health
New FSA chief executive revealed
The new chief executive of the Food Standards Agency has been named as Catherine Brown. Catherine, who is currently the chief executive of the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA), will take up the post in October. She succeeds Tim Smith, who has been chief executive since March 2008. “The Board and I are […]
FSA welcomes EFSA poultry inspection opinion
The European Food Safety Authority’s recent scientific opinion on poultry meat inspection, which suggested that traditional inspection may not be enough to fully address the most relevant biological hazards to public health, has been welcomed by the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA). In 2010, the European Commission asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to […]
Appetite for healthy options in ready-meal market
Global launch activity in ready meals over the past year has identified some key trends, according to Innova Market Insights. They include an ongoing interest in healthy options and more authentic-style ethnic recipes. There is also more emphasis on natural, organic and locally sourced ingredients, and more interest in restaurant-style products for in-home dining or […]
Making a meal of health claims
A ‘mega-healthy’ airline meal that satisfies all 222 Article 13.1 newly approved health claims has been created by experts at Leatherhead Food Research. CEO Dr Paul Berryman challenged his team of scientific, regulatory and marketing experts to devise a meal that could make all 222 claims. “It wasn’t that simple, but we did it within […]
Tate & Lyle opens doors to Chicago innovation centre
Tate & Lyle has officially opened its new US Commercial and Food Innovation Centre in Chicago. The 110,000sq ft facility is designed to facilitate customer collaboration through the development of new food and beverage products that satisfy consumer demand for health, convenience, value and taste, and to significantly accelerate their delivery to market, says the […]
Sauces and spreads market grows – but consumption falls
The value of the UK sauces and spreads market grew by 4.7 per cent to just over £1 billion (€1.2bn) last year, according to a new report by market analyst Key Note. However, the firm says that rising commodity prices are the primary reason behind the growth, as consumption has declined. “Brands in the sauces […]
Article 13.1 claims now published in OJ
The 222 ‘general function’ Article 13.1 health claims, approved on 16 May by the European Commission, have now been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. More than 1600 proposed health associations were not authorised and food manufacturers now have six months to comply with the Article 13.1 “general function” health claims. The […]
Biscuit sales breaking in two
Two opposing forces within the sweet biscuits market are at work globally, with the ‘treat’ image driving the premium sector forward, while rising health concerns are raising interest in better-for-you products, according to new research by Innova Market Insights. Chocolate biscuits have been one of the main beneficiaries of rising interest in the treat image […]
FSA launches FoP labelling consultation
The Food Standards Agency in both Northern Ireland and Scotland has launched a consultation on front-of-pack (FoP) nutrition labelling in a bid, it says, to help consumers keep track of what they eat and choose healthier foods. The consultation opens discussions with FSA’s key partners over how it can achieve this through FoP nutrition labelling. […]
BASF announces Equateq deal
BASF has announced the acquisition of Equateq Ltd in a bid to extend its portfolio of omega-3 products for the pharmaceutical and dietary supplement industries. “We are further strengthening our position as a leading supplier of ingredients for the nutrition and health industries,” says Walter Dissinger, president of BASF’s Nutrition & Health division. Adam Kelliher, […]
EFSA announces BPA re-evaluation
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has started work on its new risk assessment of bisphenol A (BPA) used in food contact materials, focusing in particular, it says, on exposure of vulnerable groups. The new opinion will complement earlier scientific advice provided at the request of the European Commission. EFSA will review all the available […]
Kemin gets cracking on new R&D facility
Functional ingredients firm Kemin Industries has started work on its new US-based research and development facility in Des Moines, Iowa. The new facility includes two general labs, six shared laboratories and three pilot laboratories, all of which will accommodate around 60 scientists. “If you want to know what inspires scientists and researchers to do their […]
Business news, Food safety, Ingredients, New products, Sustainability
First UK soft drink with stevia? SoBe it
Britvic has, together with PepsiCo UK, become the first to market a soft drink containing purified stevia extract. The reformulation of SoBe V Water will offer health-conscious consumers a vitamin water with zero-sugar, and meet growing demand for low-calorie refreshment, according to the firms. From the end of this month, all six SoBe V Water […]
EU ban on DSM: ‘Common sense has gone out the window’
A New EU regulation on the labelling of desinewed meat has left the UK with little choice but to comply. However, the move will have a huge impact on both producers and manufacturers, says the British Meat Processors Association (BMPA). The European Commission has asked that a moratorium be put in place on the production […]
Food safety, Ingredients, Packaging, Regulatory, Sustainability