Carbohydrates and fibres (sugar, starches)

Sugar fuels aggressive cancer growth confirms breakthrough study

17-Oct-2017 By Will Chu

The mechanism of action that show cancer cells’ use of sugars to ‘awaken’ cancer cells and promote aggressive cancer growth provides further insights into creating tailor-made diets for cancer patients.

Junk food firms’ ad budget dwarfs government anti-obesity campaign spend

16-Oct-2017 By Will Chu

Junk food brands are spending close to 30 times more on advertising their products than the amount available for the UK Government’s flagship healthy eating campaign, an anti-obesity coalition claims.

EFSA: Modified starches pose no safety concerns

13-Oct-2017 By Will Chu

A dozen modified food starches used to make sauces and pie fillings have received regulatory backing after a re-evaluation found no safety concerns with levels currently used in food products.

Polish Finance Ministry denies junk food tax plans

10-Oct-2017 By Will Chu

The Polish Ministry of Finance has released a statement denying previous intentions to introduce a new tax on food products that contain high levels of sugar, fat and salt.

Three quarters of honey worldwide contain pesticides, study finds

09-Oct-2017 By Will Chu

Three quarters of the honey produced around the world contain bee-killing pesticides, a study finds, as concentrations recorded remain below the maximum permitted levels for human consumption.

The end of EU sugar quotas: Beet gets free rein but cane will still take a beating

03-Oct-2017 By Niamh Michail

Food manufacturers are welcoming the end of the EU’s “market-distorting” sugar beet and isoglucose quotas that have capped production for nearly 50 years. But sugar cane processors are angry that cane tariffs remain while public health may pay the ultimate...

Evolva focuses on three ‘game changer’ ingredients: stevia, nookatone, resveratrol

03-Oct-2017 By Katy Askew

Swiss biotech company Evolva has said that it will focus on ramping up low cost bio-production routes that it believes will be “game changers” for “existing commercially available ingredients that are currently hard-to-source from nature”.

Meurens Natural opens €15m factory

27-Sep-2017 By Niamh Michail

Belgian cereal and fruit syrup manufacturer Meurens Natural has doubled its production capacity with a €15 million factory.

Commission advises authorities how to crack down on dual quality food

27-Sep-2017 By Niamh Michail

The Commission has published guidance to help member state authorities crack down on dual quality foods using existing legislation – but how workable is it?

There's an untapped opportunity in organic kids' food, says Mintel

19-Sep-2017 By Niamh Michail

European parents are consistently willing to pay more for organic, says Mintel. Yet while organic claims are common on baby food, they are less used on food and drink aimed at kids. Are manufacturers missing a trick?

EC: 'We will now analyse China's decision and consider appropriate steps.'

No justification for China extending potato starch duties, says Starch Europe

18-Sep-2017 By Niamh Michail

The European starch industry is “deeply disappointed” by the Chinese government’s decision to extend anti-subsidy duties against EU potato starch while the European Commission says it is considering appropriate steps to take.

PureCircle targets tailored stevia solutions

15-Sep-2017 By Katy Askew

Stevia manufacturer PureCircle is launching the Sigma X-celerator, a new tool that aims to deliver customised ingredient combinations to its food and beverage customers.

Poor diet is linked to one in five deaths around the world

15-Sep-2017 By Niamh Michail

Diets that are low in whole grains, fruit, nuts and seeds and high in salt are now linked to one in five deaths around the world, according to a Lancet study.

Artificial sweeteners may increase risk of diabetes in two weeks, study claims

14-Sep-2017 By Will Chu

Artificial sweeteners could potentially increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in two weeks, says research that fuels ongoing debate over the sugar substitutes’ long-term health effects.

For a better batter: Kröner-Stärke launches native starches for fried foods

08-Sep-2017 By Niamh Michail

Kröner-Stärke has launched a range of native wheat-based starches, including organic and gluten-free, for clean label battered and breaded products.

MEP sounds isoglucose health warning as EU quotas end

08-Sep-2017 By Niamh Michail

At the end of the month, the EU sugar regime will end, liberalising the market after nearly 50 years of production quotas. But one MEP is questioning whether the Commission has considered the impact on Europeans’ health as manufacturers switch to isoglucose.

Swiss food industry add Danone and Kellogg to sugar-cutting pact

07-Sep-2017 By Will Chu

The Swiss Confederation and food industry representatives have welcomed Danone and Kellogg’s signatures to a declaration that commits firms to cutting sugar content in its yoghurt and cereal products.

Urban honey firm Bybi finds sweet success with CSR partnerships

06-Sep-2017 By Niamh Michail

Urban honey producer and social enterprise Bybi works with multinationals, such as Carlsberg, who ‘rent’ its hives in a CSR partnership that benefits both, Bybi founder Oliver Maxwell says.

Sugarcane supply chain: Industry urged to address forced labour issues

01-Sep-2017 By Will Chu

Mondelēz and Archer Daniels Midland are among a number of food and beverage companies making ‘limited’ efforts to understand and assess forced labour risks in their sugarcane supply chains at the country level, a report has found.

Lemon juice gel an ideal building block for 3D food printing, study finds

31-Aug-2017 By Will Chu

A new three-dimensional printing material based on lemon juice and potato starch has exhibited a consistency and flow, which could aid in creating nutritionally enhanced food material formulations.

Novozymes gets EFSA green light for two glucose syrup enzymes

31-Aug-2017 By Niamh Michail

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has given the green light for two Novozymes enzymes used to make glucose syrup.

Evolva to axe almost half its workforce in restructuring overhaul

30-Aug-2017 By Niamh Michail

Evolva will cut its workforce by 43% and spin off its Indian R&D laboratory to become a product-based company. "Technology will always be the backbone at Evolva but we've reached the point where we need to be laser focused on commercialising...

Trimming the fat off dietary guidelines: Study links high carb intake to mortality risk

29-Aug-2017 By Will Chu

Global dietary guidelines should be revisited, according to a Lancet study, which found reducing fat intake and replacing it with a high carbohydrate intake may be linked to worse health outcomes.

Danish juice firms create value-added bakery ingredients with fruit pulp waste

28-Aug-2017 By Niamh Michail

Leftover fruit pulp from the juice industry is being transformed into a value-added and healthy ingredient for cereals, baked snacks and chocolate.

FDF, BRC back ‘coordinated’ approach to sugar reduction

16-Aug-2017 By Katy Askew

Industry bodies representing the UK’s food and drink sector are backing a “coordinated” drive to reduce the amount of sugar in products.

Novozymes sees 'good' H1 momentum

11-Aug-2017 By Katy Askew

Novozymes said it saw “good” momentum across its food and beverage ingredients business during the first six months of the year.

Clearer food labelling on the cards with new whole grain food definition

10-Aug-2017 By Will Chu

An academia-industry collaboration has agreed on a definition that makes the whole grain content in foods clearer in its labelling, with the aim of providing clarity for consumers and manufacturers.

Ingredion, Lyckerby launch ingredients tie-up

09-Aug-2017 By Katy Askew

Global ingredients group Ingredion has formed a strategic alliance with Sweden’s Lyckeby to bring the Swedish potato starch processor’s products to food makers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Gluten-free products ‘not as healthy’ as conventional

08-Aug-2017 By Katy Askew

A new study has found gluten-free products are often not as healthy as their conventional counterparts.

Sugar rush to the head: Men on high-sugar diet vulnerable to depression

03-Aug-2017 By Will Chu

As Romania becomes the latest European country to introduce a sugar tax, latest research now points to how sugar takes its toll on mental health with an increased risk of depression in men.

Does Europe need a legal definition of natural food?

31-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

With the US considering a legal definition of ‘natural’ food, does Europe need one too? It would increase clarity for a complex concept, but defining 'degrees of naturalness’ for origin, ingredients and processing may be better, say the researchers...

Review casts doubt over artificial sweeteners’ intended weight benefits

27-Jul-2017 By Will Chu

A possible link between artificial sweeteners and weight gain, diabetes and heart disease casts further doubt on the long-term health benefits of sweeteners including aspartame, sucralose and stevioside.

French people eat too much salt and not enough fibre: ANSES

26-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

The French population is consuming more processed foods, too much salt, and - “most importantly” - not enough fibre compared to ten years ago, according to a survey by the country’s food safety agency ANSES.

EU agri-food exports on the rise

25-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

The total value of EU agri-food exports increased by 9% in May this year compared to 2016, according to trade figures from the European Commission.

Long-fibre prebiotics show promising sweetness, say scientists

19-Jul-2017 By David Burrows

How to keep things sweet without adding calories – is it a Holy Grail or could UK scientists have found a solution thanks to long-fibre prebiotics?

Caramel supplier Nigay to open €20m French factory

19-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

French caramel supplier Nigay is to invest €20 million in a second factory in Northern France.

Tax big but spend wisely, finds research on sugar levies

18-Jul-2017 By David Burrows

Health taxes that add 20% to the price of products are likely to be effective, but policymakers need to be transparent about where revenues end up, according to new research.

EU agricultural outlook sees cereals dip but quota-free sugar surge

13-Jul-2017 By Will Chu

Cereal production in the EU is likely to dip in the short-term, as heatwaves and drought in various regions have a bearing on EU exports and on existing stocks, the Commission reports.

Ingredient exports to benefit under EU-Japan trade deal

10-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

Last week the EU and Japan agreed to a bilateral trade agreement, which will set significant duty-free quotas on EU exports of ingredients such as starch, butter, whey and processed foods.

Kerry innovation chief talks investment, R&D and working with start-ups

10-Jul-2017 By Niamh Michail

Following Kerry Group's $220 million (€193m) investment into research and development (R&D) last year, what's next for ingredient innovation at the Irish company? We caught up with the firm's Chief Innovation Officer.

Rye’s high satiety properties fit well as a weight-managing food, study says

03-Jul-2017 By Will Chu

The porous, moisture-absorbent properties of rye products such as bread, flakes and granolas are key to maintaining long-lasting satiety and effective weight management, a Finnish study determines.

Tougher advertising rules for marketing unhealthy foods at children come in to effect tomorrow

30-Jun-2017 By Emma Jane Cash

Strict rules banning adverts for high in fat, salt and sugar products in all children’s media come into effect tomorrow (Saturday 1 July), after numerous health campaigners called for tougher regulations.

Interactive starch resource unveiled by Starch Europe

29-Jun-2017 By Will Chu

Trade association Starch Europe make available a new online platform that aims to provide information about starch-based ingredients used in the food sector.

Biofortification one of many factors in tackling iron and zinc deficiencies: Study

29-Jun-2017 By Will Chu

Biofortification alone is not enough to enhance bread with optimum iron and zinc levels to fight deficiencies, a study says as it cites other production methods that should factor in its creation.

Coca Cola partners urged to stop marketing Capri-Sun drink to kids

27-Jun-2017 By David Burrows

Campaigners in France have demanded that Coca Cola European Partners stops marketing its Capri-Sun drink to children, as pressure grows on EU food and drink companies to ditch the use of cartoon characters on products “loaded with sugar, salt or fat”.

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