Regulation & Safety

23-Jan-2008 - A number of leading dairy experts believe that the industry is "unfairly" blamed for contributing to the growing worldwide obesity crises, and more must be done to promote the dietary benefits of its products.

Nestle explores probiotics' impact on metabolism

15-Jan-2008 - 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.

Digestion to take over from heart health, report claims

10-Jan-2008 - 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.

Consumers against nanotech in food, says BfR

20-Dec-2007 - 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 and businesses.

Lactose intolerant can still eat some cheese

19-Dec-2007 - 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).

Weekly comment

Time for antioxidants v2.0

17-Dec-2007 - '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.

Cloned food postponed

17-Dec-2007 - Food from cloned animals looks likely to take longer than expected to enter the American food supply, following the passage of a provision in the Senate's Farm Bill that requires more testing.

Naturis seeks phytosterol permission for dairy

13-Dec-2007 - 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.

Weekly Comment

Infant nutrition: Too close for comfort?

10-Dec-2007 - Industry has to walk a tightrope between lending a benevolent hand to support infant nutrition for the good of public health, and cynical marketing that seems to cash in on sensitivities.

Bisphenol A in infant formula at 'dangerous' levels, says group

06-Dec-2007 - 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 group

Top UK scientist advocates GM future

29-Nov-2007 - 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.

Weekly comment

Why all the fuss about stevia?

26-Nov-2007 - Over the past half year, stevia has been the focus of attention as the search for a perfect natural sweetener continues. But why are the birds circling when the ingredient has not been approved in the two major Western markets - the United States and Europe?

UK outlines dried milk amedments

26-Nov-2007 - 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).

Study focuses on pathogens in unpasteurised cheese

23-Nov-2007 - A three-year project designed to test the safety of producing cheese from unpasteurised milk has been announced by the Campden Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA).

Infant nutrition rules are weak, group claims

22-Nov-2007 - The UK's proposed infant nutrition rules have failed to protect mothers and babies and bowed to "industry pressure", lobbyists have said.

UK clamps down on infant formula promotion

22-Nov-2007 - 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.

Communication is vital in managing food risk, BfR

15-Nov-2007 - 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 like additives and ingredient sourcing.

Probiotics have a role in paediatrics, say experts

06-Nov-2007 - 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 benefit of specific strains.

Weekly Comment

Time to get serious on health claims criteria

15-Oct-2007 - The European Food Safety Authority's task to assess thousands of health claims is a headache in anyone's book - and one made worse through vague instructions to industry.