The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) is seeking feedback on a novel food application for Tongkat ali extract, a process which could lift a formal EU ban on the ingredient which is being sold online regardless.
New health claims for vitamin D’s immune-system benefits for children have been passed into EU law, creating new opportunities for promoting vitamin D consumption according to VAB-nutrition.
There have been several cases of the dangerous stimulant 1,3-dimethylamylamine (DMAA) being blocked at the EU borders over the last few months. But what is being done to stem the flow of the outlawed ingredient?
The European Commission is standing firm on its EU-wide investigation into member state tax schemes, despite a threat of retaliation from the US government.
Members of European Parliament (MEPs) have voted to fight proposals to cut 2017 budgets for EU agencies including the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is considering the safety of a substance similar to nicotinic acid following a novel food application from Polish company Pharmena.
The Federal Trade Commission has taken action against the publisher of a large number of what it calls ‘predatory’ scientific journals. The complaint alleges the publisher lies about the journals’ quality and influence, and charges undisclosed fees.
A US firm is seeking EU novel food approval for a vitamin E-rich extract from annatto seeds, something it says will not be jeopardised by a recent unflattering safety opinion on colouring from the plant.
The EU has authorised only a small fraction of the health claims submitted to it, with a number of categories seeing no authorised claims at all, according to a new analysis of the bloc’s uber-strict health claim process.
Danish biotech firm Glycom has filed another application for a synthetic version of a compound found in breast milk, a development one infant formula expert said was promising.
Amid the uncertainty of Brexit, supplement industry groups see opportunities for a more liberal UK regime outside the EU, but others question how much practical difference the UK’s split will make.
It is “difficult or impossible” for vegans to get enough of nutrients like vitamin B12, the German Nutrition Society (DGE) has said in a position paper now cited by the government.
The UK medicines agency is warning people – especially young women – off buying weight loss pills and supplements, most of which it says are unlicensed and potentially dangerous to health.
Comparing one sports nutrition product to another is not permitted unless a specific EU-approved health claim exists to back the comparison, the UK advertising watchdog has said.
The European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) will in weeks finalise its guidance on so-called ‘protein spiking’ - the controversial practice of falsifying product protein content via nitrogen manipulation.
Ice cream maker Taywell breached health claim rules according to the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), in what was the conclusion of a dispute between Taywell and rival ice cream producer Perfect World.
A UK medicines regulator review to coincide with the 2016 Rio Olympic Games has found 69 tainted products being sold on 16 online retail outlets, a much better figure than four years ago.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has thrown out a health claim for a ‘DHA-enriched fish oil’ and the reduction of age-related cognitive decline.
Update on ‘illegal’ Belgian tax row following flood of court cases
German chemical giant BASF has joined the seven companies and the Belgian government taking legal action against the European Commission for its ruling that a generous Belgian tax scheme was illegal.
Capsugel, BASF, Omega Pharma among firms to benefit from contested tax scheme
Capsule manufacturer Capsugel and at least six other companies have taken the European Commission to EU court over the ruling that a Belgian ‘excess profit’ tax scheme was illegal.
A metered intake of milk after exercise and thermal dehydration restores whole-body net fluid balance better than carbohydrate–electrolyte sports drinks or water, according to an Irish study.
The European Commission has asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to update its scientific opinion on the appropriate age for introduction of complementary feeding for infants.
A fermented soybean extract that claims to help prevent blood clots is safe for use in food supplements, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded following a novel food application from a Japanese company that sparked member state concerns.
With mounting public pressure, the EU has experienced a tide change on the use of animal experiments in recent years. But is this in vitro political will reflected in vivo on lab floors?
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has concluded there is “insufficient” evidence to claim a probiotic can help boost iron absorption – but applicant Probi says it won’t take no for an answer.
The UK government has introduced legislation that would make a company’s failure to fall in line with EU infant formula and baby food marketing laws a criminal offence subject to fines.
If you can't trust 'health professionals' to sift nutrition data, who can you trust? argues EU food law critic Bert Schwitters after a recent ECJ ruling that potentially shifts the meaning of commercial and non-commercial nutritional communication.
The European Food Safety Authority is calling for public comments on its draft guidance for the allergenicity assessment of genetically modified (GM) plants.
A report authored by UK public health lobby group Action on Sugar has called on the UK government to curb energy drink consumption among young people – listing a ban on sales to under 16s as one policy option.
Mozambique is gearing up for the introduction of mandatory fortification of flour, corn meal, cooking oil, sugar and salt, following milestone legislation designed to combat malnutrition.
UK retailer Marks and Spencer has filed a health claim for a particular carbohydrate to protein ratio it says helps overweight individuals lose weight.
legal uncertainty and B2B marketing rethink on the horizon?
The Court of Justice of the EU has confirmed that commercial communications addressed solely to health professionals must respect the nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) like any other marketing addressed to consumers.
With the pound on its knees, frozen yoghurt lolly maker Claudi and Fin is staring a 13% price rise in the face next month. “In the short-term we expect to shoulder all of that,” said co-founder Meriel Kehoe.
The German arm of consumer group Foodwatch has called on Monster Energy to voluntarily stop using health claims on its drinks following clear recent political calls for change.
In 2015 a total of 177 experts of UK nationality contributed to the work of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), leaving some to question what an impending Brexit will mean for this talent pool.
One health claim application for a prebiotic fibre and a further two for the plant resin Chios mastiha have been withdrawn from the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) agenda.
The European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance (ESSNA) has called for a distinction to be made between the two blocked caffeine claims referring to endurance and a further two referring to alertness and concentration.
The Dutch supplements industry is celebrating a court ruling that sleep aid melatonin cannot be classed as a medicine if its dosage is above a certain threshold.
Industry has lamented yesterday’s European Parliament plenary vote to block four caffeine claims, which otherwise seemed set to pass into EU law books after years of delay.
