Food safety

Mosa Meat, Nutreco replace pharma-grade ingredients in cell feed with food-grade alternatives

07-Mar-2023 By Flora Southey

Mosa Meat and one of its investors, Nutreco, have replaced 99.2% of the pharma-grade ingredients in basal media with food-grade alternatives.

No more ‘vegan mortadella’? Why ‘meaty’ names for plant-based could get the chop in Italy

07-Mar-2023 By Flora Southey

A bill introduced to the Italian Parliament is seeking to prevent plant-based meat alternatives from using ‘meaty’ names. Would such a ban finally put an end to ‘marketing bias’, or instead ‘derail plans for a sustainable food system’?

Erythritol and health risk: how much weight is behind the claims?

06-Mar-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Erythritol remains an important tool in long-term weight gain and disease risk, according to the international association representing the low- and reduced-calorie food and beverage industry, after research showed that the popular artificial sweetener...

Question marks as Sainsbury’s vacuum packs beef to save plastic

03-Mar-2023 By Oliver Morrison

An anti-plastic campaign group has questioned the effectiveness of Sainsbury’s announcement that it is swapping traditional, plastic tray packaging for a new vacuum-packed alternative across its beef mince range, saving 450 tonnes of plastic annually.

Mānuka honey claims dismissed in UK and US: ‘All non-NZ brands failed the test’

01-Mar-2023 By Flora Southey

Testing of non-New Zealand mānuka honey brands sold in the UK and US reveals all missed key indicators of mānuka according to New Zealand export standards.

Dissecting cultivated meat regulation part 2: What’s working in the US and Singapore, and what’s not?

16-Feb-2023 By Flora Southey

Both the US and Singapore have seen cultivated meat products pass through their regulatory processes, yet the two governments approach novel foods in different ways. Which challenges and opportunities exist within these regulatory frameworks, and what...

The regulatory trends predicted in food and drink 2023

15-Feb-2023 By Flora Southey

Which areas of food and beverage will attract regulators’ attention this year? From HFSS laws to food safety inspections, lawyers from Squire Patton Boggs take us through the predicted trends for 2023.

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Industry Insights from NIZO - Polyphenols: Handling uninvited co-passengers in your plant protein

15-Feb-2023 By René Floris, NIZO Food Research Division Manager

Why should food makers be paying attention to polyphenols and how can advances in their characterisation help both protein and food producers improve their products?

Europe’s first gene-edited wheat trial produces up to 45% less acrylamide

14-Feb-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The results of Europe’s first ever field trial of a gene edited (GE) variety of wheat have shown a significant reduction of the potential carcinogen acrylamide when the flour is baked.

‘The voluntary code is not working’: Experts call for an end to the ‘exploitative marketing’ used by the baby formula milk industry

08-Feb-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Formula milk marketing tactics are exploitative, and regulations need to be urgently strengthened and properly implemented, according to a new three paper series published in The Lancet.

How did PFAS contaminate the organic egg supply chain? Feed suppliers weigh in

06-Feb-2023 By Flora Southey

It has been suggested the so-called forever chemicals identified in Danish organic eggs originated from fishmeal, which is used as an ingredient in chicken feed. Suppliers are taking the issue ‘very seriously’, FoodNavigator understands.

Research suggests ‘direct association’ between nitrites from food additives and diabetes risk

06-Feb-2023 By Flora Southey

Not only has a link been suggested between the consumption of additives-originated nitrites and increased diabetes risk, but researchers have found no potential benefits for dietary nitrites.

Children at risk as ‘forever chemicals’ PFAS identified in organic eggs

27-Jan-2023 By Flora Southey

Fresh research out of Denmark has identified the presence of environmental contaminant PFAS in organic eggs sourced from chicken farms all over the country. The risk for children ‘is noticeable’, according to associate professor Kit Granby from the DTU...

Has the UK’s sugar tax really worked for girls? And if so, why not boys?

27-Jan-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Additional strategies beyond a soft drinks levy will be needed to reduce obesity, particularly in older boys and younger children, according to new Cambridge University research that some have called ‘speculative’.

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Industry Insights from NIZO: Using and optimising membrane filtration for extracting plant proteins

26-Jan-2023 By René Floris, NIZO Food Research Division Manager

Membrane filtration has proven itself as a protein extraction technology in the dairy industry, attracting attention from players across the plant protein field. The technology offers clear benefits...but what are its challenges?

Genetically modified rice could be key to tackling food shortages caused by climate change: scientists

18-Jan-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Genetically engineering rice to have better salt tolerance could allow it to be grown in places it would otherwise fail, new research from the University of Sheffield has found.

Fertilisers made from human urine and faeces are ‘safe and productive’ to use in food production, say scientists

18-Jan-2023 By Oliver Morrison

A study has claimed to show that modern ‘green’ products recycled from human excreta are excellent – and importantly, safe – fertilizers to use on food crops.

Eating freshwater fish equal to a month of drinking water contaminated with ‘forever chemicals’: ‘People who consume freshwater fish are at risk of alarming levels of PFOS’

17-Jan-2023 By Katy Askew

Scientists have warned that consuming just one serving of freshwater fish per year could expose people to levels of ‘forever chemicals’ that may be harmful to health.

Boiled peanuts could help overcome child peanut allergy, clinical trial shows

13-Jan-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Boiling peanuts for up to 12 hours could help overcome children’s allergic reactions, according to the results of a clinical trial at Flinders University and SAHMRI in Australia which found up to 80% of children with peanut allergy became desensitised...

Bacterial cultures combat antibiotic resistant Salmonella: ‘One of the biggest challenges in food safety is the emergence of superbugs’

13-Jan-2023 By Katy Askew

New research out of the US suggests protective bacterial cultures could be used to tackle food-borne pathogens that are resistant to antibiotics.

‘The opportunity for game-changing innovations might be missed’: Time and Temperature Indicator tech could fight food waste but is EU regulation holding it back?

12-Jan-2023 By Katy Askew

The EU is committed to the Sustainable Development Goal to halve food waste by 2030. But, with food labelling often cited as a waste driver, are restrictive regulatory requirements impeding this effort? FoodNavigator speaks to Kristen Hovland, CEO of...

Novozymes invests microbial control tech from Lyras for ‘less downtime, more efficiency and cost savings’

09-Jan-2023 By Katy Askew

Biotech group Novozymes has invested in new ‘energy-friendly’ raslysation technology developed by Danish company Lyras to replace filtration processes. It is expected to result in lower costs and increased efficiency.

‘We are very surprised by this accusation’: Danone sued over plastic pollution

09-Jan-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The French multi-national ‘strongly refutes’ allegations it is waning on commitments to cut its plastic footprint.

AI-driven food waste solution rolls out in Netherlands

22-Dec-2022 By Oliver Morrison

An AI-driven solution to cut down on food waste has rolled out into Hoogvliet supermarket stores in the Netherlands.

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Industry Insights from NIZO: New sequencing speeds up identification of microbial contamination in foods

21-Dec-2022 By René Floris, NIZO Food Research Division Manager

How are new sequencing technologies, combined with multidisciplinary expertise, making it possible to identify microbes in hours instead of weeks, and significantly speed up investigations into how they got into your food or ingredient?

Survey highlights prevalence of unlabelled nanomaterials: 'One of the most worrying health safety issues related to consumer products’

15-Dec-2022 By Katy Askew

An examination of 23 everyday products found on French shelves detected the presence of nanoparticles in 20 of the samples collected. With contamination found in food, alongside cosmetics and hygiene products, consumer organisation Que Choisir says the...

From ‘potentially’ dangerous horse meat to illegal alt plastic: EU intercepts food fraud

13-Dec-2022 By Flora Southey

The European Union recently acted against two major cases of food fraud: food contact materials containing bamboo powder, and half a tonne of horse meat unfit for consumption.

Poor data is hindering eco-label plans, group warns

08-Dec-2022 By Oliver Morrison

The UK’s CLEAR consortium complains that a lack of global data that distinguishes between farming methods and countries risks making eco-labels a blunt tool for consumers seeking greater transparency about food products.

Researchers to investigate termite mushrooms as new food source

02-Dec-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Scientists at the University of Copenhagen will investigate if termite mushrooms can become a sustainable food source for humans.

Passion fruit could hold the key to combatting food waste and cutting plastic use

21-Nov-2022 By Katy Askew

New research suggests passion fruit peel offers ‘significant potential’ to preserve fresh fruit and fresh cuts in an edible coating thanks to high levels of antioxidants and polyphenols. This could help reduce food waste and decrease our reliance on plastic...

Edible packaging set to tackle the ‘evil twins’ of food and plastic waste

18-Nov-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Spain's Bio2Coat is hoping to solve the twin problems of food waste and plastic waste coming from packaging materials with a 100% natural, edible coating that extends shelf-life of fruits and vegetables and a 100% natural, edible packaging material...

A ‘different mindset’ and ‘smarter toolbox’ is needed for chemical safety and sustainability

18-Nov-2022 By Katy Askew

Tightening regulatory requirements and heightened public expectations around the use of safe and sustainable chemicals in the food and beverage industry offers ‘substantial opportunities’ and ‘new risks’, according to TSG Consulting.

How synthetic reality can inform innovation: 'Simulated task environments and eye-tracking technologies are increasingly being adopted'

17-Nov-2022 By Katy Askew

Developments in innovative user-testing environment technologies are unlocking new opportunities for food scientists and businesses to understand the consumer path to purchase, helping to drive innovation and grow sales. FoodNavigator visits the Perceptual...

Researchers find the molecules in breast milk that may protect infants from developing allergies

16-Nov-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Scientists have identified the specific molecules in breast milk which if added to formula may help address the disparity that formula-fed babies are more sensitive to allergens.

The ‘magic sachets’ combatting food waste by keeping food fresher for longer

10-Nov-2022 By Oliver Morrison

A Spanish company has invented a solution to food waste by keeping fruit and vegetables fresher for longer.

In a world of lab-grown and processed food, what is ‘natural’?

04-Nov-2022 By Flora Southey

For food to be ‘natural’, do consumers need to know where it came from? Can it be ‘natural’ if it was grown in a lab? And is defining ‘natural’ even important, anyway?

Meet the start-up giving allergens to babies in the fight to reduce food allergies

02-Nov-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Vini Mini has unveiled a product to prevent peanut allergies in babies.

EU-wide labelling scheme decision pushed forward to 2023 as Commission admits ‘complex’ situation

27-Oct-2022 By Oliver Morrison

The European Commission is expected to be delaying its food labelling plans and is unlikely to recommend one existing label.

Solar Foods protein ‘made from air’ gets novel food nod in Singapore

26-Oct-2022 By Flora Southey

Solein, Solar Foods’ protein grown with CO2 and electricity, has received regulatory approval from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA). Commercial launch is planned for 2024, CEO and co-founder Pasi Vainikka tells FoodNavigator.

Food labelling has a significant impact on consumer decision-making

13-Oct-2022 By Natasha Spencer-Jolliffe

As both the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and Safe Food Advocacy Europe release reports detailing how the food industry conveys information, calls for change emerge.

Chr. Hansen welcomes solid growth amid ‘unprecedented’ input cost inflation and supply chain challenges

12-Oct-2022 By Flora Southey

The Danish ingredients supplier is celebrating a ‘solid’ financial performance for 2021/22, despite a ‘volatile’ macroeconomic and geopolitical climate. We ask CFO Lise Mortensen how the Ukraine-Russia conflict is impacting business.

‘Intelligent’ bottle cap developed to cut food waste: ‘Gel technology is much more accurate than a best-before date’

06-Oct-2022 By Flora Southey

A partnership between United Caps and Mimica has resulted in a new closure for perishable products beverages, such as milk and juice.

Replacing methylcellulose in meat analogues: ‘Plant-based is perceived as better for you, using synthetic additives creates a gap between perception and reality’

03-Oct-2022 By Katy Askew

Meet the start-up that has developed a one-for-one methylcellulose replacement for plant-based products.

How new processing techniques have ‘great potential’ to make food more sustainable

20-Sep-2022 By Flora Southey

Processed food can get a bad rap. But according to researchers in Norway, new processing techniques can help extend shelf-life to reduce food waste and its detrimental effects on the environment.

Scientists issue ‘wake-up call’ to food industry over organophosphate esters

15-Sep-2022 By Katy Askew

UK research sheds fresh light on the presence of organophosphate esters (OPEs) in food products. “This should be a wake-up call to industrial users of OPEs,” the researchers say.

Do artificial sweeteners increase risk of cardiovascular diseases?

15-Sep-2022 By Flora Southey

A ‘potential direct’ link between artificial sweetener intake and increased cardiovascular disease risk has been suggested by researchers, but industry is fighting back: “There is no causal evidence that low/no calorie sweeteners could increase the risk...

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