The proposed regulation on food labelling is too complicated, makes unrealistic demands on font size, and will be burdensome for SMEs, a hearing has heard.
Green organisations have instigated legal action over the new maximum legal limits on the level of pesticides allowed in food items sold in the European Union.
Europe’s health claim assessment process kicked off with the rejection of almost 90 per cent of the first bunch. But industry must accept its shortcomings if credibility is to be the winner.
The debate over products from cloned animals entering the European food chain will enter a new phase next week, as MEPs ask the Commission searching questions about the welfare of cloned animals, ethics, and consumer information.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has launched a public consultation on its draft opinion on food-based dietary guidelines, in which it concluded that guidelines to span the whole of the EU would not be feasible.
The Greeks have a saying that goes something like this: ‘If you’re in too much of a rush, you’ll trip up’. The food and drinks industry could well benefit from the simplistic wisdom of such traditional advice as they race to bring the natural sweetener...
Low-fat ice cream made with GM yeast to ensure a creamy consistency may soon be possible in Europe following the European Food Standards Authority’s (EFSA) opinion on Unilever’s novel technology.
EFSA has identified information gaps relating to some flavouring substances as part of its ongoing evaluation of additives, and is asking industry to provide more information on their safety.
Latin American counties are preparing to fight the EU decision not to implement the agreement over banana tariffs reached during the failed Doha talks in Geneva last week, according to the chief of Costa Rica’s banana organisation.
In the third of a four part series on natural colours, FoodNavigator looks at the regulatory situation in the US and Europe and the challenges this poses for food manufacturers and ingredients companies.
EFSA has published its panel’s opinion on camphor as a flavouring, deeming it unlikely to cause acute effects in foods with less than 2mg per kg of body weight per large portion, but recommending that maximum limits be set.
Spirits are low after the Doha trade talks in Geneva collapsed yesterday following an intense nine days of negotiations and are high unlikely to be resumed before January 2009 or later.
Lipid Nutrition has confirmed its Clarinol conjugated linolenic acid ingredient has received approval by the US regulator to be used as an ingredient in certain foods and beverages in that country, a move that comes as the firm continues to anticipate...
Meat and dairy products from cloned pigs and cattle are probably safe for human consumption, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded in its scientific opinion on animal cloning released today.
FSA guidance on terms like 'fresh', 'natural' and 'pure' helps protect responsible businesses against unscrupulous competition. But labelling that does not meet guidance in full would still be legal if it does not mislead...
The UK Food Standards Agency has set out core challenges for the food industry as part of its strategy to beat obesity, but recognises that work is already underway by industry to make food products healthier.
The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) is to hold a second
consultation on an application to approve National Starch Food
Innovation's phosphated distarch phosphate as a novel food
ingredient.
The €400m European cholesterol-lowering, plant sterol market has a
new entrant after a non-GMO, soy-derived sterol ingredient was
yesterday approved for use within the European Union.
The European Parliament has adopted a legislative package that will
see products containing any of six artificial colours labelled with
a health warning for children.
Thirty-five new international food standards were adopted during
last week's 31st session of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission, including guidelines on the use of flavourings and
gluten-free products.
The need for new European legislation on nutrition labelling has
been called into question by the CIAA (Confederation of Food and
Drink Industries in Europe), as a survey indicates that uptake of
its voluntary scheme has been significant.
Africa farmers could be set to tap into a billion dollar industry
with baobab, as the baobab fruit pulp obtained novel foods approval
yesterday, FoodNavigator.com can report.
The European Commission has culled its gargantuan nutrition
and health claims list from more than 40,000 to 1500 as the
health claims process moves closer to fruition in January, 2010.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said rosemary extract is
safe for use as an antioxidant in food, expanding application
opportunities and increasing its natural appeal.
The European Commission has imposed anti-dumping tariffs of almost
40 per cent on monosodium glutamate (MSG) imported to the EU from
China, following an investigation into the effects of lower-priced
imports on EU industry.
The European Parliament's Heart Group has declared its preferred
best approach to front of pack labelling for food so consumers can
see at a glance whether a product is good for their heart: four key
nutrient quantities, plus...
New labelling guidelines were issued this week by the UK Food
Standards Agency (FSA) to help manufacturers in present vital
product information in a clearer way.
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has won approval for use in foods
and beverages within the European Union from the Food Safety
Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
Rules authorising enzymes need to be updated and simplified, and
enzymes should be authorised only where the consumer benefits, said
Europe's Environment committee, clearing the next hurdle in a
new legal framework for enzyme...
In a move to protect a slice of its spice market, the
Italian government has asked the European Commission to rubberstamp
saffron from Sardinia with Protected designation of
origin (PDO) status.
The UK's food agency highlights how industry could make cost
savings in the event of food scares, and provides details about
labeling of food allergens
China has introduced new guidelines for nutrition labelling on
packaged foods which, although not mandatory, will standardise
presentation of information on products that already state nutrient
levels.
Sweeteners and colourings in food aimed at children should be
banned, while additives ought to be used in other products only if
they provide an advantage to the consumer, said the EU Environment
Committee.
Dietary supplement makers are offered new source of polyphenols
from cost-effective raw materials as French natural ingredients
firm Naturex buys into new patented technology that produces
polyphenols extracted from onion and lettuce.
"Subtle language differences" may confound regulators in
the midst of translating thousands of health claims ahead of a
pan-European 2010 approval deadline, according to various industry
sources.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has published new
labelling guidance for food manufacturers, which it hopes will help
international companies meet the nation's labeling requirements.
France's upper house of parliament has passed a bill that sets out
conditions for growing genetically modified crops, despite heavy
opposition from environmental campaigners.
Lycopene from natural sources and as a food colour would likely be
within the ADI for most people, concludes EFSA, but its use in
beverages is high and young children may consume more.
The launch of the European Commission's organic logo, scheduled for
2009, has been delayed following complaints it was too similar to a
symbol used by German supermarket Aldi.
Rice imported from the United States no longer needs to be tested
for the presence of GM material both at the point of export and on
arrival in the EU, following an amendment to emergency measures
following the 2006 contamination...
The CIAA has highlighted several important areas of debate and
strategic consideration for food manufacturers, which it is
planning to address at its annual conference in November.
Bakers in New Zealand will now by law have to fortify
bread products with iodine, as regulators in the country attempt to
boost consumption of the essential nutrient.
The European Food Safety Authority has concluded that the
Southampton study gives no basis for changing acceptable daily
intakes (ADI) of food additives, due to inconsistencies and the
inability to attribute the effect to any additives...
Food supplements should be exempt from European nutrient profiling
regulations because their fat, salt and sugar levels are scant
enough not to warrant concern, according to an industry group.
More accurate intake data is required for a number of flavouring
substances, says the European Food Safety Authority, as the
standard model for estimating consumption levels was found to be
inconsistent with information provided by...
A debate on flavourings has erupted over a report from a consumer
pressure group that claims fruit flavourings mislead consumers into
believing they contain actual fruit extract.
A recent seminar organised by the UK Food Standards Agency allowed
manufacturers throughout the food industry to discover the latest
methods being employed to track and prevent food fraud.
The European Commission is introducing emergency measures to
prevent rice products contaminated with unauthorised GM material
from China entering the EU food supply, as efforts to curtail the
problem in the country of origin prove...
