One of the EU’s most venerated food law experts stated the EU nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) has become so convoluted as to be unworkable, at a Brussels congress yesterday.
Most consumers know little to nothing about the EU health claim system, the European Food Safety Authority nor why a blanket ban has been imposed on probiotic marketing across the bloc, a functional food marketing expert told a conference this morning.
On a train to Brussels to cover NutraIngredients’ Probiotech and Microbiota two-day probiotic congress, had me wondering of the sector mood now it has had its claims ripped up by the EU’s hardline health claim process.
It’s quite remarkable how Fonterra has evolved to become New Zealand’s biggest company given the way the dairy giant seems to struggle to take on board its errors of the past.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed it is considering including Greek yogurt in the National School Lunch Program, and has invited potential vendors to take part in a pilot scheme that could begin as early as April.
Westland Milk Products has attempted to reassure its customers about the safety of its products following the discovery of dicyandiamide (DCD) in samples.
EU health claim laws that have banned the use of terms like probiotics and antioxidants because they are deemed to be implied claims, are “absurd”, a pressure group has said.
Produce was linked to almost 50% of foodborne illnesses and poultry to more deaths than any other commodity over a decade, according to a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report.
Fonterra has attempted to reassure its global customers that New Zealand dairy products are safe - as concerns about dicyandiamide (DCD) residue in milk-based products from the country continue to spread.
Foodborne disease outbreaks led to more than 1,500 outbreaks and 23 deaths in two years, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
New Zealand’s government has started a PR offensive to limit the impact of last week’s revelations that low levels of chemical residue were discovered in dairy products from the country, and Chinese consumers find themselves high on its charm list.
The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) has moved to reiterate the safety of New Zealand dairy products and defuse “concerns” about the use of dicyandiamide (DCD), as reports emerge that some importers have begun screening Kiwi dairy shipments.
Parmalat Canada has been handed fines totalling CAD $120,000 for violations that resulted in a worker suffering first and second degree burns while attempting to sanitise a piping system.
A coalition of environmental groups has slammed New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s plans to support the state’s growing yogurt industry by easing regulations on large-scale dairy farming operations.
The sale and use of dicyandiamide (DCD) has been brought to a halt in New Zealand after low levels of the substance were discovered in samples of dairy products from the country.
Seafood, clouding agents and lemon juice are the latest categories targeted by food fraudsters flagged up by the US Pharmacopeial (USP) Convention’s Food Fraud Database.
Neogen Corporation has received a matrix extension to cover foods in the bakery, confectionery and dairy industry for one of its salmonella detection methods.
Finnish dairy and probiotics firm Valio says EU health claim laws are forcing it to add approved vitamins and minerals to products like probiotics that have failed to win EU health claims.
The UK Department of Health (DoH) has issued health claims guidance that makes it clear official European Union wordings are flexible but warns companies not to go too far.
As attention turns to the enforcement of the EU’s controversial article 13, general function health claims list after a six month waiting period, an expert on the ground in Italy says the country’s policies will encourage law breaking.
Raw milk dairy Organic Pastures has filed a lawsuit against the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alleging that the agency repeatedly failed to respond to its petition to amend a law that forbids the sale of raw milk-based dairy products across state...
From today food and supplement products marketed in the EU’s 27 member states must comply with the article 13, permitted list of health claims or face prosecution for misleading marketing.
With the December 14 enforcement of the EU's article 13 general function health claim list that includes 200+ approved claims and about 1500 rejections just two days away (after a six month lay-period), we polled key players for core reactions.
The UK Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra) has launched a consultation on the proposed implementation of rules that would allow English dairy farmers to form Producer Organisations (POs).
A Minnesota federal judge has thrown out a class action lawsuit alleging that General Mills’ Yoplait Greek yogurts do not meet the regulatory definition of yogurt on the grounds that this is up to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to decide.
As the formlisation of the main organ (article 13.1 list) of the nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) kicks in this week, Professor Ambroise Martin, the new chair of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claims panel, tells NutraIngredients...
French Gruyere cheese has been granted protected geographical indication (PGI) status by the European Commission (EC), after Swiss and French officials met to discuss measures to avoid misleading consumers.
The European Union General Court (EGC) will hear an appeal from the Cypriot Milk Industry Association relating to a decision to allow a German company to market dairy products using the word ‘Hellim’.
Foodborne illness outbreaks and large product recalls will see demand for food safety products rise 8.4% per year to $18bn in 2016, according to Freedonia.
Infant and medical food specialist Nutricia has had a UK TV campaign claiming toddlers needed twice the nutrients of adults backed by the watchdog there.
December 14 brings the long awaited and widely disputed EU crack down on health claims. That means 222 general function claims are good to go, another 1500 or so prohibited. But what happens to B2B communications?
Japanese supplier Ajinomoto’s chilli extract has won European Union Novel Foods status at various levels in 22 foodstuffs including flavoured waters, meal replacements, baked goods and sugar-free gum.
Steve Morrision was the COO at Provexis when the UK start-up won the EU‘s first ever article 13.5 health claim for its blood circulation-boosting tomato extract called Fruitflow in 2009. The now-consultant has serious qualms about how the EU’s health...
SMA Nutrition manufacturer Pfizer has been scolded by the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) for breaching an advertising code relating to the promotion of infant formula products.
2012 is turning out to be a very good year for the vitamins sector. Aside from the feel good factor of the essential nutrients turning 100, vitamins have also won a bag of health claims in the European Union to go with those already existing in other...
Arla Foods and Fonterra have teamed up with Danish analytical solutions provider Foss to develop a screening method to determine whether milk has been tampered with for financial gain.
Last week, FoodNavigator-Asia published an opinion piece by the anti-GE pressure group, GE-free NZ, that criticised AgResearch, the New Zealand research institute. In the article, the author made reference to the institute’s work in breeding a cow that...
Giant of probiotic supply, DuPont, is not afraid to admit its European business has been altered by the rejection of probiotic health claims under the EU nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR).
Revision of the laws governing specialist food products like sports foods, infant foods and gluten-free foods is set for a final vote in the European Parliament in December or January, 2013, with the leading industry group broadly welcoming the passage.
Six of the world’s leading infant formula manufacturers are opposing a Hong Kong government proposal to ban the promotion of baby food products for children under the age of three.
Anti-microbial air treatment systems will become a “very important” hygiene factor in the food manufacturing industry in coming years, Ecolab’s Marcus Ley told reporter Mark Astley.
Fonterra has welcomed a series of amendments to the New Zealand Raw Milk Regulations that will support domestic dairy product competition and ensure an “entrance pathway” into the farm gate milk market.
