Confectioners and food firms in the UK are on the alert after the country's food watchdog announces the recall of certain batches of White Rabbit products from China containing up to 60 times the melamine limit.
Most UK consumers are aware of guidance daily amounts (GDA) and traffic light labelling, but only one-in-four actually looks for nutritional information, according to a new survey from EUFIC.
The UK’s Food Standards Agency is working on improving allergen labelling and control practices used by industry, with investigations set to kick off in November at an open meeting with researchers.
The proposed regulation on food labelling is too complicated, makes unrealistic demands on font size, and will be burdensome for SMEs, a hearing has heard.
Claims that UK supermarkets are promoting more unhealthy foods than they were two years ago have met with criticism from the retail sector, which has been working with private-label and branded food manufacturers to improve the health profile of products.
The increasing use of paprika as a food colour does not present any safety concerns for cancer or chronic toxicity, Japanese researchers have reported.
The organic trend appears to have reached a plateau as consumer interest is waning and attention turns to other food categories such as fresh, local and fair trade, a new report claims.
The UK Food Standards Agency has set out core challenges for the food industry as part of its strategy to beat obesity, but recognises that work is already underway by industry to make food products healthier.
The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has revised its guidance on
the use of words such as 'fresh', 'natural' and 'pure' to provide
clearer advice to manufacturers.
The European Parliament has adopted a legislative package that will
see products containing any of six artificial colours labelled with
a health warning for children.
Food businesses have suffered from confusing government policies,
said the UK's Food and Drink Federation (FDF), which hopes Prime
Minister Brown's new strategy will provide greater clarity.
High fructose corn syrup may be labeled natural when synthetic fixing agents do not come into contact with it during manufacturing, said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), fuelling further debate on the controversial sweetener.
Thirty-five new international food standards were adopted during
last week's 31st session of the Codex Alimentarius
Commission, including guidelines on the use of flavourings and
gluten-free products.
Increasing demand for gelatine, coupled with consumer concerns over
the mammalian variety, may open the door for fish gelatine to fill
the gap for food formulators, says a new review.
A new low-temperature sealing biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) grade film can increase output for bakery and chocolate manufacturers, while reducing their environmental impact, claims Wipak.
The need for new European legislation on nutrition labelling has
been called into question by the CIAA (Confederation of Food and
Drink Industries in Europe), as a survey indicates that uptake of
its voluntary scheme has been significant.
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) and the International Dairy
Foods Association (IDFA) are fighting against the State of Ohio for
its new regulations regarding growth hormone labeling.
Food industry voices are joining those of politicians in the GM debate, hailing the controversial technology as the answer to the food supply crisis. But the hearts and minds of consumers must still be won.
Presenting a product's trans fat content is largely wasted on
consumers through the lack of interpretive footnotes or information
on recommended daily value, say researchers.
Whether pectin will ever be more than a gelling agent and
stabiliser and be labelled as a health ingredient depends on
science and money. In the second part of an in-depth special
series, FoodNavigator examines the health claims for...
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said rosemary extract is
safe for use as an antioxidant in food, expanding application
opportunities and increasing its natural appeal.
Consumers in the UK believe risk analysis on animal cloning and
products from cloned animals and their offspring entering the food
chain should be as thorough as drug research, according to a survey
published today by the Food Standards...
The European Parliament's Heart Group has declared its preferred
best approach to front of pack labelling for food so consumers can
see at a glance whether a product is good for their heart: four key
nutrient quantities, plus...
New labelling guidelines were issued this week by the UK Food
Standards Agency (FSA) to help manufacturers in present vital
product information in a clearer way.
A new joint venture by DuPont and Danisco aims to develop what
could be the first large-scale non-food ethanol production, which
could lighten the pressure of biofuels on the food industry.
China has introduced new guidelines for nutrition labelling on
packaged foods which, although not mandatory, will standardise
presentation of information on products that already state nutrient
levels.
Marketing campaign at US meat processor set to be dismantled as
federal appeals court rules US meat processor Tyson to comply with
an order to remove misleading advertising from 8,500 stores.
"Subtle language differences" may confound regulators in
the midst of translating thousands of health claims ahead of a
pan-European 2010 approval deadline, according to various industry
sources.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has published new
labelling guidance for food manufacturers, which it hopes will help
international companies meet the nation's labeling requirements.
Pressure is growing on the US Food and Drug Administration to set
new restrictions on the use of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in
food packaging following a new safety study.
A salmonella infection spreading through states in the US could be
linked to a recently recalled batch of cereal, the nation's Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) has said.
Seven US poultry processing plants have switched to using air
chilling equipment to meet EU import requirements for the product,
with more expected to follow, according to USDA researchers.
The Canadian delegation for Codex will dispute mandatory labeling
for the amount of health-related ingredients in processed foods,
considering current guidelines to be sufficient.
Mexican researchers are evaluating the use of cyclodextrins as
carriers for anti-microbial ingredients in fresh-cut products, as
the industry looks to alternatives to chlorine solutions for
preserving fresh-cut vegetables.
The food industry is being asked to work with the European
Commission to implement testing measures for rice imports from
China to prevent unauthorised GM material entering the European
food system.
The evaluating criteria for the Choices healthy food symbol are to
be reviewed and potentially adjusted, following the establishment
of a new international scientific committee.
The CIAA has highlighted several important areas of debate and
strategic consideration for food manufacturers, which it is
planning to address at its annual conference in November.
The UK Food Standards Agency has reported the Yo! Sushi will be the
restaurants to use its traffic light scheme - intended for food
manufacturers - on menus, indicating progress in raising awareness
for the healthier eating message.
Claiming 'free from' is not a light statement to make. Lives depend
on it. As scientific progress questions the validity of such
claims, it is time to establish exact guidelines and communicate
these to people for whom ingredients...
Foods produced using emerging nanotechnology are less likely to
come up against consumer hurdles than genetically modified foods
since they do not involve tinkering with genes, and therefore have
a greater perception of naturalness,...
The Codex Committee on Food Labeling (CCFL) will discuss
international labeling guidelines amid increasing consumer
awareness of the food they eat, a trend that mounts pressure on the
industry.
Israel export values are growing in line with an increasing global
demand for kosher food, fuelled by consumer preference for its
clear labelling and rigorous requirements.
Environmental group Friends of the Earth (FOE) has called for a
moratorium on the use of nanotechnology in the food chain, claiming
insufficient research has been carried out into its effect on human
health and the environment.
The US Center for Food Safety (CFS) has issued a statement
supporting legislation being introduced at federal and state level
to protect consumers against an unregulated introduction of cloned
animals, their off-spring and products...
The globalization of food poses risks on the safety and quality of
ingredients said the US Pharmacopeia (USP), which is providing
advice on overcoming new challenges.
FoodChain ID has developed a new white paper, “Current Food Supply Chain Threats - Is Your Company's Brand Reputation at Risk?” examining recent regulatory...
