Carbohydrates and fibres (sugar, starches)

Mission possible: Most reformulation does not impact consumer acceptance

21-Nov-2016 By Nathan Gray

The majority of reformulation to lower levels of sugar, salt and fat has no impact on consumer acceptance or willingness to pay, says a new EU-backed study.

Most soft drinks on sale exceed daily sugar limit, warns study

15-Nov-2016 By Will Chu

Over half of the soft drinks available in supermarkets exceed the recommended daily amount for an adult’s sugar consumption, as a study identifies ginger beer as containing the most sugar.

#WorldDiabetesDay #WDD

World Diabetes Day: 1000 actions to help 400+m people

14-Nov-2016 By Shane Starling

Nearly 1000 actions – from screenings to policy statements to conferences and diet and lifestyle change promotion – are underway in 130+ countries as part of World Diabetes Day.

Food futures: TasteClouds, virtual food & EMS drive taste & texture development

14-Nov-2016 By Will Chu

Research that digitises the taste sensation to create ‘virtual flavour and texture,’ may prove to be of benefit to those on specialised diets or looking to reduce the amount of consumed sugar or salt.

Lucozade Ribena Suntory to cut sugar content of portfolio by 50%

10-Nov-2016 By Rachel Arthur

Lucozade Ribena Suntory is reformulating all its drinks to contain less than 4.5g of total sugar per 100ml. 

Over half kids' food on Spanish TV use health halo claims: Research

10-Nov-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Over half of all food products marketed to children on Spanish television make some kind of nutrition or health claim but many of these products are unhealthy, say researchers calling for nutrient profiles.

FOODNAVIGATOR EXCLUSIVE

Cargill invests €35m to broaden European sweetener choices

09-Nov-2016 By Will Chu

Ingredients giant Cargill will invest €35m to expand its sweetener options throughout Europe in anticipation of strict sugar production quotas that will end in 2017. 

Sugar giants pull trigger on research group

Sugar Nutrition UK: Born 1964, died 2016

09-Nov-2016 By Louis Gore-Langton

50 year-old industry funded research body Sugar Nutrition UK has disbanded citing the need for sugar science to go global.

‘Socially irresponsible’: UK agency bans Diet Chef advert

03-Nov-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The UK’s Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has banned an advert from diet plan company Diet Chef after 26 viewers complained the advert exploited women’s insecurities about their bodies.

Obesity plan 'dismantling' leaves bare bones of a strategy

02-Nov-2016 By David Burrows

Details of the UK’s childhood obesity plan as it stood in June – back when David Cameron was Prime Minister and the UK was still debating whether to stay in or leave the EU - were this week revealed on British current affairs programme Dispatches.

Law applies from 3 November 2016

Stevia sector says imminent EU law changes will sweeten NPD

26-Oct-2016 By Lynda Searby

An amendment to the EU food additives regulation has removed the requirement for stevia blends to contain at least 75% stevioside or reb A, giving food and beverage manufacturers scope to formulate better tasting stevia-sweetened products.

Under-12s seeing 88% fewer ads for non-nutritious products, says industry

Game over for food marketing to kids, says consumer group

26-Oct-2016 By Niamh Michail

Food and drink companies need to turn their words on marketing to children into action, says European consumer rights group BEUC, as it calls 'game over' on marketing unhealthy food to kids.

Option paralysis: Consumers were confused by 'Choices'

Dutch ditch healthy eating logo for an app

25-Oct-2016 By Niamh Michail

The Dutch government has ordered the industry-led healthy eating logo to be phased out and replaced with an app that allows consumers to scan products for nutrition information.

A couple of sugary drinks daily ‘doubles diabetes risk,’ study shows

21-Oct-2016 By Will Chu

The choice between artificially sweetened and sugared soft drinks does not seem to make a difference in the onset of chronic conditions such as diabetes, according to Swedish research. 

Preventing child obesity ‘starts in the previous generation,’ say leading researchers

21-Oct-2016 By Will Chu

The chances that a child will become obese in later life are largely determined before they are even conceived, as researchers believe parent’s health is key to tackling obesity in future generations.

Scots call for reformulation as majority admit they ignore advice

18-Oct-2016 By David Burrows

The majority of Scottish consumers say they have clear advice on what they should and shouldn’t be eating but many tend to ignore it, according to new research.

Tate & Lyle to expand Singapore lab amid speciality ingredients focus

17-Oct-2016 By Gary Scattergood

Tate & Lyle is to more than double the size of its Singapore laboratory, will new facilities including a pilot plant and wider analytical capabilities.

X-ray fat for formulation wins?

14-Oct-2016 By Natalie Morrison

Food scientists are X-raying fats in a bid to understand how saturated and trans-fats can be replaced by healthier versions without compromising taste or texture.

Proposals outlining a tax on sugared drinks endorsed by WHO

13-Oct-2016 By Will Chu

Mounting evidence suggests the introduction of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages is justified as a way to lower intake and reduce cases of obesity, type 2 diabetes and tooth decay.

A winning formula? Free-from snacks are safest bet for food start-ups

13-Oct-2016 By Lynda Searby

Food and beverage start-ups that bring to market on-the-go snacks or beverages with a ‘free-from’ positioning have the best chance of success, whilst dairy concepts face the greatest risk of failure, finds new research.

Sugar market reforms could leave bitter taste, and now is the time to prepare

11-Oct-2016 By David Burrows

Food and drink companies expecting the sugar price to fall once quotas disappear might have a nasty shock, according to Rabobank’s latest forecasts.

Fat or sugar? Genes may have the deciding vote

06-Oct-2016 By Will Chu

Along with taste, appearance, smell and texture, food choice may also be genetic as a study identifies biology as a factor in preferring foods high in either fat or sugar.

Sweet success: TINE's nutrition chief on its million-kilo sugar cut

06-Oct-2016 By Niamh Michail

Over the past ten years, Norwegian dairy and cereal manufacturer TINE has cut one million kilos of sugar from its products each year. We spoke to the company's head of nutrition about its sugar reduction strategy.

French call to food industry: Cut infant exposure to nine substances (now)

05-Oct-2016 By Niamh Michail

France’s food safety agency ANSES has published a snapshot of the diet of under-3s and the chemicals they are exposed to, calling for "particular vigilance" for nine dangerous substances.

Obesity a ‘solvable worldwide pandemic,’ says professor

03-Oct-2016 By Will Chu

The UK has the means and the motivation to become the first nation to solve the problem of obesity, according to one academic - but will it act?

'Miracle berry' could reduce sugar content of sour drinks, say scientists

03-Oct-2016 By Niamh Michail

Does the 'miracle berry' have potential for sweet success in reducing the sugar content of sour drinks, as Brazilian researchers suggest, or like its name is it too good to be true?

Beta-glucan & fibre: Golden oldies in 2016?

27-Sep-2016 By Kacey Culliney

Simple, recognisable nutrients like beta-glucan and fibre should be on the menu when targeting a new wave of active and positive seniors, say experts.

Is all fair in love & war, logos & lobbying? France begins nutrition label trial

26-Sep-2016 By Niamh Michail

Amid cries of conflicts of interest and fierce industry lobbying, France will test out four different nutrition labels for a trial period to see which is the most efficient in encouraging healthier food choices.

Ireland launches national obesity plan

23-Sep-2016 By Niamh Michail

The Irish government has launched an ambitious national obesity plan which proposes a sugary drinks tax, maximum portion sizes, marketing restrictions and reformulation targets - but the lack of funding to implement the policy has led to criticism from...

UK traffic light labelling should be mandatory: LGA

20-Sep-2016 By Natalie Morrison

UK traffic light labelling should be mandatory for all food manufacturers, the Local Government Association (LGA) has urged the British government.

Sin taxes work while stealth reformulation success still ‘anecdotal’, says study

16-Sep-2016 By Natalie Morrison

Sugar taxes show evidence of working across all socioeconomic classes while stealth reformulation’s effect on obesity is largely anecdotal, says Professor Barry Popkin.

Profit increase can drive sugar reduction: Bayn

15-Sep-2016 By Natalie Morrison

More profitable business models are needed for companies committed to healthier products, according to Bayn following the launch of its new Sugar Reduced Community.

How the sugar lobby paid scientists to point the finger at fat: JAMA

13-Sep-2016 By Niamh Michail

The US sugar lobby paid for influential research in the 1960s to downplay the link between sugar and coronary heart disease and instead point the finger at fat, according to a report published yesterday.

UK pushes voluntary added sugar labelling scheme

13-Sep-2016 By David Burrows

The UK government has confirmed that it will introduce “clearer visual labelling” in relation to free sugars on packaged food and drinks - but it will be voluntary.

UK youngsters still consuming twice as much sugar as they should be

12-Sep-2016 By Niamh Michail

Young children are drinking more than double the amount of sugar they should be – although consumption of sugary drinks has fallen, according to a UK-wide dietary survey.

World food prices hit 15-month high: FAO

12-Sep-2016 By Niamh Michail

Food prices for all global commodities rose in the past month apart from cereals, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

High fibre intakes as a baby linked to better cardiometabolic health later: Generation R study

08-Sep-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Consuming more dietary fibre as a baby could lead to better cardiometabolic health later in childhood, according to the ‘Generation R’ study involving over 2,000 children.

Scotland launches hard-hitting snack campaign as government confirms 2017 obesity strategy

08-Sep-2016 By David Burrows

Scotland will publish a new strategy on diet and obesity next year, as new research shows that the average child aged between four and 10 eats around 110,000 calories through “unhealthy, unnecessary snacks” annually.

Unhealthy obsession with total cholesterol reduction is thwarting CVD prevention

07-Sep-2016 By Lynda Searby

Strategies to tackle cardiovascular disease (CVD) need to move away from statins and cholesterol reduction and focus on reducing inflammation and increasing HDL cholesterol through dietary intervention, urges a leading food lipids academic.

Ireland ponders sugary drinks tax

06-Sep-2016 By Niamh Michail

A tax on sugary drinks is being considered by the Irish government as part of the upcoming budget, a measure condemned by the Irish Beverage Council (IBC) as “costly political posturing”.

Alternate day fasting may be as effective as traditional diets for weight loss

02-Sep-2016 By Niamh Michail

Skipping food every other day is safe and may be as effective for weight loss as traditional calorie-restricted diets, say US researchers.

Kids copycatting parents’ drink habits is heightened for fizzy drinks

02-Sep-2016 By David Burrows

Young children are almost three times as likely to consume fizzy drinks if their parents frequently do, according to research carried out by the UK-based Natural Hydration Council.

Sugar taxes: A case of pop policy and comic consultation

01-Sep-2016 By J T Winkler, emeritus professor of nutrition policy, London Metropolitan University

The UK's sugar tax was little more than populist light relief to brighten a speech full of economic doom and gloom. But what's worse, argues Professor Jack Winkler, is that the government's 'pseudo-consultation' about the tax is...

Dolce consortium to develop 'mystery' natural sweeteners

31-Aug-2016 By Niamh Michail

French ingredient supplier Roquette has teamed up with a German biotech company and a natural product specialist to develop and bring to market natural sweeteners and sweetness enhancers.

Scottish food boss suggests UK obesity strategy won’t work

31-Aug-2016 By David Burrows

The head of Scotland’s food regulator has claimed that the UK’s childhood obesity strategy doesn’t go far enough.

Breast milk sugar may give babies defence against lethal infection : Study

30-Aug-2016 By Will Chu

A naturally-occurring sugar found in breast milk may provide protection against life threatening bacterium by acting as a food source for 'friendly bacteria' in a baby's intestine, a study by Imperial College has concluded. 

EU food and drink production rises in Q1 2016

24-Aug-2016 By Niamh Michail

Food and drink production in Europe increased by a modest 0.5% in Q1 2016, bucking the downward trend of the previous quarter, according to data from industry group, FoodDrinkEurope.

Guidelines not sugar-coated: Limits for children announced

23-Aug-2016 By Will Chu

Children between the ages of two and 18 should consume fewer than six teaspoons of added sugars daily, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends.

Scotland wants advertising powers following “disappointing” UK obesity strategy

23-Aug-2016 By David Burrows

Scotland’s health minister could push for advertising laws to be devolved unless the UK government implements tighter restrictions on junk food.

Unhealthy diet during pregnancy linked to ADHD in kids: Study

22-Aug-2016 By Will Chu

An association between a high-fat and high-sugar prenatal diet and advanced attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms has been found in a study carried out by British researchers.