Carbohydrates and fibres (sugar, starches)

'Processed food is practically 3D printed. The difference is, this is with fresh, real ingredients': Natural Machines

19-Apr-2018 By Niamh Michail

When Natural Machines printed a branded manufacturer's product using "fresh, real" ingredients, the company tried to shut it down. But this technology is coming and manufacturers can make it work for them, says the co-founder.

Dutch consumers support UK-style traffic light logo

16-Apr-2018 By Niamh Michail

A majority of Dutch consumers would like to see the UK’s traffic light logo adopted in the Netherlands, according to a 1000-strong survey.

Premium chocolate

Barry Callebaut launches Gold because ‘consumers are prepared to pay more’ for caramel chocolate

16-Apr-2018 By Douglas Yu

Barry Callebaut has added a new caramel chocolate, Gold, to its premium Belgian chocolate portfolio, which currently includes dark, milk and white chocolate.

‘Finally, teeth to punish the cheaters’: EU outlaws dual quality food

12-Apr-2018 By Niamh Michail

The European Commission’s New Deal forbids dual quality food and gives authorities the power to fine companies for marketing products that are ‘significantly different’. "Consumer authorities will finally get teeth to punish the cheaters," said...

Soft drinks tax is of greatest benefit to poorer households: Lancet

10-Apr-2018 By Will Chu

Taxes levied on sweetened drinks and snack foods are of most benefit to the poor in helping to make long-term healthy lifestyle changes, a Lancet study concludes.

Sweden to investigate low uptake of Keyhole logo

09-Apr-2018 By Niamh Michail

Sweden's National Food Agency will investigate why many manufacturers choose not to add the free-to-use, healthy eating Keyhole logo to their products despite being eligible.

Bayn uses E-sensory tech to enhance sugar-reduced gingerbread taste

09-Apr-2018 By Will Chu

Bayn details the use of electronic sensory (E-sensory) technology that determines the aroma profile of a sugar-reduced food to mimic the taste of the original full sugar version.

Sugar, salt or sweeteners may be key to getting children to eating greens

06-Apr-2018 By Niamh Michail

Adding very small amounts of sugar or salt to food may increase vegetable intake by reducing bitterness, and could be an important first step in getting children to eat leafy greens, researchers have found.

News In Brief

OptiBiotix files three new patents for SweetBiotix

05-Apr-2018 By Nathan Gray

Three new patent filings relating to sweet fibres and natural high intensity sweeteners – with improved flavour and microbiome modulating functions – will add further protection to OptiBiotix’s intellectual property, says the firm.

PureCircle plays down EU stevia stumbling block

04-Apr-2018 By Niamh Michail

Malaysian supplier PureCircle must provide more data to prove the safety of both minor steviol glycosides and glucosylated stevia, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said in two separate opinions.

Ireland's sugar tax pushed back to May

03-Apr-2018 By Rachel Arthur

The introduction of Ireland’s sugar tax has been pushed back to May 1 to ensure the levy does not infringe EU state aid law.

Are some 'no added sugar' claims really illegal?

03-Apr-2018 By Niamh Michail

Claims such as ‘no added sugar’ on foods containing sweeteners are commonplace and an important part of healthy branding - but are they technically illegal under EU law? We put the question to a food law expert.

Category crossovers and savoury swaps: Mintel on the future of sweet flavours

29-Mar-2018 By Niamh Michail

As the backlash against sugar continues, manufacturers of sweet products are coming up with eye-catching solutions to win consumers’ attention from chocolate pizza to vegetable muffins, says Mintel.

Nestlé reduces sugar by 30% in Milkybar with cotton candy-inspired technology

27-Mar-2018 By Douglas Yu

Nestlé will launch Milkybar Wowsomes exclusively in the UK and Ireland in the coming weeks with 30% less sugar than other chocolate products in its portfolio.

'New ritual' snacking emerges in France

15-Mar-2018 By Niamh Michail

Snacking is emerging as 'a new eating ritual' in France but is not breaking down traditional meals, according to a survey by snack manufacturer Mondelez.

Nestlé will do ‘more than ever’ to accelerate reformulation

13-Mar-2018 By Katy Askew

Nestlé is “working tirelessly” to make sure its products are “the best they can be” and “will be doing more than ever” to help tackle public health challenges through reformulation efforts, the company’s UK and Ireland chief says.

Healthy Nibbles founder wants to revolutionise out-of-home snacking

07-Mar-2018 By Katy Askew

Healthy Nibbles wants to revolutionise on-the-go consumption and prove that vending machines can offer “more than sugar and caffeine and still turn a profit”. FoodNavigator caught up with Healthy Nibbles founder Sara Roberts to find out how.

High fat breakfast boosts fat burning

05-Mar-2018 By Katy Askew

A high fat breakfast can help burn fat at a higher rate for a 24-hour period, new research suggests.

Regulation ‘could boost clean label’ and build trust

05-Mar-2018 By Katy Askew

There is currently no clear legal definition of what constitutes a clean label product. One marketing and economics expert argues certification and regulation could actually boost clean label sales.

No credibility or consensus: Mars pulls out of Evolved Nutrition Label

02-Mar-2018 By Niamh Michail

Mars will leave the industry-developed Evolved Nutrition Label, citing a lack of credibility and consensus, and has called on the European Commission to bring in a pan-EU, mandatory label.

Improved recipe claims hide ingredient 'downgrading'

01-Mar-2018 By Niamh Michail

Manufacturers including Unilever, Mondelēz and Alpro are using claims of ‘new, improved recipe’ to hide ingredient "downgrading", according to a German consumer group.

Post-Brexit trade in sugar: ‘The UK market should reflect UK interest,’ say Tate & Lyle

01-Mar-2018 By Will Chu

The opportunities Brexit might bring are especially apparent in regards to choice - something the European Union takes away from the UK, says Tate & Lyle Sugars.

German biotech firm Brain bags European patent for taste technology

26-Feb-2018 By Niamh Michail

After bagging a European patent for its taste cell technology to develop natural sweeteners, German biotech company Brain is turning its attention to bitterness and salt reduction.

Understanding genetic flavour preference could promote healthier choices

23-Feb-2018 By Katy Askew

Children’s snacking choices – whether they prefer sweet, fatty or bitter flavours – could be genetically pre-programmed and understanding this could help people make healthier choices, new research suggests.

Retail practice causes food overproduction and waste, charity claims

23-Feb-2018 By Will Chu

The retail sector is accused of driving food overproduction and waste on UK farms that threatens to undermine supermarket initiatives that aim to cut down on surplus produce.

EU food exports 'holding strong'

22-Feb-2018 By Niamh Michail

EU food exports are “holding strong” with a 5.1% increase in value in 2017 compared to the previous year, according to a Commission report.

A treat for the eyes: Children are more responsive to unhealthy food cues

21-Feb-2018 By Niamh Michail

Children are more responsive to cues for unhealthy foods than healthy ones in cartoons, researchers say.

European Council to offer refunds on excess sugar levies

21-Feb-2018 By Will Chu

The European Council has agreed to reimburse levies imposed on sugar producers after a decision by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) that ruled the excess sums had been incorrectly calculated.

Intermarché supermarket adds NutriScore to 1,300 products

16-Feb-2018 By Niamh Michail

Intermarché will add the NutriScore nutrition logo to 1,300 of its private label products. "NutriScore should be the only nutrition label on the shelves," it said yesterday.

Clean label pectin can shorten ingredient list, says DuPont

15-Feb-2018 By Niamh Michail

DuPont's pectin for reduced-sugar jams, fruit spreads and ice creams can clean up labels by removing the need for calcium salts, it says.

Ultra-processed food may be linked to cancer: BMJ study

15-Feb-2018 By Niamh Michail

There may be a causal link between eating highly processed food and cancer risk, and four reasons why this could be, according to the authors of a 105,000-strong French study published in the British Medical Journal.

Food innovation in Denmark is 'a clear political goal', says Food Nation CEO

13-Feb-2018 By Niamh Michail

Years ago, Danish food meant salted pork, pickled fish and little else to most people. Now it’s Europe’s gastronomic capital with high-value food exports. We spoke to the CEO of Food Nation about this transformation and how manufacturers are tapping into...

Commission mulls origin labelling with draft legislation: Stakeholders react

12-Feb-2018 By Niamh Michail

A public consultation on a draft EU regulation for EU-wide origin labelling has come to a close.

Free-from foods are seen as healthier - especially GM-free and palm oil-free: study

09-Feb-2018 By Niamh Michail

Free-from labelled foods seem healthier, with GM-free and palm oil-free labels having the strongest effect, according to a study of almost 2000 French, Swedish, British and Polish individuals.

Vazee app brings previously out-of-reach consumer data to brands, it says

09-Feb-2018 By Niamh Michail

Vazee's app tells manufacturers what consumers are eating and drinking in restaurants. It's important marketing data and Heineken and Pago have already signed up, its co-founder says.

Breaking away from bad science? Mars to leave ILSI in transparency bid

08-Feb-2018 By Niamh Michail

Mars plans to quit industry-funded science group, the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), and says it will support research regardless of results after making its science policy public.

Tate & Lyle pleased with Q3 progress

08-Feb-2018 By Niamh Michail

Tate & Lyle on track to deliver progress in adjusted profit in line with its expectations, it said in a Q3 trading statement today.

The six trends driving a record-breaking year for UK organic food and drink

07-Feb-2018 By Niamh Michail

As the UK organic sector hits a record value of £2.2 billion (€2.47bn), what's the secret to its success? Six trends are influencing our food choices today - and organic fits into all of them, says the Soil Association.

'No added sugar' plus a sweetener? 'Pure and simply illegal,' says Test Achats

06-Feb-2018 By Niamh Michail

If a product in the EU has a 'no added sugar', it cannot contain any added sweetener, natural or artificial. Yet too many companies are flouting this law and it's "pure and simply illegal", says Belgian consumer group Test Achats.

Spanish manufacturers promise to make 3,500 products healthier

06-Feb-2018 By Niamh Michail

Over 500 companies in Spain have pledged a 10% voluntary reduction in salt, sugar and fat in over 3,500 products. "This is a business transformation," says the country's health minister.

Images help people who are not 'health-conscious' make better food choices

05-Feb-2018 By Niamh Michail

Health-conscious people will choose healthy foods anyway – but visual cues, rather than words, can help those who are less health-conscious to make better food choices, researchers say.

Ingredion capitalising as texture shapes innovation

02-Feb-2018 By Katy Askew

Ingredion is responding to the growing role that texture is playing in product development as it seeks to grow its starch business, part of its specialities unit.

Is OptiBiotix’s prebiotic fibre a contender to topple sugar’s standing?

01-Feb-2018 By Will Chu

The development of a viable low calorie prebiotic sweetener that disrupts the industry’s use of sugar took another step forward after OptiBiotix Health revealed details of its latest taste study.

Protecting biodiversity must become a priority when ingredient sourcing, says EBBC

31-Jan-2018 By Niamh Michail

Opting for traditional or rare crop varieties, avoiding GM and sourcing ingredients from alternative cultivation regions are just some of the ways food manufacturers can help protect biodiversity, according to the European Business and Biodiversity Campaign...

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