Italian supplements group sues EU over health claims

Italian food supplements trade group FederSalus has brought an action against the EU nutrition and health claims regulation (NHCR) in European Union courts.

Ads for almond milk with 2% almonds not misleading, rules ASA

The UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled that Alpro UK’s advertising of its ‘almond milk’ was not misleading, despite complaints that the product contained just 2% almonds.

UK dairy industry years ahead of government ‘green’ targets – Carbon Trust

The UK dairy industry’s “pro-active” attitude to carbon emissions has put it years ahead of government carbon footprint targets, according to the Carbon Trust.

Could the EU implement a Europe-wide fat tax?

European policymakers may be considering a Europe-wide fat tax in an effort to combat obesity – although such a move would be complicated and subject to considerable debate, according to...

Russia bans GM maize in wake of controversial Monsanto cancer study

Russian authorities have places a temporary ban on imports of genetically-modified maize produced by Monsanto in the wake of last weeks’ controversial GM cancer study.

Consumers overloaded with ‘confusing’ info on nutrition labels, says BDSI

The German confectionery association (BDSI) has argued that consumers are overloaded with confusing, contradictory nutrition information on product labels and further regulation is not the way forward.

Guest article

Marketing without health claims

Health claims are not the be-all and end-all when it comes to marketing health food products, says Alan Ruth, CEO of the Irish Health Trade Association, in this guest article.

ECJ alcohol ruling strengthens EU health claims position

The Court of Justice of the European Union (ECJ) has given strength to EU health claim laws by backing health claims of “temporary or fleeting effects”.

UK food industry upbeat as sales expected to rise

The UK food and drink industry is optimistic about sales prospects in the third quarter (Q3), according to a survey conducted by the UK’s Food and Drink Federation (FDF’s)...

A.G Barr maintains Britvic merger radio silence

A.G Barr has not revealed any details on the progress of talks regarding its possible merger with PepsiCo bottler Britvic, as it reported H1 2012 results today.

Australian medical body calls for more controls on alcohol marketing

A new report by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has come out strongly against alcohol companies and the way they market to young people. 

Pernod Ricard subsidiary slams Czech spirits ban

Pernod Ricard’s Czech subsidiary Jan Becher (JBKB) says the Czech government’s decision to ban all strong spirit sales in the country, following 20+ methanol-related deaths linked to local bootleg liquor,...

Innovation vs. green: The conflict of new technology investment

Product innovation and quality is a stronger priority for industry than sustainability and efficiency when considering new technology investments, Leatherhead finds.

Old Robinsons double concentrate bottle lacked ‘category cues’: Britvic

Britvic Ireland admits that its old 1.25L double concentrate bottle was not meeting key category cues, which led it to revamp the range with a new 1L bottle launched in...

Making connections with young adults: ‘A new area for most European food companies’

Young adults in Europe are communicating with food brands in new ways – and expect an emotional connection through multiple online and offline media, according to director of innovation and...

Pork Farms on a roll with carton coder

UK meat products firm Pork Farms has speeded up production line changeovers through installing Allen Coding Systems' carton coding technology at its factory in Shaftesbury, Dorset.

UK milk price increases not milestones, just PR – analyst

The recent UK milk price increases announced by processors should not be considered a recovery milestone, but a well-timed PR opportunity, a European dairy analyst has claimed.

Weetabix packaging transformed in pragmatic redesign

Weetabix has replaced the plastic inner wrap around its biscuits with an easier to open paper alternative and redesigned its cereal packs to reflect this.

French firms urged to back away from ‘no palm oil’ label claims

Products labelled ‘no palm oil’ have proliferated on French supermarket shelves in recent years but Malaysian officials have said that such labels misrepresent an industry that has made strides toward...

Food safety ultimately the producers responsibility, says professor

The ultimate responsibility for food safety lies with producers and not auditors, inspectors or government agencies, according to Doug Powell from Kansas State University.

Premium drinks packaging demand hit by tough times: Visiongain

Premium drinks packaging is expected to suffer due to the after-effects of the global economic crisis, according to a report from Visiongain.

News in brief

Coke goes global with new operating structure

The Coca-Cola Company has announced a number of new leadership appointments to support its new global operating structure, and said the changes were intended to 'streamline reporting lines' and intensify...

INSIGHTS FROM MINTEL

Confectionery as ‘the new tobacco’ and future functional trends

Confectionery could become the ‘new tobacco’ as regulators clamp down on unhealthy eating, but manufacturers can invigorate offerings by seizing on future functional trends, according to an analyst.

Bord Bia sustainability scheme underlines Ireland’s ‘green and natural’ image

Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, has introduced a new programme intended to cement the reputation of the Irish food industry as a world leader in sustainability.

Thorntons shifts focus to commercial sales after torrid 2012

UK chocolatier Thorntons is to concentrate on selling its premium chocolate range through commercial channels and will also explore international markets after its earlier focus on own-store sales helped profits...

Bottled beer recalled from UK supermarkets due to glass contamination fears

Sainsbury's, Tesco and Asda are among six UK supermarkets that have had to withdraw bottles of beer over fears they may contain pieces of glass due to a manufacturing fault.

Bel eyes UK lunchbox demand with Laughing Cow Blue Cheese launch

French cheese giant Groupe Bel is targeting the UK lunchbox market with the launch of its new The Laughing Cow Light with Blue Cheese product.

Global food prices stabilise, calming food crisis fears

The global food price index held steady in August, calming fears of a repeat of the 2007-08 food crisis – but governments could still do more to stabilise markets, according...

Pepsi bottler Suntory could gatecrash Britvic Barr party - analyst suggests

Japanese Pepsi bottler Suntory could enter the fray with a rival bid for Britvic, according to one City analyst, but he added that this was unlikely due to the firm’s...

EFSA should improve communication, say auditors

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) generally operates in a transparent, independent and open way, but it could improve its international reputation and communication on potential conflicts of interest, according...

Premier Foods faces fierce competition in UK breakfast biscuits

Premier Foods will need to invest to truly differentiate in the UK breakfast biscuit segment as competition is fierce from rivals like Kraft Foods and Kellogg, according to an analyst.

Moody cloud hangs over Britvic, AG Barr talks to thrash out merger

Britvic and PepsiCo licensee AG Barr are locked in discussions over a merger, and with the latter's CEO Roger White earmarked for the top job, one M&A expert told BeverageDaily.com...

Deep fried Mars bar ‘not in line with our marketing code’, says Mars

Global food and drink giant Mars has issued a letter to a local fish and chip shop in Scotland asking it to add a disclaimer on battered Mars bars as...

Organic produce is no healthier or nutritious, finds review

Organic produce offers no benefits over conventional farming methods when it comes to nutrition and health, according to the findings of a new wide ranging review of the evidence.

News in brief

Morrisons opens Grimsby fish plant

Morrisons’ new fish processing plant in Grimsby began operations today (September 3) − five months after work began on converting a disused factory at Europa Park.

EU cereal prices to remain high and volatile, says Commission

The European Commission has forecast EU cereal prices to remain high and unstable and is wary of the destabilising effects of other commodities such as maize and wheat.