union’s chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, this week to press for “special consideration” for the industry in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
Manufacturers and retailers of sweetened fermented yoghurt drinks are the focus of Public Health England’s most recent guidance, which incites a 20% reduction of added sugar by 2021.
The authors of a new international report have called for “strong global actions” to curb “food industry excess” and develop a holistic response to obesity, malnutrition and climate change.
Methodology for calculating a ‘true’ and ‘fair’ price across the food chain is being developed to help industry transition to a socially inclusive, sustainable food production system.
Unsalted nuts, pulses and wholegrains have been added to France’s dietary guidance, which in 2019 also promotes environmental sustainability and consideration of the Nutri-Score label system.
A potential alteration to bee-safety standards, MEPs vote to ban throwaway cutlery, and EFSA says it will share data on an open-access platform. In this bulletin, we round some of the biggest news from Brussels over the past fortnight.
MEPs have voted to fine companies marketing ‘dual quality’ food up to €10m, or 4% of the trader’s annual turnover, in a bid to protect consumer rights.
Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets of Berlin on Saturday (19 January) to put pressure on political leaders to promote climate smart agriculture, higher animal welfare standards and farming practices that promote biodiversity.
The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) has again called on the European Commission to stop the food industry from making misleading health claims through the introduction of nutrient profiles. According to the BEUC, the move is a decade overdue.
Industry can help combat children’s food poverty by lowering the price of healthy products and readdressing their market strategies, says think tank chief.
Following last night’s historic defeat in the House of Commons for the Government’s Brexit deal, representatives of the UK food and farming sectors urge policy makers to indicate what the alternatives are. We take a look at what the result means for business....
Maqui berries, casein hydrolysate and cacao pulp juice are amongst the foods subject to a consultation process that forms part of new EU regulation designed to improve conditions when bringing new and innovative foods to the market.
Denmark’s advisory board for the ingredients industry has issued recommendations to the government, detailing how to “reap the industry’s large growth potential up to 2030”.
The UK’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has launched a public consultation on the government’s plans to restrict promotions of food and drink products that are high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS).
The EU has committed €20 million to developing artificial intelligence (AI); Thailand is back in the good books after its yellow card for illegal fishing is removed; and EU food exports had record success in October.
Recommendations for healthy eating based on sustainable food choices have been published by the World Health Organization (WHO): “Food manufacturers have a big role at all levels,” says the director of nutrition for health and development.
The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) says it is ‘not surprised’ by findings that just 5% of consumers in the UK recognise its logo, noting that as a voluntary label, “not all companies want to draw attention to an ingredient that is one of many”....
The nationwide strategy, which aims to reduce sugar, fats, and salt content in finished food products to promote healthy eating and reduce obesity levels, has received criticism for its voluntary approach.
The UK government has been urged to implement mandatory ‘method of production’ labelling in order to “make good” on its promises and ensure the country’s agri-food sector sets the “gold standard” of production after Britain's withdrawal from the...
The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) is calling on food manufacturers and stakeholders to give feedback on its updated guidance on food traceability, withdrawals and recalls.
UK environment secretary Michael Gove has urged industry to embrace the potential of a fourth agricultural revolution: “We can guarantee a future for the UK as a major, global food producer.”
Momentum is growing behind calls to impose fiscal sanctions on unhealthy foods. And while such stringent action is not on the immediate horizon that could change if the food industry fails to step up its efforts on reformulation.
A coalition of scientists, medical professionals and politicians in the UK have called for nitrates to be removed from processed meats, insisting that consumption of the additive can be linked to the development of bowl cancer.
German retailer Kaufland has ended a “decades-long business relationship” with various Unilever brands, insisting that the consumer goods giant is attempting to use its “dominant market position” to impose “drastic price increases” and “unilateral changes...
Public Health England has expanded its ‘swap when you shop’ campaign to include a scanner smartphone app and a ‘good choice’ badge, in an effort to address rising childhood obesity rates in the UK.
Human error caused by a lack of standardised procedures and insufficient training are major drivers of food waste and a “cultural shift” is needed to tackle the issue, a new European study has found.
As start-up food businesses work to move their brands to the next level, many will look to grow overseas sales. To do so, they will need to navigate a minefield of compliance issues. FoodNavigator sought advice from regulatory compliance experts at Ashbury...
The Commission has approved two genetically modified ingredients for Europe; an agreement has been reached on unfair trading practices (UTPs) but not everyone is happy; and stakeholders have created a Plastic Alliance to stimulate market innovation. This...
Manufacturers and retailers have achieved “a mixed picture” on UK salt reduction targets, according to a government report, although there has been clear progress in cutting salt since targets were first set in 2006.
Italy is to enforce a new labeling law today (December 19) to distinguish fresh bread from products that have been ‘preserved for prolonged durability’.
The UK has launched a new resource strategy that will see manufacturers ‘take responsibility’ for the cost of disposing or recycling plastic packaging as well as placing fresh impetus on efforts to tackle the “economic, environmental and moral scandal”...
The United Nations adopted a draft resolution on improving global nutrition last week. Calling for a focus on improved education to combat obesity, the agency remained silent on the key issues of taxation and nutritional labelling.
The European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA) has said its decision to reject a health claim for Han-Biotech’s Symbiosal was correct after the firm argued the ruling was not scientifically supported.
'Date paste, sugar beet juice... Using pseudonyms for sugar is not acceptable,' says complainant
The Dutch Advertising Authority has told seven manufacturers and retailers, including Kellogg, Albert Heijn and Hipp, to remove ‘no added sugar’ claims from products that are sweetened with date paste, apple juice concentrate and sugar beet syrup.
By Rachel Arthur, Elaine Watson, Stephen Daniells, Gary Scattergood, Niamh Michail
Sugar taxes continue to hit the headlines, but the introduction of new legislation is never straight-forward. We take a look at 20 countries around the globe where sugar taxes have been in the news.
The UK Government have opened up consultations with the nutrition industry regarding proposed changes to regulations in the event of a no deal scenario after March 2019.
