A recent survey has found that efforts to improve health and wellbeing last an average of just 19 days as old habits die hard and temptation, in the form of fatty foods and sweet treats, win out. But why are lifestyle changes so tough to stick to and...
Danone has become the latest manufacturer to release a range of high-protein dairy products in the UK. But can high-protein yogurts - that typically contain thickeners, starches and sweeteners - really be considered ‘healthy’?
As both the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and Safe Food Advocacy Europe release reports detailing how the food industry conveys information, calls for change emerge.
A micronutrient bar first developed by renowned researcher Dr Bruce Ames, PhD, has reached widespread commercialization via a partnership with the Kroger Co.
Researchers are studying how multinational producers can overcome the challenges in communicating health claims to European consumers from differing societies and cultures.
New research provides insights into which elements of packaging have the biggest impact on the consumer's perception of product healthiness, and how the demographics of the consumer will impact these perceptions.
A new collective of research has found consumers are drawn more to claims based on the presence of something good like ‘high in protein,’ than the absence of something bad like ‘low in sugar.’
What’s the difference between a chocolate bar and an apple? Not much if you go by the misuse of health claims on food in Germany and the Netherlands says campaign group FoodWatch, after evaluating over 600 products making prominent claims to be healthy,...
Planning, wording and relevant science are the keys to fibre health claim success in the EU, researchers have found after scrutinising the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) approach to hydrocolloids.
Organic food brands should not be afraid of using health claims to market their products, as a new study suggests the two concepts are not as incompatible as the industry may fear.
The bakery industry may prefer nutrition content to genuine health claims - a state-of-affairs that reflects the relative few claim-backed nutrients available to breads, cereals, bars and other baked products – but options do exist.
The health-conscious yet frugal consumer is increasingly difficult to convince, even when presented with a plethora of health and nutrition claims on pack. So, just how can manufacturers prompt that purchase?
Europe is set to sink into a progressive nutrition dark age under the heavy hand of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) regime, says a leading food law attorney.
"They are scientists performing a very difficult task, as instructed by EU law makers."
Last week NutraIngredients was one of 10 organisations invited to observe the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claims panel in action for a day at its Parma, Italy, base.
From today food and supplement products marketed in the EU’s 27 member states must comply with the article 13, permitted list of health claims or face prosecution for misleading marketing.
With the December 14 enforcement of the EU's article 13 general function health claim list that includes 200+ approved claims and about 1500 rejections just two days away (after a six month lay-period), we polled key players for core reactions.
As the formlisation of the main organ (article 13.1 list) of the nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) kicks in this week, Professor Ambroise Martin, the new chair of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) health claims panel, tells NutraIngredients...
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.
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...
Europe’s premier food industry body, FoodDrinkEurope (FDE), is backing next week’s European Parliament (EP) vote on the controversial 222-strong health claim register, as opponents rally last-minute veto support.
Five years ago the European Union nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) became law. Around the bloc, hopeful EU healthy foods and supplements stakeholders submitted more than 44,000 health claim applications.
“Many in industry are pinning their hopes on EFSA showing them the light at the meeting, including the likes of Danone, which withdrew three probiotic immunity/digestive health article 13.5 claims in April, citing clarification it is expecting on Big...
UK food manufacturers have slammed the latest report from the British Heart Foundation which alleges they are misleading mothers with false information about the fat, salt and sugar content of their children’s foods.
Ka-CHING! Hear that? No it’s not the sound of overflowing cash registers as consumers throw endless wads of euros at scientifically-backed, healthy foods in greater numbers than ever before.
Italians are unswayed by healthy messages and images on foods, whereas the Finnish respond to medical pictures and British consumers are more likely to buy foods making even a weak health claim, indicates new research.
October 1 was not a good day for many in the functional foods and food supplements business in the European Union as the meaning of life under a highly restrictive health claims regime came more into focus.
The European cholesterol-lowering market presents many opportunities for food supplements and functional foods despite threats such as statin drugs and a tough new health claims regime, says Dr Robert Harwood, principal consultant at UK-based CPL Business...
Not again! As if industry is not struggling enough with the severity of the European Food Safety Authority’s nutrition and health claims rulings so far, the situation has not been helped by the kind of articles that appeared in the UK press today and...
One of the most fiercely debated and amended pieces of European Union food law history is playing out before our eyes, and its effects are beginning to be felt.
The new European Nutrition and Health Claims Regulation hit an
unexpected barrier to its adoption yesterday, since it was found to
contain the wrong comitology procedure. Rectifying the oversight
could take months and may re-open...
In today's competitive food industry, healthy products mean healthy
sales but the scramble to keep up with the obesity backlash can
have dangerous repercussions.
The European Breakfast Cereal Association (CEEREAL) has hailed two
important pieces of European food legislation as "broadly positive'
for the future of the industry.
Food safety authorities in Australia and New Zealand have rubbished
media reports that new proposals would prevent fresh fruit and
vegetables from carrying health claims.
The European Parliament voted yesterday to radically modify the
proposed regulation on nutrition and health claims so that food
companies do not need to gain prior authorization for claims, nor
subject their healtlh products to nutrient...
Functional food makers need to take a critical look at the level of
substantiation behind the health claims they are using to guarantee
their survival under a new European regulation, reports
Dominique Patton.
A group of cereal scientists is looking to rewrite the definition
of a wholegrain to help consumers identify the healthy ingredient
in foods and lift their intake of wholegrains.
The UK Consumers' Association claims to have revealed a range of
confusing, and sometimes misleading labels on food products. The
results of its honest labelling campaign indicate that food
manufacturers have made little effort...
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has said that it is about to
undertake a consultation period for the European Community's
proposed new regulation to govern food products in relation to
nutrition and health claims.
