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Denmark lowers indicative levels for acrylamide

By Niamh Michail

EU guidance levels for acrylamide do not protect consumers enough, according to the Danish minister for environment and food, as it sets lower indicative levels for Danish manufacturers.

The research identifies Portugal's traditional pastries as a food that uses fats with high TFA content. (Image: iStock.com)

Concern over trans fat levels in Portuguese pastries

By Will Chu

High levels of trans fats in Portuguese foods, especially pastry, are contributing to an increased risk of coronary heart disease, cancer and diabetes, according to a study -  but processed and packaged pastries are not the worst offenders.

Overweight is defined as having a body mass index (BMI), the ratio of height to weight of an individual, of between 25 and 29.9. People with a BMI of 30 and over are considered obese. (image: iStock.com)

Obesity will cause 700,000 new cancer cases by 2035: Report

By Niamh Michail

It makes simple economic sense to reduce levels of obesity and overweight because if current rates continue it will cause 700,000 new cases of cancer in the next twenty years, says a report by Cancer Research UK.

Rice quotations in 2015 were more stable than wheat or maize.  Photo copyright: Istock /  Jeremy Richards

Global food prices plunged by nearly 20% in 2015

By Niamh Michail

In 2015 prices of the world’s major commodities fell for the fourth year in a row, averaging nearly one fifth (19.1%) lower than in 2014, says the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

Teach children to defend themselves against advergames

Teach children to defend themselves against advergames

By Niamh Michail

Children should be taught how to defend themselves against marketing tactics used in online 'advergames' for unhealthy food, says one researcher - but policy changes to restrict online advertising would be the most effective way to protect children.

Nutrition values seen on labels can differ substantially based on the recommended serving size (Photo credit: iStock.com)

Consumers buy more when recommended serving sizes are smaller

By Will Chu

Nutrition values seen on labels can differ substantially based on the recommended serving size, with consumers buying more of the same product among one of a number of undesirable consumer behaviours, researchers have found.

Will the UK have the guts to start a global campaign on obesity?

By Niamh Michail

It’s a crisis that is costing the UK more than war, terrorism and armed violence according to a 2014 McKinsey & Company report, but if the UK has the opportunity to become a global leader in tackling obesity it is less sure about where to start.

Photo credit: Istock

Special edition: Food for kids

Healthy NPD should be the starting point for kids' food

By Niamh Michail

The ‘good for you’ trend in children’s food is growing, and small companies would do well to focus on healthy new product development in order to compete with big players who have the money to reformulate and rebrand, says one analyst.

The WHO expects childhood overweight and obesity prevalence in Africa to reach 12.7% in 2020, up from 8.5% in 2010.

Exclusive interview with FAO’s director for nutrition

The fat after the famine: Obesity the next challenge facing Africa, says FAO boss

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

After years of battling undernutrition, Africa is now facing an emerging threat of obesity and the two must be considered simultaneously, according to the director of nutrition at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).  

The children’s choices of food classification closely mirror that of their parents. iStock.com/Tatyana Tomsickova

Special edition: Food for kids

Study shows healthy eating programmes should target preschool years

By Will Chu

The foods children define as a meal or snack is largely undetermined in their formative preschool years suggesting that eating and diet programs could use the findings of a new study to encourage a healthy balanced diet from an early age.

Dispatches from FIE 2015

Eat with your eyes: Making sense of multi-sensory food

By Niamh Michail

Food should taste and smell good but what else should and can it do when ‘visually stimulated’ consumers like millennials engage in eating occasions? Touch, sight and sound are increasingly in the mix and driving multi-sensory NPD as FoodNavigator discovered...

EFSA backs glyphosate but should industry blacklist it anyway?

EFSA backs glyphosate but should industry blacklist it anyway?

By David Burrows

The European Commission’s standing committee meets today to discuss whether or not to renew approval for glyphosate. Chances are the controversial herbicide will get the green light. Should the food industry step in and apply its own ban?

Photo: Istock / Lukatme

FoodNavigator 2016: What's on our editorial calendar?

By Niamh Michail

Putting the spotlight on innovative start-ups, sugar reduction, sustainable sourcing and the latest trends in colour, texture and flavour, FoodNavigator's special editions calendar and online events for 2016 spans the hottest topics for the European...

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.

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.

Top food and drink trends for 2016

Food and drink trends focus on smaller brands

By Noli Dinkovski

The growing importance of smaller food and drink brands, arising from the fragmentation of consumer beliefs about food, is one of 10 key trends identified next year by New Business Nutrition.

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.

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.

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