Breaking News on Industrial Baking & Snacks

General Mills fined $850 following worker’s death

22-May-2012 - Food giant General Mills has been fined $850 for a safety violation at a plant in the US where a worker was killed last year.

Frito-Lay plans its own gluten-free symbol

21-May-2012 - The world’s largest snack firm Frito-Lay has announced plans to use its own gluten-free symbol on labels in North America after validating products as gluten-free through two celiac organisations.

Kerry Ingredients fined $50,000 for repeat safety failures

18-May-2012 - The US department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has fined Kerry Ingredients & Flavours $50,000 for three repeat safety violations at a plant in the US.

EU article 13 health claims register

222 EU health claims become law; experts predict “tsunami of cheap innovation”

16-May-2012 - It’s official. Companies have six months – until December – to comply with the controversial European Union article 13, general function health claims register which today won final approval from the European Commission.

'Sin taxes' must raise food prices by 20% for any effect, argue experts

16-May-2012 - In order to have any effect on population health, fat taxes must raise food prices by 20% and should be combined with subsidies on healthy foods, say UK-based experts. However industry leaders have branded the calls as ‘irresponsible.’

Comment

Vitafoods: EU nutra space wriggles into new health claims clothes

15-May-2012 - Vitafoods celebrates its 15th birthday next week. It’ll be my 11th consecutive May visit to Geneva for the jamboree and promises to be one of the most intriguing chapters with the (partial and belated) resolution of years of ambiguity regarding health claims in Europe.

Food-based natural nanoparticle discovery opens debate on safety

15-May-2012 - Indian researchers have discovered carbon nanoparticles (CNPs) in foods such as bread, corn flakes and caramel – increasing the likelihood that consumption of nanoparticles in food is safe.

News in brief

Plastic pieces in Sainsbury’s teacakes sparks product recall

15-May-2012 - UK supermarket Sainsbury’s has initiated a recall of its own-brand Basic Tea Cakes over fears the products may contain pieces of plastic.

EFSA risk assessment of composite foods hazard to pave the way for harmonized EU regs

15-May-2012 - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has outlined a raft of key factors needed to assess the hazard posed by pathogens in composite foods after Brussels said it needed to develop harmonised risk-based rules for their import into the region.

General Mills must defend ‘made with real fruit’ claim for Fruit Roll-Ups, court rules

14-May-2012 - General Mills has lost its motion to dismiss a lawsuit that claims the company deceived consumers about the fruit content of its Fruit Roll-Ups and Fruit by the Foot.

Lallemand apply for Novel Foods authorisation for vitamin D rich baker’s yeast

11-May-2012 - The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) has said it is seeking views on a Novel Food application from Lallemand for a baker’s yeast rich in vitamin D.

News in brief

Commission rubber stamps Kellogg’s Pringles buy

04-May-2012 - The European Commission has cleared Kellogg’s $2.7bn deal to acquire snack business Pringles from Procter & Gamble (P&G).

Real Bread Campaign mounts anti-GM wheat pledge

19-Apr-2012 - The Real Bread Campaign has mounted an anti-GM wheat pledge in protest over genetically modified wheat trials by a research institute in the UK.

Glister-Mary Lee fined for safety breaches after pasta plant explosion

18-Apr-2012 - US private label firm Glister-Mary Lee has been fined $231,000 by the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for six safety violations following an explosion at a past manufacturing site.

FSA launches guidelines on edible glitters over misleading marketing fears

12-Apr-2012 - The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has developed guidelines on glitters and dusts over fears that inedible decorations are being marketed for use in foods such as cakes.

News in brief

Kraft recalls peanuts exposed to suspect water

10-Apr-2012 - Kraft Foods has voluntarily recalled one date code of its Planters Cocktail Peanuts because the products may have been exposed to water not intended for use in food.

ConAgra to FDA: There is ‘ample evidence’ to support qualified health claim on whole grains and type II diabetes

05-Apr-2012 - ConAgra Foods says there is “ample scientific evidence” to support a qualified health claim about whole grain consumption and a reduced risk of type II diabetes.

Baked goods and fast-foods linked to depression: Study

04-Apr-2012 - Consumption of fast food and commercial baked goods are linked to an increased risk of depression, according to new research.

PepsiCo targeted in new class action lawsuit over ‘improper’ nutrient content claims

04-Apr-2012 - PepsiCo is facing another class action lawsuit in California – this time accusing it of making a nutrient content claim (0 grams trans fat) on Frito-Lay snacks, without adhering to the legal conditions of use for such claims.

News in brief

Mislabeled milk allergen sparks US cream puff recall

03-Apr-2012 - US firm Crème Curls Bakery has recalled some of its vanilla cream puff products because the source of sodium caseinate, a milk derivative, is not labelled on the product, putting people with milk allergies at risk.

75% of breakfast cereals face kids TV ad ban in Ireland, says IBCA

02-Apr-2012 - The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) is considering implementing rules that will see three quarters of breakfast cereals banned from advertising on children’s television programmes, according to the Irish Breakfast Cereal Association (IBCA).

News in brief

Frito-Lay lawsuits moved to be heard in same court

27-Mar-2012 - Three class action lawsuits accusing Frito-Lay of deception through all-natural claims on its packaging have been consolidated so all are heard in a New York federal court.

ConAgra declares war on ADM in IP battle over white whole wheat flour

22-Mar-2012 - ConAgra has accused agrifood giant ADM of infringing a patent covering technology enabling it to produce high fiber whole wheat flour with the palatability and appeal of refined white flour.

Industry under threat: Calls for urgent action on EU egg shortage

21-Mar-2012 - Some confectionery, biscuit and cake manufacturers face the threat of closure and are resorting to supermarket supplies amid a “dire and unprecedented” EU-wide egg shortage, according to an industry organisation.