European food scientists warn that a host of illegal dyes
pinpointed in foods on the supermarket shelves may pose a genotoxic
and carcinogenic risk, a conclusion reached despite insufficient
data to perform a full risk assessment.
A World Trade Organisation hearing beginning today on the use of
growth-boosting hormones could determine whether the EU's
processors will have better access to North American meat supplies.
Institut Rossel-Lallemand's Lalmin Se has become the standard
against which other organic selenium is measured following the
release of certified reference material (CRN) by Canada's National
Research Council, enabling the...
Weak figures from the flavour division and a testing European and
North American market knock end of year results for Danish
ingredients and sugar player Danisco, but Rhodia acquisition starts
to pay off, reports Lindsey Partos.
Food and drink makers could soon expect cheaper sugar ingredients
with Brussels expected to publish its proposals on EU sugar reform
today, writes Lindsey Partos.
The UK's food authority said this week that it will provide up to
£20,000 (€30,000) to pay for external scientists to produce more
dossiers for supplement ingredients not currently on the European
directive's positive list,...
Deep divisions over biotech food ingredients once again evident as
member states fail to approve a gene-altered corn designed by US
biotech giant Monsanto, reports Lindsey Partos.
The trickle of food products contaminated with the illegal colour
Para Red continues in the UK, with the country's food agency
identifying nineteen more food products for recall yesterday,
writes Lindsey Partos.
Forcing the traceability card, the European Union has voted to
block imports of certain US grain unless they prove they are free
of the genetically modified maize Bt10,reports Lindsey
Partos.
Vulnerabilities in the international food chain are evident as an
unapproved genetically modified corn leaks into feed, flour and
oils; but Europe's food safety agency says this week the illegal
Bt10 corn is unlikely to pose...
With food safety a major priority in Europe, some third countries
are concerned that issues like organic, dioxin and GM foods could
become barriers to trade, according to CORDIS.
Chr Hansen's innovative Eastern European marketing campaign, which
kicks off today, should help the Czech Republic's dairy sector find
new ways of adding value to their products, writes Anthony
Fletcher.
Vulnerabilities in the food chain through globalisation evident as
the sudan 1 food recall, that has racked the UK food industry in
recent weeks, spread to China with reports that international food
maker Heinz has called back chilli...
Food manufacturers need to consider a risk/benefit analysis of
activities on acrylamide, a harmful chemical recently identified in
carbohydrate-rich foods, conclude stakeholders after a recent
meeting in Brussels,reports Lindsey Partos.
Europe's food watchdog continues to trawl through its risk
assessment of 1000 flavouring substances, with 38 substances out of
51 requiring more data to complete the safety evaluation.
Lessons will have to be drawn. So concludes an emergency meeting of
scientists in Brussels last week to assess the fall out after the
arrival of the illegal food colour sudan 1 in over 450 processed
food brands on the UK market, reports...
Brussels called an emergency meeting of scientific experts
yesterday as the paper trail on the illegal red chemical dye sudan
1 extends to member states; and the recall of food products in the
UK tops 450.
Food makers are advised to analyse any stocks of chilli and curry
powder, bought in before the EU imposed the ban on sudan red food
colour, to minimise the risk of expensive recalls and harm to brand
reputation, writes Lindsey Partos.
Non-nutritive sweetener neotame is on the agenda in Europe as
scientific experts meet today in Brussels to discuss the food
additive up to 13,000 times sweeter than sugar.
Pressure on food makers to more frequently track ingredients for
contaminants intensifies as the UK's food watchdog on Friday pulls
over 350 food products from the shelves after detecting the illegal
ingredient, the red food...
With the countdown extended, talks continue this week in Geneva
between the US and Brussels to move the entrenched trade dispute on
genetically modified organisms forward.
A legal action brought by a northern English cheese producer
against the European Commission over the right to use the label
feta on its products has finally reached the European Court of
Justice - the UK, however, has declined to...
Against the backdrop of tighter traceability rules the UK's food
watchdog will focus on the relationship between food ingredients
and the final food label, at an upcoming seminar between
stakeholders next month.
The number of imported chocolate products into Switzerland has
increased for the fourth year running - but will the EU's looming
CAP reforms soon bring this burgeoning trend to an end, asks Tom
Armitage.
Honey producers in China began exporting to the EU for the first
time in nearly three years last week after the authorities in
Brussels lifted a ban imposed amid safety concerns.
The European food industry could see a unified version of labels on
foodstuffs, and accompanying cost-savings, as Europe's executive
arm calls for standardised labels across the EU, writes Lindsey
Partos.
Chilli pickles join the growing list of products on UK supermarket
shelves contaminated by the harmful, and illegal, red food dye,
Sudan I. Potentially carcinogenic, presence of this food colour,
and any level, is forbidden in the...
On the eve of his move to Parma in Italy, to head up Europe's first
food risk agency, Geoffrey Podger affirms the authority has already
cleared the first hurdle, independence, reports Lindsey
Partos.
As Europe's food agency finally makes the permanent move to Italy,
a framework plan for 2005 consolidates the key objectives for the
EU's major risk assessor.
Tightening up traceability rules to slice away risk to the food
chain, with the entry of 2005 food industry firms are now required
to notify local authorities, suggesting food alerts may rise this
year.
Markos Kyprianou, the new Commissioner for Health and Consumer
Protection in Brussels, will continue in his predecessor David
Byrne's foodsteps, pushing to maintain high levels of food safety
in the EU.
The UK's medicines regulator is setting up a new herbal medicines
advisory committee to provide it with expert advice on herbal
medicines in anticipation of the forthcomin European traditional
medicinal herbal products directive.
A new Russian food standard (GOST) concerning consumer information
on packaged food products is due to come into force on 1 January
2005. Angela Drujinina looks at how the change will effect
consumers and food manufacturers, and its...
The controversial issue of nutritional profiles will remain one of
the biggest hurdles for EU legislation on health claims but recent
reports suggest that Germany may be ready to concede some elements
of profiling, reports Dominique...
Driving research in the area of chemical contaminants, nutrition
and microbiology the UK's food agency is calling for scientists to
fulfill a batch of new research requirements.
Plans for EU sugar reform are unfair and would only benefit the
biggest producers, say 10 member states as new discussions split
opinions across Europe,reports Chris Mercer.
Europe comes closer to rubber stamping harmonised controls for
controlling mycotoxins in the food chain and the Scottish food
agency offers stakeholders a snapshot of recent talks.
Danone is entering the UK market this month with its first product
containing plant sterols. Joining another industry heavyweight
Unilever, the move underlines the potential of the
cholesterol-lowering category and also signals increasing...
EU health commissioner David Byrne has expressed his confidence in
the food chain as a contamination scare highlights the value of
traceability and the progress made in reducing risks to the complex
food production industry.
Coca-Cola Services S.A. has applied to the UK's novel foods
committee seeking approval to market fruit juices, fruit nectars
and tomato juice with added plant sterols.
Europe tackles levels of cadmium contaminated foods, particularly
in children, finding that cereals and vegetables contribute two
thirds of the consumption of this toxic heavy metal that can cause
kidney disease.
