The European Commission (EC) has released the results of an Irish food safety audit conducted in June that identified shortcomings in the nation’s approach to policing the safety of sprouted seeds.
UK food safety authorities are not considering introducing new industrial processing techniques safety for oysters, despite over 75% grown in the UK containing the norovirus.
EU food industry representatives claim the delay in new novel food regulation proposals from the European Commission is seriously hampering innovation in the EU food and beverage manufacturing sector.
German ingredients group, Wild said it has extended its colouring foodstuffs portfolio to include a blue hue for confectionery products derived from the algae Spirulina platensis.
The European Commission said its newly unveiled common nanomaterial definition will provide a basis for clear regulation that will boost industry’s ability to develop products while safeguarding consumers.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded that a commonly used additive in food packaging plastics is unlikely to be a safety concern for consumers.
An ‘irresponsible and ignorant’ EU Council is ignoring the plight of milk producers by watering-down proposed measures aimed at ensuring their contracts with dairies reflect production costs, according to the European Milk Board (EMB).
The European Commission (EC) has surrendered consumer production to business gain in discussions ahead of a key meeting today on revising the EC directive on baby milks and foods.
The EU is set to abolish the system of sugar production quotas for the bloc as well as guaranteed minimum prices from 2016, according to a Brussels source.
Research conducted by stevia partners Cargill and Associated British Foods subsidiary Silver Spoon has found UK consumers are keen for natural alternatives to artificial low-calorie sweeteners.
Europe’s diverse and proud agriculture and food sector is set for a promotional makeover, with the European Commission calling for input on how to best promote the bloc’s agricultural produce.
The European Commission is today launching a multimedia campaign as part of its €210m compensation package to support beleaguered European fruit and vegetables growers, processors and retailers still reeling from the 'E-Coli Crisis'.
The European Commission has defended its decision to release thousands of tonnes of sugar on to the market after accusations that the move would have a detrimental impact on the yeast industry.
The European Parliament’s Environment committee is pushing for a warning label on products containing aspartame stating that they may not be suitable for pregnant women – despite opinions from EFSA and the French food safety ANSES that scientific evidence...
The European Commission today approved DuPont’s €4.5bn offer for Danish probiotics, enzymes and ingredients giant Danisco but the deal remains in doubt as to date only 6% of Danisco shareholders have accepted the offer.
A campaign is in full flight to build public support for European curbs on excessive food commodity speculation and prevent US over-the-counter traders moving to ‘light touch Europe’.
A report from Europe’s top food safety watchdog said it has the systems in place to deal quickly and efficiently with urgent appeals for information during crises and emergency situations.
The CIAA is confident that the incoming Hungarian presidency of the EU will finalise the long-awaited amended novel foods regulation in the next six months, but points out a number of outstanding issues.
A new scientific facility will make a major contribution to developing reliable measurement standards, said the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC).
EU member states have reached an “informal agreement” over a raft of key food labelling measures, such as country of origin and nutritional information, ahead of a key meeting next Tuesday.
Manufacturers waiting to find out whether they will be allowed to use terms including ‘no added salt’ and ‘low-Gi’ under the EU health claims Regulation will now have to wait until next year for a decision, it has emerged.
EU advocacy group, Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL), is calling for a ban on BPA in all food packaging, following the news that the European Commission has launched discussions on imposing a ban on the chemical in baby bottles.
The European Union has confirmed that biological testing for the detection of marine biotoxins will be replaced by a more reliable chemical method from next summer.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has updated its guidance for assessing the environmental risk that genetically modified plants may pose to take account of new scientific expertise.
EFSA says it has completed phase one of its safety review of flavouring substances used in the EU, with opinions on 2067 substances delivered, and will start to assess new flavourings submitted in accordance with new guidelines.
The leading traders of physical raw sugar claim that the commodity is likely to surge to a 30-year high in the coming months, with all eyes on the pending Indian sugar crop output which is hoped will ease supply pressures.
The new Management Board of the European Food Safety Authority held its first meeting late last week, re-electing Diána Bánáti as Chair – and restated its rejection of conflict of interest claims against her.
Concern around stock levels of commodities such as sugar, wheat and corn, is claimed by ingredients group Jungbunzlauer as the rationale behind its 10 per cent hike in the price of its xanthan gum, erythritol and citric acid products.
The European Commission has confirmed that fruit glazed with wax containing morpholine cannot be sold in the economic bloc because the additive has not been approved under EU legislation.
Dispatches from European Flavour Association conference
Flavour companies must provide data to EFSA to allow it to complete the safety reassessments for some 400 outstanding flavour substances already used in the EU by 2014, DG Sanco has stressed; meanwhile, solutions are sought as to how the list of approved...
Brussels said health uncertainties raised by EFSA over bisphenol A (BPA) could spur future action against the chemical, as it highlighted the need to minimise infant exposure to the substance.
The European fruit juice industry has welcomed a proposal from the European Commission (EC) to ban the addition of sugar to fruit juices - in line with its policy of reducing added sugars and promoting balanced diets.
Sweden's food safety and chemical agencies met last week to begin mapping out an action plan to decide if the country would impose a national ban on bisphenol A (BPA).
A clutch of widely-used nutrition claims from ‘no added salt’ and ‘low-Gi’ to ‘10% less fat’ remain in a state of legal limbo as discussions over whether to allow them under the health claims Regulation drag on.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has highlighted “reservations” about the safety of certain food flavouring substances, suggesting that further evaluation is needed to confirm that these do not harm human health.
The new European organic logo is now mandatory on pre-packaged organic food and beverage products produced in the bloc, after new labelling regulations came into force on July 1.
New research does not contradict or change the conclusions drawn in the European Food Safety Authority’s opinion on ochratoxin A (OTA) in foods such as cocoa products and liquorice, claims the Parma-based agency.
Food industry operators in Belgium have set out a code of conduct that aims to streamline the supply and production chain and avoid extreme price fluctuations in the future.
As 20 per cent of SME loan applications are turned down, European Commission is mulling new ways for SMEs to access the funding they need – news that will be welcomed by smaller players in the food and beverage industry.
The European food supply chain is being crushed between a hammer and an anvil, according to the Belgian food industry association Fevia, which is setting out to contribute to better understanding between actors and more collaboration.
Food from cloned animals must be excluded from draft legislation on ‘novel foods’, Environment Committee MEPs said yesterday - in direct opposition to a position adopted by EU environment ministers just weeks ago.
The EU Environment committee is taking steps to block the planned approval of bovine and porcine thrombin as an additive to bind together meat morsels into one piece, on the grounds that it could mislead consumers.
