The US arm of Danone could be forced to make a multi-million dollar
refund to its customers over allegations that it has used
fraudulent health claims to sell some of its Activia and DanActive
branded yoghurts.
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.
Strains of probiotic bacteria can affect metabolism, says a new
study from Nestle and Imperial College London that could help the
development of new probiotic products tailored for individuals.
The increasing use of probiotics and antioxidants will continue to
develop in 2008 but products positioned at heart health will not
perform so well, a report has said.
The majority of consumers do not think that nanotechnology should
be used in food applications, according to a survey from German
risk assessor BfR, and they are more likely to trust information
from consumer groups than politicians...
Lactose intolerant Brits may be missing the high calcium health benefits of dairy goods due to the misapprehension that they cannot eat cheese, according to a new survey conducted by the British Cheese Board (BCB).
'Antioxidants' crop up every where, from beverage cans to cereal
packets. But industry must wake up to over use of the antioxidant
tag before the term loses meaning for consumers.
Naturis has asked the Food Standards Agency to approve the use of
phytosterols - which have been linked to having a positive effect
on lowering cholesterol - from soya bean seeds.
Bisphenol A (BPA), known as the 'gender bender' chemical, leaches
into liquid baby formula from the linings of cans at levels
dangerous to infant health, according to new research published
yesterday by a US environmental...
Debate has been stirred in the UK over a future that could see GM
foods on supermarket shelves, as the government's outgoing chief
scientific advisor said he believes GM food to be safer than
convention food.
New UK-wide directives designed to set out new standards for dried
and condensed milk, in line with wider European and international
standards, have been unveiled by the country's Food Standards
Agency (FSA).
UK regulators yesterday outlined stricter controls on the
marketing, labelling and formulation of infant formulas, including
the use of brand names, to correspond with changes to EU law.
Public perception of food risk is the important factor in
determining need for state intervention even if the scientific
point of view says the risk is low, according to the BfR, a view
that has a strong bearing on current issues...
Experts at a Nestle-sponsored symposium on probiotics and
children's health have urged paediatricians to pay attention to
emerging research on so-called good bacteria, although more
research is needed on the mechanisms behind...
The amount of fake foods, drinks and agricultural products being
traded worldwide is on the increase according to a new report on
counterfeiting released today by the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Nine more food contact materials have received a positive
scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA),
which also set migration limits for the chemicals.
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has called for
further testing on two different proteins used in milk production,
just one month after claiming there was no danger in consuming
either of the products.
The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA)
has issued proposals to adopt EU-wide
measures designed to prevent antibiotic residues entering the
food chain via raw milk and other dairy products.
Morinaga Milk Industry announced this week that it has obtained
self-affirmed generally recognized as safe (GRAS) certification for
one of its probiotic ingredients to tap growing demand in the US
for functional benefits in products.
Phytosterols incorporated into low-fat fermented milk was effective
in lowering LDL cholesterol levels in people with slightly elevated
cholesterol, French researchers have reported.
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.
Danone has played down fears over the safety of some of its yoghurt
products as it becomes the latest European company to be hit by
concerns over possible dioxin contamination in guar gum.
Drinking fat-free milk after resistance exercise has a greater
effect on helping to increase lean body mass compared to soy or
carbohydrates in young male weightlifters, a study has concluded.
UK food and drink manufacturers may soon be able to offer their
workers recognised qualifications and get government funding for
such in-house training.
The European Commission has now banned all UK exports of live
animals, as well as meat and dairy products, after Foot and Mouth
Disease (FMD) was found on a UK farm last Friday, according to
Forbes magazine.
Drinking skimmed milk after exercise may promote recovery and
rehydration better than water or an isotonic sports drink, suggests
a new study from the UK.
Unilever's plans to adopt a new protein for ice cream production
that uses a genetically modified (GM) ingredient came a step closer
to fruition today after receiving provisional approval from the
UK's Food Standards Agency...
Cured meat products are appearing on the market as 'naturally
cured', 'no nitrite added', 'without added nitrite' or even
'nitrite free' to promote a health image to consumers.
Industry expert...
The breast milk of mothers consuming organic meat and dairy
contains higher levels of beneficial fatty acids, and has an
overall improved quality, suggests new research.
Ireland's food safety regulator has urged the nation's food
industry to be more involved with the EU health claims process to
make the most of the opportunities it offers.
Probiotic supplementation during pregnancy and then for the infants
after birth could reduce the incidence of eczema, suggests a new
clinical trial from Sweden.
Cheese processors in the UK have been handed tougher guidance on
hygiene, following EU claims that the country's food safety
authority was not doing enough to protect consumers.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the nation's dairy
industry are putting a stop to claims in their advertising that
dairy products cause weight loss following a petition from the
Physicians Committee for Responsible...
The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has today announced the
start of a review of its own guidance, which aims to make
regulations easier to understand and follow for firms.
The European Union has set new standards that regulate dairy
pasteurisation testing, which bring bloc into line with
international standards already in place.
Thousands of bottles of strawberry milkshake have been recalled in
the UK by manufacturer Silver Spoon, due to concerns the products
may make consumers ill.
A portable refrigerator thermometer allows processors to record
temperatures more accurately and easily, improving the traceability
of products, its manufacturer claims.
Meat and milk from cloned animals could soon become available in
the EU, depending on the outcome of a European Food Safety
Authority scientific review.
The UK has published its first industry good hygiene practice
guide, part of a series intended to help manufacturers comply with
new EU-wide regulations on food safety.
The European Commission is expected to drop a court case against
the UK over dairy hygiene practices, following an inspection of the
country's industry, this publication understands.
The EU's food agency today set a maximum limit for human daily
intakes of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical implicated as a potential
carcinogen and widely used in plastic food packaging and cans.
Cuts in funding and a plan by UK regulators to publish details of
its testing regime for imports, could lead to toxic foods ending up
on the shelves, an organic industry association claimed yesterday.
The European Commission plans to review the EU's new hygiene laws
to determine whether further amendments are needed to strengthen
provisions related to meat inspection, gelatine, good food safety
practices and cold stores.