Meat, fish and savoury ingredients

Target the curious: Bringing insect consumption to the mainstream

15-Jan-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Some people are repulsed by the idea of eating insects – but those aren’t the people to target when trying to introduce insect consumption to the mainstream, says edible insect expert Professor Arnold van Huis.

Horsemeat anniversary: few lessons learnt, says new research

15-Jan-2014 By Michael Stones

Few lessons have been learnt from the horsemeat crisis, claims new research commissioned by supply chain consultancy Achilles, as an influential committee of MPs urged retailers to buy more local food.

‘Huge variation’ in food hygiene standards

14-Jan-2014 By Joseph James Whitworth

One year on from the horse meat scandal there is a huge variation in the levels of UK food standards in the UK, according to Which?

Higher meat and dairy prices offset lower cereal prices in 2013: FAO

13-Jan-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Global food prices are high but have fallen slightly since last year, with higher meat and dairy prices offsetting declines in cereals, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s food price index.

Fatty diet may impact metabolism through circadian rhythms, say researchers

08-Jan-2014 By Nathan Gray

Consumption of a high-fat diet can affect metabolism by effectively reprogramming the circadian 'clock' in our liver, according to new research.

How will higher meat demand affect food prices?

08-Jan-2014 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Increased demand for animal protein will push up meat prices – but not necessarily grain prices, claims a new report from UK think tank the Overseas Development Institute (ODI).

EU recommends stricter dioxins, furan and PCB control

07-Jan-2014 By Joseph James Whitworth

The food industry must control the presence of dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) more accurately, according to a European Commission recommendation.

FoodNavigator predicts top five industry drivers in 2014

06-Jan-2014 By Caroline Scott-Thomas and Nathan Gray

As the New Year dawns, FoodNavigator predicts the top five drivers of the European food industry in the year ahead.

FoodNavigator 2014: What’s on our editorial calendar?

03-Jan-2014

From the newest developments in sweeteners, fats and oils and flavours, to the latest trends in gluten-free formulation and plant-based diets, FoodNavigator's special editions calendar for 2014 spans the hottest topics for the European food and drink...

Irish food safety boss thought horsemeat in burgers impossible

02-Jan-2014 By Michael Stones

Alan Reilly, chief executive of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI), first thought the contamination of supermarket burgers with horsemeat was impossible but quickly realised the discovery would generate a “tsunami of horse manure”.

Turkey butterflies recalled over processing hygiene concerns

23-Dec-2013

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is warning people not to eat turkey butterflies processed by a Welsh firm because they were processed at an unapproved site.

EU seeks to ban farm animal cloning

19-Dec-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The European Commission has proposed a ban on cloning of farm animals and the use of their meat and milk for food.

Most stocks and gravies miss salt targets

19-Dec-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Stock cubes and gravies contain ‘high and unnecessary’ amounts of hidden salt, according to an analysis from Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH).

Strong consumer support for meat origin labelling – but who would pay?

18-Dec-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

There is strong consumer support for mandatory origin labelling of meat as an ingredient – but few are willing to pay extra to cover the cost of providing this information, according to a new report from the European Commission.

Allergy insights: Research suggests fish allergens more specific than previously assumed

17-Dec-2013 By Nathan Gray

The proteins that can lead to fish allergies and intolerances may be much more species-specific than previously assumed, according to new research.

Italy says UK traffic light labelling could harm traditional foods

17-Dec-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The UK’s traffic light nutrition labelling system is unfair on Italian foods and could harm EU trade in traditional goods, according to the Italian delegation at the EU Council of Ministers.

FSA calls for MSM safety research

17-Dec-2013

A research call on the safety of Mechanically Separated Meat (MSM) compared to other meat products will help assess whether current restrictions are appropriate to protect public health.

Diet can 'rapidly and reproducibly' alter our gut bacteria: Study

16-Dec-2013 By Nathan Gray

Shifts in dietary patterns can radically alter the microbial make-up of our gut in less than a day, leading to rapid alterations in the functions of our microbiota, say researchers.

EU court annuls Commission GM potato approval

16-Dec-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

A European court has annulled approval of BASF’s genetically modified (GM) Amflora potato in the European Union, saying the Commission had not followed proper procedures.

Red and processed meat consumption linked to gestational diabetes, warn experts

13-Dec-2013 By Nathan Gray

Women who eat a lot of red and processed meats even before they become pregnant may have a significant risk of developing gestational diabetes, warns a new commentary published in the BMJs Evidence-Based Nursing.

Horsemeat crisis prompts new ways to tackle food fraud

13-Dec-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The horsemeat crisis has prompted new ways to ensure the authenticity of meat products, according to experts at Norwich Research Park.

Industry urgently needs to focus on food fraud

12-Dec-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The food industry must do more to prevent food fraud, says an interim UK government report commissioned to assess food integrity in the wake of the horse meat crisis.

EU labelling overhaul to affect (nearly) all food companies: What’s in store?

11-Dec-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The Food Information for Consumers regulation (FIC) is set to come into effect this time next year. FoodNavigator spoke with Campden BRI’s principal food law advisor David Leeks to find out what changes to expect.

Expanding the role of enzymes ‘to get more out of less’

04-Dec-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Enzymes were traditionally used to make foods cheaper and faster, but the role of enzymes is expanding, to also help make foods more sustainable and to add consumer benefits, according to director of DSM’s business unit enzymes solutions Lars Asferg.

Tougher penalties for food fraud backed

03-Dec-2013 By Joseph James Whitworth

A report calling for stronger policing of the food industry and tougher penalties for fraud has been backed by an EU committee.

EFSA hits back at ‘stricter controls’ call

02-Dec-2013 By Joseph James Whitworth

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has hit back at claims from the UK’s largest union which appealed for stricter controls for the agency.

dispatches from fie

Leatherhead’s top 3 new products at FiE

28-Nov-2013 By Staff Writer

Mushroom salt reduction, award-winning algal flour and musical taste buds, Leatherhead takes us through the top three new products at this year’s Food Ingredients Europe (FiE).

Nestlé expands broth production in Turkey

25-Nov-2013 By Jenny Eagle

Nestlé has invested CHF9.9m (Swiss francs) to expand production at one of its manufacturing sites, in Turkey, creating 100 jobs.

‘Enjoy, it’s from Europe’: European Commission revamps food promotion policy

25-Nov-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The European Commission has revamped its promotion policy for foods and drinks produced in the EU, with a bigger budget and a new slogan: ‘Enjoy, it’s from Europe’.

UK must speed up lifting of desinewed meat ban

25-Nov-2013 By Joseph James Whitworth

The government must continue to press the EU for the production of desinewed meat (DSM) to resume, 18 months after a temporary ban, according to a UK committee.

Low carb claims double in five years

25-Nov-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The number of new products carrying low carb claims has nearly doubled in Europe in the past five years, according to new research from Mintel.

Scotland to bolster food safety laws after horsemeat furore

19-Nov-2013 By Joseph James Whitworth

Scotland is to strengthen its food safety laws in response to the findings of two reports focussing on the horsemeat fraud.

European food industry backs ‘comprehensive free trade’ between EU and Japan

15-Nov-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Representatives of European food industry organisations have come out in support of a strong free trade agreement between the EU and Japan, ahead of talks in Tokyo next Tuesday.

Need for salt reduction ‘not always obvious’ to processed meat industry

13-Nov-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Processed meat is the second biggest contributor to salt in European diets, but many manufacturers are still uncertain about why they should adopt a salt reduction strategy, according to AkzoNobel business development manager Matthijs Bults.

Dietary acid load may increase diabetes risk: Study

12-Nov-2013 By Nathan Gray

A high overall acidity of the diet, regardless of the individual foods making up that diet, may be linked to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to new research.

Lack of progress on meat and fish waste

12-Nov-2013 By Joseph James Whitworth

There is a ‘great opportunity’ to reduce meat and fish waste in UK households after a report showed no decline over a five year period compared to other sectors.

Sugar prices drive FAO food price index rise

08-Nov-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Sugar price increases have led to the first rise in the global food price index since April, but food commodity markets are becoming less volatile, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

WRAP: Households throw away 4.2 million tonnes of food and drink annually

07-Nov-2013 By Joseph James Whitworth

UK households are throwing away 4.2 million tonnes of food and drink annually worth £12.5bn, according to Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP).

US BSE decision welcomed by EU

04-Nov-2013 By Joseph James Whitworth

The European Commission has welcomed a move from the US to bring legislation in line with international standards for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).

Infographic

25% of Brits eat less meat than last year: Survey

04-Nov-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

A quarter of British people say they eat less meat than a year ago and values surrounding meat-eating habits are changing too, according to a survey.

European halal: A tale of diverging standards, foreign influence and religious fraction

31-Oct-2013 By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

A centralised standard for halal products in Europe is needed to combat the "really chaotic" current situation, according to a professor who has written extensively on the topic of halal regulation.

Future Food Salons turn Westerners on to ‘ancient’ notion of insects as food

31-Oct-2013 By Maggie Hennessy

Never mind that insects have protein levels comparable chicken or beef, are low in cholesterol, high in omega-3s and essential minerals like iron; or that they require a fraction of the land, water and emissions to produce compared to traditional livestock:...

Mediterranean diet may protect against cognitive decline, depression and stroke: Meta-analysis

29-Oct-2013 By Nathan Gray

Adherence to a Mediterranean diet may contribute to the prevention of a variety of conditions linked to the aging brain, including cognitive decline, depression and stroke, say researchers.

Nestlé to shut frozen meals plant following horse meat scandal

28-Oct-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Nestlé has said it will shut a French frozen meals plant after consumer trust took a hit and sales plunged in the wake of the horse meat scandal.

Diet and cancer: Genetic variation may play key role in risks from red and processed meat

25-Oct-2013 By Nathan Gray

A common genetic variant that affects 1 in 3 people could significantly increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer from the consumption of red meat and processed meat, according to new research.

Interactive timeline

Timeline: The horsemeat scandal explained

23-Oct-2013 By Fiona Barry

Following reports this week of further criminal activity in the horsemeat scandal, our timeline maps 'Horsegate' from its beginning in 2012. Hover over the right side of images below to scroll through events.

EU-Canada free trade agreement ‘unacceptable’

22-Oct-2013 By Fiona Barry

The signing of a trade agreement establishing tariff-free European access to the Canadian dairy market has been welcomed by the European Dairy Association but roundly condemned by Canadian dairy stakeholders, who branded the deal “unacceptable” and demanded...