Proteins

Commission approves 3 GM soybeans for EU import

25-Jul-2016 By Niamh Michail

The European Commission authorised three GMOs to be sold for food and feed in Europe last week.

UK retailer files carb:protein ratio health claim

20-Jul-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

UK retailer Marks and Spencer has filed a health claim for a particular carbohydrate to protein ratio it says helps overweight individuals lose weight.

An excess of red meat might harm kidneys, study suggests

19-Jul-2016 By Will Chu

The risk of developing chronic kidney conditions is strongly linked to high red meat consumption, a study has suggested. 

Eating whole insects preferred to bug-snack mixes: Study

18-Jul-2016 By Natalie Morrison

Selling whole edible insects alone is preferable to mixing bugs with regular snack foods in a Western market, new research finds.

Seafood shoppers place sustainability above price or brand

13-Jul-2016 By Niamh Michail

When shopping for seafood, consumers are prepared to put sustainability before price and brand, according to a 16,000-strong survey commissioned by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).

Feature: Alternative meat futures

The meat companies making vegetarian food: Mainstreaming sustainable eating or dangerous double standards?

13-Jul-2016 By Niamh Michail

Increasing numbers of German meat producers are launching vegetarian products with the support of VEBU, the country's Vegetarian Society - but as Topas, Europe's 'vegan pioneer', quits VEBU in anger over its double standards, is industry...

Beneo sets out R&D priorities with €4.6m lab investment

08-Jul-2016 By Niamh Michail

German ingredients supplier Beneo and Belgian sugar producer Raffinerie Tirlemontoise have invested nearly €5m in research and development (R&D) at its Belgian laboratory facility.

Protein-rich foods to be developed in Dutch collaboration

06-Jul-2016 By Noli Dinkovski

Three Dutch food firms have joined forces with a research company to create a consortium focused on developing protein-rich foods.

NGOs call for soy, palm oil and beef deforestation laws

05-Jul-2016 By David Burrows

NGOs have urged the EU to expand regulations that curb deforestation beyond timber to encompass commodities like soy, palm oil and beef. 

Danish research links meat intake to cancer

04-Jul-2016 By Natalie MORRISON

Meat could have cancer links though whole grains, fruit and veg could lessen the risk, Danish researchers say.

Fish trimmings could be new value-added protein source

30-Jun-2016 By Natalie Morrison

Fish trimmings could become a source of protein with the simple addition of commercially available enzymes, say Nofima researchers.

Protein expression drives metabolic changes to increase obesity risk

29-Jun-2016 By Natalie Morrison

The mystery surrounding a protein’s genetic variation and its links with obesity has been solved, say German scientists. 

Eastern promise: Is Central and Eastern Europe the solution to EU’s unsustainable soy imports?

27-Jun-2016 By Natalie Morrison

Europe’s problematic reliance on “unsustainable” soy imports could be solved using Central and Eastern European farming land, the European Commission heard last week.

SCIENCE SHORT

You are WHEN you eat: Are guidelines needed for eating times?

23-Jun-2016 By Will Chu

Meal times should be considered in future national dietary guidelines as irregular meal patterns may contribute to a higher BMI and blood pressure than for people who eat at set times with others, say scientists.

Right tool for the job: Protein fortification of baked goods and snacks

23-Jun-2016 By Campden BRI

Experts from food and drink advisory service Campden BRI look at some of the key factors to consider when choosing the most suitable protein source for fortifying bakery and snacking products.

Mycoprotein reduces hunger and diabetes risk in overweight people

20-Jun-2016 By Natalie Morrison

Eating mycoprotein could reduce appetite and risk of diabetes in overweight people, new research suggests.

How to foster a buzzing edible insects industry

14-Jun-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A Finnish project is to investigate the main hurdles and opportunities for the edible insect industry by linking up input from multidisciplinary players from relevant sectors. 

Early nutrition vital to fighting back against EU childhood obesity crisis

10-Jun-2016 By Nathan Gray

European children are ‘in crisis’ over the risk of gut disease and obesity, according to a new report that calls for renewed focus on pediatric digestive health. 

Sustainable protein from a global waste product: Enzymes key to rapeseed extraction

06-Jun-2016 By Niamh Michail

Using enzymes to extract protein from rapeseed press cakes in a sustainable and cost-effective way could transform 34 million tonnes of waste product into a valuable protein source, a Finnish scientist has said.

Italy to bring in mandatory country of origin labelling for dairy

02-Jun-2016 By Niamh Michail

Italy will introduce mandatory country of origin labelling for dairy products and has notified Brussels of its draft decree, the Prime Minister Matteo Renzi announced this week.

Young urban males keenest to experiment

Germans give insect food a definite ‘maybe’

01-Jun-2016 By Ursula Arens

More safety data is needed for insects as a food and feed source a symposium organised by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has heard, with Germans more likely to accept them as a feed rather than food source. 

Germany backs proposal for legal definition of vegetarian and vegan food

01-Jun-2016 By Niamh Michail

Germany has formally adopted a proposal for a legally binding definition of vegan and vegetarian food - but will it spur the Commission into finally drawing up an EU-wide definition or will it be another barrier to trade for EU manufacturers?

'Resource-smart' food system needs less meat and fewer ultra-processed foods

01-Jun-2016 By David Burrows

A tax on meat and stricter rules on marketing of cheap products that contain “empty calories” are needed as part of a major overhaul of the global food system, according to a report by the International Resource Panel.

Call for EU action plan as firms shirk responsibility on soy

30-May-2016 By David Burrows

The EU needs a deforestation action plan after a World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) analysis of the bloc’s largest food companies showed many are using consumer ignorance to dodge their “massive responsibility” when sourcing soy.

Expert dispels common myths in following a gluten-free diet

24-May-2016 By Will Chu

Consumers are buying gluten-free products as part of a healthy lifestyle, with few adopting this diet as part of a treatment for coeliac disease (CD), a study has concluded.

Food and drink firms welcome Queen’s Speech – mostly

20-May-2016 By Michael Stones

Government plans to support business, education and the economy – set out in the Queen’s Speech – have been welcomed by food and drink manufacturers. But plans to introduce a sugar tax continued to draw criticism from the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

Temperature, time and right enzyme: How to give meat-based ready meals a gourmet makeover

19-May-2016 By Niamh Michail

The right combination of fruit-based enzymes, low temperatures and a slow cooking process can allow ready meal manufacturers to tap into the trend for slow-cooked meats and add value to cheaper cuts, say Norwegian researchers.

Environmental toxins throw a spanner into meat-cancer link: study

16-May-2016 By Will Chu

Environmental pollutants may play a more significant role than previously thought in the relationship between meat consumption and cancer, a study has shown.

Super growth for superfoods, but is the halo starting to slip?

13-May-2016 By Lynda Searby

Rates of ‘superfood’ new product development have tripled in the past five years, according to Mintel, but a nutrition expert warns that with no clear definition in existence, the allure of the ‘superfoods’ sell is starting to fade. 

Fungi-based protein can give soy and pea a run for their money, says Quorn

11-May-2016 By Elaine Watson

Marketers of meat-alternatives like to talk a lot about sustainable protein, and how we’re going to feed the world in 2050. But are these things really primary purchase drivers today? FoodNavigator-USA caught up with Quorn Foods at the Healthy & Natural...

Meat and vegetarian stabilisers on show at IFFA

05-May-2016 By Noli Dinkovski

Stabilisers for sausage and vegetarian products are to be unveiled at IFFA, the international meat show that will be held in Frankfurt next week.

Healthy agers: To market older, you’d better get wiser

04-May-2016 By Lynda Searby

Europe’s seniors see functional foods as a 'dated' concept, are uncomfortable with products that expressly mention age, and want sustainable, naturally nutritious products, finds a consumer study led by the Healthy Marketing Team.

High-carb meals better in curbing appetite amongst the obese: Study

03-May-2016 By Will Chu

Foods high in carbohydrates may help promote better short-term appetite control than high-fat foods, a nutritional study has revealed. 

The EFSA hackathon: Authority offers €20,000 for app ideas

29-Apr-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

"The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is offering €20,000 for an app idea it can use to provide “quick, user-friendly” mobile access to its work."

German court rules against 'vegan cheese' - but what should plant-based alternatives be called?

29-Apr-2016 By Niamh Michail

If it's not made from animal milk it can't be called cheese, a German court has ruled in a case against a 'vegan cheese' manufacturer. But when consumers' point of reference for a product is a protected name - even if they are...

Diet changes may not improve sleep quality, review concludes

25-Apr-2016 By Will Chu

Modifying food intake as a therapy for improving the quality of sleep may not make a difference, a review of studies has found.

Cambridge backs cloud-based food safety system

25-Apr-2016 By Joseph James Whitworth

Cambridge City Council has provided backing for Checkit’s management and monitoring system.

Grain of truth in fast food & infertility link, study states

20-Apr-2016 By Will Chu

People who consume more fast food are exposed to higher levels of chemicals that can lead to infertility, according to a study.

Middle East & Africa beat 'lacklustre' Europe for fresh food sales in 2015: Euromonitor

20-Apr-2016 By Niamh Michail

The Middle East and Africa were the most dynamic markets for fresh food sales in 2015 as the Russian embargo hit Eastern European markets and Western consumers opted for convenience. But packaging innovations and the health and wellness trends could provide...

Energy & fibre intakes far below recommended levels

Paper offers insights into +85s diets – but huge data gaps remain

20-Apr-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The rapidly-growing age segment of over-85s has been neglected in both nutrition research and dietary recommendations, say UK researchers behind a large-scale trail-blazing study.  

The ultimate taste test: Insect burger, plant burger or meat burger?

20-Apr-2016 By Niamh Michail

The Belgian researchers' battle of the burgers threw up an interesting result: Although meat came out top, consumers liked the insect burgers more when told they contained mealworms, putting it on a par with the plant-based burger.

INTERVIEW

Venture capital fund seeks start-ups: Must be sustainable, innovative & ready to make money

20-Apr-2016 By David Burrows

New Crop Capital is a venture capital fund that only invests in sustainable start-ups developing cultured and plant-based meat, dairy and egg products. But it's not just about saving the planet: “There are billions to be made annually in this space,”...

Bühler aims to 'close the global protein gap' with algae, insects and pulses

19-Apr-2016 By Niamh Michail

Swiss giant Bühler has backed a series of research and development (R&D) projects looking at insects, algae and pulses as alternative protein sources.

No new legislation needed on ‘growing up milks’, says long-awaited Commission report

18-Apr-2016 By Annie Harrison-Dunn

There is no need for new legislation specific to so-called ’growing up’ milks, the European Commission has said in a report rebuked by industry and NGOs alike.

Barentz backs water lentils for protein

18-Apr-2016

Dutch ingredients player Barentz International has partnered with Floridian biotech start-up Parabel USA to globally distribute ‘water lentil’-derived protein.

Phosphate alternative suggested to keep prawns juicy and tasty

15-Apr-2016 By Will Chu

Polysaccharides have been put forward as a cheaper alternative to phosphates to help retain water in prawns under commercial conditions, a study has decided. 

High-protein diet better for weight loss and improving mobility, says study

13-Apr-2016 By Will Chu

A high-protein diet can help obese older adults lose weight and improve physical function compared with a regular weight loss regimen, according to a new study.

3D Food Printing Conference 2016

Wageningen University & FrieslandCampina researching 3D printing of milk protein structures

12-Apr-2016 By Jenny Eagle

3D food printing gives academics an opportunity to explore the functionality of ingredients and how we can delay the process to get a solid structure and build challenging shapes, according to Dr Maarten Schutyser, professor, Food Process Engineering,...

French find fault in 4 or 5-class nutrient profiling

08-Apr-2016 By Shane Starling

The French food safety agency (ANSES) has concluded two nutrient profiling systems won’t provide people with easily understandable grading of food into four or five classes depending on their healthiness.

Flavour Trends

Fermented foods: Where flavour and function combine

07-Apr-2016 By Will Chu

The quest for novel taste sensations that strike the right note with consumers means food makers are constantly on the look-out for new flavours or food production methods - and the trend for fermented ticks both boxes.