UK – The UK government has introduced a policy that all flour is to be fortified with folic acid after ministers swung behind a plan that medical experts say will reduce the number of babies born in the UK with serious birth defects. According to the Guardian, the policy which will be introduced within weeks,…
USA – Kellogg’s, an American multinational food-manufacturing company, to re-start shipment of Kellogg's Honey Smacks cereals after the previous Salmonella scrae that led to the recall of the snacks from retail shops. According to the company, the cereals begin rolling back on to U.S. shelves next month in limited quantities, with a simpler, updated recipe,…
SOUTH AFRICA - Packaged goods company, Tiger Brands has reopened its ready-to-eat meat processing facility, Enterprise Foods in Germiston, months after two of its factories were shut down on listeriosis outbreak. According to Business Day, the company said it is likely to open its other facility in Polokwane once it completes refurbishments as well as…
AUSTRALIA - Alcohol producers will be forced to label their products with warnings relating to the risks of drinking during pregnancy in an agreement reached by Australian and New Zealand ministers. According to Food Business News, the labels will be developed by Food Standards Australia New Zealand in consultation with the alcohol industry, and will…
IRELAND - Ireland has adopted legislation on the risks associated with alcohol consumption, for the first time, in a country where alcoholism has had devastating consequences. According to EURACTIV, it is the first law in Ireland that treats alcohol as a matter of public health, and that the new legislation affects the price, access, marketing,…
USA - The U.S. Food & Drug Administration has banned the use of six synthetic flavorings in candy, cookies, ice cream, and all other foods and beverages because the chemicals have been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. According to USDA, the affected chemicals—benzophenone, ethyl acrylate, eugenyl methyl ether, myrcene, pulegone, and pyridine—are typically…
UK - One in two (52%) of British grocery shoppers say they either follow or are interested in following a plant-based diet, according to new research from IGD, a firm that deals with the insight, training and best practice for the grocery industry. According to FoodBeV, this rises to 68% for 18-24 year olds who…
EUROPE - Vivera, the fastest growing producer of plant-based meat alternatives in Europe, has announced the introduction of the highest quality 100% plant-based hamburger. Accordiung to the company, it claims to have achieved the highest quality vegan hamburger currently available, and that Sainsbury's will be the first to sell the fresh (uncooked) 'Veggie Quarter Pounder'. Earlier…
SINGAPORE - Singapore Packaging Agreement (SPA) governing board chairman, Albert Lim has said that the current landfill for packaging waste will be full by 2035 given a limited land space. According to him, a taskforce which recommended voluntary agreement towards waste management was set up in January 2007 with a goal to look into the…
INDIA - The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has called a meeting with airlines, flight caterers and airport operators, seeking to make it mandatory for airlines to serve meal with nutritional information as well as healthier options, ET Retail reports. Airlines may need to include complete information on nutritional aspects like calories, list…
