EUROPE - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is considering a recommendation to the European Union to set limits for the kaurenoic acid (KA), an impurity found in stevia, a sweetener and sugar substitute. Last month, EFSA held a technical meeting with representatives from Cargill, International Stevia Council (ISC), Pure Circle, Coca Cola, Sweegen and…
KENYA - The European Union has launched a US$2.37 million cashewnut and sesame value chain project to revive the ailing industry after the collapse of the sole processor at the Kenyan Coast, Kenya Cashewnuts Factory. Revival of the new factory, now under the management of the Millennium Nuts Company, brings hope for 15,000 farmers in…
EU - The European Union has issued a list of possible measures in retaliation against US’s metal tariffs which came into effect 1 June unless Trump administration shuns away from the trade war which threatens the economies of both the countries. According to FoodIngredientsFirst, the EU has pledged to implement the retaliatory measures and seek…
KENYA - The European Union has extended US$1.09 million funding to Makueni County for a mango juice processor, Kalamba Fruit Processing plant, following an agreement between the Kenyan government and the EU. According to Business Daily, this agreement involves funding economic projects across 15 counties under the Instrument for Devolution Advice and Support (IDEAS) programme.…
EU - The European Union has issued a directive to ban ‘dual food’ to tackle the issue of known brands selling its food products of lower quality in some markets in the EU. The commission is set to provide a methodology for testing multinational brands to help identify the real culprits when they try to…
EUROPE - The EU has come up with a number of proposals that aims to tackle unfair trading practices and ensure small and medium-sized food and farming businesses are treated fairly. The food supply chain has been marred with unfair trading practices especially against smaller food operators and farmers who are said to lack bargaining…
EUROPE - Plastic food packaging has failed to reduce food waste, but rather seems to be compounding the food waste problem in Europe, where packaging and waste has doubled between 2004 and 2014. In a new study published by NGOs Friends of the Earth Europe and Zero Waste Europe, food waste doubled to an estimated…
UK - The European Union’s regulations are set to become into law, requiring food manufacturers to reduce the amount of acrylamide used in packaged foods including biscuits, cookies and coffee. The regulation reduces the amount of acrylamide permissible for various food products, ranging from 350 micrograms (μg) of acrylamide per kilogram for biscuits and cookies…
BRAZIL - The Brazilian government has suspended BRF’s poultry exports destined for the European Union, following a probe into the company over the presence of Salmonella. The Ministry of Agriculture, Supply, and Livestock (MAPA) said it had temporarily suspended the production and sanitary certification of BRF’s poultry exports to the EU, and it expects to…
EUROPE - The European Commission has launched a Knowledge Centre for food fraud and quality in Strasbourg, stepping up fight against fraudulent practices concerning food in the European Union. According to FoodingredientsFirst, this centre was established with an aim to boost the quality of foodstuff and address concerns about food fraud which are said to…
