Prepared foods

Photo: Istock / Alex Skopje

What was 2015's most misleading product? Consumers cast their votes....

By Niamh Michail

It’s that time of year where the food industry eagerly looks to market analysts’ predictions for 2016’s upcoming trends. But consumer rights group FoodWatch is asking Dutch consumers to take a look back at 2015 and vote for the most misleading product....

Commission report backs a legal limit for trans fat

Commission report backs a legal limit for trans fat

By Niamh Michail

A limit on permitted levels of industrial trans fats in food is the most effective way to reduce Europeans' risk of heart disease, says the European Commission in its long-awaited report - but it does not say what that limit should be.

First Vice-President Frans Timmermans

Reaction from ACE, EuropaBio, European Bioplastics, CEPI, EUROPEN

Circular Economy: Part I – What does the future hold now?

By Jenny Eagle

The European Commission has adopted a revised Circular Economy Package to help European businesses and consumers - "closing the loop" of product lifecycles through greater recycling and re-use. 

FiE attendees have been tweeting about the latest trends and innovations

FiE reports

Top trends tweeted from FiE

By Laurence Gibbons

More than 1,400 international food and drink exhibitors descended on Paris for the Food Ingredients Europe (FiE) show this week, with many tweeting the latest trends and innovations.

Sweet to sour: interest in sugary products is waning in favour of sour flavours

FIE reports

Euro consumers more interested in low sugar products

By Michael Stones

European consumers’ appetite for sugary foods is waning in favour of low-sugar products, according to new Mintel research revealed at the Food Ingredients Europe show in Paris.

EFSA has given the green light for thaumatin in a wide range of applications including food flavourings, salt substitutes, sauces and snacks.

EFSA gives green light to new applications for thaumatin

By Lynda Searby

Following a favourable scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), formulators will soon be able to use the natural protein sweetener and flavour modifier thaumatin in a broader range of applications.

“There’s a lot of work to be done to help consumers make the connection between meat and climate change,” said Catherine Happer.

COP21: Sustainability in focus

More headaches for "less meat" messaging

By David Burrows

Want to promote products with less meat or meat alternatives? Steer clear of environmental messages and focus on health, say researchers.

ADM among those to drop out: 'After assessing the current state of uncertainty in Paris in general, we have decided not to participate in the show this year'. Photo credits: iStock.com / IakovKalinin

UBM says security and comfort of attendees is ‘paramount’; registrations up 6%

32 firms pull out of FiE in wake of Paris attacks

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Around 32 of 1400 exhibiting companies (3%) have pulled out of the industry event Food Ingredients Europe (FiE) next week in Paris following the city’s fatal attacks, despite efforts from the organiser to up security.

Commission clears Solina acquisition

Commission clears Solina acquisition

By Niamh Michail

The European Commission has cleared the acquisition of French ingredient supplier Solina by private investment company Ardian.

WHO report hits already-falling bacon and sausage sales

By Lynda Searby

Three consecutive weeks of double digit falls in UK sales of bacon and sausages provide tangible evidence that the processed meat cancer scare has had an impact on consumer shopping choices, says market research firm IRI.

About 27% of the 7.3 billion global population eat insects, according to the FAO. Photo credit: iStock.com / peterkai

Two-year count down for insect novel food approval

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Producers of food-grade insects will submit a novel food application as soon as the new regulation passes into force, the International Platform of Insects for Food and Feed (IPIFF) has pledged.

Industry welcomes EU novel foods revision

Industry welcomes EU novel foods revision

By Niamh Michail

The revised European Union novel foods regulation will stimulate innovation and give consumers more sustainable, affordable food choices, says industry trade group, FoodDrinkEurope.

FiE 2015 preview: Innovation scanner

FiE 2015 preview: Innovation scanner

By Niamh Michail

With over 1000 companies exhibiting at Food Ingredients Europe in Paris from 1 to 3 December, FoodNavigator takes a sneak preview at just some of the companies that will be there and the products they will be showcasing.

The better for you (BFY) category has been a victim of the clean label and reformulation trends, says Euromonitor

exclusive guest article

The state of the health and wellness market in 2015

By Ewa Hudson, head of health and wellness research at Euromonitor International

Is organic still selling? Does the 'natural' trend mean fortified/functional food is now passé? And why are consumers turning their noses up at better for you (BFY) offerings? Ewa Hudson, head of health and wellness research at Euromonitor International,...

Glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer, says EFSA

Glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer, says EFSA

By Niamh Michail

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that glyphosate, a herbicide used on food crops, is unlikely to cause cancer and recommends raising safety levels.

Spanish watchdog upholds 'questionable' sugar claim

By Niamh Michail

A Spanish advertising watchdog has upheld a ‘no added sugar’ claim for a dessert containing sweetened chocolate – a questionable interpretation and clear breach of EU law, warn food lawyers.

Nomad completes Findus acquisition

Nomad completes Findus acquisition

By Niamh Michail

Nomad has completed its acquisition of Findus becoming the largest frozen food in Western Europe, it announced yesterday.

Adverts for fast-moving consumer goods is not hitting the mark - over half of the 30,000 senior consumers surveyed by Nielsen said adverts did not reflect them or their needs

Older consumers need tailored food products, say researchers

By Niamh Michail

It's not just taste and texture perceptions that change for older consumers but their social experience of food too - yet research is lacking and food manufacturers are missing out as a result, say Dutch scientists.

  People starting careers in food businesses should be hungry for knowledge, says King

Big interview new starter advice

Food business starters should be hungry for knowledge

By Laurence Gibbons

Young people starting their food business careers should hungry for knowledge about the roles they’ve taken on and slip a “finger in lots of pies”, according to the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) boss Jane King. 

Retail group FCD says its label is

French retailers unveil alternative nutrition label

By Niamh Michail

French retailers have unveiled an alternative 'simplified' nutrition label which rivals the five-coloured label and banishes the red traffic light that they cast as discriminatory against certain foods.

Tate & Lyle launch Middle Eastern recipes with a healthier twist

Gulfood Manufacturing 2015, Dubai

Tate & Lyle launch Middle Eastern recipes with a healthier twist

By Jenny Eagle

Tate & Lyle launched a menu of Middle Eastern recipes with a healthier twist at Gulfood Manufacturing, in Dubai last week (October 27–29) to tackle the growing number of consumers in the region who are concerned about rising obesity levels.

EU sugar reform will damage public health, warn researchers

EU sugar reform will damage public health, warn researchers

By Niamh Michail

The EU sugar reform will harm public health by flooding the market with cheap sugar and tempting manufacturers to reformulate – an agricultural policy that takes into account public health is needed, say researchers.

Is RSPO certification becoming irrelevant?

By Niamh Michail

Companies are increasingly demanding certified palm oil using criteria that are stricter than current RSPO standards – does the mean the RSPO certification is in danger of becoming irrelevant?

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