Breaking News on Dairy Processing & Markets

EFSA health claims panellist edits probiotic claims book

14-Mar-2011 - European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claim panellist, professor Seppo Salminen, has co-edited a book investigating probiotic science and health claims, with a focus on regional differences.

Kefir maker latest target in FDA claims crackdown

10-Mar-2011 - Major kefir manufacturer Lifeway Foods is the latest company to feel the wrath of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for making unsubstantiated drug claims.

Kraft and Saputo lose legal challenge against Canadian cheese standards

09-Mar-2011 - An attempt by Kraft Canada and Saputo to overturn Canadian government standards on the composition of cheese has been dismissed by the Federal Court of Appeal.

GRAS status gives K2 a US dairy platform, says NattoPharma

02-Mar-2011 - NattoPharma will be able to expand further in the US, said the firm, after it was awarded GRAS status for its vitamin K2 ingredient for dairy foods.

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The balancing act of allergen labelling

01-Mar-2011 - The food industry has a responsibility to label allergenic ingredients as big and bold as they can – but also not to over-egg the slimmest of slim possibilities that a trace amount of an allergen may have slipped into a product.

Probiotic academics turn up political health claim heat

01-Mar-2011 - A recently established group of global gut health academics is sending letters to Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) as well as national government politicians as the group attempts to alter the application of a regulation it says is, “killing the science of probiotics”.

FSA goes Gaga over breast milk ice cream...

01-Mar-2011 - The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is investigating whether a controversial ice cream made with donated breast milk, and sold in a London restaurant, breaches food safety regulations.

China promises to target leather protein in milk tests

21-Feb-2011 - The Chinese government has warned that it is on the look out for leather protein in a fresh round of dairy testing over the coming year.

Baby milk campaign group claims EFSA oversight in DHA approval

18-Feb-2011 - An approved EFSA claims that omega-3 form DHA contributes to the visual development of infants risks misleading consumers, due to a committee oversight in approving the relevant health claim, says UK-based breast-feeding advocacy group Baby Milk Action.

Farmers withdraw amended plan for UK mega dairy

17-Feb-2011 - Nocton Dairies has withdrawn its scaled back application to build a mega dairy near Lincoln, UK, in the face of persistent environmental objections.

Negative EFSA health claim opinions can be changed: Consultant

17-Feb-2011 - Stakeholder input can alter European Food Safety Authority health claim opinions, says German consultancy and contract research organization, Analyze&Realize, even if the examples are few.

EFSA health claim opinion

EFSA rejects probiotic “heart cheese” health claim

16-Feb-2011 - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has rejected an article 13.5 claim that sought to link a probiotic cheese called Harmony with heart health benefits.

EFSA health claim opinion

EFSA approves vitamin B1-infant brain health claim

14-Feb-2011 - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has approved a health claim linking thiamin (vitamin B1) and “normal neurological development and function” in infants and children up to three years of age.

CLA gains EU hearing as Novel Foods status beckons

08-Feb-2011 - Nine months after the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) handed in a positive safety assessment for conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), the weight management ingredient will be assessed by the European Commission as it continues its protracted journey to attain EU Novel Foods status.

New US Dietary Guidelines up dairy recommendation for kids

02-Feb-2011 - Newly revised US Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) advises children between the ages of four and eight to up their daily dairy servings from two servings a day to two and a half servings a day.

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Sugar: regulatory sweet nothings leave food and drink makers in limbo

02-Feb-2011 - Jazz singer Nina Simone’s plaintive, “I want a little sugar in my bowl”, will strike the right note with Europe’s beleaguered sugar industry.

MEPs question omega-3 baby milk benefits

31-Jan-2011 - Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) are questioning whether omega-3 form DHA can benefit infant eye sight, despite the nutrient winning endorsement from one of the world’s toughest claims assessment agencies – the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

No health risk from foods affected in German dioxin scandal - BfR

31-Jan-2011 - Foods tainted in the wake of the dioxin contamination scandal in Germany pose no health threat to consumers, said the country’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) following the first detailed appraisal of the incident.

EDA president lays out political challenges for 2011

25-Jan-2011 - The president of the European Dairy Association (EDA) has spoken up on continued major points of concern in proposed reforms to EU dairy policy.

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EC complacency on dioxins weakens Europe’s food safety standing

19-Jan-2011 - The complacency being exhibited by Brussels over the ongoing dioxin contamination incident is every bit as concerning as the carcinogenic chemical that has found its way into the food and feed chains since the end of last year.

Greek authorities approve Unilever ice cream buy

19-Jan-2011 - The Greek competition authorities have conditionally approved the purchase of a Greek ice cream brand by food giant Unilever.

EC edges towards new dioxin legislation

18-Jan-2011 - The European Commission has given its strongest signal yet that legislation tightening up the monitoring of dioxins in the food and feed chain will follow in the wake of the German crisis.

China’s battle against melamine-tainted milk continues

13-Jan-2011 - With almost 100 people currently in custody and thousands of tonnes of contaminated product seized in China over the last six months, melamine-tainted milk powder is a problem that just will not go away for Beijing.

Proposals for stricter dioxin controls, Germany discovers tainted pork

12-Jan-2011 - The first discovery of dioxin-tainted pork, a move by the Chinese to suspend German imports and proposals from the animal feed sector to boost controls on the toxic chemical were just some of the developments yesterday in the contamination scandal that has been dominating headlines this week.