Food safety

Angelique Delahaye, MEP from the coservative European People's Party (EPP) said:

MEPs adopt EU alcohol resolution

By Niamh Michail

MEPs adopted a resolution on calorie content of alcoholic drinks yesterday, a move welcomed by industry and stakeholders across Europe who hope it will spur the Commission into legislating.

Chilled pasta took 28% of the total Western European pasta market last year, compared to 25% five years earlier

Packaged food sales increase in ‘two-speed’ Western Europe

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The Western European packaged food market has grown 5% since 2009, with chilled pasta, sustainable foods and frozen yoghurt leading the way, according to Euromonitor International – but Europe is still a divided market.

Confusing food labels are named and shamed on Twitter

By Niamh Michail

A Spanish consumer rights group has launched a naming and shaming Twitter campaign after it found one third of consumers surveyed has bought the wrong product due to confusing food labels.

Coconut spreads in Europe may be lacking the backing of big brands, said the report.

Coconut oils and spreads on trend in Europe

By Joyeeta Basu

Coconut oil could be on trend in Europe as saturated fats are no longer regarded to be as harmful for heart health as they were, a Mintel report has said.

The report said 67% of respondents said sustainability activities had increased their revenue and business.

Nearly 70% of CEOs worldwide value sustainability

By Joyeeta Basu

Nearly seven in ten CEOs worldwide see the value of sustainability but only two out of ten (21%) companies are leveraging the full potential of sustainability practices, says a report.

Economically disadvantaged groups are likely to consume more trans fats, said Professor Stender at the meeting

European trans fat report 'could lead to ban'

By Joyeeta Basu

The European Commission will consider action on industrially produced trans fats in foods following a high-level debate, said a spokesperson at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

Picture: WHO. A Twitter chat on food safety will be held today 2-3 CEST.

World Health Day: Food Safety

Food safety victim to absence of co-ordination - WHO

By Joseph James Whitworth

Food safety can be the victim of an absence of good co-ordination, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO)'s Director of Food Safety.

Consumers will be able to seek guidance on questions including the purchase of goods and services.

Hello Consumer, says Swedish agency

By Joyeeta Basu

Sweden has launched a new nationwide information service to provide better guidance and information to its people on all consumer-related queries.

Low levels of chemicals in food may be harmless in isolation - but researchers suggest they could have an additive effect

Food chemicals may have harmful ‘cocktail’ effect

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Risk assessment of food chemicals usually fails to take into account their effects when combined with other compounds – and these ‘chemical cocktails’ may be harmful to health, says new research from Denmark.

EU proposes TTIP amendments following backlash

EU proposes TTIP amendments following backlash

By Niamh Michail

As MEPs prepare to discuss proposed amendments to TTIP’s investor principle in Riga next week, the European Commission says that most of the controversy springs from ‘common misconceptions’.

First used for taxonomy but now for food fraud: proponents say DNA barcoding allows for greater traceability

DNA sprays and added bacteria to fight food fraud

By Niamh Michail

Spray-on DNA or added bacteria may be the future of the fight against food fraud   - but analysts warn that consumers could react against more additives being used to guarantee a product’s authenticity or naturalness

Rice and oats were most prone to contamination with sterigmatocystin , the report said.

Low mycotoxin levels found in European cereals, EFSA

By Joyeeta Basu

A study by the European Food Safety Authority of cereal grain and cereal products has found low levels of mycotoxin sterigmatocystin in most of the samples to be below proposed limits.

The organisation wants any pesticides with evidence of harm to bees taken off the shelves

Campaigners win case against Bayer over pesticide bee claims

By Joyeeta Basu

Friends of the Earth Germany has said it will step up its fight to protect bees after German chemical giant Bayer CropScience failed to sue it in court for claiming that a pesticide manufactured by the company could harm bees.

Changing precipitation patterns and temperatures could affect food safety through many different pathways - but to what extent is unknown

Climate change may increase foodborne illness

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Problems with food security have previously been linked to climate change – but it may also affect food safety and the incidence of foodborne illness, according to a new study.

WHO releases final sugar advice for children and adults

Academics and industry clash over WHO sugar advice

By Joyeeta Basu

Academics have welcomed the WHO’s recommendation to slash added sugar intake to 5-10% of calories – but the food industry has said it is misleading and based on weak evidence.

EFSA's new GM guidance document raises questions on how much information is legally required

EFSA GM guidance may require more data from biotech firms

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) may ask firms for more data on GM crop safety in applications for reauthorisation required after ten years, which experts say could lead to confusion and unnecessary paperwork for both company and assessor.

Environmentalists want the Commission to either match their targets or increase them.

Commission bins waste & recycling programme

By Joyeeta Basu

The European Commission (EC) has dropped an environment programme on waste, incineration and recycling laws because it did not “complete the circle” of creating zero waste in Europe.

Unlabelled almonds have been discovered in fajita kits sold by Morrisons and Aldi

Almond Contamination

Food Standards Agency probes unlabelled nuts

By Michael Stones

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is probing the presence of unlabelled almonds in three food products recalled since the end of last month.

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