Breaking News on Food Safety & Quality Control

Food safety guidelines can overwhelm processors, says group

23-Jun-2008 - Maintaining up-to-date knowledge on industry guidelines and developing a strong quality processing system add to the pressures faced by food processors in the current climate of high input costs, claim US food safety consultants.

HFCS 'natural' drink not deceptive, rules court

19-Jun-2008 - A US federal judge has rejected a claim that the use of the term 'all natural' on Snapple drinks was deceptive because the products contained high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

Consumer group calls for global safety rethink

17-Jun-2008 - The consolidation of food safety systems into a form of "one-size-fits-all" regulation may undermine hygienic manufacturing, warns consumer rights group Food and Water Watch.

100s of UK herbals face ban as registration deadline looms

17-Jun-2008 - Hundreds of botanical products face removal from the UK market if their manufacturers do not submit applications to have them registered under the European Union Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive (THMPD) directive.

US alcopop tax not to UK tastes, says expert

12-Jun-2008 - New Californian legislation that classes flavoured malt beverage 'alcopops' as higher tax band spirit products is unlikely to be adopted in the UK or other EU markets, according to a leading alcohol charity.

Forced sheep tagging not viable, says meat industry

05-Jun-2008 - UK meat processors have backed the country's farmers over concerns at the cost of implementing European directives requiring compulsory electronic tagging on sheep in the next few years.

FSA issues guidance for clearer labelling

03-Jun-2008 - New labelling guidelines were issued this week by the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) to help manufacturers in present vital product information in a clearer way.

Legislative round-up

15-May-2008 - The UK's food agency highlights how industry could make cost savings in the event of food scares, and provides details about labeling of food allergens

FDA looks to improve safety with 1,300 new staff

07-May-2008 - The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is beginning a multi-year hiring scheme that could ease strain on its ability to react in times of crisis, though the initiative does not likely go far enough for detractors both within and outside the agency who say it is dangerously under funded.

New SRM rules reduce processor costs, free up supplies

30-Apr-2008 - The age limit at which the vertebral column must be removed from beef carcasses without specific measures has been lifted from 24 to 30 months, which should help reduce processors' costs and free up supplies.

BfR expands food safety role by increasing expertise

29-Apr-2008 - The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is tightening food safety measures by creating fourteen new committees to provide expert advice on food, feed and consumer product safety.

Health claim 'Chinese whispers' may haunt approval process

28-Apr-2008 - "Subtle language differences" may confound regulators in the midst of translating thousands of health claims ahead of a pan-European 2010 approval deadline, according to various industry sources.

Vegetarian glucosamine receives EU approval

21-Apr-2008 - A vegetarian glucosamine ingredient from China-based Hygeia Health has been determined by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) as equivalent to current glucosamine on the market.

New BPA evidence piles pressure on FDA to set exposure limits

17-Apr-2008 - Pressure is growing on the US Food and Drug Administration to set new restrictions on the use of the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in food packaging following a new safety study.

Shifting health claim criteria may provoke legal challenge

10-Apr-2008 - A pan-European industry group has criticised the European Commission for issuing guidance that it will reject scientific health claim dossiers that do not contain clinical data.

Weekly comment

HFCS and the battle for natural

07-Apr-2008 - It is hard for food companies not to get drawn into the temptation of using attractive label claims that may be shrouded by a veil of doubt. But the real risk comes when the 'if you don't know, don't ask' question is finally answered.

Antimicrobial meat decontaminates step nearer after EFSA verdict

03-Apr-2008 - Four antimicrobial substances used for decontaminating poultry carcasses do not affect consumer bacterial resistance to antibiotics, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said this week.

Weekly comment

Calm crucial for energy products

25-Mar-2008 - Energy drinks are a runaway success but extreme marketing and product formulation has the potential to cast a shadow over the multi-billion dollar global industry.

Dual testing no longer needed for US rice

25-Mar-2008 - Rice imported from the United States no longer needs to be tested for the presence of GM material both at the point of export and on arrival in the EU, following an amendment to emergency measures following the 2006 contamination incident.

US seminar to focus on packaging legalities

19-Mar-2008 - A one day seminar to be held in Chicago will address legal issues for managers in the food and beverage packaging industry, including food safety, sustainability, food contact material developments and nanotechnology.

FDA plans wider foreign inspection approach

18-Mar-2008 - The US Food and Drug administration (FDA) is seeking permission from the Chinese government to install eight full time FDA officials in the country, as part of plans to improve monitoring of exported food manufacturing across the globe.

BfR helps develop database for improved risk assessment

13-Mar-2008 - The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has set up a project to support the development of a European Food Consumption Concise Database, which will draw together data from member states.

Processor concern over German biotech ruling

13-Mar-2008 - Recent amendments to Germany's biotech laws will allow the country's food processors to make use of a "without biotech" label on their products, despite some concerns that such claims are misleading, says a new report.

EFSA says GM oilseed rape unlikely to cause harm

11-Mar-2008 - EFSA has issued its opinion that Bayer's GM oilseed rape is unlikely to have a detrimental effect on human or animal health or the environment when used for food and feed uses.