Breaking News on Food Safety & Quality Control

News in brief

UK ports and authorities advised of stricter melamine tests

16-Oct-2008 - The UK Food Standards Agency wrote to all UK ports and local authorities on Wednesday to advise them of a European Commission decision for stricter melamine testing.

MSG may reduce body weight gain: Ajinomoto study

15-Oct-2008 - Consumption of the flavor enhancer monosodium glutamate (MSG) may reduce weight gain and fat deposition, suggests a new study.

European shoppers do not steer clear of GM labels, says study

15-Oct-2008 - European consumers do buy GM foods when they are available in supermarkets, an EU survey has concluded – despite shoppers’ protestations that they would avoid products bearing a GM label.

Melamine crisis makes manufacturers extra-cautious over safety

13-Oct-2008 - The fall-out from the melamine crisis in China is prompting manufacturers to be super careful about sourcing safe ingredients, say industry sources – not just dairy and not just those coming from China.

Wide scepticism of industry interest in cloned food, Commission survey

10-Oct-2008 - A new Eurobarometer survey that has revealed consumers’ views on animal cloning for food production to be overwhelmingly negative will be used by the Commission in its analysis of whether action is required on the subject, and if so, what kind.

China announces new melamine guidelines

09-Oct-2008 - China is taking steps to reassure countries that are banning its imports following the melamine crisis with the introduction of new safety levels for food and drink.

Soup wars over MSG content

08-Oct-2008 - Food companies are competing over monosodium glutamate claims as Progresso announces that added MSG is being removed from all its soups following a rival ad campaign.

Cereals for kids still high in sugar, consumer report

03-Oct-2008 - Driven by consumer demand, formulators are cutting the sugar and salt content from a host of products for kids, but a recent cross-nation report that honed in on breakfast cereals for children suggests more work is required, particularly in the US.

Melamine detection service offered to EU food and drink sector

02-Oct-2008 - A new melamine detection and testing service is targeted at companies in the European food and drink sector including food and ingredient manufacturers and food importers, says Leatherhead Food International.

Manufacturers should help parents make healthy choices

01-Oct-2008 - Food manufacturers need to work with retailers to make it easier for parents to choose more nutritious food and tackle childhood obesity, according to a new study.

Cadbury recalls all chocolate products made at Beijing plant

29-Sep-2008 - British confectionery firm Cadbury has recalled all of its chocolate products manufactured at its Beijing plant as a precautionary step 'after monitoring' melamine-contamination events in China, the chocolate maker said this morning.

Kids could eat three time melamine TDI, warns EFSA

25-Sep-2008 - As global concern grows over the possible use of melamine-contaminated milk powder in biscuits, chocolate and other foods, the EFSA has deemed that, in the worst case, children could exceed the tolerable daily intake of the chemical by three times.

EU confident over melamine dairy protection

22-Sep-2008 - As some of the world’s leading dairy groups attempt to play down their potential involvement in the Chinese melamine scandal, the European Commission says that its existing import rules on the country’s dairy goods remain sufficient.

E. coli growth may be inhibited by tomato-based edible film

18-Sep-2008 - Edible tomato-based, antimicrobial films could prevent bacterial contamination of food, while promoting health as a result of the nutritional and health benefits linked to the consumption of tomatoes, says US study.

Long term effects of folic acid fortification questioned

18-Sep-2008 - Since the introduction of mandatory fortification of grain products in the US, circulating levels of folic acid have doubled, says a new study.

Low listeria levels in smoked fish due to controls, says SPSG

17-Sep-2008 - The UK Salmon Processors and Smokers Group (SPSG) said that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) findings showing low levels of Listeria in smoked fish in UK retail outlets is a result of their strict production controls.

New study links BPA to heart disease and diabetes

17-Sep-2008 - A new study on Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical compound used in plastic packaging for food and drinks, has found that higher concentrations of the chemical in urine were linked with heart disease, type 2 diabetes and liver enzyme abnormalities.

Seminar aims to make processors aware of choking hazards

16-Sep-2008 - Food manufacturers, in creating quality products, must be mindful of the potential choking hazards associated with their products, says Intertek.

Consumers see the benefit of fiber and whole grains

15-Sep-2008 - More consumers in the US are becoming aware of fiber and are trying to increase their consumption of whole grains as part of a healthy diet, according to a new survey.

USDA funds soybean oils designed to replace trans fats

11-Sep-2008 - Asoyia has been awarded a $300,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to market its low linolenic soybean oils which offer an alternative to trans fats.

Too soon to see toolbox effect on acrylamide in snacks, FSA

11-Sep-2008 - A snapshot survey of process chemicals in food products sold in the UK has found that potato snacks contained the highest levels of acrylamide, but the impact of initiatives like the CIAA acrylamide toolbox will only really be seen in future surveys.

Opportunities for cocoa powder as study shows antioxidant levels

11-Sep-2008 - Confectioners may seek to develop new formulations that use cocoa powder and baking chocolate, as new evidence suggests these two chocolate foods deliver the highest levels of the health-busting antioxidant resveratrol.

Cleaning procedures should be customised to meat product: study

10-Sep-2008 - Meat factories may need to modify their cleaning and disinfecting procedures according to the type of meat product being processed to prevent food poisoning outbreaks, claims a new UK study.

Authorities play down Italian cheese scandal fears

10-Sep-2008 - As another scandal involving Italian cheese production hit the headlines this week, authorities in the country claim there is no danger to the public from their products and consumer protection has not been compromised.