Spirulina, the blue colour from algae used in Nestlé’s Smarties, is one of 10 substances used to colour food that faces an uncertain future as its legal status is scrutinised.
The chemical triclosan has been formally withdrawn from a European list for use as a food contact material but plastic containing the substance can be marketed until late 2011, said Brussels.
Current authorised maximum use levels of lycopene as a food colour are up for review with its use in fortified foods a critical factor, claims the European Commission following the publication of the revised exposure estimates for the cartenoid by EFSA.
Nutrilab expects to begin commercial production tagatose towards the end of 2010, pending agreement that it is substantial equivalent to chemically-produced tagatose, which already has novel foods approval.
The European Food Safety Authority has lowered the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for three of the notorious Southampton Six food colours, but none of the scientific reasons given are associated with hyperactivity.
EFSA has given the first indication of the data it sees as necessary for approval of new flavourings, under the new regulation and common authorisation procedure that came into force this year.
Newly merged FrieslandCampina has denied reports that the sale of its cheese business in Bleskensgraaf will be handed over to the European Commission in order to meet the disposal deadline.
Leading players in the UK food sector are being asked for their views on an overhaul of European food hygiene legislation three years after the rules came into force.
The short-term consumption of breakfast cereals contaminated with previously reported levels of the 4-methylbenzophenone (4MBP) poses no risk to human health, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said.
The Commission is not prohibiting any bread and has no intention to regulate the salt level in bread, says EU spokesperson in a bid to stem reports that German bread is under attack from 'Brussels'.
Migration of a chemical from external cereal cardboard packaging into the food has prompted the European Commission to request a risk assessment on the substance from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Alberta, Canada-based Bioneutra has applied to the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) for European Union Novel Foods approval for a prebiotic, isomalto-oligosaccharide sweetener.
The levels of dioxins found in some Irish pork would not necessarily lead to adverse health effects following consumption, claims the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
The next phase of the European Technology Platform (ETP) Food for Life is now underway to identify specific research needs and funding sources, its chairman said following the launch of the implementation action plan last week.
Green organisations have instigated legal action over the new maximum legal limits on the level of pesticides allowed in food items sold in the European Union.
The debate over products from cloned animals entering the European food chain will enter a new phase next week, as MEPs ask the Commission searching questions about the welfare of cloned animals, ethics, and consumer information.
Rules authorising enzymes need to be updated and simplified, and
enzymes should be authorised only where the consumer benefits, said
Europe's Environment committee, clearing the next hurdle in a
new legal framework for enzyme...
The European Commission is proposing to test all guar gum from
India for presence of the contaminant PCP as an interim measure to
ensure ongoing supply of the thickening agent prior to the Indian
authorities implementing tighter controls.
The import of American peanuts by European countries is now simpler
and quicker because the European Commission has approved the
pre-export aflatoxin tests carried out by the USA.
The European Commission has named research-performing small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as 'the entrepreneurial stars of
Europe', and hopes to raise €800m of extra funds for them.
Packaging gases and other additives used for prolonging the shelf
life of foods are some of the substances targeted by proposed
safety regulations passed yesterday by an EU parliamentary
committee.
The EU has expressed concern that new anti-dumping tariffs imposed
on exports of its potato starch by China, are unfairly targeting
producers within the bloc.
Quality will be key to a strong European food sector, agriculture
commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel told a Brussels conference on
food quality certification yesterday.
With the increasing use of some of their raw materials for the
production of biofuels, snack makers have called on the European
Commission to take measures to ensure they do not face further
price hikes for their supplies.
Signs that EU milk quotas have outlived their usefulness grew
stronger this week after the bloc's agriculture commissioner openly
criticised the system in front of industry officials.
There will be no special measures to cover food products from
cloned animals in the EU, member states have agreed, following news
the offspring of a cloned cow was growing up in the UK.
Using cold water instead of warm during a second wash of eggs can
help cooling, which reduces the risk of pathogen growth both inside
and outside the shell, according to research published yesterday.
Publication of the new European health and nutrition claims and
food fortification regulations has been delayed until next spring -
a scenario that should affect nothing but the timescale for
entering into force, although experts...
This years European crop production has been significantly affected
by last months heat waves, according to the European Commission,
which expects decreased yields of commodities including soft wheat,
winter barley and grain maize.
New powers that will enable the European Parliament (EP) to block
Commission decisions will have serious implications for the food
industry, warns a USDA study.
The EU's approach to GM food regulation has little theoretical
basis, and panders to the fears and prejudices of its citizens,
according to a US scientist.
Holes in the test data for new anti-microbial agent SAN-PEL mean it
is impossible to tell how effective it will be when used on animal
carcasses, says Europe's food safety watchdog, withholding its
support.
The European Commission has issued a series of comments on proposed
changes to the UN's international food safety standards on such
issues as labelling and microbiological risk.
Südzucker is confident that the revised EU sugar reform offers
efficient producers long-term planning certainty, though it
predicts a fall in next year's income.
The European Commission has asked the European Food Safety
Authority (EFSA) to provide food-based dietary guidelines intended
for the European population as a whole, it emerged last week.
A UK company has applied for approval of its noni juice products on
the grounds that it is 'substantially equivalent' to other products
that have already been authorised.
The European Commission has extended it inquiry into US ingredients
firm Cargill's acquisition of the food ingredients unit of German
chemical giant Degussa, it emerged today.
Declining profits at Greencore's ingredients and agribusiness
division suggest that the Irish food company might consider
focusing on its more profitable convenience sector.
Four key factors will determine whether this week's EU discussions
regarding the sugar regime have been a success or a failure, says a
key industry body.
A European Commission programme designed to promote EU food
products outside the bloc has been welcomed by the food industry,
though criticism over European bureaucracy remains a recurrent
theme.
Sweeping changes to EU sugar regime would put Europe's cereal
starch sweetener industry at risk, threatening job losses and even
possible business closures, warns the industry this week,
reports Lindsey Partos.
Sweeping changes to Europe's subsidised sugar regime announced
yesterday will see sugar prices cut by 39 per cent paid to
companies that include sugar and sweetener suppliers Danisco and
Tate and Lyle, but will bring price relief...