Regulation & Safety

Caobisco calls for extended buffer stocks to combat supply fluctuations

Caobisco calls for extended buffer stocks to combat supply fluctuations

By Oliver Nieburg

The Association of the Chocolate, Biscuit and Confectionery of Europe (Caobisco) has called for buffer stocks to be extended to cover the supply of commodities like wheat, skimmed milk powder and butter oil as part of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy...

First yeast-derived beta glucan approved as novel food in EU

Novel Foods Exclusive

First yeast-derived beta glucan approved as novel food in EU

By Oliver Nieburg

Health ingredients firm Biothera has been granted novel foods approval in the EU for its immune health ingredient yeast beta glucan and said there were prospects for manufacturers in a variety of food formulations.

Coca-Cola to launch stevia-based brands in EU in early 2012

Special Edition: Stevia

Coca-Cola to expand stevia offering in EU; no plans to drop aspartame

By Jane Byrne

Coca-Cola said it has no reason to drop the artificial sweetener aspartame from its low or zero calorie beverage brands in the European market as it welcomes last week’s approval by the European Commission for the use of the natural sweetener stevia in...

EFSA may reassess proposed use levels for stevia in EU

Special Edition: Stevia

Is a re-assessment of EU stevia usage on the cards?

By Jane Byrne

Post-market monitoring of stevia use levels in food and drink products could see the European Commission broaden the current authorised food categories, claims a stevia trade body.

Beware of gummy bears found under the influence...

Beware of gummy bears found under the influence...

By Ben Bouckley

The US-based Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC) has warned parents of children involved in trick-or-treat to be wary of potential adulteration of gummy bears or other confectionery with alcoholic drinks such as vodka.

Mars follows Cadbury and Nestle in Fairtrade branding

Mars goes Fairtrade with Maltesers

By Jane Byrne

Mars has announced that Maltesers will be its first brand to carry the Fairtrade mark from June 2012, the commitment follows similar moves from Cadbury and Nestle.

UK children could exceed ADI levels for Sunset Yellow, finds EFSA

UK children could exceed ADI levels for Sunset Yellow, finds EFSA

By Jane Byrne

A decision is awaited from the Commission on the use of Sunset Yellow FCF (E 110) in non-alcoholic flavoured drinks following a revised exposure assessment from EFSA showing some children in the UK could still be over the ADI levels for the additive.

Unite sounds warning over Kraft split

Unite sounds warning over Kraft split

By Anne Bruce

Union the Unite is seeking assurances about UK jobs and production at Kraft and Cadbury’s, following the announcement that Kraft is set to split its business into two independent companies.

EFSA boosts Toothfriendly developing world dental campaign

EFSA boosts Toothfriendly developing world dental campaign

By Shane Starling

The 20-year-old non-profit group, Toothfriendly, says its efforts to promote dental health have been boosted by recent European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) positive opinions – including non-European, developing world nations.

Desperate times: With EFSA rejecting clinical data en masse, Dr Glenn Gibson dons his magic, technicolour health claim dream labcoat in the hope of winning a claim. The NDA concludes causality has not been demonstrated between magic and dreamcoats

EU researchers revolted as EFSA clears health claims vault

By Shane Starling

The European Food Safety Authority last week delivered the fifth batch of article 13, general function health claim opinions bringing the total issued to 2723. There are just 35 to go – to be published next month in a final mini-batch that will conclude...

EFSA defends aspartame work, denies dossier loss

EFSA defends aspartame work, denies dossier loss

By Ben Bouckley

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has denied a suggestion by two MEPs that it may have lost data relating to a previous safety evaluation of the high intensity sweetener aspartame (E951) and that it failed to examine it properly in the first place.

‘No artificial’ claims are undermining confidence: ISA chair

Dispatches from the ISA conference

‘No artificial’ claims are undermining confidence: ISA chair

By Nathan Gray

Food and drink manufacturers are ‘shooting themselves in the foot’ by continually advertising products with ‘no artificial’ labels, says Hans Heezen, chairman of the International Sweetener Association.