Archives for February 14, 2014

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Greens threaten Commission over GM crop approval

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The European Parliament’s Greens Group has threatened to bring a motion of censure against the Commission if it goes ahead with authorisation of GM maize variety 1507 for cultivation, after just five of 28 member states voted in favour earlier this week.

Norwegian minister pushes for international trade

By Line Svanevik

Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food Sylvi Listhaug is pushing for more international trade and export, despite warnings that it could compromise animal welfare standards.

Irish NGO calls for sweet-free checkouts

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Irish NGO Safefood has called on supermarkets to make checkouts ‘sweet-free zones’ as part of its campaign to tackle childhood obesity.

Active packaging sachet given EFSA approval

By Joseph James Whitworth

An oxygen absorber and carbon dioxide emitting system for use in packaging has been backed by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

FDA squelches BPA ‘low dose’ theory

By Jenni Spinner

Data from the Food and Drug Administration adds weight to packaging industry claims of BPA’s fitness as a food-contact material.

Ukraine may face pig production crisis

By Vladislav Vorotnikov

Ukraine could face a collapse in pork prices this year due to oversupply, which is already taking its toll on the market, said the Association of Pig Producers of Ukraine. This, in turn, could lead to a crisis in pig production, it added, predicting...

Styrene growth hits 9.6% a year in China

By Rachel Arthur

Demand for polystyrene, and its base product styrene, will see a rapid increase in emerging countries in the coming years, according to market research institute Ceresana.

Beyond the BRIC… looking to the MINT

By Emma Hancocks

Whenever the phrase ‘emerging’ economies is used, the acronym BRIC is usually quite close behind. However, on consideration, the BRIC markets have stepped beyond ‘emerging’ and are actually seeing a slowdown in the momentum of their growth. The gap left...

MEPs oppose ‘weak’ nano definition

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

MEPs have opposed a measure that would have exempted nano-sized food additives from labelling if they are already in common use.

$5m grant to kill pathogens in chilled food

By Jenny Eagle

Researchers at Washington State University (WSU) have launched a pasteurization machine called MAPS (Microwave Assisted Pasteurization System) to reduce contamination in chilled or frozen food.