Category: Europe
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EFSA Completes Assessment of Glycoalkaloids in Potatoes
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has completed its health risk assessment for glycoalkaloids in food and animal feeds, especially in potatoes. “Experts identified a health concern for infants and toddlers, considering both mean and high consumers,” the agency’s announcement states. “Among adults, there is a health concern for high consumers only. Glycoalkaloids poisoning can…
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U.K. to Implement New Food Advertising Standards
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a series of measures aimed at limiting advertising for foods high in salt, sugar and fat. The measures include a ban on ads for such foods before 9 p.m., the implementation of calorie counts on food menus and a ban on “buy one get one” deals on some…
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Europe Announces Seizure of Counterfeit Dairy Products
Europol and Interpol have announced the seizure of 320 additional tonnes of “counterfeit and substandard food and beverages” following an operation that involved 83 countries, bringing the operation’s seizure total to about 12,000 tonnes. “This year’s operational activities have found a new disturbing trend to address: the infiltration of low-quality products into the supply chain,…
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EU Announces “Farm to Fork Strategy”
The European Commission has announced the adoption of strategies to support biodiversity and “transition to a sustainable EU food system that safeguards food security and ensures access to healthy diets sourced from a healthy planet.” “The coronavirus crisis has underlined the importance of a robust and resilient food system that functions in all circumstances, and…
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WHO, Governments Issue Advice on Food Safety During COVID-19 Pandemic
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued “COVID-19 and food safety: guidance for food businesses,” which provides information on the risks of transmission of COVID-19 in the food and beverage industry. “It is highly unlikely that people can contract COVID-19 from food or food packaging,” the guidance states. “Coronaviruses cannot multiply in food; they need…
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France to Ban Mass Culling of Male Chicks
France’s agriculture minister has reportedly announced that the country will prohibit the mass culling of male chicks shortly after they hatch and ban the castration of piglets without anesthesia in an effort to support animal welfare. The minister indicated his intention to have the regulations take effect by the end of 2021. Germany previously banned…
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Portman Group Upholds Wine Complaint
The Portman Group, the U.K. alcohol industry’s self-regulatory authority, has upheld a complaint against Trinchero Family Estates for its Ménage à Trois Midnight wine. Zenith Global brought a complaint arguing that the wine’s name and marketing copy may breach the code by creating links between the product and sexual activity or sexual success. The panel…
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EU Bans Insecticide Chlorpyrifos
A regulatory committee of the European Union has reportedly voted to prohibit the use of chlorpyrifos and chlorpyrifos-methyl. Member countries voted to withdraw authorization for the insecticide after January 31, 2020, after which companies will have three months to dispose of their stocks of chlorpyrifos. The vote follows an August 2019 determination by the European Food…