It would be a mistake for governments and industry to misinterpret
the recent progress in food allergen labeling as a final solution:
there is much that yet remains to be done, for the well-being of
both consumers and manufacturers.
Here we go again. Yet another technology in its infancy is likely
to be introduced into the food supply, while industry remains
cautious and consumers divided.
As a youngster I was brought up on a healthy diet of tuna fish
sandwiches and Disney - making my new year's resolution for 2007
the toughest yet. That's right, I'm giving up tuna and who knows,
even cod.
Food scientists are becoming a rare species in Britain, and things
won't change unless schools and food firms start telling young
people there is more to food than a supermarket depot.
Last week's comment on the food industry's role in the rising
obesity epidemic has generated a flood of responses from readers
agreeing with or disputing our position that the industry deserves
a break. Some of the comments...
Laying the blame for a fatter world at the feet of the food
industry has become a convenient mistake, and until this is
recognized there is little chance of controlling the growing
obesity epidemic.
The obesity issue is not going to solve itself, concluded
participants in a CIAA debate this month who advocated an EU-wide
approach to tackling the problem, with the food and drink industry
forming part of the solution.
Consumer confidence in food safety in the UK is recovering from the
low levels it had reached last year after the Sudan 1 food scare,
according to a new survey.
From gleaming stainless steel valves to industrial scale kettles,
the guts of Winn-Dixie's failed food business are displayed on the
Internet as equipment from two of the company's plants are put up
for auction.
A European Commission programme designed to promote EU food
products outside the bloc has been welcomed by the food industry,
though criticism over European bureaucracy remains a recurrent
theme.
Ten mega trends stretching from age to individualism will determine
the success and shape of any new products to hit the market in the
near future, claims market analysts Datamonitor.
Senator Tom Harkin claimed yesterday that if stringent
self-regulation in the marketing of children's food products is not
put into place soon, a backlash against the food industry is
inevitable writes Anthony Fletcher.
Food makers and ingredients firms will benefit from a new European
platform that will prioritise research and development initiatives
to keep the €800 billion food and drink industry
competitive,reports Lindsey Partos.
As lawyers circle the food and drink industry like a fatted calf,
the first lesson for those preparing for defence is that it is not
so much what you sell that matters, as how you sell it.
The UK government must introduce a compulsory new supermarket code
ofconduct if it is to make up for past mistakes and save the food
industryfrom a spiral into anti-competitive practices.
UK food agency launches 'the largest research project to date', to
establish the clearest route for food makers to use food labels to
flag-up healthy foods.
Could concern over obesity lead to significant changes in the
regulations governing food labelling and see the implementation of
a traffic light system, asks Anthony Fletcher.
New voluntary labelling initiatives, a tighter advertising code and
increased investment in innovation could be on the way for food
manufacturers as the European Commission, along with a dozen
stakeholders, launches a platform to...
Tough European legislation on junk food advertising to children
could become a reality, if the food industry fails to produce an
effective self-regulatory framework to help society deal with
increasing obesity in children.
Pursuit Dynamics has launched PDX Sonic 25 - a self contained,
fully integrated processing system that has the potential to reduce
cooking times by up to 95 per cent and reduce cleaning times by 80
per cent.
Innovations from some of Russia's leading agricultural and food
processing machinery suppliers were recognised at the AgroProdMash
2004 exhibition which took place in Moscow recently, underlining
Russia's commitment to improving...
Despite tough new rules on GM food labels, food makers will stick
to non-GM alternatives as new evidence from the UK shows British
consumers will continue to refuse to buy foods containing biotech
ingredients.
Software specialist AlphaZeta has created software for food
developer Griffith laboratories that it claims will allow the firm
to discover exactly what their customers want.
Tough restrictions on the marketing of food products - along the
lines of those in place for many years in the tobacco industry -
are the best solution to the growing problem of obesity, claimed
researchers last week. But the food...
UK politicians have called for immediate industry action to counter
the rising numbers of obese in the country, offering food marketers
three years to show significant improvements in product labelling
and formulation, writes Chris...
Changes to laws governing waste, energy consumption and emissions
are forcing plants to alter their methods of operation. Anthony
Fletcher spoke to the UK Environment Agency's head of waste
management to find out what plant managers...
In the same week that the US food watchdog releases new findings on
the presence of acrylamide, the probable human carcinogen, in
processed food products, the American Chemical society will
dedicate an entire symposium to this sensitive...
'It is incorrect to focus on any specific food or ingredient in
attempting to address obesity,' cautions the US food industry, in
the face of mounting criticism that sugar intake plays a key role
in today's overweight...
The EU could be about to consider legislation that would make the
down-chilling of some ambient food products during transportation
compulsory. Such a move would be eagerly supported by gas and
equipment suppliers, who believe that...
This year's Foodex Meatex exhibition - which the organisers believe
could be the most successful yet - promises to showcase the latest
innovations in meat processing. A quick look at a couple of planned
product launches suggests...
The food industry is not ready for new rules on bioterrorism in the
US rapidly created and cleared after the events of September 11,
2001, highlights a new survey.
A federal government bail-out of the Australian sugar industry was
under threat on Tuesday after business and opposition groups, in
particular food manufacturers, objected to a three cent a kilogram
levy to fund the $120 million plan...
In May 2002 Swedish scientists released information that
acrylamide, a potential carcinogen, had been found in a range of
foods. Food agencies across the world are monitoring the situation
very closely. An upcoming conference in the...