28 Sep 2018 --- The US government is taking a fresh look at labeling by stepping up its review of dairy labels for plant-based foods and asking consumers if they are confused by certain terms and products. As the plant-based alternatives market is growing rapidly, more products are hitting shelves with names like “soy milk,” “almond milk” and “vegan mozzarella cheese” – and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) wants to get a better handle on how consumers are interpreting and understanding these plant-based products compared to dairy products.
27 Sep 2018 --- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued new draft guidance that will help determine when it is necessary and appropriate for retailers to be publicly identified when a food recall or outbreak is underway. Agency policy has prohibited the release of such information, citing considerations for “confidential” business relationships.
28 Aug 2018 --- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a GRAS No Objection Letter for Parabel USA’s LENTEIN plant protein. LENTEIN is derived from water lentils – Lemnaceae – and has been described as “the world’s most sustainable and complete food source.”
02 Mar 2018 --- MEPs are to set out a Pan-European long-term survival strategy that involves potential bans on all harmful pesticides, tightening up checks to eliminate fake honey imports and promoting the health benefits of honey.
01 Mar 2018 --- The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has just updated its risk assessment on the impact neonicotinoid pesticides can have on bee populations and discovered that most uses do in fact pose a risk to wild bees and honeybees.
06 Feb 2018 --- The European Union has approved European Dairy Association (EDA) guidance for “cheese as raw material” and the organization for the processed cheese sector, Assifonte’s “Good Manufacturing Practice Guidelines for Processed Cheese” – a major for food safety, consumer protection and product quality across the Union.
30 Jan 2018 --- A campaign urging President Trump not to roll back progress on school nutrition is underway in the US with 80,000 people officially filing their comments with the Department of Agriculture opposing proposals to weaken nutrition standards.
15 Dec 2017 --- Limagrain Céréales Ingredients (LCI) has recently partnered with Novolyze to reinforce the microbiological control of its proprietary heat process for flours: Farigel. In order to confirm the effectiveness of the Farigel process, LCI chose to use the innovative products developed by Novolyze. The methodology utilizes harmless bacteria that mimic the behavior of foodborne pathogens under different kinds of stress.
14 Dec 2017 --- A proposal to ban the additive phosphate, a key component in kebabs and gyros, has been narrowly defeated in European Parliament following a vote yesterday (December 13).The legislature fell three votes short of reaching an absolute majority of at least 376 votes for a phosphate ban, which would have seriously impacted the kebab industry, forcing it to find alternatives rather than stop producing the highly popular fast food.
13 Dec 2017 --- US state alcohol excise taxes are typically only a few cents per drink and have not kept pace with inflation, according to a new study. Soon to be published in the January issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, authors claim that hiking up taxes would be a chance for US states to increase revenues while simultaneously improving public health costs related to excessive alcohol consumption.
12 Dec 2017 --- Following the introduction of plain packaging for tobacco products in some countries and calls to extend the legislation to other sectors, marketing consultancy Brand Finance has analyzed the potential financial impact of such a policy on food and beverage brands.
12 Dec 2017 --- Questions are being raised as to the likelihood of a livestock levy in years to come as part of new analysis examining how meat could follow the same path as tobacco, carbon emissions and sugar and become subject to a so-called “sin tax,” with implications all around the globe.
12 Dec 2017 --- French dairy group Lactalis has recalled its formula milk and baby food following the discovery of salmonella cases in babies and after 26 children under the age of six fell in France earlier this month. The affected Lactalis products have been recalled in France and for export to markets including Europe, Africa, South America and China. The recall covers hundreds of baby milk powder products marketed globally under the Milumel, Picot and Celia brands.
05 Dec 2017 --- The Co-op supermarket is cracking down on food waste with its pioneering new initiative to sell food after its “best before” date. The East of England Co-op says it is the first major retailer to start selling products beyond their best before date with the aim of significantly reducing food waste in its stores.
01 Dec 2017 --- The clock is counting down to April 2018 when new EU legislation will come into force requiring food businesses to put in place practical steps to manage acrylamide within their food safety management systems. The new laws describe practical measures based upon best practice guidance developed by the food industry to mitigate acrylamide formation in a range of foods.
21 Nov 2017 --- British MPs have ruled that problems at the English poultry and food manufacturing group 2 Sisters – which suspended operations last month due to hygiene concerns following an undercover operation – were "not a one-off”. The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee launched its inquiry into 2 Sisters and poultry standards following an expose by The Guardian and ITN which found evidence of 2 Sisters workers altering the slaughter date of poultry, raising the risk that shoppers could end up buying meat past its use-by date.
21 Nov 2017 --- Vessels arrested for illegally fishing in West African waters are still carrying on with business as usual, claims a Greenpeace Africa report released today on World Fisheries Day. The report, “The Cost of Ocean Destruction”, details how West African fishermen and communities continue to suffer from the consequences of overfishing and illegal fishing in this region and it provides specific recommendations for Governments on how to solve the crisis.
21 Nov 2017 --- The agreement on new rules for organic farming endorsed yesterday by European Council representatives will simplify and harmonize many of the rules covering organic food production both within the European Union and in non-EU countries, says Commissioner for Agriculture, Phil Hogan said. The agreement will go to vote in the European Parliament. Once adopted, the new rules will enter into force on January 1, 2021. This will give enough time for producers, operators and trade partners to adapt to the new framework.
16 Nov 2017 --- At the UN Climate Change Conference (COP23), top cocoa-producing countries Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana announced far-reaching Frameworks for Action with leading chocolate and cocoa companies to end deforestation and restore forest areas.
15 Nov 2017 --- There are just a few months to go before the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) updates its risk assessment on the potential risks to bees from neonicotinoid pesticides. The assessments for clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam will be finalized next February, following a final round of consultation with pesticide experts in the Member States.
