European Commission

Salminen: Hard to reach a 'constructive' end result

NDA: EC gave inadequate guidance on health claims

By Elaine Watson

The depressingly high rejection rate for ‘article 13.1’ health claims is hardly surprising given the nature of the submission process, according to one member of the expert panel tasked with assessing them.

MEP demands EU answers on Twinings factory fund

MEP demands EU answers on Twinings factory fund

By Ben Bouckley

Keith Taylor MEP is demanding that the EU Commission discover whether Twinings provided guarantees to Polish authorities that it would not misuse an EU funding award that will see UK jobs relocated abroad

Soy protein health claim: EC should be ‘pragmatic’

Soy protein health claim: EC should be ‘pragmatic’

By Elaine Watson

The firms behind a high-profile ‘article 14’ health claim application about soy protein are hoping the European Commission will “adopt a pragmatic approach” as it reviews a controversial negative opinion on their application from the European Food Safety...

sweetcorn

FDF: Resolve legal limbo on 'no added salt' claims

By Elaine Watson

A clutch of widely-used nutrition claims from ‘no added salt’ and ‘low-Gi’ to ‘10% less fat’ remain in a state of legal limbo as discussions over whether to allow them under the health claims Regulation drag on.

Nestlé: COOL extension is impractical and unwelcome

Nestlé: COOL extension is impractical and unwelcome

By Elaine Watson

Lobbying to prevent the extension of country of origin labelling (COOL) to all meat and poultry products - even when used as minor ingredients in complex processed foods - has stepped up a gear as major food manufacturers have continued to question its...

Spirulina faces legal questions

Spirulina faces legal questions

By Elaine Watson

Spirulina, the blue colour from algae used in Nestlé’s Smarties, is one of 10 substances used to colour food that faces an uncertain future as its legal status is scrutinised.

EC promises guidance on natural colours

EC promises guidance on natural colours

By Elaine Watson

The European Commission (EC) is drawing up guidance to help clear up the confusion surrounding the labelling of ‘natural’ food colours.The...

Trade Talk

Trade Talk

Risk averse laws let good food go to waste

Gluten: a stretching challenge

Gluten: a stretching challenge

In many foods gluten is a necessary functional ingredient, in others the gluten containing cereals (wheat, spelt, kamut, rye and barley) are key...

Pure and simple?

Pure and simple?

The European Commission continues to disappoint with its proposed new regulations on the provision of food information to consumers, says Neville Craddock

A debate too far

A debate too far

After two decades of debate, 2008 sees the Food Supplements Directive lumber into the end game of the setting of maximum permitted levels for...

EU targets obese kids

EU targets obese kids

By Rick Pendrous

European focus on children under-12 calls for voluntary action

Trade Talk

Trade Talk

Cut red tape, but do not cut corners on food safety

Sheep smokies could be legalised

Sheep smokies could be legalised

By Rick Pendrous

Legalisation of hygienically produced sheep meat ‘smokies’ moved a step closer with news that the Food Standards Agency (FSA) is to publish the...

Commission makes law look an ass

Commission makes law look an ass

Over the years, there have been several occasions when the European Commission has decided to repeal or replace EU legislation that did not work.In...

A colourful review

A colourful review

As this is my last column for Food Manufacture before I move on to pastures new, I thought it would be a good opportunity to look back over the last...

Cash promise puts EFSA budget freeze on ice

Cash promise puts EFSA budget freeze on ice

By Elaine Watson

Fears that the European Food Safety Authority would not be able to meet its commitments next year after a budget freeze have been allayed following...