Regulatory
EFSA bid to make things clear
EFSA has announced the launch of an initiative designed to ‘enhance transparency in risk assessment’. The programme, to be developed in cooperation with EFSA’s partners and stakeholders, will consider how best and to what extent technical data used in risk assessments can be made available to the broader scientific community and interested parties. The project […]
Aspartame ‘poses no toxicity concern’ says EFSA draft scientific opinion
EFSA’s draft scientific opinion following re-evalution of artificial sweetener aspartame reveals that ‘it poses no toxicity concern for consumers at current levels’. To carry out the full risk assessment, EFSA undertook an in-depth review of peer-reviewed scientific and other literature on aspartame and its breakdown products, including new human studies. Regulatory bodies around the world […]
Chain reaction
Dr Chris Knight, head of agriculture at Campden BRI, explains the importance of safeguarding the links in the food chain
Accolade for Sainsbury’s safety chief
Sainsbury’s head of product quality, safety and supplier performance has been presented with the Most Significant Contribution to Food Safety award by the Society of Food Hygiene and Technology (SOFHT). The award, won by Alec Kyriakidesis, is given to an individual who the SOFHT board believes has made ‘an outstanding contribution to championing food safety […]
Bee work reviewed by EFSA
Bees and bee health were the subject of a recent EFSA review of risk assessment and scientific outputs. As a result, an inventory has now been compiled by the safety authority’s experts to identify areas for further collaboration, as well as future data and research needs. The inventory was compiled by EFSA’s task force on […]
Univar unveils Blanquefort refurb
Global chemical distributor Univar has announced today that its Blanquefort site in France is about to become fully operational again following an extensive £1.6 million (€2m) refurbishment. The 18,000m2 site is used to store, package and distribute products, with a focus on minerals, solvents and speciality chemicals. Following a fire in November 2009 that damaged […]
Defra recognition for ‘game-changing’ chilled food research programme
A three-year research programme to sustainably extend the shelf life of chilled foods has attracted the highest possible score, following evaluation by the government’s Advanced Food Manufacturing LINK Programme Management Committee. The £750,000 (€932,000) Sustainable Shelf Life Extension (SUSSLE) project was partly funded by the Chilled Food Association (CFA) and brought together academics and industry […]
Top of the crops
The protection of plants from pests and diseases is vital. So too is the future sustainability of pesticides. Dr Richard Stanley, principal agronomist at Campden BRI, explains
Food safety, Ingredients, Packaging, Regulatory, Sustainability
FIR consultation launched
Defra is asking UK businesses and consumers for their views on plans for new legislation to improve the information provided to shoppers, allowing them to make informed choices about the food they buy. The updated legislation will implement the European Union food labelling legislation (Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011) and will also reflect current industry practice […]
GRAS status for Indena’s olive fruit extract
Indena has announced that its olive fruit extract Opextan has obtained GRAS (Generally Recognised As Safe) status for use as a food ingredient in a number of food categories, including bakery products, beverages and beverage bases, chewing gums, coffee and tea, frozen dairy desserts and mixes, milk products, processed fruits and fruit juices, and processed […]
Food chain radioactivity report published
The level of man-made radioactivity to which people in the UK are exposed remained below the EU legal limit during 2011, according to the 10th Radioactivity in Food and the Environment (RIFE) annual report, published this week by the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The report combines results from the Agency’s monitoring programme with those of […]
Warning over liquid nitrogen in drinks
Reports that liquid nitrogen may be being used in alcoholic drinks in the UK have prompted the Food Standards Agency to issue a warning about its dangers.
Setting the meatballs rolling
A new Carnitech line is to be installed at one of Scotland’s premier food processors, following an announcement that Baxters is to introduce a new meatball preparation system.
Encouraging a healthy attitude among small businesses
The Scottish Government, in partnership with the Scottish Food and Drink Federation, has announced that it’s extending its programme to help small businesses to make their products healthier. The idea of the two-year scheme is to offer hands-on support for small companies across Scotland, helping them to reduce levels of sugar, fat and salt in […]
Business news, Food safety, Ingredients, New products, Regulatory