Regulatory
Southampton six safety review
A verdict on the safety of the so-called ‘Southampton six’ food colours is imminent after EFSA confirmed that its food additives panel is scheduled to discuss the review findings later this month. A spokesman says that should the panel adopt any opinions from the review process, the views will be published in mid-October following the […]
Organic food not healthier, says FSA
Eating organic food does not provide any significant nutritional or health benefits, according to a study published this week. An independent review commissioned by the Food Standards Agency found there were no important differences between organic and conventionally produced food. The conclusion was reached after a team of researchers at the London School of Hygiene […]
EPO restricts Novogen patent claims – and opens the door for isoflavones
Following objections by 10 European countries, including Germany, France, Italy and the UK, and by Solbar (Israel), the European Patent Office (EPO) has rejected large parts of the Novogen patent claims – originally granted in 2004 – for the use of isoflavone phyto-oestrogen extracts. The EPO has restricted claims wherein the isoflavone phytoestrogen extract comprises […]
Meat processors welcome FSA U-turn
The British Meat Processors Association has welcomed a Food Standards Agency (FSA) decision to scrap plans for a four per cent hike in annual inspection charges in a bid to cut government subsidies to the industry. However, the FSA has said that a new system to calculate charges based on the length of time inspectors […]
Chemical fears lead to cartoned water launch
Safety fears over controversial chemical bisphenol A (BPA) and environmental concerns have prompted one US beverage company to start selling water in cartons. O.N.E World Enterprises has announced the launch of O.N.E Water in a BPA-free Tetra Pak carton as a ‘sustainable alternative to plastic bottled water’. “With concern growing about the health risks of […]
Brewing breakthrough
A sensor that measures dissolved oxygen in beer products has been unveiled by the Process Analytics arm of Mettler Toledo. Dissolved or residual oxygen can affect the quality and shelf life of beer – problems which the company has addressed with its chemo-optical technology. The sensor, called the InPro 6970i, is also said to reduce […]
Reusable shopping bags ‘pose food safety risk’
Reusable food shopping bags and packages can contain a high level of bacteria, yeast, mould and coliform counts which pose a significant food safety risk, according to a new study from Sporometrics, an environmental microbiology lab based in Canada. Swab tests of reusable bags last November revealed a bacteria count of 1,800 colony-forming units, while […]
New UK salt reduction targets
The Food Standards Agency has unveiled revised salt reduction targets for the food industry, affecting 80 food categories. By 2012, the FSA is hoping to have reduced salt intake to 6g a day for adults (2.4g sodium), from around 9.5g in 2000/1. The current consumption estimate is at 8.6g, indicating that progress has been made […]
Thumbs-up for new salmonella detection kit
A new, rapid detection kit to identify salmonella species in food has received approval from international accreditation body the Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC). The Salmonella Rapid Culture Method, developed by Thermo Fisher Scientific, is said to deliver highly accurate results in less than 48 hours compared with up to four days for other methods. […]
EFSA re-confirms aspartame safety
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said there is no indication that aspartame causes cancer, following its assessment of a study that linked regular intake of the sweetener with an increased risk of certain cancers. EFSA’s panel on Food Additives and Nutrient Sources added to Food (ANS) was asked by the European Commission for […]
Unilever unveils ‘holistic’ salt reduction strategy
Unilever has announced the launch of a global salt reduction strategy across 22,000 of its food products. By 2010, the company hopes to achieve a daily intake of 6g of salt per person – as recommended by the Food Standards Agency – and is targeting the World Health Organisation recommendation of a 5g maximum by […]
New food fraud squad
A new food fraud division will support local authorities in taking swift action to stop illegal activity, as well as helping them uncover cases where consumers have been misled, says the UK’s Food Standards Agency. The Food Fraud Advisory Unit (FFAU) is a group of 16 officials with extensive skills and experience in carrying out […]
LABORATORY NEWS: Cadbury Trebor Bassett wins award
Oxoid, the leading microbiology brand, has awarded first prize in the 2007/2008 Oxoid Food Safety Team of the Year Awards to the Cadbury Trebor Bassett team based at the company’s Chirk site in Wales. The Cadbury Chirk site is a feedstock site for the larger Cadbury organisation, with the laboratory handling samples of butter and […]
Business news, Food safety, Ingredients, Regulatory, Sustainability
Major brewery rides with the red tractor
Wells and Young’s has become the first major brewery to be certified with the Red Tractor logo. The Bedford-based company will now carry the Red Tractor logo on all its bottles of Young’s Bitter in a move to assure consumers that the ale is made using only British raw ingredients. Jonathan Tipples, vice chairman of […]