Food and drink bulletin round-up

NPA warns against methods of production on labels​

The National Pig Association (NPA) has warned against introducing methods of production labelling on meat and dairy products, for fear of misleading consumers.

Established codes of practice, particular to the pork sector, already define several terms related to production methods that are widely used by retailers on product labels, said NPA senior policy advisor Georgina Crayford.

“There is a limit to the amount of useful information that can be put on food labels,”​ Crayford said. “Going beyond what is already required by law is likely to lead to greater confusion among consumers.”​

Disappointment over alcohol-free consultation​

The British Beer and Pub Association has expressed its “bitter disappointment” at the UK Government’s decision not to change the definition of alcohol-free beer.

“Changing the current definition of ‘alcohol-free’ beer from 0.05% ABV to 0.5% ABV would have brought the UK in line with the rest of Europe and other global markets,” said chief executive Brigid Simmonds. ​

“This creates the perverse situation whereby beers at 0.5% ABV produced in Europe can be sold in the UK as ‘alcohol-free’, but British brewers brewing at the same strength must label their beer differently. This is discrimination and will create confusion for consumers.”​

 Scots ingredients firm secures £2m investment​

Scottish ingredients firm Scot Bio has secured £2m of investment following an oversubscribed funding round.

The new funding will allow the company to scale up production and expand its existing team to respond to the rapidly expanding international market for natural colourants, which it expected to experience rapid growth in the next few years.

Student ready meal entrepreneur wins award​

Lauren Leisk, founder of fresh ready-meal firm Fodilicious, has won £15,000 of funding after placing in the top four students at the Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Awards 2018.

Fodilicious produces meals for followers of the FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols) diet, designed for those who suffer with irritable bowel syndrome.