The European Commission has authorised a new GMO for food and feed – a genetically modified soybean developed by Bayer. While some welcome the approval, others fear the risk of contamination threatens the GMO-free food production chain.
There has been a global shift among consumers towards clean and clearer labels that promote natural claims, and a willingness to pay a premium for products that do so, notes functional ingredient manufacturer Beneo.
Sustainability sells. This has given rise to scepticism among consumers that brands are ‘greenwashing’ their environmental claims. Radical transparency could be the cure.
The Food Ingredient business of Japanese conglomerate Teijin Group has introduced BARLEYmax onto the European market to enable producers capitalise on the growing demand for gut health, as well as overall health & wellbeing.
US-based Kemin Industries has received a positive safety assessment from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for its algae-sourced beta glucan ingredient, BetaVia. This unlocks the opportunity for ‘innovative product developers to be the first to...
Researchers working on molecular-level responses in crops have taken a step closer to their goal of producing heat-tolerant wheat. “This benefits the sustainability of the food system by protecting food supply as the climate changes,” project lead Dr...
Plant-based products benefit from something of a health halo. However, the nutritional profile of these often ultra-processed foods is coming under increased scrutiny. FutureBridge forecasts four-up-and coming plant-based proteins that could disrupt the...
Civil society networks, NGOs, and professional organisations are disgruntled at farmers association COPA-COGECA’s bid to further delay the new EU food policy.
Any drop in food standards post-Brexit could increase demand for fresh produce from transparent supply chains, says Rich Osborn, founder of Fresh Range.
The UK’s Food and Drink Federation has repeated its pleas that it wants to keep trading ties closely aligned with the EU’s after British prime minister Boris Johnson dismissed fears about food standards as ‘mumbo jumbo’ and implied that GM food imports...
American consumers are increasingly looking for products with a focus on simple, high-quality ingredients and sustainability. And a group of Italian companies believe their products are ready to meet these demands: with their drinks on show at the Winter...
Danish researchers have developed ‘cell factories’ that can produce food ingredients from the by-products of food production that would otherwise be wasted.
Trends towards health and wellness, plant-based and clean label will continue next year, but the need for food businesses to innovate is greater than ever, says consumer research.
The acceptance of the trendy microbiome diet among consumers has put wind in the sails of ag-biotech start up Joyn Bio, which is engineering microbes for more sustainable agriculture.
European regulators and consumers have been steadfast in their rejection of genetic modification in food. The idea of ‘Frankenfood’ has been a potent symbol of the bloc’s resistance to scientists ‘meddling’ in food production. But are there any lessons...
Finnish nutrition start-up Ambronite is launching a new range of meal replacement products. When compared to other ‘smart food’ options on the market, Ambronite believes it delivers something different: complete, sustainable nutrition with a clean label.
Competition is heating up in the ‘smart food’ category with brands claiming their meal-on-the-go offerings are convenient, rich in nutrients, and provide sustaining protein from plant-based sources.
The Danish Council of Ethics recommends that legislation regarding the approval of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) be changed to help achieve sustainability objectives.
The Nutri-Score nutritional labelling system has officially launched in Belgium, France has announced plans to ban the use of additive titanium dioxide from 2020, and Iceland Foods lost its trademark dispute at the EUIPO. FoodNavigator brings you the...
Current GMO regulation is crippling advancements in sustainable development and food security, according to agricultural economist Matin Qaim, who told FoodNavigator he is optimistic EU law can be adjusted to be ‘more science-based’.
There is growing demand for vegan status, 100% natural processes, and transparency across the supply chain, ingredients supplier Plant Lipids UK tells FoodNavigator.
Gene-editing technology can be used to remove epitopes – the molecules responsible for inducing coeliac disease in susceptible individuals – from wheat, according to recent research. However, with Europe’s strict GM rules, will this make a dramatic difference...
A potential alteration to bee-safety standards, MEPs vote to ban throwaway cutlery, and EFSA says it will share data on an open-access platform. In this bulletin, we round some of the biggest news from Brussels over the past fortnight.
UK environment secretary Michael Gove has urged industry to embrace the potential of a fourth agricultural revolution: “We can guarantee a future for the UK as a major, global food producer.”
The rise in global trade wars and the recent EU decision to classify new plant breeding techniques (NPBTs) as genetically modified organisms will inevitably impact food safety and quality, experts warn.
It’s been one year since the end of EU sugar quotas but contrary to the hopes (of starch producers) and fears (of public health campaigners), Europe has not been flooded with isoglucose. FoodNavigator caught up with Starch Europe to talk isoglucose, Brexit...
The UK has confirmed it will ‘consider’ relaxing the European Union’s controversial decision to include gene editing techniques within its regulatory framework that restricts the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the food chain after Brexit.
The Commission's general food law proposal must be significantly amended to prevent companies withholding safety information on chemicals in food in the name of protecting trade secrets, ClientEarth lawyers say.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has ruled on the so-called new plant breeding techniques (NPBTs). It said crops obtained by mutagenesis are GMOs as the techniques and methods of mutagenesis alter the genetic material of a plant in a way that does...
Magellan Life Sciences says its patent-pending fermentation process to scale up the sweet-tasting protein brazzein will make it the first company to market the natural, zero-calorie sweetener.
After a week of debates on the country's Agriculture and Food Bill, French politicians have backed mandatory labelling for GM animal feed and pesticide use on fruit and vegetables but rejected measures to stop marketing unhealthy foods to children.
In a radical revamp of its risk assessment process, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) could publish confidential data if deemed essential to protecting public health, according to draft rules aimed at boosting transparency and trust in science.
The European Commission has approved Bayer’s proposed acquisition of Monsanto, with the German pesticides supplier committed to selling off certain parts of its business as part of the agreement.
Since the horsemeat scandal of 2013 there has been a steady stream of food scares and scandals, which has played neatly into the hands of organic food. Sales were up more than 11% in Europe at the last count, but is the sector making the most of growing...
You wouldn’t want to be Margrethe Vestager at the moment. In the next few days (perhaps as early as tomorrow), the European Commission’s competition chief will publish the conclusions of her investigation into the proposed €55 billion deal between German...
French multinational retailer Carrefour is to extend its use of Blockchain technology by offering consumers total traceability of its popular animal and vegetable product ranges.
A “mistrust” of scientific advancement is “holding back” science-based innovation in the European food sector, European health and food safety commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis warned yesterday (23 February).
