Fruit, vegetable, nut ingredients

Do eating habits of others influence healthy eating in young women?

08-Apr-2015 By Joyeeta Basu

Healthy eating behaviour in young women could be influenced by the eating habits and the appearance of others, a study has found.

Is baby food creating fussy eaters?

03-Apr-2015 By Niamh Michail

Fostering children's willingness to try new flavours and foods has clear benefits for the food industry - yet researchers say baby food manufacturers may be inadvertently creating picky eaters.

Better than veggie: Eat chicken to fight climate change

02-Apr-2015 By Niamh Michail

We have vegetarian, pescetarian, fruitatarian, vegan… and pollo-tarian? Ditching beef and dairy for poultry products is the best diet to combat climate change, according to new research.

Toward plant-based diets: How do people explain why they eat meat?

02-Apr-2015 By Joyeeta Basu

Shifting consumers from a meat-focused diet to a more plant-based diet must take into account their perceptions of meat, a study has said.

Doctors question study claiming pesticides lower semen quality

01-Apr-2015 By Joyeeta Basu

A study that claimed men who eat fruits and vegetables with higher levels of pesticide residues could have lower sperm count should be interpreted with caution, said health professionals.

Oxfam: World’s biggest food companies must ‘walk the talk’ on sustainability

31-Mar-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Eight of the 10 biggest multinational food companies have improved their food security and sustainability policies over the past year – but all must do more to put their commitments into practice, says Oxfam’s latest Behind the Brands report.

Tending the grassroots: The importance of early adopters in NPD

31-Mar-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Building a grassroots following is crucial for establishing an innovative food product, says the co-founder of meal replacement firm Ambronite.

Start young to influence babies' taste preferences

30-Mar-2015 By Niamh Michail

Getting children to eat vegetables is often a daily battle – but a love of healthy food can be fostered by introducing new flavours as early as possible.

How realistic are food companies’ forest-risk commodity pledges?

30-Mar-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Food companies account for well over half of forest-risk commodity commitments, according to a new report from NGO Forest Trends – but can they keep their promises?

Food chemicals may have harmful ‘cocktail’ effect

27-Mar-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Risk assessment of food chemicals usually fails to take into account their effects when combined with other compounds – and these ‘chemical cocktails’ may be harmful to health, says new research from Denmark.

Heat-resistant beans are 'front-line defence' to global warming

27-Mar-2015 By Niamh Michail

Thirty varieties of heat resistant beans will be able to survive rising temperatures and keep feeding millions, say scientists.

Heinz Kraft merger: Synergies and cost cutting

26-Mar-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The super-merger of Heinz and Kraft is less about synergies and more about cutting costs, analysts have said.

Study: UK dietary food guidelines could cut heart attack risk

26-Mar-2015 By Joyeeta Basu

Following the UK dietary guidelines could reduce the risk of heart attacks in middle-aged and older men and women by up to 30%=, say researchers.

Is it worth buying nutrient-poor packaged fruit 'n' veg?

25-Mar-2015 By Niamh Michail

Fresh-cut fruit and veg are sold as an instant vitamin boost. But chlorine disinfection, refrigeration and up to three weeks on the shelf mean their vitamin content is often low – so is there any point in buying them?

Primal Pantry founder: 'You can't protect your product. You can only protect your brand'

25-Mar-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

When launching a new product, don’t underestimate the power of good design – and make sure you trademark everywhere, says Suzie Walker, founder of The Primal Pantry.

Frugal innovation: Downsizing from exotic superfoods... to lentils

24-Mar-2015 By Niamh Michail

Adding an exotic ‘superfood’ ingredient gives fresh appeal to a well-established product – and manufacturers don’t have to look far for the latest one as analysts say that post-recession consumers want local, simple ingredients.

Belgium hit by nuts in spices findings

23-Mar-2015 By Joseph James Whitworth

Belgium has become the latest country to be dragged into the nuts and spices contamination issue.

NGO accuses EU company of illegal African land grabs

23-Mar-2015 By Niamh Michail

European food companies are illegally grabbing land from smallhold farmers in Africa as part of the G8 New Alliance project, says an Action Aid report published this month.

EU proposes TTIP amendments following backlash

20-Mar-2015 By Niamh Michail

As MEPs prepare to discuss proposed amendments to TTIP’s investor principle in Riga next week, the European Commission says that most of the controversy springs from ‘common misconceptions’.

How retailers are working with suppliers to fight food waste

20-Mar-2015 By Fintan Hastings, external affairs adviser, British Retail Consortium

The close relationship between supply chain partners means they are well-placed to help each other tackle food waste, says Fintan Hastings, external affairs adviser at the British Retail Consortium.

Fairtrade’s revised standard is ‘creative’ says industry

19-Mar-2015 By Joyeeta Basu

The inclusion of new voluntary best practices in the organisation’s revised trader standard is an “interesting” element, said a representative at Voice Network.

UK budget largely positive, says food and drink industry

19-Mar-2015 By Joyeeta Basu

The drop in corporation tax, promise of increased investment funding and support for British farmers in the 2015 UK budget were largely supported by British food and drink manufacturers.

A nutty idea? Reducing foodborne illness with peanuts

17-Mar-2015 By Joseph James Whitworth

White peanut kernel could help reduce Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) and Salmonella, according to a study.

Hedonism influences perception of food quality, says report

17-Mar-2015 By Joyeeta Basu

A food product’s sensorial characteristics and its place of production determine the perception of its quality for Italian consumers, a study has found.

EU food commodity imports linked to illegal deforestation

17-Mar-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The European Union is a major consumer of food commodities sourced from illegally deforested land, according to a new report from Brussels-based NGO Fern.

Health or ethics? Reason for vegan diet may affect health outcomes

16-Mar-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The reason why people choose a vegan diet could have important implications for their health, according to a study published in Appetite.

Increase of pyridaben unlikely to harm consumers says EFSA

13-Mar-2015 By Joyeeta Basu

The European Food Safety Authority has said that a proposed increase of the use of pyridaben on cucurbits – edible peel – is unlikely to pose a...

Campaigners win case against Bayer over pesticide bee claims

13-Mar-2015 By Joyeeta Basu

Friends of the Earth Germany has said it will step up its fight to protect bees after German chemical giant Bayer CropScience failed to sue it in court for claiming that a pesticide manufactured by the company could harm bees.

Empowering women in agriculture is good for business

13-Mar-2015 By Niamh Michail

Empowering women in small-hold agriculture is essential to boosting productivity, creating new product launches and generating business - and companies are starting to realise this, says a Fairtrade Foundation report.

UK government ‘not serious’ about improving nutrition, claims report

13-Mar-2015 By Nathan Gray

The British government has failed to tackle poor nutrition and diet, and should do more to take public health nutrition into consideration in every area of policy, says a report by the UK Coronary Prevention Group.

Bart Ingredients: Nut in spices test may not be accurate

12-Mar-2015 By Joseph James Whitworth

Testing which led to the recall of ground cumin because almond was found ‘may not be accurate’, according to Bart Ingredients.

Pesticide residues ‘clearly exceed’ legal limits in 1.5% of European foods

12-Mar-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Pesticide residues in raw and processed foods clearly exceeded legal limits in 1.5% of European foods in 2013, according to a new assessment from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Symrise exceeds target with 18% jump in sales from last year

11-Mar-2015 By Joyeeta Basu

Growth at the fragrance and flavour company was fuelled by the acquisition of the Diana Group and a particularly strong quarterly earnings beating forecasts, said the company.

Climate change may increase foodborne illness

09-Mar-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Problems with food security have previously been linked to climate change – but it may also affect food safety and the incidence of foodborne illness, according to a new study.

Ulrick & Short unveils starch ingredient for pizza sauce

06-Mar-2015 By .

UK-based starch specialist Ulrick & Short has introduced a wheat-based starch intended to improve the texture of pizza sauce.

Mintel highlights own-brand innovation gap for ‘better for you’ foods

05-Mar-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Just 6.6% of new private label food and drink products carried a low, no, or reduced fat claim in the UK last year – while 45% of consumers said they sought foods that were low in saturated fat.

EFSA GM guidance may require more data from biotech firms

05-Mar-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) may ask firms for more data on GM crop safety in applications for reauthorisation required after ten years, which experts say could lead to confusion and unnecessary paperwork for both company and assessor.

South Africa calls for bulk wine withdrawal to ‘create value at origin’

03-Mar-2015 By Ben BOUCKLEY

The South African wine industry is keen to raise the country’s reputation as a premium wine producer by shifting its export emphasis from bulk to bottled.

Member states back national bans for GM crops

03-Mar-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

EU member states have voted to allow national governments to ban or restrict cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops even when approved at EU level, meaning the new rules will be written into law.

Poor dietary habits could raise disease risk from childhood

03-Mar-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Children aged 6 to 8 may already be at increased risk of cardiometabolic disease if they eat a lot of low-fat margarine, red meat and sugary drinks and little vegetable oil, according to Finnish research.

‘Mood balancing beverages’: Sensient Flavors eyes growth market with new concepts

01-Mar-2015 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Sensient Flavors has developed new beverage concepts that it says respond to rising demand for food and drink that affects and balances our emotional states in a ‘gentle and natural’ way.

ASA rejects LighterLife Fast complaint: It's hard to get 100% of RDAs with 600 kcal of ‘ordinary' food

25-Feb-2015 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

It would be extremely difficult for consumers to devise a 600 calorie diet providing 100% of vitamin and mineral RDAs themselves, the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said in its rejection of a complaint against LighterLife Fast.

UK organic market up 4% last year

24-Feb-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The UK organic market has continued its recovery with sales up 4% in 2014, according to new figures from the Soil Association.

Herbs and spices supply chain under scrutiny after nut findings

24-Feb-2015 By Joseph James Whitworth

Cases of cumin and paprika contaminated with almond protein will be the subject of an industry meeting tomorrow (25 February).

McCormick’s £62.5M Italian spice acquisition

23-Feb-2015 By Rod Addy

McCormick & Company has bought Italian spices business Drogheria & Alimentari (D&A) for €85M (£62.5M) in a deal it claims will boost the portfolio it offers retailers and manufacturers.

WHO unveils nutrient profiling to restrict marketing to kids

20-Feb-2015 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has unveiled its nutrient profiling tool to restrict the marketing of unhealthy foods and drinks to children.

Flavour migration: From offbeat idea to mainstream favourite

19-Feb-2015 By Niamh Michail

With so many new and sometimes strange flavours hitting the market, we take a look at where they come from and how they become mainstream flavour fixtures.

Healthy-eating adverts only affect 'educated' consumers, study suggests

18-Feb-2015 By Niamh Michail

The likelihood of choosing fruit after viewing mock healthy-eating adverts was increased only among ‘educated’ participants, researchers found.

Allergy alert widens as undeclared almond found in paprika

17-Feb-2015 By Joseph James Whitworth

A recall in the UK due to paprika containing undeclared almond has widened an investigation into substitution with nut proteins as several EU nations have also warned consumers.