News on Health and Nutrition from Europe

Researchers in the United Kingdom aim for a new commercial potato that resists many of the worst vulnerabilities of potato crops around the world.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published its Scientific Opinion on Acrylamide in Food

Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Morrison’s are recalling a number of food products after a batch of potatoes used as ingredients in all of them was found to contain small pieces of metal. The affected batch of potatoes originated from a single supplier.

A small field on an island off the Netherlands' northern coast promises one answer to the problem of how to feed the world's ever-growing population: potatoes and other crops that grow in saltwater.

Physical activity has little role in tackling obesity - and instead public health messages should squarely focus on unhealthy eating, doctors say.

A new WHO guideline recommends adults and children reduce their daily intake of free sugars to less than 10% of their total energy intake. A further reduction to below 5% or roughly 25 grams (6 teaspoons) per day would provide additional health benefits.

Tayto Group Ltd has recalled a batch of ‘Tayto Snack Attack 10+5 (Bikers, Rollers and Chips) multipack’ because it contains milk, soya and wheat which are not mentioned on the outer wrapper.

Potato and rapeseed industry produce vast amounts of protein-rich by-products, which could be utilized in the production of high-quality foodstuffs.

The FSA (Food Standards Agency) has published the results from its latest study looking at levels of the process contaminants acrylamide and furan in a wide range of UK retail foods.

An international team of experts led by Newcastle University has shown that organic crops are up to 60% higher in a number of key antioxidants than conventionally-grown ones.

Amica Chips and ICA Foods, two major savoury snack companies on the Italian market with a growing international presence, have joined the responsible advertising pledge of the European Snacks Association (ESA).

Earlier this month Heinz was fined for serious safety failings after an engineer had his hand severed when it became trapped in live, unguarded machinery (peeler slurry pump) at its Norfolk plant.

España puede ser a veces un país de contradicciones. Mientras importa papa conservada artificialmente de Francia, está exportando el 70% de su papa fresca, un producto muy valorado en el mercado internacional debido a sus bondades gastronómicas y nutricionales.

Responding to the increased consumer demand for strong traceability and high quality ingredients, British crisp producer Burts Chips started using locally sourced Cornish Sea Salt in its top-selling salt variant.

Kettle Foods Ltd has withdrawn some packs of its Oven Baked Sweet Potato Chips Sweet Chilli because they contain wheat (gluten).

Potato Council acts as a knowledge house for Government raising the importance of the potato. Two years since this work programme started there has been a real increase in knowledge about potatoes amongst parliamentarians with 83% now regarding potatoes as an important crop.

El Foro español de la patata (o papa) ha comenzado a desarrollar propuestas para mejorar la percepción que tiene el consumidor de este producto, con el fin de fomentar su consumo y contribuir al mantenimiento del cultivo en España. Entre éstas figura la elaboración de un proyecto de código de buenas prácticas para el fomento de su venta y consumo.

At the 2014 Fruit Logistica event, being held in Berlin from 5-7 February, DuPont Food Chain Manager for the EMEA region, Mr Luigi Coffano, highlighted the challenges faced by a world population that is growing by 150,000 people every day.