Nestle and Diamond Foods have insisted they are “co-operating” with the US Food and Drug Administration after the regulator publicly attacked them - and 13 other food makers - over their use of “misleading” health claims.The FDA revealed yesterday (3 March) that it had sent 16 warning letters to various food manufacturers, insisting they address concerns that labelling rules are being breached by unsubstantiated health claims. Violations ranged from claims that products could... ...Read more »
In a report published on Friday, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has shown that intake of trans fatty acids (TFAs) from manufactured sources has declined in the Australian and New Zealand population by 25-40% since 2007. The report has been welcomed by the Australian Food and Grocery Council and has convinced health ministers that regulation is not required at this point in time. FSANZ Chief Scientist Dr Paul Brent said this means that total intake of TFAs is now estimated to be 0.5%... ...Read more »
A decision by the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council today not to recommend further regulation of trans-fats in foods has been welcomed by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC). With evidence that dietary intakes of trans-fats have fallen substantially in Australia, a communiqué by the Ministerial Council endorsed a recommendation to retain the current non-regulatory, industry-based approach to reducing trans-fats in foods. AFGC Chief Executive Kate Carnell said... ...Read more »
The twelfth meeting of the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council (Ministerial Council) was held in Adelaide today to discuss a range of prominent food issues in Australia and New Zealand. Chaired by Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary to the Australian Government Minister for Health and Ageing, today’s meeting of the Ministerial Council considered a number of strategic policy and food standards issues, including: Comprehensive review of food labelling law and policy The... ...Read more »
Recent research conducted at the State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil into the adverse effects of trans fats on our health, has shown that these can be passed from mother to child through the breast milk, renewing demands for trans fats to be banned. Trans fats are attractive for the food industry due to their extended shelf life and flavour stability, and have displaced natural solid fats and liquid oils in many areas of food processing. While further studies are required to verify... ...Read more »
McDonald’s Corporation has switched to trans-fat free oil in all of their US and Canada restaurant outlets, CEO Jim Skinner said this week at the annual shareholders meeting. The change has only been to some of their products so far, with all products expected to be trans-fat free before the end of the year. McDonald’s has also committed to reducing trans fat levels in most of their outlets worldwide with plans to decrease trans-fat per serving to 0.5 grams in the Asia-Pacific and other... ...Read more »