Public Health

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends salt reduction as one of the ‘Best Buys’ to reduce the risk of heart disease. Pic: GettyImages

Action on Salt denunciates UK government for failing consumers

By Gill Hyslop

The health watchdog has pointed a finger of blame at politicians for failing to reduce population salt intakes since 2014, the year the food industry was voluntarily encouraged to follow the Government’s previously successful salt reduction programme.

©Droitis d'auteur/iStock

Should Europe follow in UK footsteps with childhood obesity strategy?

By David Burrows

As the UK’s childhood obesity strategy turned one last week, health campaigners lined up their critiques of the first 365 days. However, the government managed to sidestep any bad press by announcing an expansion of the plan’s focus (from sugar content...

©iStock/DejanStanisavljevic

exclusive interview - part one

CFIA: Recall process like a three-legged stool

By Joseph James Whitworth

The recall process is like a three-legged stool involving industry, regulatory bodies and the consumer, according to the deputy chief food safety officer of Canada.

 Action on Sugar calls to extend UK sugar tax to confectionery ©iStock/karandaev

Chocolate and candy tax proposed in the UK

By Oliver Nieburg

Pressure group Action on Sugar is urging the UK government to expand a sugar tax on soft drinks to chocolate and sweet confectionery – a move seen as “punitive” and "discriminatory” by industry bodies.

5-C NutriScore to be France's official nutrition label

5-C NutriScore to be France's official nutrition label

By Niamh Michail

The five-colour NutriScore is the most effective nutrition label in promoting healthier food choices and will be adopted as the official (but voluntary) label in France, the health minister has said. 

Coca-Cola Christmas truck should be banned, say public health experts

BMJ editorial: ‘Apparently Coca-Cola’s voice counts more than those of directors of public health’

Coca-Cola Christmas truck should be banned, argue public health campaigners

By Rachel Arthur

An editorial published in the journal BMJ this week calls for Coca-Cola’s Christmas truck to be banned as public health campaigners seek to improve children’s health. But Coca-Cola GB has hit back, saying that its tour operates in line with its responsible...

Board members objected to the way the report was published - not its contents, a spokesperson said. © iStock

Four NOF members resign over controversial report publication

By Niamh Michail

Four board members of the National Obesity Forum (NOF) have resigned because they were not consulted before the publication of a controversial report which slammed public health advice for fuelling the obesity crisis.

Dietary guidance from National Obesity Forum is attacked

‘Irresponsible’ dietary guidance under flak

By Rick Pendrous

A report from the National Obesity Forum (NOF) in association with Public Health Collaboration has come under flak from Public Health England (PHE), Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) for providing bad nutritional...

Following a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet recommended by official UK guidelines is the wrong approach, according to a The National Obesity Forum. (© iStock.com)

'Food science has been 'corrupted by commercial influences,' slam authors

Government guidelines for low-fat diet 'disastrous' for health: report

By Will Chu

Following a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet, recommended by official UK guidelines, is based on "flawed science" that has had "disastrous" health consequences, according to a report by a UK health charity.

Much of Turkey's food regulation is harmonised with EU law making it a hassle-free country to do business  - although there are some notable exceptions, such as GMOs, nutrient profiles and maximum salt levels. © iStock

Spotlight on Turkish regulation: 'It's an easy market to enter'

By Niamh Michail

Harmonisation of Turkish and EU food law make it an easy and attractive market for foreign companies, but on issues that affect public health - such as nutrient profiles, health claims, GM food and salt reduction - the country is forging its own path. FoodNavigator...

'Compared to other food concerns, relatively little importance seems to be given by consumers to the micronutrient density of food,' says British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) review. © iStock.com / george tsartsianidis

Big, fat and deficient: The UK’s double diet burden

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Micronutrient deficiencies have been overshadowed by the so-called ‘war on sugar’, science director for British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) warns following the publication of a report.

This Nestlé campaign helped raise awareness of the consequences of iron deficiency (like anaemia) in the Philippines from 19% to 65% in one year

Special edition: Battling malnutrition. Exclusive with Nestlé head of public health nutrition

Nestlé: Profit is not a dirty word in the race against global malnutrition

By Shane STARLING

Commercial and public health gain needn’t be opposed bedfellows in the battle against malnutrition among the world’s poorest people, says the chief of public health nutrition at the world’s biggest food firm.

Figure: CSPI. Pathogens in solved outbreaks

CDC response to CSPI report

CSPI finds solved and reported outbreaks declined

By Joseph James Whitworth

Outbreaks reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the percentage of those solved have declined, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).

Scientists hit back over BMJ ‘links to industry’ claim

By Nathan Gray

Leading nutrition scientists and public health researchers have hit back at claims made by the BMJ, which suggest that many of the UK government’s top scientific advisors are biased by links to the food industry.

While current estimates for the burden of pre-diabetes suggest more people will suffer in the future, there is huge potential to reverse this trend by providing foods that help to better manage blood sugar and prevent pre-diabetes progression.

Special edition: Blood Sugar Management

Pre-diabetes: Public health time bomb … and industry opportunity

By Nathan Gray

By 2035 it is estimated that 8% of the global population will be classed as ‘pre-diabetic' – putting them at significantly higher risk of developing full type 2 diabetes. Such startling statistics are ticking bomb for healthcare costs, but could...

Dr Gilmour will start work from next month.

PHAC names scientific director general

By Joseph James Whitworth

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has appointed Dr Matthew Gilmour as scientific director general National Public Health Laboratories.

Coke passes green for 'Go!' with UK traffic light nutrition labeling

SODA GIANT DITCHES 'TRIED AND TESTED' GDA LABELING RIVAL

Coke passes green for 'Go!' with UK traffic light nutrition labeling

By Ben BOUCKLEY

Coca-Cola Enterprises today pulled a U-turn by adopting the UK Government’s voluntary front-of-pack ‘traffic light’ nutrition labeling scheme – ditching the EU-wide GDA system it had praised as ‘tried and tested’.

Wadsworth Center Laboratories real-time using DNA sequencing

DNA sequencing trialled at US public health lab

By Joseph James Whitworth

Following outbreaks in real-time using DNA sequencing techniques is being tested at the New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Center Laboratories.

IBM's novel approach to identifying contaminated food using sales data and public health reports

IBM video explains how it would work

IBM creates system to speed up outbreak investigations

By Joseph James Whitworth

A system that combines retail data with public health case reports could speed up outbreak investigations and provide better information on suspected products, according to IBM.

Tooth decay is one of the most widespread health problems

Sugar in teeth of fresh controversy

By Rod Addy

Anti-sugar campaigners are targeting the damage it can do to teeth as well as tackling its contribution to obesity in the UK.

French parliamentary report pushes 'fast-food' tax

French parliamentary report pushes 'fast-food' tax

By Nathan Gray

A French senatorial report has proposed a 'junk-food' tax on products that are linked to heart disease - with the report taking particular aim at soft drinks, which currently benefit from low taxes.

Responsibility Deal: signatories have pledged to meet the FSA's 2012 salt targets

Salt campaign group welcomes responsibility deal

By Rick Pendrous

Consensus Action on Salt & Health (CASH), a leading UK health group which campaigns for reduced levels of salt in processed foods has welcomed the targets announced in the Public Health Responsibility Deal for food, published by health secretary Andrew...

FSA closure rumours spark public health concerns

FSA closure rumours spark public health concerns

By Jess Halliday

Rumours that the Food Standards Agency could close have drawn concerns of long-term public health costs; while a lawyer says the government send its functions to two government departments without going through parliamentary procedures.

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