Food safety

‘People are unwittingly eating lead’: Researchers warn of toxic lead risk in pheasant meat

23-Aug-2022 By Flora Southey

A new study out of the UK suggests pheasants killed by hunters using shotguns can leave small lead particles in the meat. Consumers of these carcasses are ‘likely’ to be exposed, according to researchers.

Norway invests in cellular milk, egg, and meat production as a ‘new direction’ for industry

19-Aug-2022 By Flora Southey

The Research Council of Norway is funding the development of cellular agriculture technologies to produce the ‘food of the future’.

Waitrose joins ranks of UK retailers ditching best before dates

02-Aug-2022 By Oliver Morrison

The upmarket supermarket will remove best before dates on nearly 500 products to help customers reduce food waste at home by 2030.

Using genomics to tackle malnutrition in Africa: ‘It’s revolutionising the agricultural sector’

02-Aug-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Companies are exploring the potential of genetic engineering to boost the nutritional content, productivity and climatic adaptability of so-called orphan crops in the continent.

New labelling tech mirrors decay cycle of food: ‘Best before and use-by confuse consumers’

29-Jul-2022 By Flora Southey

In a bid to combat food waste, cross-Atlantic start-up Oli-Tec has developed temperature indicator labels that help consumers see when food is going off.

‘We’re drinking plastic!’: Microplastics found in Nestlé and Danone bottled waters

28-Jul-2022 By Flora Southey

An alarming 78% of bottled waters analysed in France are contaminated with microplastics, according to a new report from NGO Agir pour l’Environment.

Titanium dioxide substitute inspired by ‘brilliantly white’ beetle: ‘The pigment is 100% cellulose, nothing else’

22-Jul-2022 By Flora Southey

Cambridge University spin-out Impossible Materials has developed a cellulose-based, white pigment to replace titanium dioxide in food applications. FoodNavigator catches up with CEO Lukas Schertel to find out how.

Apples for apples? Children think 'natural' food is tastier, safer and more desirable

22-Jul-2022 By Katy Askew

Children are more likely to prefer food they perceive as ‘natural’ over processed or lab-made alternatives, a new study from scientists in Scotland and the US has found.

Will consumer trust be the ultimate victim as clean living takes back seat amid runaway inflation?

20-Jul-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Fears are rife that consumer trust in the food products they buy will denigrate as cash strapped consumers are forced to turn their backs on clean living and healthy eating as inflation reaches record highs in the UK and eurozone.

Food waste: Retailers remove indicative dates from fruit, veg and dairy

19-Jul-2022 By Flora Southey

In an effort to limit the amount of food wasted in households across the UK, supermarket retailers are taking action.

Calls for standardized and rigorous dataset to ensure seafood fraud enforcement

13-Jul-2022 By Oliver Morrison

The most comprehensive study of seafood fraud ever published underlines a requirement for a standardized and rigorous dataset through which food fraud can be scrutinized to ensure enforcement.

Meat producers lay out work to reduce nitrites in cured pork products as campaigners demand action

12-Jul-2022 By Oliver Morrison

The British meat industry says it is actively engaged in working to reduce nitrites in cured pork products after reports by The Guardian that a group of food scientists and MPs in the UK are pushing for a ban on the use of chemicals in bacon that they...

UK dentists call for sweeping action on ‘as sugary as Cola’ baby pouches

08-Jul-2022 By Oliver Morrison

The British Dental Association has warned that what it calls ‘obscene’ levels of sugar in popular baby food pouches underline the need for wide-ranging government action across the early years’ food and drink sector.

‘A major step forward for the insect industry’: Ÿnsect celebrates EFSA green light

05-Jul-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Human insect consumption has received another boost as the lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus) becomes the fourth insect to receive a positive assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for human consumption.

Fossil-free food: Green fertilizer developed to ‘effortlessly’ decarbonise the food chain

30-Jun-2022 By Flora Southey

In an industry first, fossil-free ‘green’ fertilizer – made using renewable electricity – is being developed at a commercial scale. FoodNavigator catches up with Yara to find out how.

Greek blockchain specialists create genetic barcode to protect against olive oil fraud

27-Jun-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Extra virgin olive oil is a major target of unscrupulous food fraudsters, but perhaps not for much longer.

EU moves to cut pesticide use with legally binding targets, but are they strict enough?

22-Jun-2022 By Flora Southey

Legally binding targets at EU and national level to reduce by 50% the use and the risk of chemical pesticides by 2030 have been proposed by the European Commission.

Tetra Pak talks ‘industry first’ fibre-based barrier: ‘Our aim is to develop the world’s most sustainable food package’

09-Jun-2022 By Katy Askew

Tetra Pak is developing a fibre-based barrier to replace the aluminium layer currently needed in food and beverage packaging like juice boxes and milk cartons. We caught up with Tetra Pak’s Davide Braghiroli, Product Director Packaging Materials and Alternative...

How next-gen sequencing tech is advancing food safety testing technologies

08-Jun-2022 By Natasha Spencer

As the food industry champions full transparency and shifts to finding preventive measures against foodborne outbreaks, genomics testing provider Clear Labs is developing surveillance and diagnostics to progress accuracy and efficiency in today’s food...

Calls for a clearer definition of ‘natural’ for EU food products

08-Jun-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Consumer group SAFE Food Advocacy Europe has called on the European Commission to differentiate between synthetic and natural substances.

EFSA puts CBD novel food approval on hold due to data gaps: ‘We have identified several hazards’

07-Jun-2022 By Katy Askew

EFSA announced today that its scientists cannot currently establish the safety of cannabidiol (CBD) as a novel food.

Cyber attacks: Why ag tech innovation could be an 'easy' target for hackers to threaten food supplies

06-Jun-2022 By Gary Scattergood

While ag-tech innovators are striving to power global food security improvements, international experts have warned their solutions could 'easily' fall victim to cyber attackers who want to disrupt food supplies.

Chewing the microbial fat: The potential for oleaginous yeast to replace unsustainable fat sources

30-May-2022 By Flora Southey

What is microbial oil, how is it produced, and does it have the potential to replace conventional fat in biofuel, feed, and food?

Scrutinising infant formula labelling reveals ‘shortcomings’ in nutritional declarations

27-May-2022 By Flora Southey

Most infant and follow-up formula products analysed by government investigators in France presented with labelling anomalies.

‘A tough move for industry’: Europe sets MOAH limits in food effective immediately

24-May-2022 By Flora Southey

Under pressure from consumer organisation foodwatch, the European Commission has established limits for the presence of MOAH in food products. No transition period has been offered to businesses…is that fair?

Ground-breaking trial promises to ‘make food allergies history’

18-May-2022 By Oliver Morrison

The Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, the charity set up by the parents of Natasha Ednan-Laperouse who died aged 15 from a severe food allergic reaction, has set up a clinical trial in the UK that will investigate if commonly-available peanut and milk...

Counterfeit cheese: Digital label designed to crumble fake Parmigiano Reggiano market

12-May-2022 By Flora Southey

A cheese mark made from casein, integrated with a silicon microchip, has been developed to help the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium guarantee the authenticity of producers’ products.

Research takes aim at social media influencers peddling unhealthy products

09-May-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Most food and drink content posted by German influencers on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube is so unhealthy it fails World Health Organisation (WHO) advertising standards for children, claims research from the Medical University of Vienna.

Sustainable packaging: How are start-ups ‘thinking outside the box’ for snacks and booze?

04-May-2022 By Flora Southey

From reducing film in snack packets to reinventing the wine bottle, how are food and drink start-ups getting creative with sustainable packaging?

‘This is the time fraudsters kick in’: Food fraud warnings as sunflower oil runs dry

27-Apr-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Food adulteration cases could rise as companies seek alternatives to those foodstuffs, such as sunflower oil, impacted by the conflict in Ukraine, it has been cautioned.

From Nestlé’s Buitoni to Ferrero’s Kinder: High-profile scandals put European food safety in the spotlight

26-Apr-2022 By Katy Askew

Two food industry giants are facing major European product recalls. Nestlé’s Buitoni pizza brand has been linked to an E.coli outbreak in France while Ferrero has been forced to recall Kinder products across a number of markets due to Salmonella contamination....

The FoodNavigator Podcast: What needs to be done to tackle plastic pollution in food and beverages?

20-Apr-2022 By Katy Askew

The FoodNavigator Podcast speaks to the Consumer Goods Forum about what the food and beverage industry is doing to tackle plastic pollution and work towards a future free from plastic waste.

Experts outline ‘biggest obstacles’ facing precision fermentation sector: ‘We have brilliant people with brilliant innovations, but can this make money?’

19-Apr-2022 By Flora Southey

This question is soon to be on industry’s lips, according to Dr Jeremy Chignell, senior fermentation scientist at BIO-CAT Microbials, who, together with Eva Sommer from Fermify and regulatory expert Dr Hannah Lester, talks the ‘biggest obstacles’ facing...

Food producers score poorly on the European consumers' trust meter

08-Apr-2022 By Gill Hyslop

A new report by EIT Food – one of eight communities to boost innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe – reveals only 47% of Europeans trust the food sector. French consumers lead the pack in scepticism.

Nektium eyes demand for botanicals in food: ‘An exciting opportunity beyond supplements and nutraceuticals’

07-Apr-2022 By Katy Askew

Spanish ingredient supplier Nektium is expanding its botanic ingredient portfolio into the food and beverage sector for the first time. FoodNavigator caught up with R&D experts at the company to learn more about the ‘exciting opportunity’ for botanicals...

Duck duck…goose? Meat fraud amongst breaches revealed in foie gras investigation

07-Apr-2022 By Flora Southey

An investigation into the labelling and composition of foie gras products in France has revealed numerous cases of non-compliance.

JUST Egg mung bean protein wins EU approval, launch expected ‘before the end of the year’

05-Apr-2022 By Flora Southey

The key ingredient in Eat Just’s plant-based egg alternative, mung bean protein, has received approval from the European Commission. The decision ‘opens the door’ to distribution across the bloc, according to Eat Just CEO Josh Tetrick.

UK CBD food sector celebrates as FSA publishes list of allowable products

01-Apr-2022 By Oliver Morrison

The UK hopes to be at the vanguard of CBD innovation and investment after the country’s Foods Standards Agency created a list of more than 3,500 food products permitted for sale to consumers.

Warnings over fake Wonka Bars issued after ‘sharp’ increase in counterfeit chocolate

30-Mar-2022 By Katy Askew

Food safety authorities across Great Britain and Ireland have issued safety warnings over fake Wonka Bars which are being sold in shops and online.

GFSI eyes faster action on SDGs linked to food safety: ‘Everyone has the right to safe, nutritious and nourishing food’

29-Mar-2022 By Katy Askew

The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) wants to help the food safety community to accelerate action on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Gousto launches smell training kits as Long COVID sufferers ‘fall out of love with food’ after losing smell and taste

14-Mar-2022 By Oliver Morrison

The recipe kit provider has introduced free limited-edition ‘Flavour Saviour’ kits in partnership with the charity AbScent to help consumers ‘retrain their senses and rediscover the joy of mealtimes’.

HPP milk concerns flagged as EFSA endorses high pressure processing for food products

11-Mar-2022 By Oliver Morrison

High-pressure processing (HPP) of food is effective at destroying harmful microorganisms and poses no more food safety concerns than other treatments. However, HPP is not as effective on milk and some ready-to-eat foods (RTE), according to an EFSA opinion.

FAO examines safety of ‘new food’ and tech: ‘In a rapidly changing world foresight is more important than ever’

08-Mar-2022 By Katy Askew

There are ‘exciting opportunities to feed the world’, according to the FAO of the United Nations, which highlights the potential of ‘new foods’ like jellyfish, edible insects and cellular meat. However, the organisation suggests, now is the time to start...

Acrylamide alert raised after ‘alarming’ levels found in children’s food

03-Mar-2022 By Flora Southey

SAFE Food Advocacy Europe is raising the alarm, after acrylamide concentrations at four to five times higher than what is currently permitted in the EU through benchmark levels were found in food.

Risks of using AI to grow our food ‘poorly understood’ and ‘under-appreciated’

02-Mar-2022 By Oliver Morrison

The use of artificial intelligence in agriculture comes with substantial potential risks for farms, farmers and food security, warns a new risk analysis.

Food giants form coalition to tackle flexible packaging pollution

01-Mar-2022 By Katy Askew

Five of Europe’s largest food manufacturers have formed the Flexible Packaging Initiative, a joint scheme to promote circularity in flexible packaging.

UN demands more diverse food production methods as report warns climate change risks are greater than thought

01-Mar-2022 By Oliver Morrison

Nearly a third of the world's crop fields will be unsuitable for food production by the end of this century unless carbon emissions are curbed, warns the latest instalment of the IPCC climate change report.

‘The food safety sector is hungry for disruption’: FoodDocs steps up expansion of its HACCP AI solution

22-Feb-2022 By Katy Askew

Digital food safety innovator FoodDocs has completed a funding round that the start-up says will help scale its AI-enabled food safety solutions.

Sports nutrition flexes its muscles to stamp out non-compliance: ‘Third-party certification has significantly enhanced industry reputation’

10-Feb-2022 By Flora Southey

A sector once plagued by ‘suspicion’ and ‘failed doping tests’ is turning the tide on non-compliance thanks to voluntary third-party certification programmes.

French nitrates bill: An ‘historic’ moment or delaying the ban?

04-Feb-2022 By Katy Askew

France’s National Assembly backed the principle to ‘lower the trajectory’ of maximum levels of nitrates that can be added to charcuterie meats yesterday in an almost unanimous vote in flavour of the proposal. But are amendments that require a further...