Carbohydrates and fibres (sugar, starches)

'Compared to other food concerns, relatively little importance seems to be given by consumers to the micronutrient density of food,' says British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) review. © iStock.com / george tsartsianidis

Big, fat and deficient: The UK’s double diet burden

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Micronutrient deficiencies have been overshadowed by the so-called ‘war on sugar’, science director for British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) warns following the publication of a report.

Unilever's single serve ice creams are all being limited to 250 calories.

Unilever capping ice cream calories

By Jim Cornall

Unilever has confirmed that from spring this year its entire adult single-serve ice cream range will contain 250 calories or fewer in the UK.

A new avocado-based ice-cream is now on the market in the UK

Nobó moving into UK market

By Jim Cornall

Dairy-free Irish food company Nobó will have its award-winning ‘Frozen Goodness’ ice-cream alternative range stocked in 310 Co-operative stores across the UK.

Food Standards Scotland has warned of an obesity “time bomb”

‘Obesity time bomb’: FSS proposes sugar tax

By Alice Foster

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has proposed a sugar tax, tougher reformulation targets and regulation of promotions in order to defuse an obesity “time bomb”.

European Parliament backs objection to sugary baby food

BREAKING NEWS

European Parliament backs objection to sugary baby food

By Niamh Michail

In a plenary vote today Members of European Parliament (MEPs) called for a rethink of rules that could allow up to 30% sugar content in cereal-based baby foods, which could bring the draft legislation back to the drawing board.

Denmark lowers indicative levels for acrylamide

By Niamh Michail

EU guidance levels for acrylamide do not protect consumers enough, according to the Danish minister for environment and food, as it sets lower indicative levels for Danish manufacturers.

UK Green MEP Keith Taylor tabled three objections to the delegated acts – part of the Food for Specific Groups (FSG) regulation – in December. Photo credits: iStock.com / Wavebreakmedia

European Parliament committee to vote on three objections

MEP urges rethink on ‘outrageous’ new formula marketing rules

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A member of the European Parliament (MEP) has urged fellow politicians to support his objections to new rules on the marketing of baby foods, formulas and foods for special medical purposes in a vote today, which he says fails to safeguard the practice...

“Obesity has become the new major discussion about the causes of diseases in various populations,

Online tool shows global scale of obesity-related cancer

By Niamh Michail

The impact of obesity on cancer rates across the world – and how many cases could have been prevented – is made clear with an online data tool, launched by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) last month.

Processed foods eligible for EU funding under healthy eating scheme

Processed foods eligible for EU funding under healthy eating scheme

By Niamh Michail

Manufacturers of processed foods containing fruit and milk are eligible for EU funding under a healthy eating programme for schools, approved by the agriculture committee yesterday, but maximum levels for salt, sugar and fat levels may be lowered by the...

The research identifies Portugal's traditional pastries as a food that uses fats with high TFA content. (Image: iStock.com)

Concern over trans fat levels in Portuguese pastries

By Will Chu

High levels of trans fats in Portuguese foods, especially pastry, are contributing to an increased risk of coronary heart disease, cancer and diabetes, according to a study -  but processed and packaged pastries are not the worst offenders.

Overweight is defined as having a body mass index (BMI), the ratio of height to weight of an individual, of between 25 and 29.9. People with a BMI of 30 and over are considered obese. (image: iStock.com)

Obesity will cause 700,000 new cancer cases by 2035: Report

By Niamh Michail

It makes simple economic sense to reduce levels of obesity and overweight because if current rates continue it will cause 700,000 new cases of cancer in the next twenty years, says a report by Cancer Research UK.

Rice quotations in 2015 were more stable than wheat or maize. Photo copyright: Istock / Jeremy Richards

Global food prices plunged by nearly 20% in 2015

By Niamh Michail

In 2015 prices of the world’s major commodities fell for the fourth year in a row, averaging nearly one fifth (19.1%) lower than in 2014, says the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

With healthy eating among the most common New Year’s resolutions, the study's findings add more incentive to reduce food intake all year round (image: iStock.com Hywards)

Post-meal blood sugar levels promote heart attack complications

By Will Chu

The level of sugar in your blood can affect the contraction of blood vessels, with potentially dangerous effects on the heart and blood pressure, a recent study has shown, highlighting the potential risks of regularly consuming rich, sugary foods. 

Artificial sweeteners aren’t really the solution, says Mintel. Photo credit: iStock.com

DISPATCHES FROM FiE 2015

What opportunities does the backlash against sugar create?

By Niamh Michail

From links with obesity and type 2 diabetes to government taxes, sugar is currently experiencing a backlash. FoodNavigator met up with experts in the field at Food Ingredients Europe (FiE) to ask what this means for industry – is the future sugar-free?

Nutrition values seen on labels can differ substantially based on the recommended serving size (Photo credit: iStock.com)

Consumers buy more when recommended serving sizes are smaller

By Will Chu

Nutrition values seen on labels can differ substantially based on the recommended serving size, with consumers buying more of the same product among one of a number of undesirable consumer behaviours, researchers have found.

Will the UK have the guts to start a global campaign on obesity?

By Niamh Michail

It’s a crisis that is costing the UK more than war, terrorism and armed violence according to a 2014 McKinsey & Company report, but if the UK has the opportunity to become a global leader in tackling obesity it is less sure about where to start.

The WHO expects childhood overweight and obesity prevalence in Africa to reach 12.7% in 2020, up from 8.5% in 2010.

Exclusive interview with FAO’s director for nutrition

The fat after the famine: Obesity the next challenge facing Africa, says FAO boss

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

After years of battling undernutrition, Africa is now facing an emerging threat of obesity and the two must be considered simultaneously, according to the director of nutrition at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).  

The children’s choices of food classification closely mirror that of their parents. iStock.com/Tatyana Tomsickova

Special edition: Food for kids

Study shows healthy eating programmes should target preschool years

By Will Chu

The foods children define as a meal or snack is largely undetermined in their formative preschool years suggesting that eating and diet programs could use the findings of a new study to encourage a healthy balanced diet from an early age.

Image: Istock

EFSA backs safety of new stevia form

By Will Chu

Rebaudioside M is safe and can be added to the list of EU-approved steviol glycosides (E960), the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded. The agency said this was the case provided 95% of its components were converted to steviol.

Tesco's Tim Smith revealed the retailer is to roll out sugar reduction targets to its own-label suppliers

Tesco to slash sugar content in more children’s food

By Rick Pendrous

Tesco is to roll out sugar reduction targets to its own-label suppliers in new categories of food and drink in the New Year, following the success it has achieved in healthier reformulation of children’s soft drinks, its group quality director Tim Smith...

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