Food labelling

Are new IGD guidelines on eco-labelling misleading? Organisations raise concerns about potential to cause ' unintended environmental outcomes'

15-Dec-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Food and farming organisations including CLEAR and its member organisations, Sustainable Food Trust and Compassion in World Farming (CIWF), have raised concerns regarding newly released eco-labelling guidelines from the IGD, which have recently been delivered...

Labelling landscape at risk of further turbulence in 2024

14-Dec-2023 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

Following uncertainty and disruption in 2023, potential political shifts in 2024 may spell further food labelling frustrations and challenges in the UK.

Biggest threat to additives development? Quality data, says food industry

13-Dec-2023 By Natasha Spencer-Joilliffe

As the World Health Organization (WHO) publishes its latest information on additives, the food industry details how insufficient quality data is the biggest threat to their growth and management.

Climate labels at COP28 expected to influence food purchase behaviour

28-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

Climate impact labels are being applied to 2,500 food items across five Carrefour stores in Dubai, including at Expo City, in time for the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference.

‘Until recently, LCAs have been costly and labour-intensive’: DSM-Firmenich brings environmental footprints to meat, milk and egg products

20-Nov-2023 By Flora Southey

DSM-Firmenich and Sustained are collaborating to capture animal protein life cycle assessment impacts at the farm level, making it easier for food makers to assess and communicate the environmental footprint of their products.

Is it time for the ‘outdated’ supermarket free from aisle to evolve?

27-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

As free from brands spot long-term growth potential, a perpetual debate is reigniting: is it best for these products to be in separate or standard aisles?

‘Consumers are confused by all the different symbols and logos on the market’: Calls for internationally agreed standards for environmental sustainability labelling after large survey

26-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

There is widespread public support for a universal eco-label to be introduced for food products, with more than two-thirds of consumers across Europe saying they would use such a tool to help them make more sustainable choices, according to a new pan-European...

‘We want happy pigs’… welfare and health outweigh climate concerns for consumers

25-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Focusing solely on climate improvements in pork production is not what consumers care most about when buying pork, two studies reveal.

Why manufacturers shouldn’t overlook the visual element when aiming to enhance the inclusivity of their products

18-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Pringles has just announced that new technology will be added to cans to make them more accessible to blind and partially sighted people. Other brands are being encouraged to follow suit.

‘It’s imperative to recognise that not all CBD is created the same’: CBD players digest potential ‘dagger-blow to the UK industry’

12-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

In a move that has potentially far-reaching implications for the CBD industry in the UK, the Food Standards Agency has issued new precautionary advice, recommending healthy adults should limit their consumption of CBD from food to 10mg per day, down from...

‘Synthetic vs natural’: Start-up targets fortification category disruption with organic plant-derived nutrients

06-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

UK-based BIOVIT is poised to launch plant-derived nutrient blends targeting fortified food and meal-replacement markets. Its vitamins and minerals, extracted from leaves, flowers, roots and fungi extracts, guarantees nutrient content, it claims, to boost...

Most of it comes from our homes… so what role, if any, can food manufacturers play in helping to minimise food waste?

05-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Thanks to collaboration, education and labelling innovation, brand influence can pass over the threshold to help shift consumer behaviour, Danone tells FoodNavigator’s Climate Smart Food​​ summit.

How to get consumers to choose your more responsible, less impactful products?

04-Oct-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Today’s shoppers are savvier; alive to greenwashing and cynical about offsetting, says Mintel’s senior trends consultant Richard Cope.

EU agrees ban on ‘climate neutral’ claims by 2026

‘Companies need to re-assess the way they communicate about their purchase of carbon credits’: EU agrees ban on ‘climate neutral’ claims by 2026

21-Sep-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The EU has agreed more details about proposals to ban ‘climate neutral’ claims by 2026, which brings implications for the carbon offset market.

The FoodNavigator Podcast: Why avoiding terms like ‘vegan,’ ‘vegetarian,’ or ‘meatless’ may boost the plant-based market

20-Sep-2023 By Oliver Morrison

As arguments rage about the use of ‘meaty’ or ‘dairy-like’ names for plant-based versions of animal-based foods, we ask could plant-based sector momentum be improved if meat and dairy alternatives avoid imitating the names of animal-based products.

Is a ‘climate cost’ model set to shake up supermarkets’ sustainability stances?

19-Sep-2023 By Natasha Spencer-Joliffe

German discount store Penny’s recent week-long trial saw it raise product prices based on their environmental impact, prompting the food sector to consider whether a ‘climate cost’ model is coming to our retailers and wholesalers.

‘The risk we have here is enough to manage’: Athlete turned entrepreneur Floyd Landis discusses how regulatory uncertainty threatens the global CBD industry

15-Sep-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Regulatory bottlenecks are threatening to hinder CBD innovation on both sides of the Atlantic, the former professional road racing cyclist Floyd Landis tells FoodNavigator.

Digital carbon labelling partnership aims to cut catering industry emissions over 30% by 2025

06-Sep-2023 By Oliver Morrison

UK food tech start-up Dynamify has teamed up with Swedish sustainability software specialist Klimato to deliver what it claims is the UK-first digital carbon labelling system enabling the catering industry to dramatically reduce carbon emissions.

‘The condition is very rare, but the impacts can be traumatic’: FSA to consider label warnings as protein shake death sparks debate

24-Aug-2023 By Oliver Morrison

After a death of a schoolboy, the UK Food Standards Agency is to look at whether labels on high-protein drinks and supplements should feature a warning about the potentially fatal risk of a sudden spike in protein for people with undiagnosed disorders.

‘World’s first climate-friendly ice cream’ made with milk from cows eating methane-reducing ruminant feed

24-Aug-2023 By Oliver Morrison

What’s billed as the world’s first climate-friendly ice cream made from low-emission has arrived at tasting event in London.

‘It’s brilliant the industry has stepped up’: The technology allowing partially sighted shoppers to ‘hear’ what’s on a product label

16-Aug-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Partially sighted consumers are a growing demographic. Solutions are coming aimed at allowing these shoppers to more easily access key on-pack product information and nutritional details.

Germany has ‘greatest market potential’ for plant-based dairy in Europe, finds research

16-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

An investigation into the drivers and barriers of plant-based dairy consumption in six European countries suggests Germany to have the highest sales and greatest market potential.

GUEST ARTICLE

The top 5 trends driving innovation in packaging science

16-Aug-2023 By Katy Askew, managing director, IFIS Publishing

Packaging is the shop window for your brand, the primary interface through which food and beverage manufacturers interact with consumers. Packaging innovation, therefore, cannot be taken lightly. How are R&D teams leveraging packaging science to develop...

Large font sizes for low calorie counts can influence healthy eating choices, study shows

10-Aug-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

There are many reasons why people choose to order healthy food at restaurants, and a new study shows that the font size of calorie counts on menus is one of them. People can be influenced to order healthy options, the study suggests, by the calorie count...

More Climate Smart Food speakers announced: Hear from Nestlé, BLUU Seafood and more

07-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

FoodNavigator is pleased to announce the next wave of speakers for our Climate Smart Food Digital Summit: a three-day event investigating how industry can contribute to a more sustainable system of food production, with human and planetary health in mind....

France’s ‘veggie’ burger ban escalates to the European Court of Justice

03-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

France’s Council of State is calling on the European Court of Justice for greater understanding of implications concerning a potential ban of ‘meaty’ denominations for plant-based foods.

First speakers announced for Climate Smart Food: Hear from Ferrero, Danone and more

01-Aug-2023 By Flora Southey

FoodNavigator presents Climate Smart Food Digital Summit: a three-day event investigating how industry can help drive a more sustainable system of food production, with human and planetary health in mind. We’re excited to announce first speakers, which...

'It's so, so terrible': The rise of food allergies and the cost-of-living crisis

31-Jul-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

It is well-known that food allergies are increasing. Amid a cost-of-living crisis, this is a problem.

Plant-based milk less nutritious than cow’s milk, finds research

26-Jul-2023 By Flora Southey

Just 12% of the milk alternatives studied had a comparable or greater amount of nutrients calcium, vitamin D, and protein, compared to that found in cow’s milk.

UK government to protect Welsh whiskey

24-Jul-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Single Malt Welsh Whiskey will have its name legally protected, the UK government has announced.

Food and beverage companies ‘failing to protect workers from forced labour risks’: report

20-Jul-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The world’s 60 largest food and beverage companies have an average score of just 16/100 when it comes to tackling forced labour risks in their supply chains.

News In Brief

Nutri-Score updated so that only low-sugar cereals are classified A or B

19-Jul-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Nutri-Score has been tweaked to give stricter scores to sweet products and better classification of olive oils and fatty fish.

‘It doesn’t cost the earth but will help us protect it’: Why data is a ‘critical and untapped’ asset for the meat farming sector

19-Jul-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Europe's meat farmers face a host of burdens. They need to remain competitive in a global market, cut their environmental footprint, while all the while meeting consumer expectations for animal welfare standards.

Can’t believe it’s not plant b*tter? UK plant-based sector fears crackdown on alt dairy labels

17-Jul-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The UK’s plant-based sector is upping its calls for draft guidelines that would restrict the labelling of dairy alternatives to be rejected as it fears a clampdown from trading standards authorities preventing brands from using dairy-related terms such...

Young consumers ‘partial’ to gene-edited crops as EU seeks revised GMO rules

05-Jul-2023 By Oliver Morrison

As the European Commission proposes allowing the use of new genomic techniques to grow climate-resistant crops with better nutritional value, young Europeans would be support genetically modified (GM) food if it gave them a health boost, new research...

Food waste: Should brands focus on label dates or ‘use by’ phrases?

04-Jul-2023 By Flora Southey

Food makers and retailers have been reworking label phrases to discourage unnecessary food waste. But fresh research suggests their focus may be misplaced.

Eco-labels ‘unlikely to have a meaningful impact on emissions’, UK's Climate Change Committee reveals

29-Jun-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The UK government’s emission reduction strategy is overlooking demand-side measures such as encouraging healthier, more sustainable diets, according to the UK's Climate Change Committee.

Exclusive

‘We know that time temperature indicators have huge potential to reduce food waste’: Behind HelloFresh’s push for regulatory changes to enable new food labelling solutions to be unboxed

29-Jun-2023 By Oliver Morrison

As new research from HelloFresh reveals one in five consumers throw away perfectly safe and edible food because they rigidly follow date labelling, HelloFresh is urging the EU and UK to revise rules to allow innovative time-temperature indicators to minimize...

When ‘low fat’ labels do more harm than good

28-Jun-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Manufactures should re-think the practice of putting ‘low fat’ nutrition claims on foods with a high sugar content, according to a study.

Vegbloc: Meet the start-up substituting, not imitating, meat with a clean label

21-Jun-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

Meat substitutes, especially those aiming to mimic the real thing, can be 'ultra-processed' in nature and associated with e-numbers and additives. But some plant-based meat substitutes, such as newcomer Vegbloc - which aims to replace meat in...

The packaging paradox: the balance between clean labels and shelf life

21-Jun-2023 By Oliver Morrison

In today’s era of sustainability, rising ingredient and energy prices, reducing waste by extending shelf life is more imperative than ever. But what implications does this have for clean labels? Where do manufacturers draw the line between extending shelf...

Carbon tracking app aims to empower UK consumers to discover the climate impact of millions of food and beverage products

16-Jun-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The Reewild app says it will help users to track their dietary carbon footprint, while offering brands a business incentive to make greener products.

How sensory science can drive innovation and cure current food system ills

14-Jun-2023 By Oliver Morrison

In the highly competitive, complex landscape manufacturers are now in, product acceptance is more than ever about the emotions a product generates, FoodNavigator hears.

UK mulls rule changes to allow faster cultivated meat and animal-free dairy approvals

09-Jun-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The UK is considering novel foods regulation changes that could speed cell-based meat and precision fermentation approvals.

Parma Ham players aim to cure environmental impact of packaging

09-Jun-2023 By Oliver Morrison

The Parma Ham Consortium is carrying out research to identify more sustainable alternatives to the traditional packaging of the pre-sliced product.

Ultra-processing metric added to environmental labelling scheme: ‘Our objective is to identify products with synthetic additives’

08-Jun-2023 By Flora Southey

Environmental labelling scheme Planet-Score is expanding its focus to include a product’s degree of processing, origin, and whether fair remuneration was paid to its producers.

Good news for innovation or backward step into food nationalism? The ‘Made in Italy’ bill unravelled

07-Jun-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Following its criticisms of Nutri-Score and cell-based foods, Italy’s government is seeking to put its famous gastronomic heritage at the heart of its economy and national identity.

UK to ban single-use plastics and EU suggests wide-ranging changes to plastic use

26-May-2023 By Augustus Bambridge-Sutton

On 1 October 2023, the UK will ban single-use plastics, with the guidance having been released on 23 May. The EU have also released wide-ranging guidance on plastics.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Let them eat plant-based cake

26-May-2023 By Oliver Morrison

Why is the dairy industry embroiling in a silly battle about the labelling of plant-based alternatives?

How can consumers be ‘nudged’ towards sustainable food and drink choices?

26-May-2023 By Flora Southey

Research suggests when it comes to buying sustainable products, an ‘intention-action gap’ exists amongst consumers. Which ‘nudging’ approaches can brands and retailers take to encourage more sustainable consumption?