Prepared foods

“I fear the same objection policies will prevail into the new regulation,

Dispatches from EFSA stakeholder meeting in Brussels

Novel regulation - same old delays? Stakeholders express novel food process concerns

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The updated novel food regulation has been billed by the European Commission as a new streamline system that will put innovation back on the EU menu – yet attendees of a stakeholders meeting this week expressed concern these hopes would be dashed by duplication...

The supermarket price war is costing food manufacturers dear, warns Moore Stephens

More food producers go bust, after ‘supermarket price war’

By Michael Stones

The rate of food manufacturers going bust has tripled in five years – with an 11% rise in firms going out of business in the past year alone – as a direct result of “cut-throat competition” between the UK’s leading supermarkets, warns accounting and consulting...

ANSES fails to back nutrient profile-based labelling systems

French find fault in 4 or 5-class nutrient profiling

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.

If the world went vegan, carbon emissions would be cut by 70% and 8.1 million deaths could be avoided each year, the UK researchers say. Photo: iStock / Olgaman

Healthy eating guidelines not eco-friendly enough, say scientists

By David Burrows

Following global dietary advice for healthy eating could help avoid over five million deaths per year, but it will only cut carbon emissions by 29% - nowhere near enough to prevent global temperatures rising above two degrees, British researchers say.

'Part of the reason [eating in] moderation messages are so appealing - their simplicity - is part of the problem. People are poor judges of moderate consumption,' write the researchers. © iStock

'Everything in moderation' advice is unlikely to be effective: Study

By Niamh Michail

'Everything is moderation' is valued as simple, effective advice to promote healthy eating. But without a fixed definition, it leaves people the freedom to define moderation as how much they want to eat and is unlikely to be effective, US researchers...

Potts: now owns 1,002,881 shares following the latest purchase

Morrisons boss puts money where his mouth is

By Noli Dinkovski

Morrisons ceo David Potts has demonstrated his confidence in turning around the fortunes of the retailer by investing a further £360,000 in shares.

The right software solutions means companies can 'successfully manage the special and complex aspects of product development in the global competition for attractive products,' says SpecPage. © iStock

How can you streamline your NPD process?

By Niamh Michail

From recipe reformulations to changing regulations, there are multiple factors to take into account during new product development (NPD). One company is offering a master data capturing service to streamline the process for firms that don't have the...

Sucralow? EC calls on EFSA to re-assess sucralose after a scientific paper found a link between the sweetener & cancer. © iStock

EFSA to assess sucralose following cancer concerns

By Niamh Michail

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will conduct a scientific evaluation of sucralose following the publication of a study which found a link between the sweetener and cancer.

Food manufacturers could help fix a 'dysfunctional supply chain', said the farming boss

Food firms should ‘help to fix supply chain’

By John Wood

A dysfunctional supply chain is threatening the future of many farms in Scotland, and food manufacturers can help fix it, according to Allan Bowie, president of National Farmers Union Scotland.

Food and drink manufacturers could benefit from telling a story about their products

Innovation conference

Why manufacturers should tell ‘a story about food’

By Michael Stones

Telling a good story about the provenance of food and drink products could benefit manufacturers, Mintel’s David Jago told the innovation conference New Frontiers in Food and Drink.

Euromonitor downgrades global growth rates 2 points to 2.3%. © iStock

Global packaged food market set for downturn

By Niamh Michail

Emerging market slowdowns are having a knock-on effect on the global packaged food market, according to market analyst Euromonitor, which has downgraded its growth forecast for the next five years. “It’s understandably of a concern to many in the industry."

© iStock

Meat substitutes market set to top €3.57 billion by 2016

By Kizzi Nkwocha

Heightened health concerns over the consumption of meat as well as increased environmental awareness are likely to fuel the growth of the  global meat substitutes market to over $4 billion (€3.57 billion) by next year, according to market analysts.

© iStock

Special edition: Protein perspectives

Whistle stop tour: Protein global

By Shane STARLING

Western Europeans are numero uno when it comes to per-capita protein consumption; bread is surprisingly the most popular protein medium; and protein has well and truly invaded the healthy snacking category.

Over 90% of Europeans surveyed said country of origin labelling is important for processed foods, according to Eurobarometer. © iStock

MEPs intensify pressure for origin labelling

By Niamh Michail

Another vote from Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) has put further pressure on the European Commission to act on mandatory origin labelling for meat, dairy and processed products.

In a keynote speech at World Food Innovate this week, Danone’s Christophe Perthuisot introduced the concept of 'Friday Tinkering' to foster innovation and build a sustainable product pipeline.

Danone ‘tinkers’ with company culture to innovate

By Will Chu

In a keynote speech at World Food Innovate this week, Danone’s Christophe Perthuisot gave a revealing insight into how the company’s Friday afternoons are devoted to idea generation, where innovative concepts are explored and developed into a sustainable...

Xylitol is a polyol sweetener commonly used in chewing gum. © iStock / Elmik

Polyols offer potential to plug the sugar gap - but problems remain

By David Burrows

The focus on sugar intensified yesterday with news of a tax on soft drinks in the UK. But assuming a shift to low or no-sugar foods and drinks will lead to a boost in low-calorie speciality sweeteners is probably wide of the mark, unless they are natural.

Stefan Catsicas, chief technical officer of Nestlé speaking at the World Food Innovate conference in London

Nestlé chief: Reduce sugar now before it’s mandatory

By Will Chu

At the World Food Innovate conference in London, Stefan Catsicas, chief technical officer of Nestlé described how the food giant is meeting the challenge of making foods healthier without causing a drop in sales.

Clean-label: bakery purchasers are influenced by such claims (credit: Peter Booth)

Consumers ‘actively seek’ clean-label alternatives

By Noli Dinkovski

Almost a third of consumers actively seek products with some form of clean-label claim, while 70% of those purchasing dairy and bakery products say such claims influence their buying decisions, research by Ingredion has found.

France to vote on palm oil tax

By Niamh Michail

A tax on palm oil destined for food could be on the cards in France as the government votes on its Biodiversity Bill this week.

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