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Reduced sodium is not a killer USP for most consumers

The uncomfortable truth about Campbell's salt u-turn

By Elaine Watson

It’s enraged dieticians and delighted the Salt Institute. But Campbell Soup’s high-profile u-turn on sodium raises some difficult questions about reformulation for all stakeholders.

Desperate times: With EFSA rejecting clinical data en masse, Dr Glenn Gibson dons his magic, technicolour health claim dream labcoat in the hope of winning a claim. The NDA concludes causality has not been demonstrated between magic and dreamcoats

EU researchers revolted as EFSA clears health claims vault

By Shane Starling

The European Food Safety Authority last week delivered the fifth batch of article 13, general function health claim opinions bringing the total issued to 2723. There are just 35 to go – to be published next month in a final mini-batch that will conclude...

Credit where credit is due: FDA activity is a good thing

FDA's enforcement deserves loud applause

By Stephen Daniells

A flurry of seizures, criminal charges, and warning letters shows that FDA is increasing it enforcement of dietary supplement regulations. Good for FDA and good for industry!

Forget pancakes. I'm flippin' well going for the CEO's job

Women. The most wasted resource in food production

By Jess Halliday

Today is Pancake Day. It is also International Women’s Day. An important date, then, not just for food lovers in countries where Mardi Gras is a big deal, but a day to consider the role – and the potential – of women involved in food provision all over...

‘Eat less’: A difficult message for industry

‘Eat less’: A difficult message for industry

By Caroline Scott-Thomas

The new dietary guidelines give the food industry the clearest map yet of what is necessary for a healthy diet – but no one is fooled by assertions that industry is already in line.

The naked truth about kids’ food advertising

The naked truth about kids’ food advertising

By Caroline Scott-Thomas

It was an Emperor’s New Clothes moment for the US food industry last week, when it was revealed that a major initiative touting its responsible advertising to kids actually allows promotion of many unhealthy foods. Is anyone really surprised?

Industry is finding the EU health claims system hard to swallow

Are health claims making your business sick?

By Shane Starling

2010 has been another tough year for the European functional food and supplements industries as health claim rejections have continued to flood in, leaving some in a state of high anxiety, fear and dread. Others are just mildly annoyed at a situation...

The food industry in 2010: A retrospective

The food industry in 2010: A retrospective

As 2010 draws to a close, our journalists look back at the issues that have topped agendas across the food, beverage and dietary supplements industries in the last 12 months. Commodity prices, Bisphenol A, obesity, health claims, safety regulations, and...

PepsiCo pays a high price for a gamble in Russian dairy

PepsiCo pays a high price for a gamble in Russian dairy

By Guy Montague-Jones

When PepsiCo put up $5.4bn last week to acquire Wimm-Bill-Dann, it was seduced by the promise of high revenue growth but like any high-yield investment the Russian deal does not come without risks.

For front-of-pack labels, smart choices take time

For front-of-pack labels, smart choices take time

By Caroline Scott-Thomas

Uh-oh, surely not another industry-sponsored front-of-pack nutrition label! Food industry engagement is welcome, but let’s take it slowly – no one benefits until we figure out a system that works.

Bisphenol A on the brink?

Bisphenol A on the brink?

By Rory Harrington

To BPA or not to BPA? While the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) backed the continued use of bisphenol A last week, the real question is whether the verdict was a full-blown reprieve for the controversial chemical or merely a stay of execution.

Why cavemen could hold the key to healthy eating

Why cavemen could hold the key to healthy eating

By Jess HALLIDAY

There’s something incongruous about the hi-tech modern food industry sniffing around the Palaeolithic era for the next big consumer trend. But hold the side order of cynicism. There might just be some logic to good old-fashioned instinctive eating.

Nanotechnology in food: What’s the big idea?

Nanotechnology in food: What’s the big idea?

By Caroline Scott-Thomas

Let's get talking about nanotech. The science of the very small has filled the food industry with big ideas – but industry is torn on how to present nanotechnology to consumers, stalling product development.

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.

Where next for ingredients since Cognis and National Starch?

Where next for ingredients since Cognis and National Starch?

By Jess HALLIDAY

‘Billion dollar deal’ was not a phrase bandied about the food ingredients industry much last year. With BASF buying Cognis for €3.1bn and Corn Products International paying $1.3bn for National Starch, M&A looks to be thawing – but best not get over-excited...

Europe must keep cool over country of origin labelling

Europe must keep cool over country of origin labelling

Always read the small print. Good advice and nowhere more so than in food labelling with today’s increasingly savvy consumers demanding to know what’s in their food, where it came from and what it’s going to do to them.

Foods with artificial trans fats should be considered adulterated

Foods with artificial trans fats should be considered adulterated

By Caroline Scott-Thomas

There is a pile of evidence linking artificial trans fats with heart disease, so why is it still in our food? It’s time to get real and recognize that artificial trans fat is an adulterant with no place in the global food supply.

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