An Italian bill will require companies to say where a product was produced and packaged, meaning greater transparency for consumers, says government - but industry has slammed it as backdoor protectionism that violates EU law.
People who drink diet beverages may compensate for the absence of calories in the drinks by feasting on extra food that is loaded with high levels of sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, say researchers.
Latvia has banned the use of trans fats in domestically produced and imported food, joining ranks with Austria, Hungary and Denmark - but campaigners are pushing for an EU-wide ban.
Governments must to stop food manufacturers and distributors producing and selling unhealthy, cheap, salty junk food, warns World Health Organisation (WHO) advisor Professor Francesco Cappuccio.
Poor diet and high blood pressure are the top two contributors to early death around the world, with high salt intake a ‘key component’ in raising blood pressure, according to a study published in Lancet Journal.
British Sugar has withdrawn a UK advert for Truvia which claimed sweetener was natural - despite having paid out €5m in a US court for the same claim two years ago.
Heinz has removed the word ‘healthy’ from adverts for sugary biscotti for babies – but the campaigner who filed the complaint has slammed the powerlessness of advertising regulators and impunity of Heinz as the word will remain on the packaging.
MEPs voted yesterday to ban imports of food from cloned animals and their descendants - but the European Commission has called the amendments 'disproportionate' and even 'legally impossible'.
Lowering the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) by at least one serving per week could help to improve markers of cholesterol, according to new research in school children.
One fifth of Brits believes free-from foods are healthier than normal foods while the same number believes they are higher in fat, salt and sugar. But why is this and what should companies do?
Frutarom has acquired 79% of Spanish firm Nutrafur in a €10.3 m sale which will help the company develop its portfolio of natural plant extracts for food preservation, says Frutarom.
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has put the spotlight back on sugar with a call for a tax on sugary drinks – but industry has accused him of simplifying a complex problem.
Many multinational food and beverage brands are missing their biggest chance to address climate risks, according to the global non-profit group CDP, which says companies need to work closer with suppliers to improve agricultural emissions.
Return to school can be an abundant time for food and drink makers, but stakeholder actions are rupturing market safeholds as health concerns rise, says Euromonitor analyst Lauren Bandy in this guest article.
There is a direct link between salt intake and obesity, says 1200-strong CASH study – but health experts say the findings should be taken with a pinch of salt.
A German court has dismissed campaign group FoodWatch’s law suit against Unilever’s cholesterol-lowering spread pro.activ – but FoodWatch continues its assault by urging the European Commission to retract its novel food approval.
Nordic authorities are cracking down on the unnecessary use of allergen advisory warnings after a review found one fifth of products were wrongly labelled.
Biotech giant Monsanto has said it will abide by requests from Latvia and Greece to be excluded from its application for re-authorisation of its MON180 maize in the European Union, but accused the countries of ignoring science.
Beverage portion sizes are decreasing due to consumer concerns about sugar and calorie intake and plant-based alternatives to dairy products are finding a ready market with consumers, according to SIG Combibloc.
A law that would have forced French supermarkets to donate unsold food to charity has been scrapped on a legal technicality – but supermarkets are being urged to adopt it voluntarily and some have already pledged to do so.
Shoppers are willing to pay up to 30% more for ethically produced goods that carry the Fairtrade logo, according to a new brain study that suggests ethical foods produce a greater ‘reward signal’.
When it comes to cutting levels of obesity-related heart disease and death, it’s time to stop counting calories, and start to make simple changes that improve the nutritional value of diets, argue public health experts.
A five-colour nutrition label is more effective than three, says French advisory body - but industry has slammed it as simplistic while critics say it is more confusing than traffic-light labels.
Increasing consumer interest in bitter flavors could help manufacturers regain momentum on sodium reduction initiatives, many of which are stalled due to the common perception that less salt equals less flavor, suggests market research from Mintel.
Nearly half of British drinkers want clearer labelling of alcohol contents, while one in five people in the over 65 age group who drink alcohol consume “unsafe” levels, according to new research.
Swiss biotechnology firm Evolva has introduced its nootkatone citrus flavour and fragrance ingredient – made from fermentation rather than traditional extraction from grapefruit skin.
Food security is not just about hunger and poverty – it must move into the mainstream as the challenge of feeding nine billion people comes into sharper focus, according to the European Commission.
Sustainability isn't one size fits all. Some consumers buy sustainable products while others curb consumption of less sustainable foods, say researchers.
Consumers are significantly more likely to buy foods that carry front-of-pack nutrition labels irrespective of their nutritional value, according to a study published in Public Health Nutrition.
A ban on genetically modified (GM) crops in Scotland would seriously undermine the nation’s food and drink industry, warn nearly 30 leading organisations.
The Norwegian national investment fund has cut ties with four major Asian companies, citing the risk of ‘severe environmental damage’ as a result of palm oil plantations.
Children who report eating more polyunsaturated fatty acids are leaner and have lower body fat percentages than those who consume higher amounts of saturated fats, say researchers.
The public has become immune to dire warnings about what falling pollinator numbers could mean for the world’s food supply – because there is no clear solution to the problem, says Oxford researcher Dr Leila Battison.
Belgium-based Lotus Bakeries has seen its share price jump to a near 52-week high after it acquired two-thirds of UK-based snack firm Natural Balance Foods on Monday for about £60m (€85m).
Italian politicians have submitted two resolutions to parliament defending palm oil in the face of anti-palm oil campaigns, calling it a raw material of fundamental importance for Italian industry.
Mounting scientific evidence and a shift in public opinion could mean fructose is set to follow the same black-listed fate as trans fats, argues an analyst.
Food companies need to better safeguard their supply chains against climate shocks, according to an independent report for the Global Food Security programme.
