Food safety

‘A strong vote of confidence’: Alt protein made from spent yeast backed by Lesaffre

04-Sep-2023 By Flora Southey

The world’s largest producer of ‘natural’ food ingredients derived from microorganisms is taking a 10% share in Israeli alternative protein maker Yeap.

‘Many businesses are not aware that there is a way to safely preserve these materials’: Trouw Nutrition on the business and environmental case for repurposing waste

01-Sep-2023 By Oliver Morrison

FoodNavigator caught up with Evelien van Donselaar at Trouw Nutrition to learn more about the ‘untapped’ opportunities for the food sector to explore circular production models.

Alternative protein research hub to be opened in UK

01-Sep-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

A new £15 million research hub will look to improve the UK’s alternative protein sector: how to improve taste and texture of alternative proteins, reduce the cost and scale up production of alternative proteins, and even improve best practice.

‘Green’ straws raise red flags: PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ identified in 90% of paper straws tested in Europe

31-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

Single use plastic has long been vilified, prompting beverage makers to swap out plastic straws for paper alternatives. But fresh research warns paper straws in Europe contain ‘forever chemicals’, and that using such straws potentially contributes to...

‘Lack of clarity has left the industry in limbo’: UK CBD suppliers warn of ‘existential threat’

29-Aug-2023 By Oliver Morrison

UK CBD players are warning more products may be taken off shelves and have issued an ‘urgent’ appeal to the Home Office to protect the industry.

‘The traceability is appealing to many consumers’: Halal food increasing in popularity in UK and Europe

29-Aug-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Halal food is growing in popularity in the UK and globally, suggests a new report from food futurologist Lyndon Gee, on behalf of halal convenience food manufacturer TAKUL. The report suggests due to both a growing Muslim middle-class spending more on...

Using carbon offsets to cut your GHG emissions? It could all be hot air, scientists warn

25-Aug-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Millions of carbon credits are generated by overestimating forest preservation, study finds.

Superbugs and plastic pollution: Researchers link microplastics to antimicrobial resistance spread

25-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

Concerning associations between microplastic contamination in soil and the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria have been identified by researchers.

‘The condition is very rare, but the impacts can be traumatic’: FSA to consider label warnings as protein shake death sparks debate

24-Aug-2023 By Oliver Morrison

After a death of a schoolboy, the UK Food Standards Agency is to look at whether labels on high-protein drinks and supplements should feature a warning about the potentially fatal risk of a sudden spike in protein for people with undiagnosed disorders.

New tool to boost fruit and vegetable shelf life and cut waste

21-Aug-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The technology – from Poland-based food-tech company Fresh Inset – promises to preserve freshness, vitamins and antioxidants.

GUEST ARTICLE

Industry Insights from NIZO: Are microorganisms responsible for your chemical spoilage?

16-Aug-2023 By René Floris, NIZO Food Research Division Manager

Industry should consider that the root cause of chemical spoilage might actually be microbial, believes NIZO Food Research.

‘It’s brilliant the industry has stepped up’: The technology allowing partially sighted shoppers to ‘hear’ what’s on a product label

16-Aug-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Partially sighted consumers are a growing demographic. Solutions are coming aimed at allowing these shoppers to more easily access key on-pack product information and nutritional details.

Extending shelf-life through packaging: The complexities and variations

16-Aug-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Food packaging has a number of key roles. Firstly, it aims to keep food safe from its environment, so it doesn’t get dirty or contaminated. Secondly, it makes it more convenient to transport. Thirdly, it can serve to extend food shelf life. It is this...

News in brief

‘Not suitable for under-4s’: New industry guidance issued on glycerol in slush-ice drinks

14-Aug-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The UK Food Standards Authority has issued new voluntary industry guidance on glycerol in slush-ice drinks, advising that they should not be sold to children four years of age and under.

Intake of plant compounds linked to lower COVID-19 risk

14-Aug-2023 By Olivia Haslam

Individuals who consume higher amounts of specific plant-derived compounds, such as polyphenols and particular types of lignans and phytosterols, are at a reduced risk of contracting COVID-19, a new study by authors from Poland has concluded.

Quality assessment: CBD in products far below advertised content

09-Aug-2023 By Nikki Hancocks

Measured CBD concentrations of a broad range of UK-purchase wellness products fell substantially below what was advertised, with only five of 63 products analysed providing within 10% of advertised concentrations.

More Climate Smart Food speakers announced: Hear from Nestlé, BLUU Seafood and more

07-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

FoodNavigator is pleased to announce the next wave of speakers for our Climate Smart Food Digital Summit: a three-day event investigating how industry can contribute to a more sustainable system of food production, with human and planetary health in mind....

Infant formula industry fights back at ‘misleading’ Lancet papers: ‘Advertising is not the main factor limiting breastfeeding’

04-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

A series of papers on breastfeeding, published in The Lancet this year, gives the misleading impression that infant formula advertising is the main factor limiting breastfeeding, argues implicated trade associations.

Could eating insects slow weight gain in people with obesity?

02-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

A new study suggests consuming insect protein slows weight gain and improves health status in obese mice. The findings are promising for humans, lead study author Kelly Swanson, interim director of the Division of Nutritional Sciences at the University...

Agricultural fertilizer can increase presence of parasitic infections, study finds

01-Aug-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

The removal of an aquatic vegetation known as hornwart along the Senegal River, Senegal has reduced the presence of parasitic infections in the area, which are carried by aquatic snails, and helped food production recover. The removal was part of a study,...

Plastic linked to cancer risk across production, use, and disposal: study

01-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

In what is considered a landmark study, a team of international researchers has identified cancer risk – and other human health findings – associated with the production, use, and disposal of plastic.

'It's so, so terrible': The rise of food allergies and the cost-of-living crisis

31-Jul-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

It is well-known that food allergies are increasing. Amid a cost-of-living crisis, this is a problem.

Specialised peanut variety unveiled for allergy treatment

27-Jul-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Scientists in Israel have developed a peanut strain to treat peanut allergies.

First application for cultivated meat approval in Europe submitted

26-Jul-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Israel’s Aleph Farms has submitted an application for regulatory approval to the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) with the goal of selling Aleph Cuts in Switzerland.

Pork proteins produced in soy? Molecular farming tech produces pig-plant protein hybrid soybean

24-Jul-2023 By Flora Southey

Molecular farming company Moolec Science is combining plant-based and cell-based technologies to produce pork protein in soy.

Food and beverage companies ‘failing to protect workers from forced labour risks’: report

20-Jul-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The world’s 60 largest food and beverage companies have an average score of just 16/100 when it comes to tackling forced labour risks in their supply chains.

Research predicts significant disruption of cheese market with animal-free dairy

19-Jul-2023 By Flora Southey

Fresh research suggests that at price parity, animal-free cheese will capture a third of the UK cheese market.

‘A great achievement for the Dutch government’: First Member State approves pre-market tastings of cultivated meat

19-Jul-2023 By Flora Southey

The first government sanction in the EU for how cultivated meat tastings can be conducted has received national government approval in the Netherlands.

‘It doesn’t cost the earth but will help us protect it’: Why data is a ‘critical and untapped’ asset for the meat farming sector

19-Jul-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Europe's meat farmers face a host of burdens. They need to remain competitive in a global market, cut their environmental footprint, while all the while meeting consumer expectations for animal welfare standards.

Consumers warned of ‘potentially lethal’ protein powder on the market

18-Jul-2023 By Flora Southey

The UK’s food safety regulator is urging consumers to avoid a recalled protein powder containing 5g of caffeine per serve – the equivalent of up to 200 cups of coffee.

High-intensity sweetener uncovered in truffles ‘potentially game-changing’ for sugar reduction

17-Jul-2023 By Flora Southey

MycoTechnology says it is ‘standing on the brink of a sweet revolution’ having discovered a sweet protein derived from honey truffle. “Proteins are widely recognised as the future of sweeteners,” says MycoTechnology CEO Alan Hahn.

How Oddbox is combatting food waste in the UK

13-Jul-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Every year, 4.5 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables are thrown away in the UK. But this isn’t just by consumers – often it’s by growers as well, before they’ve even sold their produce. Sometimes this is because the fruit and veg are too big, sometimes...

Scientists stress ‘uncertainties’ in links between ultra-processed food and health problems

12-Jul-2023 By Flora Southey

In the UK, government scientists have pointed to ‘uncertainties’ surrounding the quality of evidence linking consumption of ultra-processed foods with adverse health outcomes.

Rot-resistant mutations and AI-fuelled robots – advancements in tomato cultivation

10-Jul-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Tomatoes are one of Europe’s favourite fruits, and are involved in a wide range of meals from pizza and pasta to salad and full English breakfast. Several advancements have introduced new insights into tomato cultivation.

A study of low connectivity: The risks of infectious disease in Austria’s pig transportation system

07-Jul-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Austria’s pig industry is mostly self-sufficient. But this doesn’t mean that bacterial infection doesn’t pose a danger to livestock. A new study charts how the different networks of communication between farms, slaughterhouses and other points in Austria’s...

The food procurement platform aiming to help ‘close the gap’ in Africa’s food supply chain

07-Jul-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Digitization is key to solving the challenges and inefficiencies in Africa’s highly fragmented food sector, food-tech start-up Vendease tells FoodNavigator.

Campaigners angry as EFSA identifies ‘no critical areas of concern’ over controversial herbicide glyphosate

06-Jul-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Health campaigners have reacted with disappointment after an EFSA risk assessment of glyphosate did not identify critical areas of concern.

Young consumers ‘partial’ to gene-edited crops as EU seeks revised GMO rules

05-Jul-2023 By Oliver Morrison

As the European Commission proposes allowing the use of new genomic techniques to grow climate-resistant crops with better nutritional value, young Europeans would be support genetically modified (GM) food if it gave them a health boost, new research...

‘A public health concern’: Can Campylobacter jejuni survive in raw milk?

04-Jul-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

After an outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni, or C. jejuni, in 2020, researchers explored its presence in raw milk. But due to the specific properties of the bacteria, detection isn’t always straightforward.

EU novel foods regulation ‘hindering innovation’ in meat alternatives sector

04-Jul-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Notoriously costly and time-consuming novel food rules potentially limit advancement in the category, FoodNavigator’s Protein Vision event heard.

Food waste: Should brands focus on label dates or ‘use by’ phrases?

04-Jul-2023 By Flora Southey

Food makers and retailers have been reworking label phrases to discourage unnecessary food waste. But fresh research suggests their focus may be misplaced.

How the cooperative model can ‘empower the people behind our favourite foods’

03-Jul-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Why cooperatives are key to unleashing African food sector potential, says ingredients supplier ofi.

Inside the ‘supermarket of the future’ promising to waste less energy and less food

30-Jun-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Industrial firm Danfoss has just opened a 'Smart Store' in Denmark which employs up-to-date heating and cooling technology solutions in the hope of showing food retailers ‘the journey to a zero emissions supermarket’.

Exclusive

‘We know that time temperature indicators have huge potential to reduce food waste’: Behind HelloFresh’s push for regulatory changes to enable new food labelling solutions to be unboxed

29-Jun-2023 By Oliver Morrison

As new research from HelloFresh reveals one in five consumers throw away perfectly safe and edible food because they rigidly follow date labelling, HelloFresh is urging the EU and UK to revise rules to allow innovative time-temperature indicators to minimize...

Tetra Pak on the decarbonisation of the packaging system

28-Jun-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Plastic packaging does an enormous amount of harm to the environment, taking up land in landfill sites and maiming wildlife on both land and sea. However, it also contributes to climate change, emitting high levels of greenhouses gasses into the atmosphere....

Food policymakers urged to consider land sparing in biodiversity efforts

27-Jun-2023 By Oliver Morrison

‘Green’ farming policies may accelerate global biodiversity loss, two leading academics have warned.

Precision fermentation: Future of dairy or busted flush?

23-Jun-2023 By Oliver Morrison

There was a notable failure in the US for ‘one of the world’s first next generation cheese alternatives’. But that shouldn’t detract from the potential benefits that precision fermentation technology can bring to the dairy alternatives category, FoodNavigator’s...

More funds for the start-up promising AI ‘superpowers’ for crop growers

21-Jun-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Holland’s Source.ag has received more investment to provide the world's fruit and vegetables growers with ‘next level’ AI for greenhouse agriculture.

The packaging paradox: the balance between clean labels and shelf life

21-Jun-2023 By Oliver Morrison

In today’s era of sustainability, rising ingredient and energy prices, reducing waste by extending shelf life is more imperative than ever. But what implications does this have for clean labels? Where do manufacturers draw the line between extending shelf...

'The need is much greater': How might the delay for buy-one get-one-free ban impact UK consumers?

19-Jun-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Plans by the UK government to ban buy-one-get-one-free (BOGOF) deals on foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) has been pushed back to 2025. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stressed the importance of consumer choice during a time of rising food prices. But...