The trend toward raw foods is being driven by a growing group of consumers looking for ‘clean food’ – not just those who consider themselves raw foodists, says Teresa Havrlandova, founder of raw food firm Lifefood.
EU ministers have failed to reach an agreement on proposed changes to EU organic regulation, pushing back a vote until June – a standstill that is welcomed by organic farming associations.
Functional beverages are now less about fortification, and more about honing in on the natural health benefits of their ingredients, according to Innova Market Insights.
Price is arguably the biggest barrier the organic market faces, says Mintel – but retailers are coming up with ways to make organic foods accessible to a wider audience.
The organic sector has cultivated a culture of ethical awareness among consumers that conventional manufacturers are now cashing in on – and new product development is vital for the sector to retain its value, say experts.
With working class households making up nearly one third of sales, organic is no longer a middle-class preserve - and some say it is even fueling Britain's 'foodie' culture.
The feeling of moral satisfaction that consumers get from eating ethical food change their taste experience for the better - and means they are willing to pay more, according to a European survey.
The use of certain biotechnologies could support organic production in the future – although the currently approved ‘cross-species’ GM technologies are the biggest threat to the organic food system, says Christopher Stopes.
Nearly seven in ten CEOs worldwide see the value of sustainability but only two out of ten (21%) companies are leveraging the full potential of sustainability practices, says a report.
Organic sales are growing but the sector remains niche with market share in single figures, says one industry group – but innovative practice and partnerships could change this.
Growing demand for natural food colourings by manufacturers and consumers will continue to drive the Western European market in the near future, according to a new report by Future Market Insights.
Older adults with a poor appetite may have a higher preference for variation in foods compared with older adults with a good appetite, according to a study.
Big Food needs to care more; start-ups can’t feed a planet housing 9bn people in 2050; and genuine disruptive technologies are spawning and spinning faster than flapping butterfly wings…So, er, stay calm and keep making (hopefully healthy) food.
The inclusion of new voluntary best practices in the organisation’s revised trader standard is an “interesting” element, said a representative at Voice Network.
Empowering women in small-hold agriculture is essential to boosting productivity, creating new product launches and generating business - and companies are starting to realise this, says a Fairtrade Foundation report.
By producing stevia through fermentation and solvent-based extraction the industry risks losing its most promising natural sweetener - but this may create a new market for new niche stevia products, say analysts.
The European Commission (EC) has dropped an environment programme on waste, incineration and recycling laws because it did not “complete the circle” of creating zero waste in Europe.
Europe needs a new flexible system to help keep non-organic ingredients like flavouring in organic products to a minimum, says International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM EU)
Coconut sugar is increasing in popularity because it is seen as being a healthier, more ethical alternative to sugar - but nutritionists remain sceptical of the health claims.
People who eat organic foods have about half the pesticide exposure of those who eat conventional foods, according to a new study – but all are well within established safe limits.
It is not always possible to secure 100% organic raw materials, the French organic yoghurt brand Vrai has said in response to a consumer group campaign against its use of a non-organic aroma.
The organic French yoghurt brand Vrai has been forced to pull one of its yoghurts after consumer pressure weighed in on its (legal) decision to use a non-organic aroma.
Food security is vital to the food industry in both developing and developed countries, but what does ‘food security’ really mean, how do we measure it, and can we really solve the problems facing us?
European organic agriculture lags behind growing demand for organic food, but new EU rules in the pipeline are creating uncertainty in the sector at just the wrong time, says Soil Association head of standards Chris Atkinson.
It’s time to get out our crystal balls and predict the hottest trends in the European food and drink sector for the year ahead. What’s in store for 2015?
98.3% of foods in the EU contain pesticide residues within legal limits, but there were “significantly higher” maximum limit exceedance rates for products from outside of Europe, according to a report from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Organic means different things to different consumers around the world – and this is holding back the organic packaged food sector, according to a Euromonitor analyst.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and World Health Organisation (WHO) have published a 60 point plan as part of a ‘framework for action’ to improve global food and nutrition systems.
Consumers underestimate calorie counts for, and consume more of, foods from companies with positive corporate responsibility programmes, say researchers.
A Channel 4 investigation into inorganic arsenic levels in rice has questioned the safety of products aimed at children like rice cakes and Kellogg's Rice Krispies - although all companies implicated say their levels fall within current recommendations.
The position of head of the directorate general for health and consumers (DG SANCO) will likely pass to Czech environmental politician Ladislav Miko following the resignation of Paola Testori Coggi, according to the European Commission.
Vegetarian products should be about showing vegans, vegetarians and meat eaters alike that there are tasty alternatives to meat protein, says one Italian food firm.
Food prices would rocket if pesticides were banned or their use severely restricted, according to the National Farmers Union (NFU); a claim hotly disputed by environmental pressure group Friends of the Earth (FoE).
The European Food Safety Authority is willing and able to cope with the extra workload of novel food assessment that could come under its control, an official said at a European Parliament workshop.
The Council of the European Union has published the negotiating directives for EU-US trade talks (TTIP) after months of criticism from NGOs and campaigners over an alleged lack of transparency.
Europe is the fastest growing market for food colourings driven by demand in natural and organic products, according to a new report from Grand View Research.
From developments in fats and flavours, to the latest trends in fighting obesity, food for kids, and protein, FoodNavigator's special editions calendar for 2015 spans the hottest topics for the European food and drink industry.
Pregnant women who eat organic vegetables regularly may face a lower risk of pregnancy complication pre-eclampsia than those who don’t, according to a Norwegian study.
Sales of organic food and drink in the UK have grown 1.2% over the past year – outperforming the stagnant non-organic grocery market, according to figures from market research organisation Nielsen.
Putting more than one ‘clean’ label on pack treads a fine line between informing and overwhelming consumers, one analyst warns as the Commission issues controversial advice on egg labelling.
![Information about the food's ethicality often bears little or no implications for its nutritional and gustatory quality but [the ethical label] may positively influence taste, say the researchers.](/var/wrbm_gb_food_pharma/storage/images/_aliases/news_teaser_medium/9/3/4/6/1896439-1-eng-GB/Organic-fairtrade-taste-better-because-consumers-feel-morally-superior.jpg)
