Health & Functionality

Court-appointed panel split over junk food ban near schools

Court-appointed panel split over junk food ban near schools

By Ankush Chibber

Banning junk food near schools, one of India’s biggest and long-running public health issues, seems like it will continue some more after industry officials and health activists on a court–appointed panel were unable to forge a common direction.

A standard can of sugar-sweetened soft drink would exceed the 5% limit on added sugars for most people

WHO recommends halving sugar intake advice

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised halving sugar intake advice from 10% of total calories to 5% of total calories in a new dietary guideline proposal.

32% of Irish consumers say they would be more likely to shop at stores where junk food at checkouts is banned

Irish NGO calls for sweet-free checkouts

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Irish NGO Safefood has called on supermarkets to make checkouts ‘sweet-free zones’ as part of its campaign to tackle childhood obesity.

Scientists have linked added sugars to obesity, type two diabetes, heart disease and tooth decay, but the candy industry says the commodity is being unfairly demonized. Photo Credit: The Health Guardians

Confectionery industry prepares to battle its sugar demons

By Oliver Nieburg

The US National Confectioners Association (NCA) and leading US firms say sugar has been ‘unjustly’ victimized in recent months and the public should be free to enjoy a sweet treat if they so desire.

Dietmar Eiden, vice president of trade fair management at Koelnmesse, on the talking points of ISM 2014

Dispatches from ISM 2014 in Cologne

Sustainability and health needs grow at ISM, says organizer

By Oliver Nieburg

The confectionery industry is in good shape and demand for sustainable products and those catering to health needs has never been higher, according to ISM organizer Koelnmesse.

Caramel colors: Prop 65 4-MeI levels in Coke, Pepsi

Caramel colors under fire again: Is there a safe level of 4-MeI?

By Elaine WATSON

FDA說,“沒有理由相信”,4 -MeI - an impurity generated during the manufacture of caramel colors III and IV - poses a health risk at current dosage levels, but says it is reviewing new data to determine whether it needs to revise...

The Channel 4 programme claimed to reveal 'how a powerful group of companies have tried to fight off any attempt to reduce the amount of sugar we all consume'

FDF slams Channel 4 sugar programme ‘as misleading’

By Michael Stones

Food manufacturers’ organisation the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has slammed a Channel 4 programme on sugar – screened earlier this week (January 20) as – “highly misleading”.

Government advisers accused of conflict of interest

Conflict of interest? On the sugar payroll

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

A Channel 4 Dispatches programme to be aired in the UK this evening is to accuse scientists advising health ministers on sugar of a conflict of interest due to funds some receive from the food industry.

“It’s very difficult to get an intense sweetener from a natural source; while the need exists. That explains the success of stevia leaf extract,” says Cargill sugar confectionery specialist

Special Edition - Beyond sugar: Hitting the sweet spot

Hard and sweet: The elusive candy promise

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

Between laxative effects, clean labeling and GM, ConfectioneryNews takes a walk through the different sweetener options for hard, soft and jelly candies and the associated pros and cons for each.

EFSA says the review is one of the most comprehensive risk assessments of aspartame ever undertaken

Aspartame is safe, EFSA concludes

By Caroline SCOTT-THOMAS

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has completed a major review of aspartame’s safety, and has concluded that the sweetener is safe for the general population at current consumption levels.

Protein has a big ‘ordinary’ future, says Glanbia

Dispatches from #FIE2013

Protein has a big ‘ordinary’ future, says Glanbia

By Shane STARLING

Irish dairy ingredients specialist Glanbia Nutritionals once filled its sights almost exclusively with the sports nutrition sector, but the explosion of interest in protein means the ‘ordinary’ mainstream food industry is a bigger and bigger target.

Taura says fruit doesn't need an EFSA claim, it stands on its own feet

Dispatches from FiE

Is the next generation of fruit functional?

By Annie-Rose Harrison-Dunn

水果可以擁有自己的獨立功能but Taura Natural Ingredients says fortification with milk and pea proteins, green coffee and grains will bring the ingredient into new areas.