Breaking News on Food & Beverage Development - EuropeUS edition | Asian edition

EU food industry slams food taxes as "not effective" for tackling obesity

09-Dec-2011 - EU based food and beverage manufacturers claim that food taxes are not an effective approach to tackle the complexity of diet and lifestyle-related problems.

EU milk package threatens ‘fairer deal' for farmers, cries NFU

07-Dec-2011 - Opinion is split on the final text of the so-called EU Dairy Package, with the UK National Farmers’ Union (NFU) citing missed opportunities within the European Commission’s (EC’s) text, and Dairy UK stating its continued opposition to minimum contract terms.

Industry ‘grossly underestimated’ consumption levels for flavouring agents, EFSA panel

30-Nov-2011 - The European flavourings industry grossly underestimated consumer intake levels of products flavoured with some chemically derived flavouring substances, according to an EFSA panel.

Fresh EU novel food proposal may separate cloned meat legislation

29-Nov-2011 - New proposals on novel foods regulation due in 2012 may see separate legislation to deal with the delicate issue of animal cloning, according to experts from the FSA.

‘Doing nothing is not an option’ on cheese composition concerns, Dairy UK

25-Nov-2011 - Trade body Dairy UK has revealed to DairyReporter.com that it is concerned about the impact of the new EU Food Information Regulation (FIR) on UK cheese compositional standards.

EC bids to offset sugar supply shortfall in EU next year

25-Nov-2011 - The European Commission is aiming to leverage the ‘abundance’ of the out-of-quota harvest in the EU to ensure an adequate sugar supply next year.

Lack of new novel food plans hindering EU innovation, claims trade group

25-Nov-2011 - EU food industry representatives claim the delay in new novel food regulation proposals from the European Commission is seriously hampering innovation in the EU food and beverage manufacturing sector.

Caobisco calls for extended buffer stocks to combat supply fluctuations

24-Nov-2011 - 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 (CAP) reforms.

News in brief

EFSA makes aspartame studies available

24-Nov-2011 - In a bid to ensure transparency in terms of its scientific-opinion forming, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) said all 600 new studies it has received in its review of the safety of aspartame are now publically available.

EC de-authorises vitamin and muscle claims in final article 13, draft regulation

23-Nov-2011 - The European Commission has drafted the regulation that will bring into European law the final list of approved, article 13, general function health claims – with a specific reference to two approved claims that will not be authorised.

German court raps Ferrero on vitamin content labels

23-Nov-2011 - Italian confectioner Ferrero has been ordered by a German court to change the labelling on its Nutella brand or face €250,000 fines per individual case.

Call to French minister to caution women about aspartame intake during pregnancy

22-Nov-2011 - Scientists attached to the Réseau Environnement Santé (RES) in France are urging the French Minister of Health to inform women about the dangers of aspartame during pregnancy.

Politicians ready to fillet fish cheats

21-Nov-2011 - Illegal fishing, which now accounts for 15% of world catches according to EU calculations, distorts the market for fish, and threatens the viability of honest businesses that refuse to deal with criminals, warned politicians.

Global scientists serve up food security policy recommendations

18-Nov-2011 - Global food systems need an immediate transformation to meet current and future threats to food security and environmental sustainability, according to a new report.

Bottled water industry: EFSA hydration claim rejection won't affect us

18-Nov-2011 - The European bottled water industry says its marketing is unaffected by the writing into European Union law this week of a rejected health claim linking water consumption and dehydration.

News in brief

EU and Norway enter food export agreement

18-Nov-2011 - The European Union and Norway have reached an agreement on additional trade preferences for agricultural products, including cereals.

Special Edition: Stevia

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

17-Nov-2011 - 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.

Competition and price hike fears as EC ponders major sugar industry takeover

15-Nov-2011 - The European Commission has launched an in-depth investigation over the proposed acquisition of the world’s second largest sugar trader ED&F MAN by Europe’s largest sugar producer Südzucker as it fears it could impact competition in Central Europe and lead to price hikes.

Stevia approval in EU a regulatory milestone, says PureCircle

14-Nov-2011 - Leading global stevia supplier PureCircle has hailed as a milestone the long-awaited EU approval of steviol glycosides, with regulation adopted by the Commission on 11 November.

Harmonisation of additives regulation will help SME sector, claims EU trade body

14-Nov-2011 - European food and drink industry representatives have welcomed the new additives regulation adopted by the Commission, claiming it improves transparency in the market and will enable greater new product development by the SME sector.

EFSA opinion

EU risk assessor raises alarm over morphine exposure from foods

10-Nov-2011 - EFSA has raised concern over morphine exposure through the consumption of poppy seeds used in food products.

Nano- regulation could benefit from two-tier approach, suggests expert

09-Nov-2011 - A new two tier system for the regulation of nano-materials in foods could help to alleviate the strain that suggested new regulations may put on industry, whilst ensuring the safety and control of ingredients and materials that need it, according to one expert.

Concern over children's exposure to toxins in honey

08-Nov-2011 - The EU food safety assessor has concluded that there is a possible health concern for toddlers and children who are high consumers of honey arising out of the possible presence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA).

Decision on food and drink Ecolabel some months away

07-Nov-2011 - A decision is not expected until spring 2012 on whether the EU Ecolabel would be extended to food and drink products, reports the EU, following the publication of a feasibility study last week.