Category: Europe
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Criteria to Identify Endocrine Disruptors Focus of Upcoming EC Conference
The European Commission (EC) is convening a meeting to “inform Member States, Members of the European Parliament, third country representatives and stakeholders about the ongoing impact assessment on criteria to identify endocrine disruptors and to provide a platform for further exchanges of views” on June 1, 2015, at the Centre Albert Burschette in Brussels, Belgium.…
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ASA Dismisses Complaint Against Guinness’ Tweet*
The U.K. Advertising Standard Authority (ASA) has dismissed a complaint alleging that a message on Diageo Great Britain Ltd.’s Guinness® Twitter feed “implied that someone’s week would be improved by drinking alcohol.” Filed by Alcohol Concern, the complaint dubbed a tweet appearing on @GuinnessGB “irresponsible” for featuring a photograph of the iconic brewery’s gates with…
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New Food Safety Agency Takes over FSA’s Former Duties in Scotland
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) officially launched on April 1, 2015, assuming responsibilities previously overseen by the U.K. Food Standards Agency (FSA). FSS was established under the Food (Scotland) Act 2015 as a non-ministerial office, “part of the Scottish Administration, alongside, but separate from the Scottish Government.” “This is a great day for the Scottish consumer…
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EFSA Says No Evidence of Ebola Risk from Food
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reportedly concluded that “[t]here is no evidence that the Ebola virus can be transmitted through food in the European Union.” At the request of the European Commission, EFSA issued a scientific report detailing the risk pathway for the transmission of Zaïre Ebola virus (ZEBOV) via imported food consumed…
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UK FSA Announces Final Results of Aspartame Study
The U.K. Food Standards Agency (FSA) has announced the final results of an aspartame study commissioned by the Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT), which peer-reviewed the initial findings in December 2013. Authored by Hull York Medical School researchers, the study relied on data from 48 individuals who…
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DTU’s National Food Institute Rejects EFSA’s Assessment of Bisphenol A
The Technical University of Denmark’s (DTU’s) National Food Institute has rejected the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA’s) recent bisphenol A (BPA) assessment, claiming that the agency’s decision to set the tolerable daily intake (TDI) at 4 micrograms per kilogram body weight per day does not adequately protect consumers. After examining EFSA’s toxicological evaluation, National Food Institute’s…
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EFSA Issues Scientific Opinion on Nickel in Vegetables, Water
At the request of the Hellenic Food Authority, the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA’s) Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel) has issued a scientific opinion on the public health risks associated with the presence of nickel (Ni) in food—especially vegetables—and drinking water. Citing the established tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 2.8 µg…
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EFSA to Hold Meeting on Caffeine Safety
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has announced a March 5, 2015, stakeholder meeting to discuss its draft opinion on the safety of caffeine. Authored by the agency’s Nutrition Unit, the draft opinion finds, among other things, that “single doses of caffeine up to 200 mg and daily intakes of up to 400 mg do…