Meat, fish and savoury ingredients

EFSA issues guidance on GM animal risk assessment

23-May-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued guidance on how to evaluate the introduction of genetically modified (GM) animals in the European Union.

Omega-3 sausages: German researchers develop method to tackle oxidation

21-May-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Fraunhofer researchers in Germany have come up with a new method of adding omega-3 fatty acids to sausages, to allow German consumers to continue eating their favourite foods, but with the main nutritional benefit of fish.

EU ministers agree on fisheries policy reform

16-May-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

European fisheries ministers have agreed on an overhaul of the Common Fisheries Policy, with the hope that it will end decades of arguing over fishing quotas and help rebuild fish stocks.

FAO touts edible insects as ‘valuable sources of nutrition’

15-May-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Insects could play a vital role in food security in the coming decades – but disgust remains a barrier for consumers in many Western countries, according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Major European retailers urge support of Brazilian non-GM soy

15-May-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Major retailers from five European countries have urged greater support of non-GM soy production in Brazil, as increased demand for genetically modified (GM) soy from China risks diminishing non-GM supply.

'No clear pathway' to climate-friendly livestock production: Worldwatch

14-May-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

Annual global greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and livestock have increased 13% since 1990 as food production has increased - with the majority coming from livestock, according to a new report from the Worldwatch Institute.

EC proposes reduced legislation in wake of horse meat crisis

07-May-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The European Commission has proposed reduced legislation and tougher fines among a raft of measures to protect against food fraud in light of the recent horse meat scandal.

UK government rejects “inadequate response” claims in horse meat crisis

02-May-2013 By Joseph James Whitworth

The UK government has rejected a suggestion that the response to the horse meat crisis was inadequate, insisting it was “swift and effective” with co-operation throughout Europe.

UK retailers ‘misled’ about tight non-GM feed supply, say suppliers

19-Apr-2013 By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

UK retailers have been misled about tight supply of non-genetically modified (GM) feed, which led them to reverse requirements for GM-free poultry feed, according to the Brazilian Association of Non-GMO Grain Producers (Abrange).

FSA agrees to external review into horse meat scandal

18-Apr-2013 By Joseph James Whitworth

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has agreed to an external review in response to the adulteration of processed beef products with horse and pig meat and DNA.

Horse meat: FSA considers review while EU reveals test results

17-Apr-2013 By Joseph James Whitworth

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is considering commissioning an external review of its response to the horse meat crisis at a board meeting today (Wednesday).

Givaudan and AkzoNobel partner on salt reduction

12-Apr-2013 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

AkzoNobel Salt Specialties has partnered with Givaudan to produce a one-to-one salt replacer for up to 40% salt reduction in processed meat.

Horsemeat crisis

Meat supply chain has ‘shocking blind spots’ after 50kt goes missing

12-Apr-2013 By Mike Stones

The European meat supply chain still contains “shocking blind spots”, said a supply chain management firm, after the Dutch authorities revealed 50,000t of meat supplied by two Dutch meat traders may have contained horsemeat.

ASDA finds bute in corned beef

10-Apr-2013 By Joseph James Whitworth

UK retail giant Asda has recalled a range of its ‘smart price’ corned beef after it was found to contain phenylbutazone (or bute).

Red meat and heart disease: L-carnitine linked to increased risk

09-Apr-2013 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

High intakes of red meat repeatedly have been linked to heart disease, but new research suggests that along with saturated fat and certain preservatives, l-carnitine is another red meat constituent that may contribute to cardiovascular risk.

Bill Gates: Food industry innovation crucial for health and food security

08-Apr-2013 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

Our approach to food is ripe for reinvention – and the food industry is just at the beginning of what it can achieve through innovation, according to Microsoft mogul and co-founder of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Bill Gates.

‘Prawns are basically locusts that live in the sea’: Could psychology drive sustainable choices?

05-Apr-2013 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

An understanding of psychology could help persuade people to make more sustainable dietary choices – and even steer their preferences, according to Dr Andrew Bodey, analyst at sustainability consultancy Best Foot Forward.

Natural seasoning can prevent charred-meat carcinogens

26-Mar-2013 By RJ Whitehead

A new study has found that natural seasonings like cinnamon, pineapple and green tea can significantly reduce the formation of cancer causing substances in well cooked meats. 

Horse meat - The latest developments

Horse meat mislabelled as diced beef sold in UK

25-Mar-2013 By Joe Whitworth

Forty kilograms of horse meat labelled as diced beef has been sold in Preston and Liverpool, according to the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA).

QK Meats knew last year about horse meat contamination, finds report

15-Mar-2013 By Joe Whitworth

QK Meats knew last summer that some products it sourced from Poland contained horse DNA, according to an Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine report.

Dispatches from Dubai

Distributor’s view: ‘Everyone is eyeing this market’

04-Mar-2013 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

Understanding and adapting to Middle Eastern consumer needs is crucial for introducing new brands in the region, according to food distributor Federal Foods.

Horsemeat found in products from Taco Bell, Birds Eye and Brakes

04-Mar-2013 By Mike Stones

The latest Food Standards Agency (FSA) tests have revealed four beef products sold by Bird’s Eye, fast food outlet Taco Bell and foodservice firm Brakes contained horsemeat above the 1% threshold.

Food industry failing to manage animal welfare, warns report

28-Feb-2013 By Nathan Gray

The first ever structured benchmark of the world’s leading food companies suggests that farm animal welfare is not being properly managed and reported by the food industry.

Horse meat: In depth

Horse meat scandal : Where it began and where are we now?

28-Feb-2013

The horse meat controversy has rocked Europe and even spread as far as Hong Kong with firms including Nestlé, Ikea and Findus all finding horse DNA in their products.

South Africa supply chain concern after meat findings - study

27-Feb-2013 By Joe Whitworth

Donkey, goat and water buffalo have been found unlabelled in meat products in South Africa raising “significant concern” on the functioning of the supply chain, according to a study.

Horse meat committee hears audits are flawed

22-Feb-2013 By Joe Whitworth

A retired meat inspector has called the audit system a “disgrace” and said it is in need of a “total review” in evidence given to a UK government committee dealing with horse meat.

Nestlé dragged into horse meat controversy

19-Feb-2013 By Joe Whitworth

Nestlé has become the latest company to be dragged in to the horse meat scandal with the firm recalling two products due to traces of horse DNA.

EC approves animal meal in fish food

18-Feb-2013 By Rod Addy

The European Commission (EC) has approved the use of pork and poultry meal for fish feed, flying in the face of UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommendations.

Opportunities and bottlenecks for sustainable food

Carnivorous Flemish unwilling to pay more for sustainable meat

18-Feb-2013 By Oliver Nieburg

Flemish people are reluctant to pay more for sustainable meat and meat alternatives, according to new research.

4pm CET Horse Meat update

Food safety meetings seek horse meat clarity

15-Feb-2013 By Joe Whitworth

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has revealed it has nearly a thousand more tests to conduct but so far has not found any new cases of horse meat in beef products.

Plant-based diets: Healthy for people, but what about the planet?

15-Feb-2013 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

Plant-based diets are generally seen as healthy – but they are not necessarily the healthiest diets for the environment, according to new French research.

Horse meat: health officials reassure as bute carcasses sent to France – again

15-Feb-2013 By Mike Stones

Health officials in England and Scotland have rushed to re-assure the public after the Food Standards Agency (FSA) confirmed yesterday (February 14) that six horse carcasses containing the veterinary drug phenylbutazone, or bute, may have entered the...

Horse meat scandal sees testing demand rocket

14-Feb-2013 By Joe Whitworth

Demand for testing services due to the horse meat controversy has increased “several hundred percent” from all across Europe according to Eurofins.

Horse meat controversy on agenda in Brussels

12-Feb-2013 By Joe Whitworth

EU ministers will hold a meeting in Brussels tomorrow (13 February) to take “whatever steps may be necessary” to address the implications of horse meat in beef products.

EU fisheries 'discard ban' can help meet booming omega-3 oil demand: IFFO

11-Feb-2013 By Sha

Banning European fisherman from throwing away unintended catches and fillet waste can provide a significant boost to fish oil and fish meal supplies, says a global marine ingredients group.

Focus on eating better meat rather than less, report suggests

11-Feb-2013 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

Focusing on eating ‘better’ meat could attract broader acceptance than a simple ‘eat less meat’ message and benefit the environment, people’s health and animal welfare, according to a new report from WWF-UK and the Food Ethics Council.

Urgent testing ordered as ‘beef’ lasagne found with 100% horse meat

08-Feb-2013 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has ordered all British companies to test their beef products after it found beef lasagne from Findus contained up to 100% horse meat.

Burger King drops supplier over horse meat saga

01-Feb-2013 By Rod Addy

Burger King has dropped supplier Silvercrest Foods as a beef patty supplier to its UK restaurants after it emerged that meat samples testing positive for horse DNA had come from its factory.

Vegetarian diet could slash heart disease risk by a third, say EPIC researchers

31-Jan-2013 By Nathan Gray

British vegetarians have a 32% lower risk of hospitalisation or death from heart disease than comparable non-vegetarians, according to new data from the University of Oxford.

Horse meat from Poland didn't come from our site, says ABP Food Group

28-Jan-2013 By Joe Whitworth

ABP Food Group has stressed that the horse meat identified in beef burgers, which has been found to come from Poland, did not come from its plant in the country as the site is not involved in processing the product.

How compatible are sustainability and nutrition?

25-Jan-2013 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

Health and nutrition guidance should be integrated with messages on reducing the diet’s environmental impact in order to ensure consistent advice, according to a new paper published in Proceedings of the Nutrition Society.

ABP shutters Silvercrest site involved in horse meat scandal

18-Jan-2013

ABP Food Group has temporarily closed its Silvercrest Plant in Ireland in response to the ongoing investigation into horse meat found in frozen beef burgers.

European ingredient suppliers investigated after horse meat incident

17-Jan-2013 By Joe Whitworth

ABP Food Group has vowed to step up DNA testing after UK and Irish beef burger meat from subsidiaries Dalepak Hambleton and Silvercrest Foods was found to contain horse meat.

Irish food industry welcomes skyrocketing sales – but where are the brands?

17-Jan-2013 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

The Irish food industry has boomed in the past few years but more growth needs to come from branded food manufacturers, says food specialist consultancy Bullseye Food Marketing.

Horse meat contamination could hit processed meat sales, predicts analyst

16-Jan-2013 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

The processed meats industry in the UK and Ireland is likely to see sales fall after the Food Standards Authority of Ireland (FSAI) found many supermarket beef burgers were contaminated with pig and horse meat, according to Shore Capital market analyst.

Fear of the new: The importance of storytelling in the meat-free market

15-Jan-2013 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

It’s not enough to have a great-tasting product – manufacturers of meat alternatives must tell a positive production story, according to the maker of an award-winning product taking the Dutch meat-free market by storm.

FAO food price index falls 7% in 2012, calms food crisis fears

11-Jan-2013 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

Food prices are likely to remain high during 2013 but fell 7% over the past year, calming fears of a renewed food price crisis, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

It’s official: steak is always better with potatoes

09-Jan-2013 By RJ Whitehead

New research from a New Zealand commercial institute has suggested a beneficial link between red meat and potatoes in terms of gut health.

Economic crisis threatens Mediterranean diet

08-Jan-2013 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

The Mediterranean diet is under threat as cash-strapped consumers in southern European countries are spending less on fresh foods and more on cheaper packaged foods, according to new research.

Dutch companies to double use of sustainable soy from 2011 levels

05-Dec-2012 By Caroline Scott-Thomas

Dutch food companies and trade organisations have signed agreements with Brazilian growers to double the supply of RTRS-certified soy to the Netherlands from 2011 levels, according to the Foundation for Responsible Soy Transition.