Obesity

Progress at hand: by 2020 wearables will become commonplace

Wearable devices to track personal nutrition by 2020

By Rick Pendrous

Technology that helps consumers tailor what they eat to their specific health requirements – so-called ‘personalised nutrition’ – will take off over the next five years, the head of intelligence and economics at the Future Foundation think tank has predicted.

Salty snack sales could be hit as health-conscious consumers plan to cut down consumption

Consumers plan to buy less salty products

By Laurence Gibbons

Sales of salty snacks could be hit as health-conscious consumers plan to remove them from their shopping baskets in the year ahead, according to information and insights company Nielsen.

Responsible innovation will be the focus of the Food Vision 2015 event in Cannes between March 18–20

Food Vision focuses on responsible innovation

By Michael Stones

Responsible innovation is the theme of the Food Vision 2015 event, connecting leaders in nutrition and food and drink development, to take place in Cannes, south of France between March 18–20.

Growth rates in childhood obesity slowing - study

Sector not absolved by childhood obesity slowdown

By Nicholas Robinson

A slowdown in childhood obesity growth rates does not absolve the food and drink industry from blame, despite its efforts to reduce the fat, sugar and salt (FSS) content of its products, experts have said.

Top food industry concerns from business leaders

Business Leaders' Forum

Business Leaders’ Forum – in quotes

By Laurence Gibbons

Obesity, skills and the changing retailer landscape were some of the key issues debated at last week’s Business Leaders’ Forum at the Walkie Talkie building in central London.

Yacon is a natural source of fructooligosaccharides

Business Leaders’ Forum

Alara Wholefoods aims to create 17 new jobs

By Rod Addy

Alara Wholefoods aims to create 17 jobs over the course of this year off the back of strong demand for its organic and gluten-free muesli and other food lines.

Watkins said food and drink firms shoud prepare for the impact the General Election could have on their businesses

Business Leaders' Forum

Prepare for election threats and opportunities

By Laurence Gibbons

Food and drink manufacturers should prepare for the threats and opportunities arising from the General Election in May, according to law firm DWF.

Eaton: 'Much greater competition in manufacturing'

Business Leaders’ Forum

Business leaders tackle fat tax at industry forum

By Rod Addy

Debate about taxing ‘unhealthy’ foods provoked division at Food Manufacture’s Business Leaders’ Forum and was a top hot topic singled out by Geoff Eaton, chairman of New England Seafood International.

The BDA supports a taz on sugar

Drinks industry slams sugar policy

By Nicholas Robinson

The British Soft Drinks Association’s (BSDA’s) director general Gavin Partington has slammed the British Dietetic Association’s (BDA’s) new policy on sugary drinks for children.

The UK is not among the top 12 sugar-consuming countries

100 years for UK to reach global sugar target

By Rod Addy

It may take 100 years to cut UK consumers’ sugar intake to levels recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), according to market analyst Datamonitor.

Gallani argued too much focus on sugar, alongside fat and salt, had eclipsed other vital issues

Industry reacts to Andy Burnham’s Demos speech

Risks of unrealistic fat, salt, sugar limits

By Rod Addy

Setting unrealistic fat, salt and sugar limits for foods could spoil their quality, the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has warned, responding to Labour shadow health secretary Andy Burnham’s policy proposals.

Haggis can't be imported into the the US if it contains lung

Haggis to tackle US obesity crisis

By Nicholas Robinson

Haggis would help tackle America’s obesity crisis, but its import ban into the US must first be lifted, Members of Parliament were told in a House of Commons debate yesterday (January 15).

The food industry must shout about its impact on health, says Whitlock

Oxford Farming Conference

Promote health benefits or risk political sidelining

By Laurence Gibbons

The food industry must promote about its health benefits or risk being sidelined in the lead-up to the General Election in May, according to the chairman of the Oxford Farming Conference.

Premier Foods boss Gavin Darby resolved to build closer relationships with suppliers and customers

Premier Foods joins New Year resolutions list

By Michael Stones

Premier Foods boss Gavin Darby has pledged to forge closer partnerships with suppliers and customers in a list of New Year resolutions submitted to this website by key industry figures.

Labour's Huw Irranca-Davies pledged a more joined-up approach to food policy if Labour is successful at the next's election

Oxford farming conference

Food policy to be key to next Labour government

By Michael Stones

Labour has pledged to put food policy at the heart of a new “industry strategy”, while introducing a more joined-up approach to food safety and health challenges, if it is successful after the general election on May 7.

Jebb: 'We may need to look towards other policy options'

Promotions failure signals Responsibility Deal change

By Rick Pendrous

The food industry’s failure to make progress on curbing the promotion of foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS), will set in train a major overhaul of the voluntary Public Health Responsibility Deal (PHRD).

Consumers want reassure about food and drink product safety

Consumer care is a new priority for food science

By Rick Pendrous

The food industry must engage more with consumers if it is to reassure them about what it does and get their buy-in for new advances in science and technology, according to a new survey published by research group Campden BRI on January 6.

Food Manufacture Group’s news of the year

The Food Manufacture Group’s year in pictures

By Laurence Gibbons

It’s been another busy year for the Food Manufacture Group. We travelled the country to bring you the latest news and views online and in print and event formats about the hottest topics facing UK food and drink manufacturers in 2014.

Consumers are increasingly questionning terms such as 'natural', said Leatherhead Food Research

Health Ingredients Europe

Consumers are ready to rumble false food claims

By Nicholas Robinson

Food and drink businesses that loosely use the term ‘natural’ on their products to make them appear healthy could soon be rumbled by untrusting consumers, experts have warned.

Emulsifiers and stabilisers are being used to reduce fat and thicken products

Food firms seek a high-fat feel

By Nicholas Robinson

Making low-fat versions of high-fat food and drink is something scientists will strive to do better, despite criticism, says Nicholas Robinson

Some children's juice drinks contain more sugar than regular Cola

AoS takes another pop at industry

By Nicholas Robinson

Action on Sugar (AoS) has slammed the manufacturers of “seemingly healthy” children’s fruit juices, juice drinks and smoothies, which can often contain more sugar than regular Coca-Cola.

Soft drinks are a significant source of sugar, according to National Diet and Nutrition Survey data

Sugary drinks tax slammed by nutritionist

By Rod Addy

Renewed calls to attack health problems by taxing sugary drinks have been slammed by a leading nutritionist, who claims cutting portion sizes and sugar content and tackling irresponsible retail promotions would be better.

Team Goosefoot wins culinary product development challenge for its vended quinoa bars

Healthy quinoa bars in Bristol NHS Trust vending trial

By Rick Pendrous

A healthy quinoa bar concept developed by a team of final year culinary arts management students has picked up the award in the ‘culinary product development challenge’, run by the Automatic Vending Association (AVA) in partnership with the University...

A woman's diet before and during pregnancy is crucial to her baby's health

Maternal diets dictate health of their children

By Rick Pendrous

Women’s diets before and during pregnancy can have a profound effect on the health of their offspring in later life, a leading public health nutritional scientist has revealed.

Hot stuff: hot food vending is likely to become much more popular in the UK

Vending machines to stock healthier items

By Rick Pendrous

Vending machines are about to undergo a revolution in the UK with new hot and cold food offerings set to create a completely new sales channel for manufacturers.

Food labelling will receive more attention if Labour is successful at the next election said Abrahams

Labour plans tougher food regulation

By Rick Pendrous

Labour is about to set out its plans for improving public health if elected next year and while tougher regulation can be expected, sugar and fat taxes will not be part of the mix, it has emerged.

Consumers didn't single out low-fat, salt and sugar products as particularly healthy

Natural foods win consumer vote for health

By Nicholas Robinson

Natural products with intrinsic benefits are healthier than food and drink reformulated to be more nutritious, according to consumer research.

Consumers are being 'hoodwinked' by food marketing ploys

Food firms must act on obesity

By Nicholas Robinson

Food and drink manufacturers cannot “sit back” and watch the obesity crisis worsen, a leading weight loss surgeon has urged, following the release of a report calling for a 10-year strategy to tackle the UK's obesity crisis.

A tobacco-style regulation could improve children's health

Tobacco-style regulation needed on ‘unhealthy’ foods

By Laurence Gibbons

A tobacco-style regulation should be introduced to reduce children’s exposure to “unhealthy” food products and help to protect and promote healthy diets, according to health campaigners and consumer advocates.

Nutritionists have defended the government's 'Eatwell Plate'

Nutritionists defend government advice on food

By Laurence Gibbons

Claims that the government’s ‘Eatwell Plate’ promotes excessive sugar intake and contributes to growing health problems in the UK have been rubbished by leading nutritionists.

The research assessed pupils' knowledge of the Department of Health's Eatwell Plate

Kids’ diet scheme PhunkyFoods gets results

By Rod Addy

Children’s attitudes to health are being improved by kids’ diet scheme PhunkyFoods – funded by Nestlé and 2 Sisters Food Group – according to research revealed today (October 28) by Leeds Beckett University.

Followers of the 'Caveman Diet' have attacked the government's Eatwell Plate

Caveman diet followers attack ‘Eatwell Plate’

By Laurence Gibbons

The government’s ‘Eatwell Plate’ has come under criticism for containing more than 100% of the recommended daily allowance of sugar in just one meal, by Paleo Britain.

Food safety risks should not be overlooked when reforumating foods to combat Britain's obesity epidemic, said Dr Sarah Stringer

Food safety conference

Beware food safety impact of reformulation

By Michael Stones

Small-scale food manufacturers have been warned to beware the food safety consequences of reformulating their products to remove salt, sugar and fat.

Antimicrobial resistance in stock and humans poses the greatest food safety challenge, warned Professor Sarah O'Brien

Food safety conference

Top food safety threat is antimicrobial resistance

By Michael Stones

Four threats, including antimicrobial resistance, and two opportunities will be some of the biggest influences on UK food safety in the years ahead, delegates heard at the Food Manufacture Group’s safety conference this week.

Sceti: 'Frozen food can be a key part in reducing food waste'

Food industry must unite to tackle obesity and waste

By Laurence Gibbons

The food industry must engage with frozen food firm Iglo Group’s latest programme to tackle obesity, food waste and unsustainable production, according the firm’s boss Elio Leoni Sceti.

The UK is viewed as the fat-man of Europe, 2020health claims

AB Sugar-backed report takes tough line on obesity

By Rod Addy

Tougher measures to tackle obesity have been proposed in a report published by 2020health and funded by AB Sugar, including a ban on daytime TV adverts for unhealthy products targeting kids.

Obesity will not be solved by reformulation alone

Reformulation ‘won’t solve obesity’

By Laurence Gibbons

Reformulation is not the sole solution to obesity, as health-conscious consumers could be increasing their calorie consumption by choosing low-sugar or low-fat products, according to research from AB Sugar.

Scottish consumers need to up their consumption of fruit and vegetables

Reaction: Scotland’s NDNS results

Scotland’s diabetes ‘time bomb’

By Nicholas Robinson

Scotland’s ageing and increasingly overweight population is facing a “diabetes time bomb”, which must be a focus of the Scottish government.

The Scots are drinking more alcohol and sugary drinks than UK average

Snapshot: Scotland’s NDNS results

Scots eat poorer diet compared with UK average

By Nicholas Robinson

Scottish consumers drink more alcohol, eat fewer fruits and vegetables and drink more sugary drinks than the rest of the UK, according to Scotland’s National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) results.

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