Food safety

Consumers increasingly value animal welfare and seek out retailers, CPGs that do, too

Consumer concern about animal welfare is rising to a level that retailers – and by extension CPG manufacturers and suppliers – can no longer ignore, according to new research by...

Walmart challenges suppliers over animal welfare and antibiotic use

Walmart is asking meat and poultry suppliers to stop using antibiotics and antimicrobials for non-therapeutic purposes (eg. to promote growth and boost feed efficiency rather than exclusively for treating sick...

ConAgra to pay $11.2m to settle Salmonella case

A subsidiary of ConAgra will pay $11.2m related to the shipment of contaminated peanut butter linked to a 2006-07 Salmonella outbreak.

Consumer concerns about chemicals in food rise while their trust in food safety sinks, survey finds

Concern about “chemicals” in the food supply is growing among Americans, many of whom are changing how they buy food as a result, according to a recent survey. 

organic and non-gmo trends

Most consumers unwilling to pay more for non-GMO, even as their concern rises, research shows

Consumers’ concern about genetically modified food is on the rise, but most shoppers are not yet willing to pay a premium for non-GMO foods – making it difficult for manufacturers...

Chipotle goes non-GMO, and embarks on ‘quest to eliminate additives’

Chipotle Mexican Grill has “achieved its goal of moving to only non-GMO ingredients to make all of the food in its US restaurants”, and is now embarking on a quest to...

Slow-to-evolve FDA regulations could holdback 3D printing of food

Investing in 3D printing could open new markets and generate huge cost savings for food manufacturers and retailers, but first companies must overcome potential regulatory and legal hurdles, many of...

Surging interest in edible insects prompts safety review

A pan-European list outlining the pros and cons of different insect species, their nutritional content and environmental impact is needed says ANSES.

EWG calls on food manufacturers to stop using the preservative propyl paraben

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has launched a social media campaign and online petition calling on food manufacturers to stop using the preservative propyl paraben.

Doctors question study claiming pesticides lower semen quality

A study that claimed men who eat fruits and vegetables with higher levels of pesticide residues could have lower sperm count should be interpreted with caution, said health professionals.

Quorn 'categorically rejects' allegations in wrongful death lawsuit

Quorn Foods has launched a vigorous defense of its ‘mycoprotein’ meat substitutes in the wake of a wrongful death lawsuit filed in California by the parents of Miles Bengco, an 11-year-old...

News in brief

Glyphosate ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’, says IARC; conclusion ‘not supported by scientific data’, says Monsanto

Monsanto says the view of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (part of the World Health Organization) that the herbicide glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans" is at odds...

GMO update: Non-browning Arctic apples and Innate low-acrylamide potatoes are safe, says FDA

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says two high-profile genetically engineered foods - Simplot's low acrylamide 'Innate' potatoes, and Okanagan Specialty Fruit's non-browning 'Arctic' apples – are “as safe and nutritious...

Pesticide residues ‘clearly exceed’ legal limits in 1.5% of European foods

Pesticide residues in raw and processed foods clearly exceeded legal limits in 1.5% of European foods in 2013, according to a new assessment from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

'ALL MALTA GOYA PRODUCTS MEET FEDERAL AND STATE LAWS'

Goya Foods slams 'outdated, inaccurate' 4-MEI figures in soft drinks study

Goya Foods has hit back at a study on the safety of 4-MEI in soft drinks by John Hopkins researchers, insisting that the team's data on the caramel color byproduct...

We’re not trying to hide the fact that we’re using genetic engineering

Arctic Apples creator Neal Carter: We really think this will be a game changer

While anti-GMO activists warn that the technology behind non-browning ‘Arctic apples’ is untested, unnecessary, and "dangerously imprecise", the grower behind them says he’s confident that the food industry and the...

FDA finds some dark chocolate includes undeclared milk

A new study revealing that a significant portion of dark chocolate products sold in the U.S. may contain undeclared milk could shake some consumers’ confidence in the industry in the...

FDA budget request outlines priorities in FSMA implementation, increased inspections

The budget request from the White House for the Food and Drug Administration is part of President Obama’s overall budget that will not see the light of day.  Nevertheless, the...

FDA warning over infant's death shouldn't call safety of probiotics into question, experts say

The recall last last year of a probiotic product found to be contaminated with a fungus should not cast a pall over the entire sector, experts say.  Though they are...

News in brief

USP talks food fraud with Chinese Ministry of Agriculture

US Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) laboratories has held a workshop with scientists from the China’s Ministry of Agriculture to highlight efforts on risk assessment and food quality.

Cornell Food Systems Global Summit

Consensus building key to creating good agricultural practices to meet FSMA’s proposed produce rule

The Produce Safety Alliance, spearheaded by Cornell University and funded by FDA and USDA, is “on the cusp” of releasing a national good agricultural practices educational curriculum to meet the grower training...

Idle investment capital driving consolidation in testing arena, exec says

The need to get higher returns on investment capital that has lain idle is driving the ongoing consolidation in the sphere of analytical testing according to Dave Kliber, CEO of...

CSPI demands FDA releases data on drug residues in raw milk

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rubbished suggestions by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) it is hiding data collected on animal drug residues in...

FDA rejects calls for aspartame ban: ‘No new credible scientific evidence has been presented’

The US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has rejected two citizen’s petitions urging it to ban the use of aspartame as a food additive, arguing that neither presented any credible...

Quest for purity brought allergen-free positioning as a side benefit, chocolate maker says

The rising tide of food intolerances and allergic reactions bodes well for Pascha Chocolate, a brand that is founded on an allergen-free positioning. But co-founder Courtenay Vuchnich said the real...