Nutrition and health
Almost half of French people have cut meat consumption in last three years
French people tend to eat less meat than before, according to the results of the Harris Interactive survey published on Thursday ( 25 February). This change in eating habits can only be welcomed, both from an environmental and health perspective. EURACTIV France reports.
Italy, Slovenia await Commission to settle balsamic vinegar dispute
Italy is up in arms, trying to defend the world-famous balsamic vinegar of Modena from an attempt to 'standardise' its production made by Slovenia, and the European Commission appears to have until 3 March to settle the issue.
EU regions’ advisory body proposes ‘Mediterranean diet’ label
An ad hoc label for food products belonging to the Mediterranean diet is the latest suggestion in the EU-wide food labelling fray to cope with negative effects caused by colour-coded Nutri-score.
Commission dampens bid to end EU meat promotion
The European Commission has softened its stance on phasing out the promotion of red and processed meat in Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, and the latest change has received a mixed reception from stakeholders.
Feed additives ‘key tool’ in achieving farming sustainability goals, say stakeholders
Feed additives hold enormous potential for reducing the environmental impact of the farming sector, but are not getting the attention they deserve according to farming sector and feed industry stakeholders, who are calling for more focus on the role of feed additives in contributing to sustainability goals.
Spirulina: latest trend or future food?
After France's National Assembly discussed its "National Strategy on Plant Proteins for Human and Animal Nutrition" on Monday (26 October), EURACTIV France reports on spirulina, a high-protein food and favourite among the French that can help combat malnutrition.
MEPs want Commission to enter the veggie burger fray
European Parliament lawmakers are considering asking the European Commission to step in and help nix any doubts about the terminology used for plant-based meat substitutes, which are gaining in popularity across the EU.
Kyriakides: Investments will match EU’s ambition on sustainable food systems
The EU's determination to become a global leader in sustainability will be matched by investments in solutions to deliver on the commitments set out in the EU's new food policy, Commissioner Stella Kyriakides told EURACTIV.com in an exclusive interview.
Farm to Fork Strategy: What role of nutrients?
Looking at the future of agriculture in general, and the fertiliser industry in particular, the challenges of sustainable food production are apparent. Growing food demand will force farmers to invest in innovative tools to increase production, ensuring maximum efficiency from...
Food security is no longer an issue in the EU, says Commissioner
Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius has cast doubt on the long-standing primacy of food security over environmental aspects in the current EU food system, suggesting that traditional concerns might give way to issues like climate change, sustainability, or biodiversity.
COVID-19 could be ‘straw that breaks meat industry’s back’ says new report
Nearly three-quarters of the world’s largest meat, fish and dairy companies have been graded as a ‘high' pandemic risk and criticised for their inability to prevent the emergence of new zoonotic diseases in a new report released on Wednesday (3 June).
EU food stocks: Should gear up for a rise of food protectionism?
The EU is preparing to change its agricultural storage policy at a time when the COVID-19 health crisis has highlighted the weaknesses of its reserves. EURACTIV France reports.
Farm to Fork strategy softens stance on meat but backs alternative proteins
The EU's pivotal Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, presented on Wednesday (20 May), softened its stance on meat compared to the previous draft versions but offered staunch support for alternative proteins, which campaigners said was the first step in the right direction.
Commission upholds highly ambitious targets to transform EU food system
After several delays, the EU's new flagship food policy was finally released on Wednesday (20 May), confirming the aspiration of the EU executive to transform the European way of producing, distributing and consuming food.
Kyriakides: No mandatory front-of-pack labelling in the Farm to Fork
Food Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides scaled back the ambition of the EU's new food policy during a meeting with agriculture MEPs on Monday (11 May), revealing that it will not provide a compulsory EU-wide nutritional food label scheme.
EU-wide food label should not fall to the back-burner, say advocates
Advocates for an EU-wide mandatory Nutri-score food label want the European Commission not to overlook the long-awaited harmonisation of front-of-pack nutritional labelling, despite the focus on tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.
EU food safety passed COVID-19 test, MEP says
The European food supply chain and food safety system are proving to be extremely resilient, according to Europe's People Party (EPP) coordinator at European Parliament's Agriculture Committee, Herbert Dorfmann, as people still manage to find available and safe food on supermarket shelves even in time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
French farmers and MPs call for the creation of European food stocks
French agricultural producers and MPs are urging the European Commission to set up food stocks to avoid falling prices and the destruction of certain food products. EURACTIV France reports.
COVID-19: France calls unemployed to work in fields as borders stay closed
The French government has called on the technically unemployed French to make themselves available to help farmers with seasonal harvests. But such 'agricultural patriotism' does not bode well with the tightening of containment. EURACTIV France reports.
Coronavirus puts French agricultural production centre-stage
In France, the coronavirus crisis has put the agricultural sector back in the spotlight as concerns persist about the transport of food and seasonal shortages of farm labourers. EURACTIV France reports.
Greenpeace proposes 70% meat consumption reduction by 2030
Three burgers a week: that's the maximum amount of meat Europeans should get used to eating, according to NGO Greenpeace, which has been looking at Europe's eating habits. EURACTIV France reports.
Are Europeans ready for an insect-based diet?
While insect-based foods have so far been quite a niche product, they are viewed as a highly promising solution to the challenges facing the food industry. Although new EU regulations should pave the way for these products - European eating habits might have to change too. EURACTIV Germany reports.
LEAK: EU’s Farm to Fork strategy will be based on five key targets
In addition to longstanding objectives like the reduction of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, the European Commission envisages setting three more targets in its new flagship food policy, EURACTIV can reveal.