About: food additives
EU food products found to contain unlabelled nanomaterials
Tests have revealed that nanomaterials are present in our food, and manufacturers are not fulfilling their obligation to label them. EURACTIV's partner Journal de l'Environnement reports.
Scientists once again question the safety of aspartame
Artificial sweeteners found in diet soda and yoghurt, which are consumed by millions daily, can raise the blood sugar level instead of reducing it, according to a new study published by the scientific journal Nature.
Nestlé roped into horsemeat scandal
Nestlé has removed beef pasta meals sold under its Buitoni brand from sale in Italy and Spain after finding traces of horsemeat, becoming the latest company embroiled in a food scandal spreading across Europe.
Vets call for ‘horse passport’ register as meat scandal gallops on
As the horsemeat-dressed-as-beef scandal continues to rock Europe’s food industry, a number of organisations are calling on stricter European regulation, including an EU-wide horse passport register.
Parliament steps up pressure on food, beverage ads
The European Parliament has renewed calls to curb food and beverage advertising aimed at children and young people, with some MEPs even calling for a total ban on beer commercials aimed at youth. But it's not necessary, says the industry, "We can regulate ourselves".
Miracle sweetener stevia faces potential EU hurdles
The meteoric rise of Stevia, a natural and healthy alternative to sugar - a holy grail for the food industry - faces possible hurdles in being defined as "natural" in some European Union markets.
EU investigates de-icing road salt used in Polish food
Regulators investigating the use of de-icing road salt in foodstuffs by three Polish companies – and possibly many more – have notified the Commission’s central Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) and are checking for dangers to health, EURACTIV can reveal.
Ministers give nod to industry food labelling scheme
A deal struck between EU member states on new food labelling rules saw political support for a voluntary GDA labelling scheme currently applied by the food industry across Europe.
EU agreement on food labelling taking shape
Member states are nearing a deal on new food labelling rules that would leave wiggle room for industry to use their own labelling schemes and choose whether to show nutritional information on the front or back of a product's packaging.
The big debate: Are food ads to blame for child obesity?
While the food industry has taken a series of initiatives to restrict advertising of unhealthy products to children, consumer groups are not convinced and call for the development of stricter criteria. EURACTIV hears arguments from both sides of the debate in parallel interviews.
Europe to assess advertisers’ pledges on child obesity
The European Union is due to assess the advertising industry's commitment to self-regulation when it comes to marketing unhealthy foods to children, as concerns mount over child obesity.
Europe heat wave sparks surge in grain prices
Surging European grain prices following a scorching heat wave in recent weeks are likely to raise flour prices, and farmers are facing higher bills for animal feed, industry executives and analysts said on Friday (23 July).
Food industry wins battle on ‘traffic light’ labels
The European Parliament yesterday (16 June) voted to make nutrition labelling of pre-packed foods mandatory, but rejected calls by health and consumer organisations' for a traffic light system giving consumers a visual warning for high fat, sugar or salt content of a product.
EU lawmakers give ‘meat glue’ red card
The European Parliament has voted to ban bovine and porcine thrombin used as an additive to bind separate pieces of meat together into one piece. The House said the meat glue has no proven benefit for consumers and might mislead them instead.
Danone withdraws health claims on yoghurts
French food group Danone withdrew health claim applications on two of its bestselling yoghurts on Thursday (15 April), citing confusion about what scientific evidence was required from the company under the process to validate the claims.
Commission to propose new rules for dairy sector
In the aftermath of a major price crisis on the EU dairy sector, the European Commission is planning to present a package of legislative measures to increase dairy producers' bargaining power in the food supply chain. The proposed measures may set a precedent for similar action in other agricultural sectors.
EU farm ministers seen split on food chain rules
An ideological split over European Union regulation of agricultural markets could prevent farm ministers from agreeing on measures to boost the power of producers in the food chain at a meeting in Brussels on Monday (29 March).
Ministers want to give farmers better bargaining power
EU-27 farm ministers agreed yesterday (18 January) to push for measures that would ensure all actors in the food supply chain, and particularly farmers, receive fair compensation for their work.
Commission takes aim at retailers in food supply probe
The European Commission yesterday (28 October) launched an inquiry into the food supply chain for unfair contractual practices imposed on small farmers by major retail chains and other buyers, in a drive to curb future food price increases and ensure farmers get a fair share of the price of end products.
SMEs hit out at cost of EU food labelling proposals
A public hearing in the European Parliament on 28 August 2008 saw food industry stakeholders hit out against Commission proposals on nutrition labelling, which they say are overly complex and will push up costs for small businesses.
Parliament adopts stricter rules for food additives
MEPs rejected firm bans on colourings in favour of stronger labelling systems, although Green MEPs regretted that these will not cover GMO additives.
Restaurants’ carbon footprint under scrutiny
The environmental cost of imported foodstuffs used in restaurants is much higher than previously thought, with cheaper meals carrying higher carbon footprints, according to a study by the University of Nottingham.
Interview: Winners of food price boom must help solve crisis
As the current food and commodity price boom leads to a massive redistribution of wealth in the world, the International Food Policy Research Institute is calling on major oil and food exporting countries and related corporations to participate in funding the response to the crisis.