Regulatory
Concerns over health and safety merger
A proposal to merge the Health & Safety Commission and Health & Safety Executive must aim to improve the governance and scrutiny of legislation and regulators, the Forum of Private Business (FPB) has warned. The merger has been proposed in order to create a single and more efficient regulatory body and should be through by […]
Pigmeat labelling – just a load of porkies
It is estimated that consumers pay a 20-25% premium for free range pigmeat. However, at present there are no specific regulations on the words used to describe how the pigs which go to produce ham, bacon and pork have been reared. In fact there is no current obligation on retailers to give any indication at […]
EU Commissioner opposes his own expert authority
European Commissioner Starvos Dimas intends to refuse to authorise two genetically modified Bt maize lines, Bt11 and 1507, for cultivation in the EU. In doing this, he is overriding the expert scientific opinion of the European food safety commission (EFSA). While Dimas is justifying the decision on potential risks to the environment, ESFA claims that […]
FOOD SAFETY:New guidance on contaimination
A new guide from the Campden & Chorleywood Food Association Research Group (CCFRA) will help companies in their manufacturing environment. The most significant is in the transfer of microbial contamination of ready to eat foods, which allows them to target control measures. ‘Ranking of cross contamination vectors of ready to eat foods: a practical approach’ […]
Dietary guidance on nutrition
Dietary guidance should consider the cost and enjoyment of food in addition to nutrient content, according to Professor Adam Drewnowski, research leader of innovative approaches for the prevention and treatment of obesity. His lecture, organised by The Dairy Council, aimed to provide an insight into alternative nutrient profiling and food labelling methods, specifically the Naturally […]
Business news, Food safety, Ingredients, Packaging, Regulatory
Germany approves GM trials
The German Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL) has approved the release trial of GM wheat lines with a modified protein composition. Several genetically modified wheat lines are currently being tested in a field trial on the site of the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) in Germany. […]
Possible goji berry ban
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is seeking evidence of consumption of goji berries, the small red fruit from Asia, in Europe before 1997 after enquiries from food businesses on whether the berries can be sold legally in the European Union. If they are considered a ‘novel’ food, they will need to be authorised before they […]
New report notes more product recalls
Marsh, leading risk and insurance services firm, has published a new report “Managing liability in the food and beverage sector” saying that regulators are now faster to withdraw products from the market. The report, which surveyed 232 companies in the food and beverage sector across Europe, drew the conclusion despite noting that food and beverage […]
FSA opens list on health claims
The Food Standards Agency is asking food businesses to submit health claims for consideration for inclusion on the European list of permitted health claims, which will be compiled under new European legislation. The new European Regulation aims to increase consumer protection with regards to nutrition and health claims made on food. Under the new legislation, […]
Targeting contaminated eggs
The European Commission is planning to set new targets to reduce salmonella in laying hens in member states. The move follows the publication of an EU study, which shows high levels of infection in flocks in a number of countries. UK animal health and welfare minister, Ben Bradshaw, welcomed the preliminary report from the European […]
Defra update on GM crops
Defra has proposed measures to ensure that growing of genetically modified crops in England will not disadvantage other farmers. The plans include enforcing strict separation of distances between genetically modified and conventional crops. Under EU rules, no GM crops will be grown in the UK unless scientific evidence shows they are safe for human health […]
Consumers check labels
A Food Standards Agency (FSA) survey has found an increasing awareness among consumers towards healthier eating. More people are taking an interest in food, particularly by checking the labels and eating more fruit and vegetables. The survey team interviewed more than 3,000 people over five weeks. It was found the number of consumers who claim […]
Business news, Food safety, Ingredients, Packaging, Regulatory
Printing precautions taken by Tetra Pak
Following the recent recall of baby formula products tainted with ink in Italy, packaging company Tetra Pak announced that it had switched to printing processes using non UV inks. This decision was taken as a precautionary measure and in absence of any scientific evidence indicating a health risk. The company says the identified substance (ITX), […]
Nut warning needs more detail
Generic warnings on food labels, such as ‘may contain nuts’, could be dropped in favour of more detail. Many manufacturers who use an allergenic ingredient now use ‘may contain’ warnings, in cases where products may be mixed in by accident. However, despite growing concern about the risks posed by food allergens, the food industry, consumers […]