Category: Europe
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EU Targets Single-Use Plastic
The European Commission has proposed rules intended to reduce the buildup of single-use plastic in oceans. The rules would ban plastic products with a readily available and affordable alternative, such as cutlery, plates, straws and drink stirrers. In addition, manufacturers “will help cover the costs of waste management and clean-up, as well as awareness raising…
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ASA Upholds Challenge to Ad Linking Milk Consumption to Cancer
The U.K. Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld a challenge to a bus poster sponsored by Viva, a vegan-advocacy group, that claimed the hormones in cow’s milk have been “linked to cancer.” Viva asserted that consumers interpret the words “linked to” as a phrase “commonly used to express an association between two factors when there…
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EFSA Releases Results of Glyphosate Review
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reviewed data on glyphosate residues on crops and determined that “current exposure levels are not expected to pose a risk to human health.” The review includes two reports examining crops grown for human consumption as well as crops used in animal feed. EFSA reportedly relied on comparisons between…
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France Bans Meat and Dairy Terms for Plant-Based Foods
The French Parliament has reportedly voted to prohibit the use of meat and dairy terms to describe plant-based substitutes such as vegetarian sausage or vegan bacon. The measure follows a 2017 European Court of Justice ruling that plant-based products cannot be marketed with terms such as “milk” or “butter.” Violations of the ban may lead…
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European Parliament Adopts Organic Food Rules
The European Parliament has adopted rules governing the certification and labeling of organic foods, including supply chain checks and updated standards for organic foods imported from non-EU countries. The rules also cover plant seeds, allowing producers to offer locally adapted traditional varieties for sale and use. “Organic standards are already very high, but consumer confidence can best…
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EC Approves Irish SSB Tax
Ireland’s tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) will take effect May 1, 2018, following a European Commission finding that the tax does not constitute state aid. According to a press release, “The Commission in its assessment found that soft drinks can be treated differently to other sugary products in view of health objectives. For example, the…
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ASA Upholds Challenge to Pret A Manger’s “Natural” Claims
The U.K. Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld an advocacy group’s challenge to the use of the term “natural” by Pret A Manger but rejected a challenge to the company’s advertising claim that its breads are fresh-baked at each location. Ads on Pret A Manger’s website and Facebook page claimed that the chain makes “handmade natural…
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U.K. to Ban Plastic Straws, Stirrers
The United Kingdom has announced plans to ban the sale of plastic straws and drink stirrers in an effort to combat plastic waste in oceans. Previous initiatives to further that goal have included a ban on microbeads in personal care products, fees for single-use plastic bags and a proposal for a deposit-return process for single-use…