The Netherlands’ biggest retailer, Albert Heijn, has pledged to reduce the sugar in its private label products by between 10 to 40% and will introduce a colour-coded branding system for its soft drinks.
Consumers are confused over the healthiness of saturated fats, worried about chemical contaminants in processed oils and turned off by labels cluttered with additives to extend shelf and fry life. So what are the options? At this year’s IFT, FoodNavigator...
An MEP has questioned whether Spain and Italy’s use of hydrogen peroxide to process some seafood such as squid is in breach of EU law by bleaching the food to make it seem fresher.
Colour and flavour supplier Sensient has widened its colouring food range with yellow and orange, bringing the number of EU-compliant products in its colouring foods range to three digits.
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.
Danish probiotic supplier Chr. Hansen has reported more modest growth within EU human health and nutrition, saying its success and failure hinges on that of probiotic launches on shelf.
French politicians have dropped the proposed palm oil tax, leading some politicians to say the country is being blackmailed by producer countries. "We are legislating with a knife at our throats," said one.
The first silica-based colouring approved for food
Next-gen food colourings like Merck’s new silica-based pigment could offer a compromise between colouring foodstuffs and synthetic products. Yet, experts have questioned potential for consumer acceptance.
Discount shoppers believe a product tastes healthier if it comes in a 'healthy', green packaging - but organic shoppers have a more critical eye and are less affected by packaging, researchers have found.
Himanthalia - or sea spaghetti - may not be commonly known. But as a healthy like-for-like pasta replacement that boosts vegetable intake and is harvested in a sustainable way, it will be soon, says Dutch entrepreneur and founder of Seamore.
What will food look like in 2020? Clean and clearly-labelled but also 'imperfect' to seem more authentic and closely connected to technology, according to a recent report by Ingredion.
One quarter of French supermarkets are failing to inform consumers of potential allergens in food from their fresh counters - an "unacceptable" result, says France's consumer watchdog Que Choisir.
Finnish researchers are developing a range of clean-label wood-derived ingredients to replace current emulsifiers, texturisers and additives for bakery, meat and dairy products - but do consumers want wood in their food?
Processed meat producers worry that the European Commission (EC) could reduce the maximum level of nitrites that are allowed to be used as a preservative in cured meat products such as ham.
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?
As new nutrition guidelines make labelling potassium on packaged foods mandatory in the US, a UK petition is urging the government to do the same but for different reasons - it would end the processed food "nightmare" for sufferers of Chronic...
An advert for a bread mix that promises “an easy way to make sour dough and artisan breads” is not misleading because it targets B2B firms who know the end product will be ‘artisan-style’, says the UK’s advertising watchdog.
Fairtrade in France but organic in Austria? Euromonitor analysed 26,000 products across the world to help manufacturers understand which ethical labels work best for their products, depending on the country, category and forecast growth rates.
Demand for clean label ingredients is on the rise in Turkey, especially for children's food - but the market is too price sensitive and focused on taste for it to become mainstream, according to some industry players.
A diet rich in fruits and vegetables may help to protect against age-related inflammation observed in diabetes, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, a study has demonstrated.
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.
EU politicians have upped pressure - once again - on the European Commission to bring in mandatory country of origin labelling (COOL) for lightly processed meat and dairy products in a vote yesterday.
Sales of UK baby food have taken a hit a hit as 83% of parents opt for homemade food, according to Mintel data - but premium-positioned products and adult-friendly flavours could be a beacon of light, it says.
FoodNavigator is at Food Ingredients Istanbul, scouting out the latest ingredient trends and developments in the region. Here are some that caught our eye.
Snacking chocolate brand Brownie Brittle will be highlighting its first organic line at the upcoming Sweets & Snacks Expo as consumer interest in an organic diet grows.
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.
Using exclusively clean label ingredients can sometimes mean products are not always 100% standardised. But for French start-up Woos fruit foams this is a key selling point.
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...
A survey of over 1,000 consumers in the UK and Spain has helped German ingredients giant BENEO join the dots between its EFSA-approved stool frequency health claim on paper and what consumers look for in digestive health on pack.
From snack bars to spreads, chocolate to cheese, the trend for raw ingredients in processed foods is spreading across Europe, says Mintel, as consumer attention goes beyond the ingredient list to look at clean-label processing methods.
Kerry Foods Denny Deli Ham is able to claim it is the only 100% natural ham without artificial ingredients in ireland, after an advertising complaint was rejected by the UK’s Advertising Standards Agency (ASA).
Poland is leading the way for food and drink innovation in Eastern Europe accounting for over a third of product launches in the region – but as one of the fastest growing economies in the EU, it’s also an interesting export destination, says Mintel.
Food should be labelled with how much exercise is required to expend its calories in order to help promote an active lifestyle, said a leading health expert.
Flavour firm Aromatech has developed a range of flavours specifically designed to appeal to African consumers based on local fruit - but European consumers looking for new, exotic tastes will also love them, it says.
It’s the world’s most popular food flavour but less than 1% of global demand for vanilla can be met by the natural vanilla orchid – and this year’s supplies have been hit by a poor harvest in top producing country Madagascar, sending prices skyrocketing....
3D images of food produced at a nano level promise to save on food industry costs and reduce food waste as a result of faulty production, according to a study’s authors.
From non-GMO glycerine-based solvents to sustainably sourced hydrocolloids, more and more companies are seeking ethical certification for 'invisible' ingredients – but what’s fuelling this demand when consumers probably don’t even notice?
A new report by Future Market Insights (FMI), Yoghurt Market: Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015 – 2025 is being published in May 2016.
A surprise tax on sugary soft drinks to tackle childhood obesity, unveiled in Chancellor George Osborne’s budget, has dismayed manufacturers but delighted campaigners, including celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.
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.
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.
