Alexandra Nikolakopoulou has been announced as the new head of the European Commission’s DG SANTE unit for nutrition, food composition and information, stepping into the shoes of Basil Mathioudakis.
Two MEPs have asked the Commission to detail its plans to tackle high cholesterol among Europeans, who have the highest levels of bad cholesterol in the world.
The focus of a controversial review on randomised control trials ‘oversimplifies the difficult and complex task of developing evidence-based guidelines on nutrition’, the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has warned.
Thirty-year-old guidelines heralding the dangers of fat consumption are stirring up debate among experts after a new meta-analysis claimed the recommendations should never have been issued.
High altitude cooking could help preserve foods’ flavour, aroma, colour, moisture and nutritional value, according to a new study from Nestlé researchers.
Should fat be recognised as one of our basic tastes, alongside sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami? A new paper in the journal Flavour reviews the evidence.
Added sugars, particularly those containing fructose, are a principal driver of diabetes and pre-diabetes and should be ‘drastically’ reduced, according to leading researchers.
The use of ‘kokumi’ substances could improve the taste of low-fat foods, aiding efforts to reduce levels of fat and calories in foods, say researchers from Japanese firm Ajinomoto.
Dietary sugars intakes are decreasing or stable in most countries, according to a data review of ten European countries, Australia, New Zealand and the US.
Sugar content has risen in a fifth of UK ready-to-eat breakfast cereals since 2012 with the largest spikes coming from retail own brands, finds Action on Sugar research.
Harvard researchers say that teenage girls who regularly quaff drinks with added sugars tend to start their menstrual periods earlier in life than those who don’t, which increases their later breast cancer risk.
Efforts to shift food choices toward healthier options often fail because there is a perceived conflict between health and taste, according to a new study.
There is an urgent need in the UK to close legal loopholes that allow the promotion of unhealthy foods and drinks to children online and on TV, according to the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
Here’s what made the headlines during the working week commencing Monday January 19 2015, in our new section Beverage Bites, which brings you the best bite-sized beverage news.
French firm Eviagenics has partnered with Chilean seaweed specialist Gelymar to produce new and traditional seaweed-derived ingredients for the European market.
Research investigating the effect of different dietary patterns on colorectal cancer risk has found that meat-based diets and those rich in sugar are associated with increased risks, while diets that are plant-based are linked to lower risks.
We need a strong portfolio of voluntary and mandatory measures to tackle the huge burden of diet-related diseases, according to the chair of the UK Responsibility Deal food network.
New research has suggested that salt intake is not linked to mortality or heart disease risk in older people, however experts have said the study flawed and the findings do not contradict current advice.
The World Health Organisation has outlined potential strategies to reduce premature deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including junk food taxes and cutting salt intakes.
Public health campaigners have criticised Coca-Cola's sponsorship of tourist attraction the London Eye, saying this could exacerbate sugar consumption and related health issues.
The food industry must promote about its health benefits or risk being sidelined in the lead-up to the General Election in May, according to the chairman of the Oxford Farming Conference.
If elected, a UK Labour government will introduce limits on the levels of fat, salt and sugar that manufacturers are allowed to include in food marketed towards children.
Food fraud, healthy diets and sustainability are among the issues needing innovation in science and technology, according to a major survey from Campden BRI.
Recommending intense sweeteners as a way to reduce sugar intakes cannot be justified as a public health strategy, the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) has concluded.
Asda’s promise to reduce added sugar in some of its own brand drinks this year is a positive step forward – but it also reveals the chaotic approach to sugar reduction in the UK, according to Action on Sugar.
The European sugar confectionery market is forecast to decline in the next few years as regulators and consumers consider the impact of sugar on public health, according to a report by Frost & Sullivan.
Sugar low: “The use of such a health claim would convey a conflicting and confusing message..."
Five glucose health claims approved by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) back in 2012 have been officially banned by the European Commission due to concerns over what they would say to consumers about sugar consumption.
Around two thirds of people in the UK do not know how many calories an average person needs to maintain a healthy weight, according to a survey commissioned by two charities and supermarket Tesco.
Malta has launched a food and nutrition action plan in response to the World Health Organization’s Health 2020 policy framework – becoming the first European nation to do so.
Exports of UK fruit and vegetable juice have increased by about 40% since 2010 - but the country must shake its island mentality if it wants this growth to continue, says a Mintel analyst.
A third of UK consumers intend to eat more healthily in 2015 – but nearly half will have dropped their resolution by the end of January, according to a Canadean survey.
Consumption of fructose may be more harmful to a number of key health measures, including mortality and fertility, than consumption of sucrose, according to research in mice.
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?
As 2014 draws to a close, let’s take a minute to look back and ask, how accurate was our forecast for the year? FoodNavigator looks back at its trend predictions for 2014.
Supermarket, restaurant and takeaway pizzas contain ‘shockingly high’ levels of salt, according to a product survey by pressure groups CASH (Consensus Action on Salt & Health) and WASH (World Action on Salt & Health).
Dr Pamela Byrne, currently director of regulatory policy and intelligence for firm Abbott Nutrition, is to become the new chief executive for the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).
The UK will publish an extensive report on the role of carbohydrates in the diet next year, presenting opportunities for bread makers to fight back against carb-bashing, says the Federation of Bakers (FOB).
Renewed calls to attack health problems by taxing sugary drinks have been slammed by a leading nutritionist, who claims cutting portion sizes and sugar content and tackling irresponsible retail promotions would be better.
Sugar, gluten-free foods, front-of-pack nutrition labelling, and the 'utter nonsense' behind popular diet claims were among the most popular subjects of the year on FoodNavigator.
Not all dietitians recommend the use of low-calorie sweeteners in weight management, a study published in The European Journal of Public Health has found.
The CEO of Stevia Natura tells us why the French company is winning with customers including one high-profile dairy-based drinks brand, but admits high ingredient quality carries a cost.
Food and drink manufacturers must emphasise the role of exercise in reducing obesity or risk being sidelined in the debate and hit with stricter regulation, according to new research.
