Fruit, vegetable, nut ingredients

EFSA updates food allergen advice

28-Nov-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has updated its scientific advice on food allergens, taking into account latest published data on food allergy prevalence in Europe.

Mediterranean, vegetarian or pescetarian: Which is best for health and the environment?

21-Nov-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The global drive toward more meat and dairy consumption could increase diet-related disease and boost greenhouse gas emissions by 80%, but other dietary patterns could provide answers, claims a study published in Nature.

EFSA health claim opinions

EFSA rejects prunes for kids bowel function; carbs non-characterised

20-Nov-2014 By Shane Starling

The EU’s central science agency has rejected a health claim submission linking prunes (Prunus domestica L) with normal bowel function in under-3s for a lack of infant-specific data. A carbohydrate-based claim was also rejected while zinc and selenium...

Forget calorie counting and start eating healthily, say UK healthcare leaders

17-Nov-2014 By Nathan Gray

Following a Mediterranean style-diet may be better at cutting obesity rates than following diets that involve continually counting calories, say researchers in the UK.

Russian embargo: 21 states urge Commission to preserve agri reserve funds

13-Nov-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Twenty-one member state agricultural ministers have urged the Commission not to cut agri budgets and called for extra emergency funds to help counter the Russian embargo on European food imports.

Could a short term vegan diet improve overall health?

13-Nov-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Participants in a ten-day vegan diet programme saw significant improvements in biomarkers associated with risk of heart disease and metabolic disorders, according to a retrospective study.

Green tea may lower blood pressure - but only for non-smokers

12-Nov-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Green tea, but not black tea, may lower blood pressure, but this effect is cancelled out by smoking, according to a five-year study in China.

‘Healthy’ children’s juices and smoothies slammed for high sugar content

11-Nov-2014 By Nathan Gray

Fruit juices and smoothies touted as healthy for children contain high amounts of sugar and should not count towards fruit and vegetable intakes, says UK-based campaign group Action on Sugar.

Global food price index shows signs of stability, says FAO

10-Nov-2014 By Nathan Gray

The FAO's monthly food price index was largely stable in October, as increasing prices for sugar and vegetable oil were offset by declines in dairy and meat.

Dispatches questions child safety of arsenic levels in rice crackers and Rice Krispies

07-Nov-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A Channel 4 investigation into inorganic arsenic levels in rice has questioned the safety of products aimed at children like rice cakes and Kellogg's Rice Krispies - although all companies implicated say their levels fall within current recommendations.

CANADEAN BEVERAGE PACKAGING 2014, BRUSSELS

Smoothie brand Froosh warns of ‘social washing’ on supply chain sustainability

30-Oct-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Scandinavia’s top-selling smoothie manufacturer Froosh has called for ‘trade not aid’ in developing countries and insists beverage brands should do more to understand their supply chains.

Rebel Kitchen celebrates Tesco listings in mission for healthy snacks

Start down with the kids: ‘It’s one of the best decisions we made as a brand’

28-Oct-2014 By Rachel Arthur

Rebel Kitchen is launching its children’s coconut ‘mylks’ in Tesco this week, just 10 months after CEO and entrepreneur Tamara Arbib started the business.

Replace sat fat with linoleic acid to lower heart disease death risk, says review

24-Oct-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Higher intakes of linoleic acid may lower the risk of coronary heart disease, according to Harvard review.

dispatches from sial 2014

Veggie NPD isn’t about recreating meat but demonstrating an alternative, says Italian firm

24-Oct-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Vegetarian products should be about showing vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters alike that there are tasty alternatives to meat protein, says one Italian food firm.

Truffles: Can and should they become a mainstream ingredient for everyday products?

22-Oct-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Truffles can be brought to a wider population without sacrificing their exclusive appeal, though price remains a factor, according to one supplier of truffles for crisps.

Australia

Forget five: Eight fruit, veggie portions a day makes people happier

22-Oct-2014 By RJ Whitehead

Fruit and vegetables have been identified as a vital key to mental well-being by researchers in Queensland, challenging nutritional recommendations around the world.

Food prices would rocket if pesticides banned

22-Oct-2014 By Michael Stones

Food prices would rocket if pesticides were banned or their use severely restricted, according to the National Farmers Union (NFU); a claim hotly disputed by environmental pressure group Friends of the Earth (FoE).

Is the tide turning on hunger this World Food Day?

16-Oct-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The number of hungry people in the world fell by more than 100 million over the last decade – so is this World Food Day a time to rejoice?

Ebola outbreak threatens West African food security with severe inflation and labour shortages: FAO

15-Oct-2014 By Paul Gander

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has launched an appeal for $30m (€23,72m) to support food supply resilience and recovery in the three African countries most affected by the Ebola outbreak, where long-term impacts on food security are...

Med diet may reverse metabolic syndrome – but not prevent it

15-Oct-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A Mediterranean diet that includes extra-virgin olive oil or nuts may help to reverse symptoms of metabolic syndrome, but cannot be linked to prevention of developing the condition, a long-term study claims.

Novel food proposals

Does 'history of safe consumption' mean foods are safe?

10-Oct-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Proposals to create a separate process for novel food approval from countries outside of the EU will not see the market flooded with unsafe foods, a European Commission official told a concerned audience at a European Parliament workshop.

Price gap between ‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy’ foods is growing wider

09-Oct-2014 By Nathan Gray

The gap in price between cheaper unhealthy foods and more expensive but healthier options has grown significantly wider over the last ten years, say researchers.

Microbiological stability of confectionery fillings ‘compromised’ in quest for clean labels: Study

07-Oct-2014 By Oliver Nieburg

Confectioners’ products are at a greater risk of fungal spoilage when using clean label or alcohol free chocolate confectionery fillings, according to researchers.

Wine Vision probes risks and rewards of new wine markets

06-Oct-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

Wine Vision organizer Andrew Reed says the 2014 conference will explore how to attract new consumers to wine and tap emerging market growth with margins are squeezed elsewhere.

UK's traffic light label is 'negative', says Commission

06-Oct-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The UK’s traffic light label has incited more objections than the Nordic keyhole system because the former is more negative in its nutrition guidance, says the European Commission.

FoodNavigator 2015: What’s on our editorial calendar?

06-Oct-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

From developments in fats and flavours, to the latest trends in fighting obesity, food for kids, and protein, FoodNavigator's special editions calendar for 2015 spans the hottest topics for the European food and drink industry.

Ingredion ties up with Desert King International to take natural foaming agents to a global audience

06-Oct-2014 By Elaine Watson

Ingredion has struck a deal with Desert King International (DKI) to become the exclusive global distributor of DKI's natural foaming agents from Quillaja saponaria (the soapbark tree) and Yucca schidigera (the Mohave yucca plant) for use in food...

Current rules on GM crops ‘create conflict’, says European Commissioner-designate

03-Oct-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The European Commissioner-elect for health and food safety has said he intends to review rules on GM crop cultivation and broker compromise on animal cloning, among other top-priority topics.

Russian food import ban: European farming group urges stronger action

02-Oct-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

European farming group Copa-Cogeca has said stronger action is needed to alleviate the impact of the Russian ban on EU food imports, although it has welcomed an aid package for fruits and vegetables.

Organic vegetables may help reduce pregnancy pre-eclampsia risk: Research

01-Oct-2014 By Anna Bonar

Pregnant women who eat organic vegetables regularly may face a lower risk of pregnancy complication pre-eclampsia than those who don’t, according to a Norwegian study.

Tata Global Beverages, Taylors of Harrogate, and Typhoo support Assam programme

Tea giants join partnership to tackle child exploitation in Indian tea communities

01-Oct-2014 By Rachel Arthur

Tea companies have partnered with UNICEF and the Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP) to tackle child exploitation in Indian tea communities.

TTIP is a 'trojan horse' trade deal for GM imports, says Friends of the Earth

30-Sep-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The proposed EU-US trade deal could see the European market opened up to US imports of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), despite the Commission's public assurances to the contrary, claims Friends of the Earth.

80% of Swedes give keyhole labelling thumbs up

29-Sep-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Around 80% of Swedish people think the keyhole labelling system is a good thing, according to a survey published by the Swedish National Food Agency (NFA).

Scottish dietary survey reveals vitamin D worry

25-Sep-2014 By Nathan Gray

A significant proportion of Scottish adults and children show evidence of low vitamin D levels, according to new data from the UK national diet and nutrition survey (NDNS).

Higher fruit and veg consumption may increase odds of mental wellbeing: Study

24-Sep-2014 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Both high and low levels of mental wellbeing may be associated with an individual's fruit and vegetable consumption, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal.

Industry reformulation is the only route to better nutrition, says expert

22-Sep-2014 By Nathan Gray

Food producers should look at the current obesity crisis as an opportunity to do good business and do good for public health through the reformulation of mass-market products, says one nutrition policy expert.

Scientist fires EU coffee warning ahead of EFSA caffeine publication

19-Sep-2014 By Ben BOUCKLEY

A high-profile scientist warns that any move by EFSA to recommend lower upper levels of caffeine consumption below 300mg/day could be ‘very harmful’ for the EU coffee industry, ahead of a key publication.