Two scientific papers which have raised question marks over the
safety of fortifying flour with folic acid to prevent neural tube
defects in pregnancies provide no concern, UK doctors have said.
The National Association of Health Stores (NAHS) has launched an
industry plea to help save scores of vitamins and minerals
which run the risk of being slapped with a negative opinion by the
European Food Safety Authority.
A report has listed some 3,000 violations by a dozen infant
nutrition companies who it says are breaking rules on marketing set
by the World Health Assembly.
A model which could be used to set the upper limits for minerals
and vitamins under EU law has been updated by UK scientists to
include more current data and categories for nutrients.
A European wide set of guidelines has been developed by a team of
technical experts to help companies comply with EU laws on
producing and selling supplements.
Regulations concerning the addition of inulin, fructo
oligosaccharides (FOS) and galacto oligosaccharides (GOS) to foods,
both as a nutritive substance and as a sweetener, are being
considered in Australia and New Zealand.
European countries are showing a strong interest in the Asian
health and nutrition market, which could be bolstered by the area's
proposed harmonisation laws.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has appointed Tim Smith as its chief executive.Smith, former chief executive of Arla Foods, will take up his post in...
Yesterday's landmark decision by the European Court of Justice,
ruling Germany failed to fulfil its obligations concerning the free
movement of goods by refusing to import garlic extract powder
capsules, has paved the way for...
Neotame has moved a step closer to being approved for use in the
European Union as a sweetener and flavour enhancer, following a
positive safety opinion from EFSA.
Proposals on the suggested amounts of artificial colourings in food
supplements are being drawn up for Codex because the current limits
are too low, according to the International Alliance for
Dietary/Food Supplement Associations...
Codex members are due to sit down and vote on a series of far
reaching rules governing nutrient compounds in foods - and
crucially discuss whether health claims should be based only on
clinical studies.
As the European Food Safety Authority prepares its opinion on the
feasibility of nutrient profiling, the trade organisation EHPM has
asked that food supplements should be exempted from the rule.
The Department of Health has announced new measures to address the
issue of malnutrition among UK's older people in institutional care
so as to appropriately meet their nutritional needs.
Placing botanical products on the European market can be difficult
for businesses because of a lack of harmonisation and differing
rules between member states, the European Advisory Service has
said.
The UK Tea Council has been criticised for exaggerating the
benefits of tea and banned from making further claims about the
drinks antioxidant potential after running a series of adverts.
EU member countries are concerned about the feasibility of
companies paying fees to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)
for vetting ingredients, packaging and food contact materials for
use in the bloc.
The European Commission has issued a paper to Member States
outlining the next step for the setting of maximum mineral and
vitamin levels across the bloc - with many highlighted for
exemption on the grounds of no evident safety concerns.
Codex has agreed to exclude the controversial precautionary
principle in its risk analysis standards, marking the end of a long
battle between the EU and trade groups.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has released long-awaited
details on how companies can submit statements they wish to be
accepted as part of the EU's new legislation on health and
nutrition claims.
Products offering more than one health claim are more attractive to
consumers and this could translate into a 20 per cent sales boost,
a study in Germany has found.
The Association of the European Self-Medication Industry (AESGP) is
organising a conference on how new EU regulations will have a
bearing on herbal products for later this year in Brussels.
Plant ingredients that may be potentially harmful to people
need to be properly assessed and even regulated, the German Federal
Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has warned.
A regional standard for ginseng in Asia currently being drawn up by
Codex should only cover one species of the herb, the International
Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations (IADSA) has said.
New recommended daily allowances for micronutrients need to be set
if European regulation on the maximum levels of vitamins and
minerals is to be successful, a study has said.
A review of current health and nutritional claims on food products
has found consumers struggle when it comes to understanding what
the claim really means.
The Global Organisation for EPA and DHA Omega-3 (GOED) has added
its voice to concerns that the new EU hygiene laws will spell a
European wide shortage of omega-3.
The International Alliance of Dietary/Food Supplement Associations
(IADSA) is claiming a victory in securing higher levels for nine
additives used in food supplements into Codex's draft risk analysis
standards for safety.
A European-wide shortage in fish oil supplements has been predicted
by the European Federation of Health Product Manufacturers (EHPM)
because of new EU hygiene rules.
The European Botanical Forum has said there needs to be changes to
the health and nutrition claims regulation, which does not include
any reference to the traditional use of botanicals as food
ingredients.
Goji berry consumption in the UK has been significant for many
years, the UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has declared, meaning
the berry does not need to be authorised as a novel food.
The board of the UK's Food Standards Agency yesterday gave the
go-ahead for the recommendation on mandatory folic acid
fortification be made to health ministers, but it remains unclear
whether the nutrient will be added to flour...
Ireland's food safety regulator has urged the nation's food
industry to be more involved with the EU health claims process to
make the most of the opportunities it offers.
The European Food Standards Authority has issued opinions on the
likelihood of certain ingredients and additives causing allergic
reactions, underscoring the importance of including full scientific
data in dossiers to allow the panel...
The use of calcium ascorbate with threonate in food supplements is
comparable in bioavailability to ascorbic acid as a vitamin C
source, and does not pose health threats in the doses used, says a
new opinion from EFSA.
As more and more skin care and vitamin manufacturers tap into the
growing trend for alternative beauty options, the cosmeceutical
industry is booming - however, the UK is lagging behind other
countries in Europe due to strict regulations...
The European Food Standards Authority has today published its draft
guidance document for the submission of applications under the new
nutrition and health claims regulation, giving the clearest insight
yet of the impact the legislation...
The new health claims regulations for foods could prompt more
companies to tout the beauty benefits of their products, since
cosmetics are not generally subject to the same stringent rules as
foods and supplements, says an analyst.
The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment has released its
proposals for elaborating nutrient profiles, one of the most
controversial elements of Europe's proposed health claims law.
The Irish Commercial Court has judged that the Yoplait Essence
brand does not infringe on Danone's Essensis trademark, and that
the French dairy giant's trademark should be revoked, as it is not
a genuine market brand.
The CIAA has launched a new online tool to assist food and drink
producers make sence of guidance daily amounts (GDAs), following
the introduction of a common nutrition labelling scheme for the EU
industry last summer.
GlaxoSmithKline's (GSK) Ribena range of juice drinks have been
found to meet their stated claims of high vitamin C content in
Singapore, according to the country's Agri-Food and Veterinary
Authority (AVA).
The European Commission is set to challenge Spain over its ban on
the import of herbal products before the European Court of Justice
- a policy it says is an unjustified and disproportionate barrier
to EU trade.
Australian legislation on nutritional labelling has come under the
spotlight with the announcement by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) that its
Ribena drinks brand may have misled consumers over the amount of
vitamin C it contains.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has said that it will not
bow to industry pressure over scientific assessment of vitamins and
minerals submitted for the positive list of the 2002 food
supplements directive.
The Alliance for Natural Health has informed the European
Commission that it is scrutinising its procedures on food
supplements and those of EFSA, and may launch a legal challenge if
any of its 15 'test' submissions to the...