The European Commission will consider action on industrially produced trans fats in foods following a high-level debate, said a spokesperson at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).
Nuts in spices scandal shows no signs of slowing down
Calorie content labelling should be made mandatory for alcoholic beverages in the EU as soon as possible, say public health Members of European Parliament (MEPs).
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?
Trans-fat bans, and limiting the availability of sugary and fatty foods are the best ways to battle obesity, while nutrition information fails to deliver benefits, says a new review of anti-obesity policies.
Roythornes law firm has quizzed members of the Fresh Produce Consortium, The Food and Drink Forum, the British Frozen Food Federation, the Artisan Food Trail and Tastes of Anglia about meeting Food Information Regulations (FIR) requirements.
Online grocery shoppers tend to prefer navigating to product pages rather than searching for specific products, according to a study funded by the European Research Council.
The World Health Organisation has said that companies need to reduce the marketing of sugar-rich products if consumers are to slash their intake to 10% of daily calories.
Traffic light nutrition labels may help consumers exercise more self-control over high calorie foods, according to a new study published in the journal Obesity.
The onus should not be on consumers to choose healthy foods but on companies to help reduce consumption, says Food Policy professor at City University London, Tim Lang.
Academics have welcomed the WHO’s recommendation to slash added sugar intake to 5-10% of calories – but the food industry has said it is misleading and based on weak evidence.
Attempting to tackle the obesity crisis through ‘negatively-focused’ tactics is ineffective, and may in fact worsen the situation, according to various researchers.
Consumer watchdog Que Choisir has urged the French government to adopt colour-coded front-of-pack nutrition labelling as “an antidote to food marketing” following a study backing its efficacy.
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.
An EU-wide revamp of on-pack nutrition information is a missed opportunity to make front of pack labelling compulsory, says the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC).
Alexandra Nikolakopoulou has been announced as the new head of the European Commission’s DG SANTE unit for nutrition, food composition and information, stepping into the shoes of Basil Mathioudakis.
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) have voted by majority to create legislation that could see country of origin labelling used for all meat used in processed foods.
Pulse flours could provide a plant-based protein boost for baked goods, snacks and pasta – tapping into growing demand for non-animal-derived protein, says Ingredion.
Sweden’s National Food Association (NFA) has made changes to its Keyhole healthy eating label in light of new nutrition guidelines, meaning less salt, more wholemeal and a broader range of products that can bear the logo.
The number of children aged over two years diagnosed with coeliac disease in the UK has nearly tripled in the last two decades, but those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are still half as likely to be diagnosed, according to research.
Efforts to shift food choices toward healthier options often fail because there is a perceived conflict between health and taste, according to a new study.
We need a strong portfolio of voluntary and mandatory measures to tackle the huge burden of diet-related diseases, according to the chair of the UK Responsibility Deal food network.
The World Health Organisation has outlined potential strategies to reduce premature deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including junk food taxes and cutting salt intakes.
“This signals a new dawn for weight loss products.”
EFSA’s full low-calorie diet regime report – published this week – can help “tackle the societal challenge of obesity”, the EU’s specialist food trade group has said.
400mg of caffeine a day from all sources is not a safety concern, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said in a long-awaited caffeine risk assessment.
If elected, a UK Labour government will introduce limits on the levels of fat, salt and sugar that manufacturers are allowed to include in food marketed towards children.
EFSA has very specifically refined what a low-calorie diet replacement regime should contain including a minimum of 600 calories and 30 g of carbohydrates per day. One observer said the opinion was more important than a health claim win for certain nutrients.
Better defined thresholds at which common allergens trigger reactions in a majority of allergic consumers could improve ‘may contain’ labelling, according to researchers from the University of Manchester.
Sugar low: “The use of such a health claim would convey a conflicting and confusing message..."
Five glucose health claims approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) back in 2012 have been officially banned by the European Commission due to concerns over what they would say to consumers about sugar consumption.
Around two thirds of people in the UK do not know how many calories an average person needs to maintain a healthy weight, according to a survey commissioned by two charities and supermarket Tesco.
Malta has launched a food and nutrition action plan in response to the World Health Organization’s Health 2020 policy framework – becoming the first European nation to do so.
Halo Foods has breached advertising codes with ‘goodness’ claims on the honey content of Honey Monster cereal, the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled.
As 2014 draws to a close, let’s take a minute to look back and ask, how accurate was our forecast for the year? FoodNavigator looks back at its trend predictions for 2014.
Supermarket, restaurant and takeaway pizzas contain ‘shockingly high’ levels of salt, according to a product survey by pressure groups CASH (Consensus Action on Salt & Health) and WASH (World Action on Salt & Health).
Dr Pamela Byrne, currently director of regulatory policy and intelligence for firm Abbott Nutrition, is to become the new chief executive for the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
The UK will publish an extensive report on the role of carbohydrates in the diet next year, presenting opportunities for bread makers to fight back against carb-bashing, says the Federation of Bakers (FOB).
A secular organisation has called the Polish Constitutional Court’s decision to overturn a ban on non-stun slaughter ‘regrettable’, while a UK halal group says ‘common sense prevailed’.
Industry trade body FoodDrinkEurope has called FIC labelling changes a step in the right direction and has established a website to explain reference intakes, which will replace GDAs (guideline daily amounts).
Allergens, country of origin labelling and online sales are some of the most problematic areas for food companies as FIC regulation comes into force this week, according to Campden BRI.
