Speciality oil firms will have the chance to voice their concerns
on global food codes as 100 government delegates meet to discuss
the fats and oil industry at a week-long session, kicking off in
the UK next week.
Europe tells international food body it welcomes the opening of
discussions on options to integrate flavouring agents into the
global code system, and puts its weight behind the fourth option
that proposes industry guidelines.
Recently devolved Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have already
established a strong bargaining position in the development of EU
policy, particularly in agriculture, likely to affect how the UK
handles CAP reform in the future,...
Food labels that mirror the 'three-dimensional' power of food could
soon reach the food industry, should rule-makers and industry take
on board a new concept designed by a New Zealand scientist.
The Competition Commission (CC) today announced it has
provisionally cleared the completed acquisition by Napier Brown
Foods (NBF) of James Budgett Sugars (JBS), but voiced concerns
about the lack of competition in the UK sugar...
European and Swiss manufacturers of processed agricultural products
can from today sell their products to each other with less expense
and hassle than before, writes Philippa Nuttall.
The European food industry could see a unified version of labels on
foodstuffs, and accompanying cost-savings, as Europe's executive
arm calls for standardised labels across the EU, writes Lindsey
Partos.
Divisions in Europe over allowing imports of genetically modified
food ingredients clearly in evidence earlier this week when an EU
regulatory committee postponed a vote on the entry of a Monsanto
crop.
Chilli pickles join the growing list of products on UK supermarket
shelves contaminated by the harmful, and illegal, red food dye,
Sudan I. Potentially carcinogenic, presence of this food colour,
and any level, is forbidden in the...
On the eve of his move to Parma in Italy, to head up Europe's first
food risk agency, Geoffrey Podger affirms the authority has already
cleared the first hurdle, independence, reports Lindsey
Partos.
As Europe's food agency finally makes the permanent move to Italy,
a framework plan for 2005 consolidates the key objectives for the
EU's major risk assessor.
European panel of scientists concludes more data is needed before
reaching a firm risk assessment of consumer exposure to the harmful
furan chemical in food.
Tightening up traceability rules to slice away risk to the food
chain, with the entry of 2005 food industry firms are now required
to notify local authorities, suggesting food alerts may rise this
year.
Markos Kyprianou, the new Commissioner for Health and Consumer
Protection in Brussels, will continue in his predecessor David
Byrne's foodsteps, pushing to maintain high levels of food safety
in the EU.
Illegal red colour in palm oils, salmonella in tortillas and
listeria in smoked salmon all featured on the EU's
food-linked risk alert system at the end of the year.
Opportunities for suppliers and users of low-calorie bulk sweetener
erythritol open up as Canada clears approval for inclusion of this
natural sweetener in a range of food formulations from cream
fillings to chewing gum.
Australia and New Zealand consider changes to their food code,
inviting stakeholders to pass comment on a raft of propositions
from food additive approvals to labelling requirements.
The number of food-linked alerts in the European Union leapt by
over 40 per cent in 2003 on the previous year, with the majority
sourced in the 'old' member states.
UK food agency continues work to minimise risk to the food chain
recalling within one week two different product ranges contaminated
with an illegal red dye.
A new Russian food standard (GOST) concerning consumer information
on packaged food products is due to come into force on 1 January
2005. Angela Drujinina looks at how the change will effect
consumers and food manufacturers, and its...
An illegal red colour identified in a popular food oil prompts a
recall in the UK, the latest in a series of similar moves by the
country's food watchdog.
Plans for EU sugar reform are unfair and would only benefit the
biggest producers, say 10 member states as new discussions split
opinions across Europe,reports Chris Mercer.
EU environmental experts yesterday voted against proposals to
overturn the bans of genetically modified (GM) crops in five
countries, at the same time the group failed to reach a majority
decision on clearing a GM crop ingredient...
Food safety reaffirmed with infant foods in the UK strapped into
the legal limits for fungal contamination, finds a recent survey
from the UK's food watchdog.
A third source of GM ingredients could soon be cleared by Europe as
officials meet to discuss to clear approval for a corn designed by
biotech giant Monsanto.
Europe comes closer to rubber stamping harmonised controls for
controlling mycotoxins in the food chain and the Scottish food
agency offers stakeholders a snapshot of recent talks.
The primary food agency in Europe responsible for assessing risks
to the food chain concludes that more information on the potential
adverse reaction of peanut oil, used in food production, to peanut
allergic consumers is necessary...
UK food watchdog pinpoints the potentially carcinogenic red dye
Sudan IV in more palm oil products this week as the roll call of
recalled food products tips the 250 mark.
Red, potentially carcinogenic, dyes continue to dog the UK food
chain with the food watchdog last week highlighting a further batch
of products for recall.
EU health commissioner David Byrne has expressed his confidence in
the food chain as a contamination scare highlights the value of
traceability and the progress made in reducing risks to the complex
food production industry.
A risk assessment of 1000 flavouring substances is underway at
Europe's food agency with a first slice of 77 substances cleared on
genotoxic and carcinogenic criteria.
Clearing up any confusion over food labels, US food authorities
have given the green light for food ingredients firms to use
ethanol in precipitating food grade xanthan gum and to still allow
the ingredient to keep the 'xanthan'...
Europe's food watchdog reaffirms the safety of a GM sweetcorn
designed by biotech giant Monsanto on the back of new evidence
submitted by German scientists.
Changes to the new food code in Australia and New Zealand are
underway as the food agency for the two countries calls for comment
from industry, government and consumers on a raft of fresh
proposals.
Europe tackles levels of cadmium contaminated foods, particularly
in children, finding that cereals and vegetables contribute two
thirds of the consumption of this toxic heavy metal that can cause
kidney disease.
GM starch and corn oil are cleared for use in European food
formulations after Brussels gives the green light on a genetically
modified maize line from US biotech giant Monsanto, reports
Lindsey Partos.
An international task force meeting in Brazil last week under the
aegis of Codex Alimentarius, the global food standards body, clears
a decision after difficult discussions on defining the identity of
reconstituted orange juice.
New rules in Europe recently opened the way for market
opportunities of GM food crops but the debate still rattles on with
the focus now turned to the co-existence of GM, organic and
conventional crops with a new UK report claiming...
Denmark and Italy will use a meeting of EU agriculture ministers
this week to ask for a European task force to be set up on
genetically modified organisms (GMOs), reports CORDIS.
Brussels commits €188 million to food safety issues in the Union
linked to animal diseases, signing off the largest slice for
eradication of mad cow disease.
In a move that has split the government, Italian ministers block a
motion put forward by the agriculture minister aimed at regulating
the future introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in
Italy, reports CORDIS.
Food makers alert to the levels of a potentially carcinogenic mould
commonly found on crops as scientists back an extension barrier
levels for ochratoxin A to grape juice, coffee and wine.
An expert group in Brussels backs a Commission proposal for tighter
levels of the potentially carcinogenic compounds Polycyclic
Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) found in grilled meats.
Unsafe food makes almost a third of the globe ill each year,
providing constant pressure on governments and the global food
industry to come up with tools to fight food safety and reduce the
risk of food poisoning.