European Food Safety Authority

© iStock/Jan-Schneckenhaus

Health risk from pesticide residues is low, says EFSA

By Niamh Michail

The health risk from pesticide residues in food is low, according to a report by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), with 97% of samples within legal limits - but this is an "upbeat" interpretation which ignores the cocktail effect, critics...

'We strongly question the way this opinion has been treated by the panel,' Probi writes to the European Commission. ©iStock/roibu

'We find it strange ‘methodological limitations’ claimed by the panel were not specified'

‘Highly unsatisfactory’: Probi takes claim complaints to EC

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Commission has asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to consider concerns raised by Swedish supplier Probi about the treatment of its rejected probiotic health claim.

Picture: Ohio Soybean Council

Soy-based BPA alternative coating wins award

By Joseph James Whitworth

A coating technology which could be used to replace Bisphenol A (BPA) in a variety of applications has been awarded second place in a category at the 2016 Bio-Based Innovation Awards.

Strategic shift: 'There was really no reason to talk to the consumer any more because we were not allowed to talk to the consumer any more.'

NutraInterview: Dominique Speleers, Beneo executive board member

Beneo: EFSA forced us to change our strategy

By Shane STARLING

Dominique Speleers is a long-time Beneo man who has seen a lot in his 15 years with the European ingredients giant from back when it was Belgian inulin and chicory player Beneo-Orafti and now as a board member of the more European, more international,...

 We agree that sucrose increases risk of dental caries, but there is no evidence that lactose is less cariogenic than other sugars, says NDA panel.

EFSA adopts essential infant formula composition opinion

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

EFSA has adopted its opinion on the essential infant formula composition following a period of public consultation which saw nearly 400 comments stream in on the likes of omega-3 form DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), probiotics, fluoride and sucrose's...

EFSA issues draft opinion on nutritional requirements of baby milks

EFSA issues draft opinion on nutritional requirements of baby milks

By Mark ASTLEY

Industry representative Specialised Nutrition Europe (SNE) has welcomed a draft European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Scientific Opinion that “recognized” the nutritional value of infant and follow-on formula products already on the market.

Professor Gregor Reid will chair Probiota 2014 in Amsterdam on February 4-5. Expect to be challenged...

“I get personal because they [EFSA] get personal to me"

Fed up: Probiotic research veteran issues global call to action

Veteran probiotic researcher professor Gregor Reid is not a happy man. It’s time the probiotic community fought back against those forces that have for too long denied a perfectly valid body of nutrition science in the form of commercial claims. It’s...

Symposium outlines methods of best practice for designing clinical trials

Clinical trial tips to win an EFSA health claim

By Oliver Nieburg

Atlantia Food Contract Research Organisation has identified methods of best practices to help food and supplements makers conduct human intervention studies that will help them win a European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claim.

Trend-spotter: The rise of slow-energy

Dispatches from Vitafoods Europe 2013

Trend-spotter: The rise of slow-energy

By Shane Starling

There are two speeds when it comes to energy products: Slow and fast, says Mintel trend-spotting guru David Jago.

Most consumers don't know what EFSA is, experts find

Most consumers don't know what EFSA is, experts find

By Nathan Gray

Almost no German consumers know about the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), or understand the role it has in the approval of health claims for functional food products, according to experts.

EU food marketing expert: Consumers don't understand probiotic health claims ban

Live from Probiotech and Microbiota 2013

EU food marketing expert: Consumers don't understand probiotic health claims ban

By Shane Starling in Brussels

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.

Mooted PARNUTs revisions have been welcomed

PARNUTS revision

Industry backs vote to amend PARNUTs framework

By Kacey Culliney

European industry and consumer groups have broadly backed draft amendments to the much-debated specialised foods Directive known as PARNUTs.

Start-ups hope EFSA will look more favourably on research designed with the agency's requirement in mind

Probiotic start-ups pushing new research to please EFSA

By Shane Starling

Spanish and British probiotics companies are driving funds into strain and product-specific studies as they attempt to build scientific backing that will survive in the European Union health claims clampdown.

The quest for a radical new world for antioxidants

The quest for a radical new world for antioxidants

Here’s a radical thought for the marketers - the benefits of antioxidants may not be related to antioxidant activity. Last week’s NutraIngredients Antioxidants Conference suggested some tough choices are ahead.

Bad day at the EU health claims office

Bad day at the EU health claims office

October 1 was not a good day for many in the functional foods and food supplements business in the European Union as the meaning of life under a highly restrictive health claims regime came more into focus.

EFSA says yes to third of first Article 13.1 claims

EFSA health claim opinion

EFSA says yes to third of first Article 13.1 claims

By Lorraine Heller

Around one third of the first batch of article 13.1 health claim applications have drawn positive opinions from EFSA. Professor Albert Flynn, the head of EFSA’s health claims assessment panel, tells NutraIngredients.com why some claims were favoured over...

Timeline of key EU health claim opinions

Health claims focus

Timeline of key EU health claim opinions

By Shane Starling

In the first of a special four-part series, NutraIngredients constructs a timeline of key opinions issued by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) since it got the ball rolling back in August last year.

A big day for European health claims

A big day for European health claims

Next Monday, June 15, is a big day for the European healthy foods and food supplements industries. Let’s call it Big Monday. Or J15.