Food safety

Foodex 2016

Food and drink crime: what tops experts’ wish list

06-May-2016 By Michael Stones

Persuading people to share information about suspected food and drink crime, co-ordinating intelligence sharing and harnessing technology to beat criminal activity topped the wish lists of experts taking part in Food Manufacture’s Big Video Debate on...

Sustainable manufacturing: unlocking the future

05-May-2016 By Mark Jolly

Sustainable manufacturing is the process of creating products through economically-sound processes that minimise the negative environmental impacts, while also conserving energy and natural resources. It carries significant promise for food and drink...

EFSA highlights high levels of suspected carcinogen in baby formula

04-May-2016 By Will Chu

Babies are exposed to almost ten times the acceptable levels of a potential carcinogen that has been found in infant formula, according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Foodex 2016

Antibacterial bag wins Foodex Best New Idea

03-May-2016 By Michael Stones

An antibacterial Bag for Life – designed to prevent food infections from most common types of bacteria – won the Best New Idea award at the trade event Foodex 2016.

Industry says it's ready for EU flavour ban

02-May-2016 By Niamh Michail

An EU ban on four food flavourings will come into effect next week, but industry says it has already voluntarily phased them out for commercial reasons.

The EFSA hackathon: Authority offers €20,000 for app ideas

29-Apr-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

"The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is offering €20,000 for an app idea it can use to provide “quick, user-friendly” mobile access to its work."

TTIP – a nail in the coffin for EU food producers?

29-Apr-2016 By David Burrows

The big winners of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) deal will be the corporate food giants and US factory farms with European producers set to lose the most, according to Friends of the Earth. "Entire sectors are at risk...

Almost one fifth of children are over tolerable levels for potential carcinogen 3-MCPD

28-Apr-2016 By Niamh Michail

Almost one fifth of young children exceed the tolerable daily intake for potential carcinogen 3-MCPD, says the Dutch food safety authority, as EFSA prepares to release an assessment on the compound next week.

Monsanto slams EU attempt to block GM crops in Africa as 'neo-colonialism'

28-Apr-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Parliament’s Committee on Development has urged G8 member states “not to support GMO [genetically modified] crops in Africa” as part of its critical resolution on the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition - a decision agri giant Monsanto...

Cheap food or no pesticides: Consumers can’t have it both ways, says ECPA

28-Apr-2016 By David Burrows

The European Crop Protection Association has said Europeans don’t understand the harsh realities of food production or appreciate the potential magnitude of the world’s food supply problem - pesticides are important in maintaining supply and keeping prices...

EFSA 'urgently' requested to assess BPA safety

26-Apr-2016 By Niamh Michail

The Dutch presidency has “kindly but urgently” requested the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to look into the safety of bisphenol A (BPA).

Foodex 2016

‘We could be consuming food all the time that is not authentic but we wouldn’t know about it until afterwards’

18-Apr-2016 By Jenny Eagle

‘We could be consuming food all the time that is not authentic but we wouldn’t know about it until afterwards’, according to Andy Morling, head, Food Crime Unit, Food Standards Agency (FSA).

MEPs give glyphosate green light – with caveats

13-Apr-2016 By David Burrows

The European Parliament has voted in favour of re-authorising the use of glyphosate – the weedkiller that almost two thirds of consumers want to see banned - but have limited this approval to seven years.

Dispatches from EFSA stakeholder meeting in Brussels

Novel regulation - same old delays? Stakeholders express novel food process concerns

12-Apr-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The updated novel food regulation has been billed by the European Commission as a new streamline system that will put innovation back on the EU menu – yet attendees of a stakeholders meeting this week expressed concern these hopes would be dashed by duplication...

Expert calls for activity icons that could help ‘reduce obesity rates’

08-Apr-2016 By Will Chu

Food should be labelled with how much exercise is required to expend its calories in order to help promote an active lifestyle, said a leading health expert. 

UN declares Decade of Action on Nutrition

04-Apr-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly has declared a ‘Decade of Action on Nutrition’, placing nutrition firmly at the heart of its sustainable development agenda.

Risk-benefit assessment: Weighing up the pros and cons of foods

04-Apr-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

To have meaningful health recommendations for foods authorities should balance both the risks and benefits of consumption, say a group of Danish researchers backing the concept of risk-benefit assessment. 

Morrisons boss puts money where his mouth is

04-Apr-2016 By Noli Dinkovski

Morrisons ceo David Potts has demonstrated his confidence in turning around the fortunes of the retailer by investing a further £360,000 in shares.

How can you streamline your NPD process?

01-Apr-2016 By Niamh Michail

From recipe reformulations to changing regulations, there are multiple factors to take into account during new product development (NPD). One company is offering a master data capturing service to streamline the process for firms that don't have the...

EFSA to assess sucralose following cancer concerns

01-Apr-2016 By Niamh Michail

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will conduct a scientific evaluation of sucralose following the publication of a study which found a link between the sweetener and cancer.

Painted olives, monkey meat & fertiliser sugar: Europol's global food fraud crackdown

31-Mar-2016 By Niamh Michail

From olives painted with blue copper sulphate to monkey meat and sugar laced with fertiliser, Europol and Interpol have seized 10,000 tonnes of fake food in their biggest global operation to date.

special edition: food fraud

‘We’ve come a long way but more to be done’, says head of food crime unit

23-Mar-2016 By Joseph James Whitworth

Intelligence about food criminals is in short supply and crimes are often undetected or unreported, according to the first assessment of its type in the UK.

special edition: food fraud

Brexit should not affect amount of food fraud – NSF

23-Mar-2016 By Joseph James Whitworth

Brexit should not affect standards of food safety and quality or the amount of fraud in the system, according to NSF International.

Salt, damned lies and statistics? UK's reformulation success challenged

23-Mar-2016 By Niamh Michail

The UK’s food industry is congratulating itself on the success of voluntary salt reduction after a government survey shows average salt intake has fallen, but the figures are being questioned by public health campaigners.

PHE reveals results of pilot E. coli proficiency testing scheme

16-Mar-2016 By Joseph James Whitworth

Public Health England (PHE) has published the results of a pilot survey on the proficiency testing (PT) of Shiga toxin producing E. coli.  

IARC urges action against mycotoxin contamination in developing countries

09-Mar-2016 By Joseph James Whitworth

The problem of mycotoxin contamination in developing countries has been ‘ignored for too long’ and it is time to ‘turn science into action’, according to the director of an organisaton behind a report on the subject.

EU court awards EFSA right to publish suppressed pesticide opinion

07-Mar-2016 By Will Chu

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has republished findings on the pesticide diflubenzuron after the European Court of Justice (ECJ) reversed a decision that found in favour of Chemtura.

Could a novel UV technology help battle vitamin D deficiency?

07-Mar-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

With the spotlight on vitamin D in many European countries, one company says its recently approved novel UV milk treatment could be a way to tackle deficiency. 

Food crime raids jump 10% amid budget cut fears

07-Mar-2016 By Michael Stones

A crackdown on food and drink crime by local councils has seen raids rise by 10% over the past three years, but fears remain that budget cuts compromise safety and authenticity, warns commercial law firm EMW.

Mars recall

Mars Chocolate’s recall ‘could cost millions’

26-Feb-2016 By Michael Stones

Mars Chocolate’s recall of Mars and Snickers bars in up to 55 countries could cost millions of pounds, warns legal firm Roythornes.

Mars issues mass chocolate recall due to plastic

23-Feb-2016 By Joseph James Whitworth

Mars Chocolate has recalled a variety of chocolate bars after plastic was found in one of the products.

Change needed to ensure EU has safe food in 2050

23-Feb-2016 By Rick Pendrous

The food environment in Europe in 2050 will look very different to what it is today as issues of food security and food safety increasingly overlap and present new challenges for the supply chain, according to the deputy director-general for the food...

Updated food safety training survey sent to industry

23-Feb-2016 By staff reporter

An update to a survey on food safety training practices has been launched.

What EFSA wants from novel food applications

22-Feb-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published draft guidance on applications for novel foods under revised rules, but a food lawyer warns the requirements may prove too cumbersome for traditional third country foods. 

French & German authorities weigh in on 'emotional' glyphosate debate

17-Feb-2016 By Niamh Michail

Glyphosate cannot be classed as a probable carcinogen but its use in formulations could be a cause for concern, says the French food safety authority while the German safety body has called for scientific professionalism to spare consumers unnecessary...

Predictive analytics needed to prevent food fraud

15-Feb-2016 By Rick Pendrous

Brand owners need to use ‘predictive analysis’ of business data to help prevent them being the victims of food fraud, experts have argued.

Nutrition data displayed graphically helps consumers make healthier choices

08-Feb-2016 By Will Chu

A graphical display of select nutrients has resulted in consumers purchasing healthier, lower-calorie menu items as a meal when ordering in a café setting, a study has shown.

Mars to ditch all artificial colours from its entire global food portfolio

08-Feb-2016 By Niamh Michail

Food giant Mars has pledged to phase out all artificial colours from its global food and drink portfolio in the next five years.

EFSA comes under fire for latest 'revolving door' industry recruitment

28-Jan-2016 By Niamh Michail

Barbara Gallani, chief scientist at UK food industry lobby Food and Drink Federation will become EFSA’s communication head in May – an appointment that has sparked criticism over its revolving door recruitment process.

'Abuses are taking place within ‘certified’ supply chains' say authors

Global supply chains audits for corporations fail to detect serious abuses: Report

25-Jan-2016 By Will Chu

NGO-certified ethical audits do little to root out labour abuses, poor working conditions and environmental degradation within global supply chains, as a report accuses corporations of 'fixing' the process to ensure working standards are approved...

Organic food is fuelling the growth of natural preservatives: Report

22-Jan-2016 By Will Chu

A growing demand for organic food, coupled with healthy eating trends and a preference for premium products, is driving the growth of the natural food preservatives sector, according to a report.

Anti-GMO study quoted in Italian Senate retracted amidst data manipulation claims

20-Jan-2016 By Will Chu

A research paper that was referenced in an Italian government hearing on whether the country should allow GM cultivation is to be retracted after one of the authors was accused of falsifying research data.

Denmark lowers indicative levels for acrylamide

18-Jan-2016 By Niamh Michail

EU guidance levels for acrylamide do not protect consumers enough, according to the Danish minister for environment and food, as it sets lower indicative levels for Danish manufacturers.

Food Crime Unit must move faster - incoming FSA chair

11-Jan-2016 By Joseph James Whitworth

The incoming UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) chair has said she is ‘surprised’ the Food Crime Unit (FCU) is not moving faster and it reflects the need to inject a bit more agility and pace into the agency.

1000-strong survey reveals German consumers' food industry wish list

11-Jan-2016 By Niamh Michail

A 1000-strong survey into dietary habits and attitudes shows Germans are generally happy with their food but want more neutral nutrition information and ethically-produced meat - and they are willing to pay more for it.

Are manufacturers losing market share by playing it too safe with allergen labelling?

07-Jan-2016 By David Burrows

Allergen Safe is an independently-audited accreditation initiative proposed by organisation FreeFrom that allows manufacturers to respond to increasing consumer worries about allergens. But by playing it too safe, do they risk losing market share?

Date label headaches could make consumers sick: Survey

05-Jan-2016 By David Burrows

More than one third (39%) of UK shoppers say they would eat seafood past its ‘use by’ date, whilst even more (42%) would do the same with poultry –  a worrying development according to experts.

EFSA backs glyphosate but should industry blacklist it anyway?

10-Dec-2015 By David Burrows

The European Commission’s standing committee meets today to discuss whether or not to renew approval for glyphosate. Chances are the controversial herbicide will get the green light. Should the food industry step in and apply its own ban?

Largest European investment to date

Danone doubles Dutch baby milk production capacity

04-Dec-2015 By Lynda Searby

Danone-Nutricia has invested €240m in a new production plant in the Netherlands on the back of double-digit sales growth of infant formula products such as Aptamil and Nutrilon.

EFSA gives green light to new applications for thaumatin

01-Dec-2015 By Lynda Searby

Following a favourable scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), formulators will soon be able to use the natural protein sweetener and flavour modifier thaumatin in a broader range of applications.