Carbohydrates and fibres (sugar, starches)

New strategy: Scotland weighs up food taxes and ad bans

18-Aug-2016 By David Burrows

Scotland’s new food authority is prepared to take the hard-line on tackling obesity, with a junk food tax and advertising bans under consideration.

‘Inexcusable’ childhood obesity strategy a ‘missed opportunity,’ say campaigners

18-Aug-2016 By Will Chu

The British government’s long-awaited obesity strategy for children was released today to a chorus of criticism from medical experts and campaigners, dismayed the measures did not go further.

Government reticence on sugar tax and obesity policy leaves everything to play for in bitter battle

17-Aug-2016 By David Burrows

The UK food industry, the government and health campaigners are locked in a bitter battle to determine the country’s plan to tackle obesity. At its heart is the proposed sugar tax on soft drinks.

Natural gum can improve tapioca starch performance and keep ‘clean label’ intact: study

16-Aug-2016 By Natalie MORRISON

A natural gum can be used to improve the functionality of tapioca starch without impacting ‘clean label’ claims, according to new research.

Supermarkets identified as main junk-food source for consumers: Study

16-Aug-2016 By Will Chu

Improving access to healthy foods may not be as effective in changing dietary habits as previously thought, as a study identifies supermarkets as the main source of junk food among consumers.

Why do people binge eat? Researchers find way to ‘turn off’ behaviour

12-Aug-2016 By Will Chu

The neurological basis of why people binge eat has become slightly clearer as a study has identified specific neural pathways that can inhibit this eating practice.

Warburtons and Cigi partner to develop new pulse flour-based baked goods

12-Aug-2016 By Vince Bamford

Top-selling UK bread brand Warburtons has partnered with the Canadian International Grains Institute (Cigi) in a research project designed to increase the use of pulse-based flours.

Food rewards may create unhealthy eating habits in kids: Study

11-Aug-2016 By Will Chu

Negative feeding practices such as using food as a reward or to regulate emotions could be setting up children with unhealthy eating habits that could impact on health in later life, a study predicts.

Analysis: Is Olympics sponsorship all pain for little gain?

11-Aug-2016 By David Burrows

Performance enhancing drugs have been the media focus in the run-up to the Olympics in Rio. But as the Games got underway last Friday in Brazil it was food and drink brands that were in the spotlight as campaigners and industry engaged in a heated spat...

Companies eager for sugar reformulation could lose sight of healthy goal – experts

10-Aug-2016 By Natalie Morrison

The zeal for sugar reformulation could blinker companies against producing the healthiest versions of their products, experts told FoodNavigator following the FDF’s latest sugar reduction guidelines.

FDF ‘stealth’ sugar reformulation recommendations stir expert debate

09-Aug-2016 By Natalie MORRISON

New FDF suggestions for ‘stealth sugar reformulation’ has sparked debate, with some experts convinced unobtrusive changes are the way forward while others worry it may not work in real life.

Mexico’s unhealthy eating tax one year on: reduced sugar spending and potential EU implications

09-Aug-2016 By Natalie MORRISON

Mexican shoppers bought less calorific and sugary foods in the year after the ‘sugar tax’ was introduced, say researchers.

Fruit Bowl snack brand owner Stream Foods acquired by Bokomo

08-Aug-2016 By Vince Bamford

Cereals manufacturer Bokomo Foods has acquired UK fruit snacks business Stream Foods.

UK retailers pushing unhealthy foods most, finds watchdog. Industry cites 'value'

08-Aug-2016 By David Burrows

Supermarkets in the UK are promoting more unhealthy products than healthy ones, according to new research carried out by consumer group Which?

DISPATCHES FROM IFT

From 'good sugar' to reformulation R&D: The companies that welcome sugar taxes

05-Aug-2016 By Niamh Michail

A sugar tax might be bad news for some manufacturers but for others it's an opportunity. We spoke to a stevia manufacturer, a low GI sugar company and a reformulation R&D firm to see how they view such policies.

First biological reasons for wheat sensitivity identified: Study

03-Aug-2016 By Natalie MORRISON

Biological reasons for wheat sensitivity in non-coeliacs have been discovered for the first time, scientists say.

How can an olive oil waste product reduce industry use of artificial additives?

03-Aug-2016 By Will Chu

Scientists have developed a cheaper way to make high quality, natural emulsifiers and other valuable additives using the waste product from olive oil production.

Modified rye bread found to ease irritable bowel symptoms, study finds

01-Aug-2016 By Will Chu

Modified rye bread may ease the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) according to a study, which recommends this food as a way to increase fibre intake for patients with this condition.

Soybean by-product tipped as alternative prebiotic

01-Aug-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

By-product Okara, otherwise known as ‘soy pulp’ or ‘tofu dreg’, is a promising novel prebiotic, according to researchers testing the ingredient in a human gut model.

Bel Group to acquire MOM Group from LBO

01-Aug-2016 By Jim Cornall

The Bel Group and MOM Group’s management team have agreed to undertake exclusive negotiations with LBO France to acquire the MOM Group.

Carbs and weight gain: Review points to low hormone levels that regulate fat

29-Jul-2016 By Will Chu

Researchers have investigated the mechanisms of action behind carbs and weight gain, pointing to hormone levels that regulate fat.

Counterfeit stevia on the rise but spectroscopy could be the solution: Study

20-Jul-2016 By Natalie MORRISON

Handheld spectroscopy devices could be used for on-the-spot detection of counterfeit stevia, scientists have found.

The sugar-fat seesaw: Sugar focus undermines fat threat posed in obesity fight

20-Jul-2016 By Will Chu

Concentrating health advice only on sugar is likely to misinform consumers and downscale the urgent need to also reduce fat-derived calories, a paper has suggested.

Kellogg rapped for Special K health claims

20-Jul-2016 By Oliver Nieburg

Kellogg has been ordered to amend or pull a website and TV ad for Special K after the ads were found to breach standards on health claims.

UK retailer files carb:protein ratio health claim

20-Jul-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

UK retailer Marks and Spencer has filed a health claim for a particular carbohydrate to protein ratio it says helps overweight individuals lose weight.

Call for UK to bulk up childhood obesity strategy in wake of leaked plans

19-Jul-2016 By Natalie Morrison

Action on Sugar is urging the UK government to revise its childhood obesity strategy, alleging that leaked draft documents show plans do not go far enough.

Brexit briefings

Big Brexit headache for small business

15-Jul-2016 By David Burrows

With the pound on its knees, frozen yoghurt lolly maker Claudi and Fin is staring a 13% price rise in the face next month. “In the short-term we expect to shoulder all of that,” said co-founder Meriel Kehoe.

Artificial sweeteners may cause cravings for the real thing: Study

13-Jul-2016 By Will Chu

Sugar alternatives may actually increase an individual’s appetite for real sugar by interfering with the way glucose is used in the body, a study has found.

Put the sugar tax on hold after Brexit, says FDF

12-Jul-2016 By Niamh Michail

Industry group, the Food and Drink Federation, has called for the UK's sugar tax to be put on hold due to the economic fragility of the post-Brexit environment - but campaigners have slammed it as opportunistic.

Subsidised food is cheaper but could make people unhealthier, according to study

08-Jul-2016 By Will Chu

Consumption of cheaper food made from subsidised ingredients has been linked to chronic cardiovascular risks in the US population, a study has shown.

EU caffeine claim ban

MEP caffeine vote 'disgraceful' victory of politics over science: Industry

08-Jul-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Industry has lamented yesterday’s European Parliament plenary vote to block four caffeine claims, which otherwise seemed set to pass into EU law books after years of delay.

Beneo sets out R&D priorities with €4.6m lab investment

08-Jul-2016 By Niamh Michail

German ingredients supplier Beneo and Belgian sugar producer Raffinerie Tirlemontoise have invested nearly €5m in research and development (R&D) at its Belgian laboratory facility.

A new standard for quality palm oil?

Good palm oil harvesting and processing keeps cancer contaminants to 'insignificant levels', says industry

07-Jul-2016 By Niamh Michail

Palm oil that is harvested at the right moment, pressed quickly and processed at appropriate temperatures contains insignificant levels of contaminants - if any, says the Italian Union for Sustainable Palm Oil. "This should be the standard for quality...

Junk food ads are screen-lickin' good, say kids; Ban them, says NGO

07-Jul-2016 By David Burrows

Adverts for unhealthy foods like sweets and fast foods are so tempting to children that they should be banned before 9pm, says charity Cancer Research UK.

Caffeine claim calamity should give nutrient profiles wings

06-Jul-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Commission has started the first phase of its investigation into the need for nutrient profiles, with a report expected in spring 2017. Yet with the caffeine claim fiasco ongoing, it’s never been clearer how necessary the profiles are.

Eating pasta could make you slimmer, claim Italian scientists

05-Jul-2016 By Will Chu

When eaten as part of a Mediterranean diet full of vegetables and olive oil, pasta is associated with a small decrease in Body Mass Index (BMI) and waistline size, Italian researchers have found.

Commission asks: Can the EU go on without nutrient profiles?

04-Jul-2016 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn from Brussels

The European Commission has started the first phase of its investigation into the need for nutrient profiles, which it hopes will settle the issue once and for all.

Will Italy also debate a sugar and sat fat tax?

30-Jun-2016 By Niamh Michail

A small group of Italian politicians have presented a bill to the Senate proposing a tax on sugary and diet drinks as well as palm oil and industrial trans fats in a bid to stem rising obesity rates.

EFSA panel adopts energy conversion factor for sweetener D-tagatose – consultant calls for guidance

30-Jun-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has adopted a draft opinion on the energy conversion factor for 'functional sweetener' D-tagatose, meaning its calorie count can be listed on product labels.

Nordic 5 ask EFSA to help set intake limits for added sugar

30-Jun-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Five Nordic countries have asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) whether new evidence means limits for added sugar intakes could now be set.

In-house sustainability and third party certification: Do they complement or cannibalise each other?

29-Jun-2016 By Niamh Michail

From Fairtrade to UTZ, Rainforest Alliance to RSPO, the number of third party certification schemes is on the rise. But alongside this proliferation of consumer–facing logos is the growing numbers of companies developing their own sustainable sourcing...

Giant commodity carbon footprints show more action is needed

28-Jun-2016 By David Burrows

Rice, soy, corn, wheat and palm oil are the “new frontier” of climate action, said Oxfam this week, as it published new data detailing the “massive” environmental impact of the world’s major commodities.

Brexit Briefings: Interview

What are Britain's post-Brexit options and how will it impact industry?

28-Jun-2016 By Niamh Michail

Rising food prices, watered-down safety standards, food law dictated by big businesses and a disastrous impact on public health. Professor in food policy Tim Lang looks at the options of a post-Brexit UK but sees little light at the end of the channel...

Findings that teenagers drink sports drinks 'socially' prompts call for tighter regulation

28-Jun-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

About 90% of teenagers drink sports drinks for the 'nice taste' not the intended functional purpose, which is needlessly increasing their risk of obesity and tooth erosion, according to a study from the Cardiff University School of Dentistry.