Breaking News on Food Safety & Quality Control

Polyphenol-rich fruit protect against Alzheimer's: study

A diet rich in polyphenol-rich fruit like apples, oranges and bananas may protect against oxidative stress linked to loss of cognitive function and Alzheimer's, suggests a new study.

Nanostructures tested as beta-carotene carriers in beverages

Beta-carotene, used in foods and beverages as colourants and health ingredient, can be stabilised by novel nano-scale carriers, suggests innovative research from Germany.

States ask EFSA for more guidance on GM assessment

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is working with member states to update risk assessment guidance for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to bring it in line with scientific progress and provide more in-depth advice.

Demand soars for supplement rulebook

A European wide set of guidelines to help companies comply with EU laws on producing and selling supplements has gained "global demand", the publishers have said.

Omega-3 formulation issues need fast resolution: study

The increasing formulation and fortification of foods with different types of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) could be further enhanced by better understanding of how to protect them from oxidation, states a new review.

Sweet foods contain hidden salt risks

An industry body yesterday said consumers are unaware of the high salt content on some sweet products such as popcorn, cereals and hot chocolate, sparking calls for reformulation and improved labelling.

Riggs launches new depositor for hand finished products

UK-based food equipment firm Riggs Autopack is introducing a spot depositor for ready meal, bakery and dessert products that require accurate hand finishing.

Roundtable targets EU allergen policy revamp

A roundtable discussion on allergen legislation to be held next month in Italy could spell the end of "may contain" warnings on food labels, according to one of its organisers.

Key Technology sorter removes lettuce cores, boosts shelf-life

US-based Key Technology has developed a new sorter designed to remove the core from lettuce heads, saving on labour costs and increasing the product shelf life.

Dutch food agency says probiotics are safe

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (VWA) has said there is no danger in taking probiotic dairy drink - but is planning to release details on possible consequence of the bacteria on vulnerable groups.

Weekly comment

Probiotics, friend or foe?

The headlines are sensationalist: twenty-four people have died in a probiotic trial. Therefore, probiotics may be fatal. Throw those yoghurt shots away!

Ishida Europe introduces x-ray for large food products

Japanese x-ray company Ishida has expanded its range of x-ray inspection systems for the food industry, launching a new machine suitable for large products and cartons.

Omega-3 with high fat meal eases cardiovascular changes

Consuming the omega-3 eicosapentaenoic acid along with a high fat meal may counter the detrimental effects on arterial stiffness, suggests new research.

Bitter taste discovery could lead to palatability boost

American and Japanese researchers have identified how peptides in food activate human bitter taste receptors, data that could have implications for the food industry and food formulators.

EFSA issues new advice on listeria

Europe's food safety watchdog has issued updated advice on reducing the risk of the food-borne bacteria listeria, urging food manufacturers to watch out for contamination during packaging, preparation and storage of food.

UK researchers tackle knowledge gap on norovirus

A new study is set to improve understanding of how food processing and handling can reduce the spread of noroviruses, one of the most common causes of gastroenteritis.

Alginate encapsulation could expand probiotic applications

Encapsulating probiotic bacteria in alginate-coated gelatin microspheres could protect the friendly bacteria against the harsh conditions of the stomach and upper intestine, allowing for greater delivery of these value-added ingredients, suggests new research.

Euro GM reluctance could hit beer innovation

As the EU debates retaining national bans on genetically modified (GM) crops, one industry expert believes that failure to adapt could grant foreign rivals using the technology an upper hand, not least in terms of brewing a good beer.

Weekly Comment

Exotic fruits or local berries? You choose

As consumer demand for exotic superfruits increases, so will the impact of transport on the environment. But as policy makers and green campaigners devise more ways of monitoring greenhouse gases, who will win the environmental tug of war?

Scotland kicks off food policy debate

The Scottish government has published a new discussion paper setting out its vision for the country's food supply and industry, which will help set the agenda for its first ever national food policy.

EFSA seeks experts for two new panels

The European Food Safety Authority has started seeking experts to sit on its two new panels on food additives, flavourings, processing aids and food contact materials, following the decision to split the existing Additives and Food Contact Materials panel in two.

Cloning animals for food not ethical, says EU body

Using cloned animals for production of food such as meat and milk is not justified, say experts on ethics reporting to the European Commission.

Trans-fats harm may extend to prostate: study

Increased intakes of trans-fatty acids may increase the risk of non-aggressive prostate tumours by about 100 per cent, suggests new research from Harvard.

Internet traceability system launched for food processors

An internet-based interface that allows food processors to see which country every ingredient has come from and each process a product goes through in the factory is set to significantly overhaul food chain traceability.

EFSA gears up for health claims avalanche

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is preparing to "significantly" boost resources to deal with what may be thousands of health claims passed to it for evaluation.

Fierce responses to FDA cloning safety report

The FDA's scientific conclusion that meat and milk from cloned cows, pigs and goats and their offspring is safe has elicited a flurry of responses from both sides of the fence, raising issues such as financial gain, trade opportunities, and organic standards.

Mixed verdict in managers' butter adultery case

Two French dairy managers face suspended prison sentences and €23m in fines for their alleged role in a Europe-wide scheme to produce and distribute adulterated butter, the European Anti Fraud Office (OLAF) has said.

Cyclodextrin tested for flavonol protection to add value

The flavonols quercetin and myricetin, compounds associated with significant health benefits, can be encapsulated in beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD), researchers have reported.

Wine waste extract to be used in functional foods

Work is underway to see New Zealand Extract's Vinanza Gold added to a host of functional foods, including cereal products, health bars and even chewing gum.

Industry postpones infant nutrition rules

A high court judge has suspended the implementation of new rules on infant nutrition in the UK after a legal challenge was made by the Infant and Dietetic Foods Association (IDFA).

Weekly comment

How natural is 'natural'?

The refusal by regulators to provide a formal definition of the term 'natural' will ultimately lead to confusion for consumers and a legal headache for manufacturers.

Food from cloned animals probably safe, says EFSA

Meat and dairy products from cloned animals are probably safe for human consumption, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concluded in a draft opinion released on Friday.

Food recalls: US beef in E.coli scare; cyanide in crackers

A US meatpacker has recalled about 188,000 pounds of ground beef and other products because of E. coli bacteria concerns; and higher-than-normal levels of naturally occuring cyanide were found in a cassava cracker product in Australia.

Flagging meat origin can mark out from commodities, says EBLEX

Retail prices of beef and lamb sold specifically as English in Great Britain have been sustained rises over the past four years, according to EBLEX - data said to show the sense in letting consumers make an informed choice.

Four-way x-ray designed for packaging

A recent development in x-ray detection for packaging leaves no place for contaminants to hide, whether in glass, metal and even stone or bone, according to its manufacturer.

Review backs oats' heart health benefits

An up-to-date review of the recent science behind oatmeal supports its cardiovascular benefits, and supports the FDA's decade-old conclusions.

Fingerprints could help stop fake food

Researchers at the University of the Basque Country are working on a way to develop a "fingerprint" using polyphenol groups to help cut adulteration in foodstuffs.

France one step closer to extending GM ban

The French government declared yesterday that it is willing to apply an EU measure to implement a long term ban on genetically modified (GM) crops if a scientific panel decides their safety is questionable.

High-fibre banana powder offers health and wellness options

A fibre-rich powder from banana powder could boost the fibre content and nutritional content of food, report researchers from Mexico and Venezuela.

Wheat trials begin for UK organic bread boost

Field and baking trials of new UK wheat crops are currently underway, as part of a project to boost the country's organic bread market.

Weekly comment

Back to tap: bottled water's enviro-woes

It looks set to be a vintage year ahead for Chateau Eau De Source Public - or as it is more humbly known, tap water - as consumers find themselves encouraged to shun the mineral variety of the product to reduce packaging waste.

Vitamin D2 just as good as D3?

Challenging the view that vitamin D3 is more potent than D2, researchers from Boston University have reported that both forms are equally effective at maintaining 25-hydroxyvitamin D status.

FDA expected to declare cloned meat and milk safe

The Food and Drug Administration is expected to declare that meat and milk from cloned animals safe to enter the American food supply, according to the Wall Street Journal.

US dairy linked to listeria deaths

Four cases of listeria contamination in the US are increasingly thought to have come from a Massachusetts dairy although officials say they still have not found a source of the bacteria at the processing plant.

Beta-cyclodextrin tested for encapsulation

Extracts from plant essential oils (terpenes) can be stabilised by encapsulation in the polysaccharide beta-cyclodextrin and modified starch, suggests new research from Greece.

Omega-3 Alzheimer's benefits identified

Increased intake of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may boost the production of a protein known to destroy the plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease, reports a new study.

Novel alginate-pectin beverage shines as satiety booster

A beverage containing alginate-pectin and calcium forms a stable gel in the stomach and boosts the feeling of fullness, report researchers from the University of Buffalo in collaboration with McNeil Nutritionals.

UK body opens new year whisky consultation

It is not resolution, but regulation driving New Year optimism in Scotch whisky production, as the UK government this week opens consultation on new rules to protect the liquor's reputation internationally.

Poultry workers may spread antibiotic-resistant E. coli

Poultry workers may be spreading antibiotic-resistant bacteria to those who do not work in the sector, say researchers in the US.