Breaking News on Food Safety & Quality Control

Nestle points towards future of cocoa research

The future of research into the potential health benefits of cocoa should focus on the mechanisms and active compounds, with well defined clinical trials key to this burgeoning segment, says a new review by Nestlé.

Chip stirrer targeted at automated processes

An automated chip stirrer can help boost output by up to 25 per cent, according to its manufacturer.

Organic baby cereal incorporates probiotics and omega-3

A processor claims to have launched the first organic cereal for babies that is fortified with probiotics and omega-3.

Peanut pregnancy advice caused consternation for UK Lords

A high level report from the UK's House of Lords has said advice on peanut consumption by pregnant women and children to reduce allergy risk could be counterproductive, and calls for urgent withdrawal pending review.

Tea Council under fire for health claims posters

The UK Tea Council has been criticised for exaggerating the benefits of tea and banned from making further claims about the drinks antioxidant potential after running a series of adverts.

Tougher food import laws proposed

A bill proposing stricter import regulations has been presented to Congress, as fears over imported food products show no sign of diminishing.

Weekly comment

Consumers and the confidence crisis

Consumer demand - the holy grail of any industry - is a fragile and easily manipulated treasure. But influencing consumers for anything other than their own benefit will, more often than not, carry unintended consequences.

UK moves to risk-based inspection system

The level of inspections of UK manufacturing plants would depend on the level of risk a particular processor poses to public health, under proposed rules published for consultation.

Stainless steel forklift raises the food hygiene bar

A stainless steel forklift truck is designed for moving and weighing products at manufacturing sites such as food processing plants that need to be as hygienic as possible.

Most consumers still against cloning, reveals new survey

The majority of American consumers are still against the idea of eating products derived from cloned animals, although confidence levels shoot up if these products are deemed safe by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Is Asia the future for phytochemical research?

The future of research into the ability of phytochemicals to treat modern disease lies in Asia because of restrictive laws and "cynicism", a UK based research company has said.

FSA 'astonished' by slow industry action on additives

The UK's FSA has issued its harshest judgement on the food industry's use of artificial colour and preservatives yet, following the publication of the Southampton study at the beginning of the month, and is calling for action on labelling as well as reformulation.

New food safety website for small companies

Size need not be a problem, as a new website has been launched to help small and medium-sized manufacturers fight an array of food safety issues.

Mars hits out at US chocolate redefinition proposal

US moves to redefine chocolate have come under further criticism by some of the leading players in the industry.

UK leading Europe in additive-free products, Mintel

More than a thousand new food products claiming to be additive- and preservative-free have been launched in the UK this year, according to Mintel, representing almost a quarter of all launches and nearly three times as many as any other European country.

EU regulations stymie food innovation, says economist

Novel foods regulation is presenting a serious barrier to innovation by food ingredients companies in Europe, according to a new economic review, threatening the industry's competitiveness on the global stage.

Dairy company tests ozone pasteurisation technique

A cold pasteurisation technique that uses ozone gas allows processors to create food without damaging healthy components, according to its developer.

Processors move to quell health fears over additives

The biggest trend in the UK market in recent years has been for manufacturers and retailers to reduce the use of additives, as well as replacing additives used with non-artificial alternatives, says the Food and Drink Federation (FDF).

Foot and mouth spreads in UK

Foot-and-mouth disease has spread to two more farms in the UK, underlying fears that a EU-wide ban on the country's exports will be prolonged.

Soft drinks makers claim reformulation commitment

As manufacturers continue to react to the consumer backlash from new findings linking artificial additive use to child hyperactivity, the beverage industry claims companies are moving to reformulate products accordingly.

Sontra and Echo hook up for transdermal techs

Sontra Medical has announced its intention to merge with Echo Therapeutics in a bid to create a company with a powerful transdermal drug delivery offering, and steadying Sontra's rickety financial position.

More risk control of supply chain needed says Sudan 1 panel

Food safety recommendations made by a panel investigating one of the largest industry-wide recalls ever made in the UK could lead to tougher regulatory scrutiny of the way processors manage their supply chain.

No danger in New Zealand's milk, says safety authority

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has ruled that milk containing either the A1 and A2 protein does not pose a danger to the public and should remain part of a nutritious diet.

Healthy diet confuses consumers, FSA says

People in the UK are sometimes confused when it comes to making sure they eat a healthy balanced diet, a Food Standards Agency survey has found.

Weekly Comment

Arnie and the clones

Cloned foods have not yet made it to our grocery aisles, but in the advent of such a rollout consumers must have a defined right to decide if they want to swallow the technology or not.

Intensive meat production a danger to food supply, warns FAO

A report, issued today by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) about the increased risk of pathogen contamination in industrial meat production, serves as an advance warning to processors of a growing problem.

New probiotics council aims to guide US industry

The National Yogurt Association is creating a probiotics council - another signal the active cultures have achieved mainstream status in North America.

New aspartame review claims no grounds for concern

A new review of research on the safety of aspartame has concluded that suggestions of adverse effects have 'no credible scientific basis' - findings that add weight to the argument of those who stand by the sweetener's good name.

E. coli report calls for review of UK food safety law

Current UK regulation of the meat industry should be reviewed to determine whether changes are needed to prevent outbreaks of disease such as E. coli, according to a review report released yesterday.

EFSA proposes science panel split

The board of the European Food Standards Authority yesterday said it plans to carve up the workload of its Additives and Food Contact (AFC) panel between two new panels - one for food additives and the other for food contact materials.

Chinese vitamin C supply could be under threat

The face of the vitamin C market may be on the verge of change as reports circulate that prices from China - the world's primary supplier - are rocketing.

Asia-Pacific heads into food safety battle

In light of global publicity over food scares originating in Asia-Pacific, the region is now fighting back, both internally and globally, by making food safety its top priority.

Import safety approach needs overhaul, says report

The US will fail to deal with food safety in an increasingly global market, unless improved preventative checking measures are put in place for imports, a new report warns.

Small-scale fluidiser designed to test formulations

A new laboratory-scale fluidiser is designed to allow small businesses to test formulations before scaling up to commercial production.

Climate change: FAO urges changes to ensure food security

Climate change is emerging as a major threat to food security, and governments need to find "creative solutions" and "alternative approaches" in order to deal with the challenge, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Food executive sentenced to jail over E. coli outbreak

Breaching food safety rules can lead to jail, as the executive of a UK food manufacturer has discovered.

EFSA confirms place of UK additives study in review

The European Food Standards Authority has confirmed that it will be considering the FSA-funded study on certain food additives and children's behaviour as part of its current review of additive safety.

New fast test method developed

In a new study, researchers say they have developed a reliable way of testing and analysing large numbers of food samples quickly for possible pathogen contamination.

Weekly comment

Hooked on Es

This comment was amended to correct a statement about bans of additives in other countries. Some of the chemicals were previously banned by Norway, Austria and Australia but those bans have since been removed. Allura red AC, tartrazine and sunset yellow are allowed in the US, while quinoline yellow, carmoisine and ponceau 4R are not. None of the colour additives are currently banned by Australia, which lifted a ban on quinoline yellow in 2003. The country does not permit tartrazine to be used in medicines.

WHO sets out European food safety action plan

EU country representatives will discuss future goals for co-ordinated food safety and nutritional policies in the bloc, at a 19 September meeting to be held by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Eliminating colours, additives could help hyperactive kids, says FSA

The FSA has issued new advice on certain artificial additives following research into a link with children's behaviour: that eliminating them from the diet could have some benefits for hyperactive kids or those with ADHD.

Popcorn brands ban diacytel

Two of the largest US popcorn makers have removed diacetyl from their brands, as doctors report that the chemical may now cause a fatal lung disease in consumers as well as factory workers.

UK law revisions toughen up import rules

UK regulations relating to food and feed imports are being toughened up under new revisions submitted for public comment yesterday.

Probiotics may make safer pork products, say scientists

Probiotics have shown promise in reducing incidence of salmonella in pigs, say researchers from the UK, which could lead to safer pork products - particularly in the light of the EU ban on antibiotics in animal feed.

Chr Hansen probiotics launched in Italian cheese

A cheese containing a Chr Hansen probiotic has been launched in Italy, a move which reinforces the growing trend for companies to use probiotics outside of the traditional yoghurt pot.

Weekly comment

Food prices and the death of the productionist model

Last week saw a string of communications about food price rises: first warnings were aired about wheat, then meat, then dairy. It's a vertiginous view from the heights of the commodity markets, and it's clearer than ever before that we need to re-jig our basic food supply systems if we are to feed the world in the future.

Book details advance in yoghurt production

A revised publication focusing on high quality yoghurt production offers a unique insight into the methods and theory being used by today's dairy industry, its authors claim.

Scientists create stronger wheat with gluten fortification

Researchers in Texas are working on the development of stronger gluten flours, designed for use in more resistant bread products.

EU minister in China to discuss improved food safety

The EU's top health representative is meeting with China's officials this week in a bid to ensure processors and others get safe supplies from a country beset by problems with its quality controls.

New nanowire combats E-coli pathogens, says study

Meat processing surfaces can be made almost fully resistant to E-coli thanks to new nanowire technology, researchers claim.