Food Safety Authority

The EU and US could be seeing more launches of products containing a synthetic antioxidant found naturally in mushrooms. ©iStock/Olha_Afanasieva

Novel fungi antioxidant l-ergothioneine is safe: EFSA

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said l-ergothioneine is safe for use in food and supplements in a novel food evaluation that settles EU member state fears it may increase the risk of diabetes mellitus and inflammatory diseases like Crohn's...

Since March there have been 16 large-scale cases involving multiple countries blocking supplements containing agmatine sulphate at the borders.

Schwarzenegger supplement latest agmatine sulphate reject

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Malta has warned against using a MusclePharm workout supplement endorsed by Arnold Schwarzenegger following an investigation into its agmatine sulphate content concerning a total of 30 countries. The case is the latest to deal with the novel nitric oxide...

“The issue really is about ‘harmonisation’ of dose and specific ingredients and the free movement of foods.”

Norway publishes 12/44 ‘other substance’ risk assessments

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn and Shane Starling

Norwegian authorities have published risk assessments for 12 so-called unregulated ‘other substances’ in food supplements and energy drinks, including caffeine, taurine and omega-3 forms EPA, DHA and EPA.

Unilever back in court over pro.activ cholesterol claims

Unilever back in court over pro.activ cholesterol claims

By Shane STARLING

Food giant Unilever appeared in a Hamburg court today to defend use of expert statements that its plant sterol-based Becel pro.activ did not have any side effects such as bloodstream plaque levels in healthy people.

Rice and oats were most prone to contamination with sterigmatocystin , the report said.

Low mycotoxin levels found in European cereals, EFSA

By Joyeeta Basu

A study by the European Food Safety Authority of cereal grain and cereal products has found low levels of mycotoxin sterigmatocystin in most of the samples to be below proposed limits.

Stakeholders win 5 minutes to state final caffeine case

5 days until EU caffeine crunch time

Stakeholders win 5 minutes to state final caffeine case

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

Last week the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) gave six stakeholders five minutes each to present their thoughts on its draft risk assessment on caffeine, which stated 400 mg of caffeine a day from all sources and single doses of up to 200 mg for...

Health claim game changers of 2014

Health claim game changers of 2014

By Annie Harrison-Dunn

A health claim approval can spell good business for some, while rejections disaster for firms who have invested big to collect their supporting dossier only to be told their evidence is insufficient. So it's no wonder food firms keep one eye firmly...

Long-awaited specialist foods provisions set for EU lawbooks

PARNUTS update: Specialist foods reforms due for EU lawbooks

By Shane Starling

Revision of the laws governing specialist food products like sports foods, infant foods and gluten-free foods is set for a final vote in the European Parliament in December or January, 2013, with the leading industry group broadly welcoming the passage.

Summit shows EU health claims change not coming, says ERNA

Summit shows EU health claims change not coming, says ERNA

By Shane Starling in Brussels

Shane Starling met with Patrick Coppens, the secretary general of the European Responsible Nutrition Alliance (ERNA), after the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) article 13.5 and 14 health claim stakeholders meeting on Monday in Brussels.

EU VMS maximum levels draw closer

EU VMS maximum levels draw closer

By Shane Starling

A meeting held yesterday in Dublin has confirmed European Commission/European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) scientific safety substantiation principles in the setting of maximum permitted levels (MPLs) for vitamins and minerals in food supplements.

Could the E-number be up?

Weekly Comment

Could the E-number be up?

The European Food Safety Authority's review of additive safety
could have a bigger effect on the ingredients industry than the
ejection of certain colours and flavours with a suspect safety
record. It could give the natural ingredients...

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