Breaking News on Food Safety & Quality Control

Europe may ban 120 food nutrients

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has rejected dossiers backing 120 nutrient sources for ongoing use within the European Union because they were deemed "not to be adequate".

New SRM rules reduce processor costs, free up supplies

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.

Trans-fats harm mechanism proposed

Trans fatty acids (TFA), an enfant terrible of the food industry, may promote cardiovascular disease by triggering inflammatory processes in the cells lining blood vessels, American scientists report.

BfR expands food safety role by increasing expertise

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.

Pomegranate sauce offers marinade potential for industry

Marinating anchovies in pomegranate juice may extend the shelf-life of the fish, and positively enhance the flavour and aroma profile, suggests new research from Turkey.

Croda kick starts UK brain food scheme

Croda has become the first ingredient supplier to receive accreditation under UK charity Food for the Brain Foundation's new labelling scheme that recognises products with cognitive benefits.

Health claim 'Chinese whispers' may haunt approval process

"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.

FDF encourages best practice for greener supply chain

A one day conference organised by the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) and the London Technology Network (LTN) was held last week to encourage food and drinks companies to share their knowledge and experience on making the industry greener.

Weekly comment

No quick fix to the food price crisis

The food crisis is neither new nor sudden. The several underlying causes have been independently, steadily gathering speed and have collided in a perfect storm not seen for generations. It is going to take a coordinated, long-term effort to untangle them.

Safer, smarter, simpler: the future of packaging

Food packaging will in the future have to offer more protection, greater flexibility and be simpler to produce, according to trends identified by Oman-based packaging group Octal.

UK industry following quality standard guidelines, FSA

British food companies are by and large playing by the rules when it comes to providing information to consumers about the quality of the food they are eating.

Raspberry seed extract boosts muesli shelf-life

Extracts from raspberry seeds may protect components of muesli from oxidation, and prevent the development of off-flavours, according to new research.

Swiss food retailers demand information on nanotech

Switzerland's leading food retailers have introduced a new code of conduct that will oblige their food and packaging suppliers to provide detailed information about nanotechnology products.

Nordson, Sensory Analytics combine measurement technologies

Nordson, the US-based producer of coating measurement machinery for packaging manufacturers, has teamed up with compatriot Sensory Analytics to offer a wider range of facilities to its clients.

Natural preservative from olives keeps fish fresh

Hydroxytyrosol, a natural polyphenol from olives, may extend the shelf-life of fish products to the same extent as synthetic preservatives, suggests new research.

Drink makers behind in natural colours search

Soft drink makers and confectioners remain someway behind rival industries in finding natural additives for their product formulations, a leading global ingredient supplier has said.

UK firm takes soft approach to wholegrains

A new range of softer wholegrains do not need pre-soaking and so the 'hard bite' texture often associated with grain products is eliminated, the manufacturer claims.

Vegetarian glucosamine receives EU approval

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.

Weekly Comment

The dangers of selective science

Antioxidants are back under the microscope for all the wrong reasons. But the use of meta-analyses to pool data is controversial, and scientists need to keep perspective before publishing conclusions.

Lycopene from tangerine tomatoes more bioavailable: study

The lycopene content of orange tomatoes is more bioavailable than the form of lycopene found in the red variety, says new research from the US.

New BPA evidence piles pressure on FDA to set exposure limits

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.

Pine bark extract's osteoarthritis potential expanded

Supplements of French maritime pine bark extracts may reduce the pain associated with arthritis of the knee by about 55 per cent, suggests a new study.

Syngenta to establish research base in China

Swiss biotech Syngenta is investing US$65m in the construction of a new biotech centre in China for to evaluate genetically-modified and native traits in soy and corn.

New technology driving US food safety sales

New products designed to help food processors verify the safety of their products at every stage of the food production process are driving sales in a buoyant US market, a new report states.

Southampton study causing supplements rethink

Food supplements manufacturers may have to reformulate thousands of products aimed at both children and adults if calls for bans on the use of certain artificial colours become reality.

Green tea for sports nutrition?

Antioxidant-rich green tea may counter the effects of resistance exercise by reducing the detrimental effects of oxidative stress, suggests a small trial from Brazil.

French food firms preoccupied by safety

Food safety is the main preoccupation of the French food industry, according to a recent survey commissioned by the organisers of a major food processing exhibition.

EFSA flags high intakes in lycopene safety opinion

Lycopene from natural sources and as a food colour would likely be within the ADI for most people, concludes EFSA, but its use in beverages is high and young children may consume more.

Canola protein shows anti-diabetes potential

Substituting milk proteins for proteins from rapeseed (canola) could delay the onset of insulin resistance and protect against diabetes, suggests a new study with rats.

Nitrogen vs CO2: Air Products' handy guide

Air Products has commissioned a new study that will help food processors navigate their way through the potential minefield of meat chilling products.

Dark chocolate gets pulses racing

Consumption of dark chocolate and cocoa may not boost heart health, and could actually increase pulse rates, according to new research.

Southampton colours should be phased out, says FSA

Artificial colours linked to hyperactivity in children by the Southampton study should be phased out in Europe, said the UK Food Standards Agency today.

Shifting health claim criteria may provoke legal challenge

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.

Food firms urged to help monitor imports of Chinese rice

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is calling on food firms to help ensure that Chinese rice and products made from that rice being used in the UK do not contain the unauthorised GM Bt63.

US warming to air chilled chicken

Seven US poultry processing plants have switched to using air chilling equipment to meet EU import requirements for the product, with more expected to follow, according to USDA researchers.

FSA appoints expert body on food contaminants

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has appointed the Central Science Laboratory (CSL) as the central UK, expert body on contaminants in food, to help and advise the Agency across a range of food contaminant issues.

Essential oil combinations offer shelf-life prolongation

Combining low levels of essential oils (EOs) could enhance their antimicrobial power and remove adverse taste effects, suggests a new study from Ireland.

Challenges ahead for brewers' 'green' beer drive

'Green' beer may not appear to be much of a priority for brewers, but the industry is nonetheless having to wake up to the need for sustainable production, a leading environmental group has said.

Green tea extract may stop breast cancer growth - in mice at least

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) from green tea may stop the growth and spread of breast cancer cells by impacting on the tumour's blood vessels, results from an animal study suggest.

Scientists demand action on food additives

The researchers behind the Southampton study will push for a ban on food additives they found to be linked to hyperactivity at this week's Food Standards Agency board meeting.

Weekly comment

HFCS and the battle for natural

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

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.

Review raises questions over aspartame and brain health

Excessive intake of aspartame may inhibit the ability of enzymes in the brain to function normally, suggests a new review that could fan the flames of controversy over the sweetener.

PakSense develops standard temperature-monitoring labels

PakSense's temperature monitoring labels for fresh food products in transit are now easier to order and are delivered to customers more quickly, according to the company.

Salmonella study to build prebiotics knowledge

Studies are underway to investigate the use of galacto-oligosaccharides to protect animals from salmonella infection, both to reduce the risk of the bacteria entering the food chain and increase knowledge on prebiotics' benefits.

House flies carry salmonella risk for poultry

The common house fly may pose a threat to the safety of poultry products as they are able to spread salmonella poisoning to healthy hens, say researchers.

Apple gaining functional ingredient makeover

A UK company is finding success for a range of ingredients derived from specially-bred, red-flesh apples it claims have boosted flavanol levels.

GB Environmental acquires Kaiku for food focus

Processing technology company GB Environmental has acquired rival Kaiku as part of company efforts to increase its market share in the food industry.

Screening chip could speed up pathogen detection in animals

A new screening chip designed to detect diseases in poultry and livestock could help limit supply problems and economic loss, which have been a considerable headache for meat processors in recent cases of disease outbreak.