GM rape approved for import into EU

The European Commission yesterday authorised the import of genetically modified (GM) oilseed rape for use in animal feed, the third such product to be approved after current regulations came into...

Qualifed health claim for chromium picolinate cleared by FDA

The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a qualified health claim petition for chromium picolinate that claims the supplement may reduce the risk of insulin resistance and possibly...

Organic processors urged to ensure compliance

An EU's law change and an exposé on fraud in the UK has led an organic industry body to call on those storing ingredients for processing to ensure their premises...

Tougher controls proposed for EU aquaculture

Tougher disease prevention measures proposed for the EU's aquaculture industry could lead to higher prices for the fish used by processors in their products.

EU countries lax on following packaging waste rules

Although the EU's member states were due to impose tougher laws on recycling packaging waste, only five countries have completed the task, the European Commission said yesterday.

Claim: Nanofood patents could close down innovation

Food companies have joined with gusto the legal race to win monopoly control of discoveries in nanotechnology that could help them market novel new products, according to a Spanish research...

Labeling critical factor in consumer decisions

The importance of labeling in informing consumer choices has again been underlined in a new market research study.

UK government advised to relax BSE rules

The UK has moved a step closer to relaxing its rules on bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), potentially opening up a larger supply of beef for food processors in the UK...

Law pushes companies to integrated software

Driven by the EU's food regulations, more and more companies are buying integrated software to manage and track products through their supply chain, reports Ahmed ElAmin.

Weekly Comment

The business of food safety

One cannot envy the chief executive faced with a scientific study that casts doubt over the efficacy or safety of his core product. But avoiding a sales slump, media vilification...

Food makers face tougher rules for vegetarian food labels

Food makers can expect tighter voluntary rules on additives in vegetarian and vegan foods as the UK's food agency gets to grips with fresh new definitions, reports Lindsey Partos.

EU outlines plans to relax BSE restrictions

The European Commission's plan to relax the bloc's rules on mad cow disease provides hope to food companies that they will have wider access to beef suppliers, including those in...

EU ministers split on sugar reform plan

The first wrangling over EU sugar reform proposals by agriculture ministers saw protests and a passionate debate in Brussels yesterday, but the opposition looks increasingly isolated, reports Chris Mercer.

Regulator approves GM products as food and feed

In a move that is bound to add more heat to the dispute among EU states over genetically modified organisms, the Europe's food safety regulator has approved a number of...

Codex adopts twenty food standards at Rome meeting

International food body Codex adopted more than twenty new and amended food standards during its annual meeting last week, including a code of practice to minimise antimicrobial resistance, and a...

Sweetener label ruling hits soft drink makers

The FDA has urged the soft drink industry to review the ingredient statements on their soft drink labels following the withdrawal of a proposed "and/or" ruling on sweeteners. ...

UK food agency calls on food scientists

The UK's food safety agency has called for scientists to work on chemical contaminants, food pathogens and novel foods in a range of new projects.

EU favours setting standards for fish eco-labelling

The European Commission does not favour setting up a single system for the eco-labelling of fish and fish products, according to a consultation document issued yesterday.

EU ministers reject Brussels move on GM foods

Ongoing divisions over GM ingredients once again evident in Europe as EU ministers throw out an attempt by the Commission to overturn bans on growing legal GM crops currently in...

Health effects of GM foods need further study, WHO says

A call by the World Health Organisation for further safety assessments on using genetically modified (GM) foods should give governments pause for thought before giving their approval for their wider...

Authorities publish fresh food product data on acrylamide

Food makers to gain from new data on presence of the potential carcinogen acrylamide in a wide range of food products as US authorities release fresh data.

Nestlé gets away with reference to calcium in cheesecake

Nestle UK has found a way to refer to the calcium content in its cheesecake without it being considered a health claim, writes Dominique Patton.

EU food scientists to receive Brussels funding, new calls

Hours after EU leaders fail to hammer out an agreement on the 2007-13 European budget, the Commission calls on food scientists to submit new research proposals for food quality.

EFSA: bacteria and moulds face new system for safety assessment

Europe's food safety body backs proposals to introduce the concept of Qualified Presumption of Safety (QPS) for the safety assessment of microorganisms used in food production.

Global percentage ingredient labels on the Codex table, again

International labelling standards on the percentage of ingredients in a food and beverage products are on the table again at an upcoming Codex meeting, reports Lindsey Partos.