Functional Beverage

'Only 40% of us have a healthy weight,' said health minister Simon Harris in a foreword to the report. 'In terms of scale, this represents one of the biggest public health challenges Ireland is facing today.'  © World Obesity Federation

Ireland launches national obesity plan

By Niamh Michail

The Irish government has launched an ambitious national obesity plan which proposes a sugary drinks tax, maximum portion sizes, marketing restrictions and reformulation targets - but the lack of funding to implement the policy has led to criticism from...

EU politicians voted today to scrap nutrient profiles. 'We deeply regret the EU Parliament chose to stand by the food industry and let down consumers,' said consumer rights group BEUC. © iStock

European Parliament votes to scrap nutrient profiles

By Niamh Michail

Members of European Parliament (MEPs) voted today to scrap nutrient profiles, a result that leaves consumer rights groups, public health campaigners and some industry players sorely disappointed.

Some of the products high in salt, fat or sugar that claim to be healthy. Photo: FoodWatch

80% of surveyed products don't pass WHO nutrient profile

Survey blasts industry & EU for allowing unhealthy foods to make health claims

By Niamh Michail

What’s the difference between a chocolate bar and an apple? Not much if you go by the misuse of health claims on food in Germany and the Netherlands says campaign group FoodWatch, after evaluating over 600 products making prominent claims to be healthy,...

“Obesity has become the new major discussion about the causes of diseases in various populations,

Online tool shows global scale of obesity-related cancer

By Niamh Michail

The impact of obesity on cancer rates across the world – and how many cases could have been prevented – is made clear with an online data tool, launched by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) last month.

Strategic shift: 'There was really no reason to talk to the consumer any more because we were not allowed to talk to the consumer any more.'

NutraInterview: Dominique Speleers, Beneo executive board member

Beneo: EFSA forced us to change our strategy

By Shane STARLING

Dominique Speleers is a long-time Beneo man who has seen a lot in his 15 years with the European ingredients giant from back when it was Belgian inulin and chicory player Beneo-Orafti and now as a board member of the more European, more international,...

ADM among those to drop out: 'After assessing the current state of uncertainty in Paris in general, we have decided not to participate in the show this year'. Photo credits: iStock.com / IakovKalinin

UBM says security and comfort of attendees is ‘paramount’; registrations up 6%

32 firms pull out of FiE in wake of Paris attacks

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Around 32 of 1400 exhibiting companies (3%) have pulled out of the industry event Food Ingredients Europe (FiE) next week in Paris following the city’s fatal attacks, despite efforts from the organiser to up security.

Image: iStockPhoto

Cocoa flavanols may boost skin from within: 24-week RCT

By Stephen Daniells

High-flavanol cocoa supplementation may have positive impacts on facial wrinkles and skin elasticity in photo-aged Korean women, says a new study from scientists from Seoul National University.

Private label nutrition equal to national brands

Private label nutrition equal to national brands

By Niamh Michail

There are no major differences in nutritional content between private labels, national brands and hard discount goods – although private labels come out top for nutrition labelling, according to a French government study.

Vitafoods Europe 2015: 15,627 visitors from around Europe and the globe

Visitors from 101 countries

Vitafoods Europe breaks records (again)

Show traffic was up 12.5% at Vitafoods Europe this year meaning record numbers visited the 800+ suppliers and brands at the 3-day Geneva expo and conference.

Winning smiles...This could be you at the NutraIngredients Awards 2016!

Gala Awards night at Vitafoods Europe, Geneva, Switzerland

NutraIngredients Awards shine spotlight on nutrition stars

By Shane STARLING

200 people from the European and international food and nutrition sectors helped 20 finalists and seven winners celebrate at the inaugural NutraIngredients Awards last night at Vitafoods Europe.

Not everybody looking for a caffeine boost is looking for extreme sports and sugar, says maker of new caffeine strips

Big Tobacco eyes caffeine growth with oral strips

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The launch of oral caffeine strip Reon sees cigarette-making giant Imperial Tobacco diversifying its market attentions and targeting on-the-go urban professionals.

“Indonesia is very important, our most important Asian market after China.”

Tate & Lyle backs fibre to battle Asian bulge

Tate & Lyle used the recent Food Ingredients-Asia trade event in Jakarta as a springboard for its mounting ambitions in the country of 250 million people as well as other parts of Asia. Fibre and low-calorie sweeteners for weight control were a big...

Green bull? ‘Natural energy’ grows health claim wings

Green bull? ‘Natural energy’ grows health claim wings

By Diana Cowland

The EU energy market is set to grow by €1bn by 2017 and much of that could come from ‘natural energy’, a sub-sector that has been boosted by recent health claim approvals, says Euromonitor International analyst, Diana Cowland.