Regulation & Safety

29-Nov-2010 - Manufacturers waiting to find out whether they will be allowed to use terms including ‘no added salt’ and ‘low-Gi’ under the EU health claims Regulation will now have to wait until next year for a decision, it has emerged.

Comment

Local food doesn’t mean safe food

23-Nov-2010 - All food, if not properly handled, has the potential to cause foodborne illness – so why does local food get special legislative treatment?

New Ivory Coast quality cocoa control programme

22-Nov-2010 - The Ivory Coast, the world’s largest producer of cocoa beans, has instituted a new cocoa quality-control programme, according to the World Bank.

Roquette chews on positive EFSA gum opinions

10-Nov-2010 - French supplier Roquette is hailing the potential of polyols to boost dental health, following recent article 14 positive opinions for sugar-free gum from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Confectionery body supports call for global Endosulfan ban

04-Nov-2010 - Caobisco has announced its support for Environmental Justice Foundation’s (EJF’s) call for a global ban on Endosulfan, an insecticide that EJF claims is “highly toxic”.

Comment

For front-of-pack labels, smart choices take time

02-Nov-2010 - Uh-oh, surely not another industry-sponsored front-of-pack nutrition label! Food industry engagement is welcome, but let’s take it slowly – no one benefits until we figure out a system that works.

EFSA strikes a blow against cocoa health claims

29-Oct-2010 - The European Food and Safety Authority (EFSA) has struck a blow to the confectionery industry by saying there is not enough evidence to support a link between cocoa flavanols and some of the often touted health benefits.

Danes hope EFSA likes the smell of breath claim

18-Oct-2010 - Danish firm Jemo-Pharm has lodged an article 13.5 health claim dossier linking a reduction in halitosis with consumption of a zinc iron-based supplement.

Comment

Regulatory clarity for nutricosmetics proves elusive

14-Oct-2010 - Somewhere, in some time, there exists a land of beauty and promise for nutricosmetics products, where beauty supplements, foods and drinks can frolic, happy in the knowledge of their justifiable claims.The problem is that getting to this promised land appears to be somewhat complex.

EFSA agrees with JECFA on 10 out of 22 flavouring substances

14-Oct-2010 - EFSA has agreed with JECFA that 10 of the latest 22 flavouring substances to undergo re-evaluation pose no safety concern at estimated intake levels, but more info is required to complete assessment on the remaining 12.

Comment

Bisphenol A on the brink?

05-Oct-2010 - To BPA or not to BPA? While the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) backed the continued use of bisphenol A last week, the real question is whether the verdict was a full-blown reprieve for the controversial chemical or merely a stay of execution.

EFSA health claim opinion

Sugar-free chewing gum reduces tooth decay, finds EFSA

04-Oct-2010 - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has approved a health claim for xylitol, sorbitol and mannitol-based sugar-free chewing gum that it reduces the risk of tooth decay.

Comment

High fructose corn syrup: A sugar by any other name

28-Sep-2010 - Once upon a time sugar was sugar, and sugar was most definitely not good for you. So the Corn Refiners Association move to rebrand high fructose corn syrup as corn sugar is a daring move – but should do little to sweeten its reputation.

Sara Lee joins scheme against junk food advertising to children

24-Sep-2010 - Sara Lee has become the latest food manufacturer to join the voluntary Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI) that aims to restrict advertising of junk food to children.

Confectionery tax will distort competition, claims Finnish industry body

23-Sep-2010 - The decision by the Finnish government to reintroduce a tax on sweets, chocolate, cocoa products, ice cream, and ice lollies is unfair and will discriminate against individual companies in the food industry, said the Finnish Association of Biscuits and Confectionery Industries.

News in brief

Flexible packaging factory up in flames

17-Sep-2010 - There was a serious fire yesterday at Amcor Flexibles Europe & America’s (AFEA) plant in Livingston, Scotland causing significant damage to the main facility as well as the secondary buildings.

Comment

Time to embrace balanced kids’ marketing regulation

13-Sep-2010 - Kids are not going to stop liking chocolate, pizza, ice cream, or fries. Heck, neither am I. So why is industry so afraid of mandatory restrictions on marketing to children?

EFSA calls for more data before decision on flavourings safety

13-Sep-2010 - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has advised that safe usage levels of seven flavouring substances commonly used in or on food in member states should be reassessed, due to reservations about industry data submitted.

FTC reanalyzing food industry’s marketing to kids

10-Sep-2010 - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is again requiring companies to disclose information about how they market their products to children and adolescents, the agency has said.

What is candy? Comments sought on definition

09-Sep-2010 - The Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board has requested comments on a proposed definition of candy for tax purposes, which excludes confectionery that requires refrigeration or contains flour.

EU approval sought for antioxidant wood extract

03-Sep-2010 - A Russian firm has applied for novel food approval for a wood extract, which it says has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular benefits.

General Mills call for shape trademark hearing rejected

03-Sep-2010 - A request from US snack manufacturer General Mills for a further hearing over a product shape trademark ruling has been denied by the Israeli Supreme Court.