Vaccines to combat a number of foodborne pathogens such as Listeria
could be commercially available in the near future, a breakthrough
which would "greatly enhance human health and wellbeing
worldwide," according to US researchers.
A new study conducted by the FDA says that acrylamide found in
fried and baked goods is unlikely to cause reproduction problems if
the general public consume it as part of the average daily diet -
but research is ongoing for its carcinogenic...
A new process to kill bacteria spores in the manufacture of formula
milk and milk concentrates has been launched. Developer Invensys
claims that the process destroys a substantially greater number of
bacteria spores than traditional...
The alleged link between the advertising of junk food and rising
levels of childhood obesity in the UK has never been completely
proven, but the growing body of evidence to support claims of a
direct correlation appears to have been...
Fall out from the BSE crisis that hit the UK meat industry in the
1990s could be nearly over as the EU's food safety body paves the
way for British beef to move down from its 'high risk'
classification.
After months of political wranglings GM sweetcorn could be on the
supermarket shelves by the end of the year with the European
Commission poised to end the five year unofficial ban on
genetically modified foods, writes Lindsey Partos.
Last year Denmark became the first country in the world to ban
trans fats from food products over fears these hydrogenated fats
could contribute to heart disease. While the EU has yet to reach a
position on the labelling of these...
Tapping into the €83 million market for cellulose gum use in food
applications, UK-based ingredient firm Fiske has signed a new
agreement with CMC leader Noviant to distribute the firm's range of
cellulose gums.
Sending a ripple of fear through the food industry, in 2002 the
Swedish Food Administration found high levels of the cancer-causing
compound acrylamide in carbohydrate-rich foods heated to high
temperatures. As global efforts in food...
On 1 May an historic moment marked the entry of ten countries and
75 million consumers into the European Union. Churchill's 'Iron
Curtain' has been consigned to the history books, heralding
democracy, stability and...
A new system to detect salmonella within 24 hours is being
developed by scientists in Spain. The breakthrough is significant
as the bacteria is one of the most common causes of food poisoning,
and the new process could help food manufacturers...
Public concern over BSE outbreaks is set to boost sales of organic
meat products in North America, according to a new report. But
North Americans have not historically been as influenced by food
scares as their European counterparts.
Delving into the mechanism behind the potentially fatal foodborne
disease Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), French
scientists report their findings this week on how two mammalian
proteins are 'hijacked' by the disease.
An electronic nose could sniff out considerable savings for food
manufacturers as researchers use the latest technology for the
early detection of 'undesirable off-odours and microbial
contaminants' in dairy and bakery products.
Scientists from the Institute of Food Research (IFR), UK, have
found that specific probiotics - beneficial bacteria - can destroy
pathogenic bacteria living in the gut of poultry. The discovery
could help remove the threat of bacterial...
The safety of chicken eggs has been challenged by a UK
environmental pressure group, just weeks after figures showing the
lowest levels of Salmonella in years were published. The Soil
Association claims that as many as one in eight...
New data from the US suggests that carcinogens such as heterocyclic
amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), formed
when meat is cooked may be responsible for the risk of rectal
cancer and not the consumption of...
Growth for food and beverage manufacturers will continue to lie in
health-driven foods with a new survey direct from Brussels
confirming that consumers have faith in fruit and vegetables, while
the majority remain extremely sceptical...
Despite repeated pledges to tackle the problem, many of the big
brand breakfast cereals on supermarket shelves in the UK still
contain excessive levels of sugar, salt and fat, according to new
research from the Consumers' Association...
In the same week that the US food watchdog releases new findings on
the presence of acrylamide, the probable human carcinogen, in
processed food products, the American Chemical society will
dedicate an entire symposium to this sensitive...
As food manufacturers and ingredients suppliers work towards tough
new rules on the labelling of food allergens, Europe's risk
assessment body concludes that current scientific evidence is
'insufficient to establish an intake...
End-to-end traceability is like the table stakes in a poker game -
if you don't have it, you won't stay in the game, argues an
industry expert. This new way of thinking could have a significant
impact on food production,...
A lack of integration at a European level is 'severely hampering'
efforts to co-ordinate stakeholder efforts - food industry and
independent scientists - in the area of chemical contaminants in
food, warn Swedish scientists....
Asian countries that declare victory over avian influenza should
base such statements on in-depth investigations, FAO and the World
Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) urged in a joint statement
today. There have been fears that...
European food manufacturers starting to get to grips with incoming
rules on food allergen labelling in the EU block face similar
adjustments in the US as the Senate clears new allergen laws this
week, writes Lindsey Partos.
Countdown to new rules for the labelling of allergen ingredients
begins with national governments and stakeholders in Europe getting
to grips with the small print before enforcement next year. The
Scottish food watchdog updates the...
A new range of polyurethane resin-based floor systems that combines
an antimicrobial layer has been launched. Manufacturer John Lord
claims that this new innovation can help food manufacturers fight
against microbes that cause food...
Traceability has become a key concern in the meat processing
industry since the BSE outbreak in the UK in the 1990s, and more
recently the discovery of the disease in the US last year. A number
of diagnostic products have been developed...
The European Commission recently convened researchers, experts and
decision-makers from all over the world to discuss ways to increase
international cooperation in the battle to combat highly
transmissible animal diseases such as...
Sourdough bread containing select bacteria may be tolerated by
patients with a rare digestive disease that causes gluten
intolerance, say Italian and Irish researchers. The new research
could provide new opportunities for food producers...
European scientists will meet today to decide the fate of a
genetically modified corn developed by US biotech giant Monsanto. A
positive outcome from the committee would end Europe's five year
ban on GM crops, attacked by a host...
The European Parliament adopted an own initiative report on 11
February, calling on the Commission to focus more on the
sustainability of agriculture in the Sixth and Seventh Framework
Programmes, and not technology for food production,...
In a bid to reassure the European Parliament after a recent study
alerted the world to levels of cancer-causing toxins present in
farmed salmon, Europe's head of consumer safety stressed to
politicians that Europe's food...
Food risk will be a defining issue of a 21st century marked by
globalisation and foodborne illness. Safety experts gathered at the
weekend in the US to examine new methods to minimise risk.
The food industry had its knuckles wrapped again this week, this
time by the UK's food watchdog that accused it of misleading the
consumer when using the terms 'fresh?and 'natural?on food labels.
The tide is turning down under with a new poll showing Australians
are increasingly worried about genetically modified foods and the
risk they could pose to human health and the environment.
The European Parliament has voted to create a European Centre for
Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), following growing concern
over animal disease epidemics. "Outbreaks like SARS in 2003 and
bird flu this year have been a...
A wide range of organic or health food products on sale in the UK
contain traces of genetically modified (GM) ingredients, according
to a study due to be published in April, reports CORDIS.
The debate on the labelling of additives on food products shifts up
a gear in the UK with the Consumers' Association criticising the
government and the country's food watchdog for failing to make
nutrition a priority.
It is common for pigs to wait in holding pens for at least 2 hours
after transport before slaughter to improve meat quality. Loading,
unloading, and travel stress can lead to lactic acid build up in
pigs' muscles, which can affect...
The EU has provided €2.2 million of funding for a new project that
aims to promote transnational cooperation in plant genomics
research and, ultimately, better coordinate the €80 million spent
annually in Europe on such activities,...
Safeguarding America's food supply against possible terrorist
threats will eat into a considerable chunk of the USDA's budget
next year. The country is also planning to stockpile animal
vaccines, following concerns that...
Demonstrating the clear divisions that exist between member states
and the European Commission over genetically modified foodstuffs,
in the same week that Belgian ministers threw out an application
for an oilseed rape, the EU's...
Long awaited rules on the use of the sweetener sucralose entered
into European law last week, ushering in new market opportunities
for suppliers of this zero calorie product.
Consumer concern about BSE, eggs and the safety of meat is
declining but awareness about fruit, vegetables, and salt
consumption is on the up, cites the fourth annual food survey from
the UK's food watchdog.
European hydrocolloid suppliers have welcomed new labelling rules
that provide E-number shy manufacturers with an alternative name
for the complex sounding food additive carboxymethylcellulose
(CMC). From now on, cellulose gum can...
Europe and the US will hammer out the contentious issue of obesity
and the role food policy can play in getting to grips with this
major health problem at a Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) meeting in Brussels
today.
A brewer in Sweden is facing the GM debate head on. The company
claims to have launched the first food product to use genetic
modification as a marketing tool.
A previously unidentified protein on the surface of intestinal
cells has given US researchers clues on how to prevent infection
from the foodborne bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes.
FoodChain ID has developed a new white paper, “Current Food Supply Chain Threats - Is Your Company's Brand Reputation at Risk?” examining recent regulatory...
