There is no evidence to justify the regulation of food from the descendants of cloned animals on safety grounds, the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) will tell Government chiefs.
The tough health claims environment in Europe could turn manufacturers towards more subtle – and maybe less ethical – marketing approaches, believes Henry Dixon of PR firm BDB.
EU member states have reached an “informal agreement” over a raft of key food labelling measures, such as country of origin and nutritional information, ahead of a key meeting next Tuesday.
Dispatches from NutraIngredients Health Claims 2010
EFSA’s opinions on health claims are couched in scientific language that food and beverage manufacturers would be unlikely to use on product packaging. Unilever’s director of external affairs explains the need for linguistic flexibility.
Italy has lost a long-running legal battle after the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the nation's chocolate producers were guilty of breaking union regulations relating to pack labelling.
Political leadership is crucial to encouraging more sustainable food consumption, attendees at a Kellogg’s Breakfast Club meeting heard this month, with industry and civil society playing important roles too.
Manufacturers waiting to find out whether they will be allowed to use terms including ‘no added salt’ and ‘low-Gi’ under the EU health claims Regulation will now have to wait until next year for a decision, it has emerged.
The Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) has welcomed moves by the European Commission (EC) to develop a definition of nanomaterials for regulatory purposes, but raised some concerns about the draft definition currently out for consultation.
EFSA does not believe that a negative opinion is the end of the road for 13.1 health claims, but it expects some to be resubmitted with a new slate of data behind them, according to Catherine Geslain-Lanéelle.
As all parties would probably admit in these stressful times for the European Union functional food industry, we are still some way away from resolving the core issues that resulted in the adoption of Regulation 1924/2006 – the 2006 nutrition and health...
EFSA says it has completed phase one of its safety review of flavouring substances used in the EU, with opinions on 2067 substances delivered, and will start to assess new flavourings submitted in accordance with new guidelines.
The whey protein industry is gathering data to submit article 13.5 health claims after the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) last month rejected a slew of generic, article 13.1 protein and whey protein-related dossiers.
Regulations are intended to protect consumers and ensure there is scientific evidence that foods placed on the market are safe and do what they say on the label. But they can also cause an innovation go-slow – at least until the European institutions...
The Food and Drink Federation (FDF) in the UK has published an allergen guidance paper that aims to curb excessive use of precautionary ‘may contain’ labelling.
Rosemary extracts have received recognition as safe and effective antioxidants for food preservation, according to new directives published in the European Commission’s official journal.
The new Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority held its first meeting late last week, re-electing Diána Bánáti as Chair – and restated its rejection of conflict of interest claims against her.
New, stronger rules on late payments adopted by Parliament will benefit small food manufacturers caught in a pressurised supply chain, as retailers will have 60 days to pay their suppliers (30 days for public authorities) or may hefty interest.
Amongst EFSA’s latest batch of 808 article 13.1 generic opinions, konjac wins the first ‘yes’ on weight loss and DHA gets a string of thumbs ups – but it’s hard luck for prunes on bowel function, and many, many others…
The European Commission has proposed a temporary ban on animal cloning for food production in the European Union, at a meeting of the European Commission, Council and Parliament held in Strasbourg on Monday.
The UK’s Food Standards Agency is seeking industry views on the effect of proposed new maximum levels of three food colourings across a raft of categories – and its proposed total deletion in others.
Somewhere, in some time, there exists a land of beauty and promise for nutricosmetics products, where beauty supplements, foods and drinks can frolic, happy in the knowledge of their justifiable claims.The problem is that getting to this promised land...
EFSA has agreed with JECFA that 10 of the latest 22 flavouring substances to undergo re-evaluation pose no safety concern at estimated intake levels, but more info is required to complete assessment on the remaining 12.
The UK’s clampdown on fruit glazed with wax containing morpholine is disproportionate and will trigger repercussions on a global scale, a trade body has said.
Consumption of azo food dyes are unlikely to cause allergic reactions at the current levels of use, claims the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) after reviewing 10 colours.
Dispatches from European Flavour Association conference
At the start of 2010 EFFA adopted a new structure following its split from the fragrance industry association. Sven Ballschmiede, EFFA board member, explains EFFA new focus and matters that are topping its agenda today.
Magazine adverts for follow-on formula containing prebiotics and omega-3s have been rapped in the UK for making brain health claims unauthorised by the European Union nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR).
The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has issued a non committal response to European Commission proposals to ban the use of nitrates and nitrites in organic cured meats from the end of this year.
The European Commission’s decision to stop publishing article 13.1 health claims in batches and carve out botanicals from the process has met with more positive industry responses, as it will create more legal certainty and reduce implementation burdens...
A new report setting out best practice for segregating GM and conventional maize has been presented to the Agriculture Council, but plans to allow member states to decide on GMO planting in their own territory proved controversial.
MEP Glenis Willmott is "quite confident" that the European Council will overturn the European Parliament’s (EP’s) decision to scrap colour-coded front-of-pack food labelling in the EU.
The European fruit juice industry has welcomed a proposal from the European Commission (EC) to ban the addition of sugar to fruit juices - in line with its policy of reducing added sugars and promoting balanced diets.
UK ministers have called off a public dialogue on genetic modification (GM), which had been requested by the previous government to explore consumers’ views and concerns surrounding the use of the technology in food.
It would be better to delay adoption of annexes to the new FIAP regulation on food additives than settle on a version that raises interpretation questions and disrupts the industry, according to the Federation of European Specialty Food Ingredients Industries...
Kids are not going to stop liking chocolate, pizza, ice cream, or fries. Heck, neither am I. So why is industry so afraid of mandatory restrictions on marketing to children?
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has advised that safe usage levels of seven flavouring substances commonly used in or on food in member states should be reassessed, due to reservations about industry data submitted.
Premier Foods has been ordered to pay out almost ₤21,000 and slammed by UK safety authorities after an industrial accident in which a 65-kg metal pillar crushed the skull of one of its workers.
A new regulation-busting scheme in the UK should raise food safety standards but would result in “significant fines” from Brussels if it delays the introduction of EC safety laws, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has cautioned.
New legislation should be introduced to curb the dominance of major players such as food processors and retailers in the supply chain with those indulging in unfair practices being “named and shamed” said the European Parliament yesterday.
In its safety review of curcumin as a food colouring substance, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concludes that it agrees with the FAO and WHO findings that the food additive is not carcinogenic.
The Food Standards Agency of of Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) says that intense sweetener Advantame poses no risk to consumers relative to its proposed usage in a range of foods.
New rules carving up responsibilities for food labelling policy in the England came into force this week, with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) losing much of its power on the issue.
‘Counterfeit' pine nuts may be the reason why consumers have been experiencing ‘pine mouth’, according to a statement made by the Danish food authority Fødevarestyrelsen.
The great carve up of the UK’s Food Standards Agency responsibilities has come into effect, with the agency retaining only the food safety remit and other aspects going to the Defra and the Department of Health.
UK consumer advocacy group Which? has launched another scathing attack against food manufacturers who, it says, are acting irresponsibly by freely interpreting labelling guidance.
Novel hypoallergenic foods that could benefit consumers with serious allergies are being overlooked by current legislation warn researchers from Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Further risk-benefit studies are needed to remedy that problem,...
