Food labelling

‘MSC has set bar for sustainability too low’: Ecolabelling scheme urged to undergo review

28-Jun-2021 By Flora Southey

UK campaign group On the Hook has renewed its call for the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)’s standard and operations to undergo a ‘full, external, independent and forensic review’.

Low-salt formulation developed for lentil savoury snacks: ‘Our ingredient lowers sodium levels by a third’

23-Jun-2021 By Flora Southey

Israeli-based Salt of the Earth has applied its Mediterranean Umami Bold flavouring to lentil bites, presenting an opportunity to ‘overcome lentils’ natural blandness’.

What are the challenges of environmental labelling in food?

17-Jun-2021 By Flora Southey

The European Commission is planning to propose a sustainable food labelling network, yet must first address several key challenges, suggests Professor Matthias Finkbeiner, Chair of Sustainable Engineering at Technical University Berlin.

Why food brands have a golden opportunity to be stewards of the environment

16-Jun-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Emissions from food production are vastly underestimated, claims a new study. But its lead author is ultimately optimistic the industry can address its environmental problems.

Clear-headed but confused? How the ‘low and no alcohol’ category lacks clarity

15-Jun-2021 By Flora Southey

Is the ‘low and no alcohol’ category well understood by consumers? Experts have their doubts.

Gousto to trial carbon labelling as report predicts trend is ‘here to stay’

07-Jun-2021 By Oliver Morrison

The meal box provider says it will trial carbon labelling on its recipes next year ‘to empower customers to make more environmentally conscious dinner choices’.

How the Made Green in Italy label ‘battles against greenwashing’

03-Jun-2021 By Flora Southey

The voluntary scheme helps improve clarity and transparency in the face of greenwashing, says Professor Fabio Iraldo from Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies.

PepsiCo backs EU-wide environmental labelling: ‘Consumers should be supported, and industry incentivised’

01-Jun-2021 By Flora Southey

Consumers have a right to expect transparency from producers, according to Gloria Gabellini, PepsiCo’s Director of Environmental Policy, who is advocating for an EU-wide, harmonised environmental labelling scheme.

‘People must be able to trust the claims they see and businesses must be able to back them up’: Recommendations on avoiding greenwashing set out by UK regulator

28-May-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Food businesses must be prepared for enforcement action from regulators to tackle the issue of greenwashing, it has been warned, as the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority publishes draft guidance for companies about ‘green’ claims.

Amendment 171 off the table: Europe allows for ‘creamy’ and ‘buttery’ plant-based dairy

26-May-2021 By Flora Southey

Having initially voted in favour of banning descriptive terms such as ‘buttery’ and ‘creamy’ for dairy-free products, the European Parliament has dropped Amendment 171.

Vegan trademark taps next generation sequencing to flag animal derived materials

26-May-2021 By Flora Southey

The Vegan Society is partnering with UK food testing laboratory Food Forensics to identify and flag animal derived materials or evidence of cross-contamination in products looking to carry the Vegan Trademark. We speak to Food Forensics’ Rick Sanderson...

UK start-up predicts lab-grown sausages on shelves by 2023 after technology ‘breakthrough’

19-May-2021 By Oliver Morrison

An Oxford University spin-out hopes to become the first British commercial producer of cultured meat after claiming to discover a ‘cheaper, efficient and faster’ cell proliferation process.

How UK brands are reformulating to avoid the HFSS ad ban

19-May-2021 By Oliver Morrison

UK food brands are currently digesting planned government legislation coming next year which will prevent marketing and advertising of HFSS being shown on TV (pre-9pm) and online from 2022 and limit where these products can be placed in bricks and mortar...

Does Nutri-Score encourage healthier food choices in Morocco?

17-May-2021 By Flora Southey

Fresh research has sought to determine whether Nutri-Score is effective in helping consumers judge the nutritional quality of food.

Does the UK’s proposed junk food ad ban reduce the motivation to reformulate?

12-May-2021 By Oliver Morrison

The Food and Drink Federation says UK plans to restrict in-store promotions of foods high in fat, salt and sugar will deter companies from developing lower sugar and fat alternatives.

Tesco urged to consider health impact as it extends plant-based target into Central Europe

05-May-2021 By Oliver Morrison

The supermarket’s goal to increase sales of plant-based meat alternatives by 300% by 2025 could fall foul of the UK government’s plans to restrict promotions of unhealthy foods from April next year, a group of investors has cautioned.

Meal kits ‘at tipping point’ as HelloFresh’s bumper quarter illustrates sector’s growth potential

04-May-2021 By Oliver Morrison

There is room for growth in the meal kit market, according to commentators, after European kit giant HelloFresh posted a strong set of results in the first quarter of 2021.

‘Plant-based’ claims under-exploited by food brands, report claims

03-May-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Flexitarians, or carnivores wishing to cut their meat and dairy intake for ethical, environmental and health reasons, are driving innovation in the vegan and vegetarian space, reveals a new report from Euromonitor, which is why more brands should embrace...

GM crops may soon be permitted in EU as study hails health and sustainability benefits of genetic modification techniques

29-Apr-2021 By Oliver Morrison

The European Commission is gearing up to make new genetically modified organisms (GMOs) exempt from current environmental rules.

‘World’s first’ certification mark launched for upcycled foods

22-Apr-2021 By Flora Southey

In an industry first, a certification mark has been developed for upcycled ingredients in food and beverages.

Nestlé sets carbon target for KitKat: ‘We are reducing and removing emissions to reach carbon neutrality by 2025’

21-Apr-2021 By Flora Southey

Over the next four years, Nestlé will be working within and outside of its value chain to reduce and remove emissions related to its KitKat brand. The goal, a company spokesperson explained, is carbon neutrality.

‘We will wonder why perishables ever had constant prices in the first place’: AI firm Wasteless on why dynamic pricing is key in the fight against food waste

21-Apr-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Wasteless, which uses dynamic pricing in supermarkets to incentivise consumers to buy soon-to-expire products and thus help cut down on food waste, has recently reported a nearly 40% reduction in food waste at hundreds of test stores and now claims it...

Carbon labels: Why do some consumers ignore CO₂e information on-pack?

20-Apr-2021 By Flora Southey

Fresh research reveals that some people avoid carbon information where possible. If carbon labelling on food were made mandatory, however, might this change?

Six ‘critical’ innovation areas identified by European agri-food initiative

16-Apr-2021 By Oliver Morrison

As a new fund announces it will invest up to €30 million in the most promising companies over a span of up to four years, EIT Food identifies to FoodNavigor the problems for which it is seeking solutions.

Commission takes stock of EU Animal Welfare Scheme: ‘None of its objectives has been fully achieved’

08-Apr-2021 By Flora Southey

An evaluation of the EU Strategy for Protection and Welfare of Animals has suggested sub-par results. “The EU clearly needs to do more,” animal welfare charity CIWF tells FoodNavigator.

Food and drink products with pro-environment ‘ecolabels’ are more appealing to shoppers, claims new research

06-Apr-2021 By Oliver Morrison

People given the option of a food or drink product with an ecolabel and one without are more likely to choose the former, according to new research

Does the blended plant-based x meat protein category have legs? ‘The biggest challenge is brand positioning’

06-Apr-2021 By Flora Southey

From an environmental and sensory standpoint, it makes sense to create ‘hybrid’ products from a blend of plant-based and meat proteins. Yet experts are dubious the category will take off.

New animal welfare label proposed for dairy products in Italy

06-Apr-2021 By Flora Southey

A new food label has been developed to help consumers make more informed choices when selecting dairy products.

Vegan language: Is ‘plant-based’ too limiting for this rapidly expanding sector?

01-Apr-2021 By Flora Southey

‘Plant-based’ is a broad term used by food marketers to describe animal-free products. But is it the most fitting?

How can brands deliver a clean conscience in the ‘new normal’?

26-Mar-2021 By Flora Southey

A glimmer of light is appearing at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel. As we prepare to move into the ‘new normal’, how can food and beverage brands deliver a clean conscience to consumers?

What can European food manufacturers learn from the healthy ageing qualities of the Japanese diet?

22-Mar-2021 By Oliver Morrison

For the first time in history, across the globe people aged over 65 now outnumber children under five, according to the UN. By the middle of this century there will be more than twice as many. In Europe, the population of over 65s is expected to reach...

Country of origin labelling: A boon for consumers, but ‘unfeasible’ for industry?

11-Mar-2021 By Flora Southey

Who are the winners and losers of mandatory country of origin labelling? FoodNavigator hears from supporters and sceptics of the initiative less than two years out from the European Commission’s proposal.

Health campaigners call for ‘honest’ labelling on so-called healthy snacks

10-Mar-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Researchers at Action on Salt are demanding a restriction on the use of what it calls misleading nutrition claims on HFSS products after its new data revealed seemingly ‘healthy’ snacks contain often higher salt levels than crisps and flavoured nuts.

Is country of origin labelling a question of sustainability?

08-Mar-2021 By Flora Southey

Europeans want to know more about where their food comes from. Would mandatory country of origin labelling mean consumers make more sustainable food choices?

'We have to stop admiring the problem and get to work': Unilever on the role industry can play in food waste

08-Mar-2021 By Oliver Morrison

The food industry has a ‘critical and urgent’ role to play to resolve the food waste crisis, according to Unilever’s president of foods and refreshment, Hanneke Faber.

Is Nutri-Score working in France? The results are in…

05-Mar-2021 By Flora Southey

Three years ago, France adopted Nutri-Score. What impact has the nutrition labelling scheme had on purchasing behaviour?

The future of organic farming in Europe: How the new Regulation tightens the rules

02-Mar-2021 By Katia Merten-Lentz and Caroline Commandeur

New rules on organic farming and production in the EU are set to come into effect at the beginning of 2022. In the first in a series of articles examining the update, legal experts Katia Merten-Lentz, partner at international law firm Keller and Heckman,...

Indoor farmer unveils latest high-yield concept

24-Feb-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Infarm has launched new Growing Centres which it says will help tackle the high costs often associated with the sector.

How do animal welfare standards impact the taste of meat?

23-Feb-2021 By Flora Southey

Achieving higher animal welfare standards comes at a cost to producers. But does it make for better quality meat?

Not all processed foods should be demonised, say nutritionists

22-Feb-2021 By Oliver Morrison

What do canned baked beans, low fat fruit yogurt, ice cream, pre-packaged sliced bread, ready-made pasta sauces, and breakfast cereals with added sugar all have in common?

‘There’s never been a better time to push the message that healthy can equal delicious’: Start-up aims to disrupt snacking sector with low-fat, low-salt crisp

19-Feb-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Challenger brand Mindful Snacker is promising to make 2021 ‘the year of healthy snacking’ and ‘clean comfort food’.

Want to create a healthy food brand? It’s all in the name

18-Feb-2021 By Oliver Morrison

A brand’s name can influence how likely consumers are to perceive it as healthy, reveals new research.

Kerry considers ditching dairy to pursue health and wellness and sustainability megatrends

17-Feb-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Kerry Group’s strategic review of its dairy production and consumer food assets will allow it to free up money for acquisitions in faster growing areas, say equity analysts.

The future of ‘clean label’? Radically transparent and naturally healthy

17-Feb-2021 By Katy Askew

‘Clean label’ is an industry term that speaks to consumer demand for recognisable ‘pantry cupboard’ ingredients. But, without a clear definition, the meaning of clean label is evolving. What other mega-trends will shape the future of clean label innovation?

7 European countries team up to propel Nutri-Score rollout

12-Feb-2021 By Flora Southey

Several European countries have joined forces to step up use of front-of-pack nutrition label Nutri-Score.

Tesco faces investor backlash over ‘role in UK obesity crisis’

10-Feb-2021 By Katy Askew

Tesco has come under fire from a group of investors for what they characterise as the supermarket’s ‘role in the UK obesity crisis’. However, the retailer hit back, insisting it has ‘strong plans’ to make it ‘the easiest place to shop for healthy and...

Combining precision fermentation with European cheese making: ‘Plant-based dairy can’t convince flexitarians’

08-Feb-2021 By Flora Southey

German biotech LegenDairy is bringing together precision fermentation and the heritage of European cheese making to develop ‘stretchable, meltable and delicious’ cheese alternatives.

40% of firms’ environmental claims could be misleading

05-Feb-2021 By Oliver Morrison

Four in 10 websites appear to be using ‘greenwashing’ tactics that could be considered misleading and therefore potentially break consumer law, according to an investigation by the International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network (ICPEN).

Food trends of the future where innovation opportunities are rife

04-Feb-2021 By Oliver Morrison

To celebrate its 20th anniversary, UK artisan chocolate brand Montezuma’s commissioned food anthropologist Caroline Hobkinson to predict food industry trends over the next two decades with a specific focus on chocolate.

Scientists rally behind Nutri-Score in response to scepticism in Spain: ‘These attacks are based on personal opinion, not science’

29-Jan-2021 By Flora Southey

In the countdown to Spain’s national implementation of Nutri-Score, the labelling scheme has encountered ‘attacks’ in traditional and social media, says Professor Jordi Salas-Salvadó from Rovira I Virgili University.