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‘We hope this initiative will help Nutri-Score to rethink’: Olive oil makers launch awards in response to ‘penalising’ FOP labelling By Oliver Morrison Europe’s olive oil industry is railing against the ‘unfair’ Nutri-Score algorithm and has launched the first international awards to assess the health benefits and flavour of olive oils in the hope the food labelling scheme will review its assessment criteria.
Nutri-Score classifies food and beverages according to their nutritional profile using a scale of five colours and letters (A is green to represent the best nutritional quality while E is dark orange to show it’s the lowest).
Europe’s ‘difficult target’ of 25% organic by 2030: Is the Organic Action Plan doing enough? The European Commission has detailed how it plans to achieve a target of 25% agricultural land under organic farming. Should it be doing more?
Under the Green Deal’s Farm to Fork strategy, the European Commission has committed to a target of at least 25% agricultural land under organic farming by 2030.
Coming from a current starting point of just 8.5%, the Commission has its work cut out for it.
“We don’t dispute that it’s a difficult target,” said Diego Canga Fano, Principal Adviser at DG Agri, who revealed a ‘big challenge’ lies in the varying starting points of the EU 27.
Keto for healthy ageing: F&B brands tap into ketone production with older generations in mind How are brands responding to growing demand for keto-friendly food and drink that supports healthy ageing?
Proponents of keto say health benefits associated with the new diet trend are far reaching, from supporting weight loss to improving acne and reducing ‘brain fog’.
Supporters have also drawn links between keto and healthy ageing. And with older population numbers on the rise in most European countries – largely due to a higher life expectancy, a decline in mortality rate, and an increase in fertility – food and drink brands are taking notice.
Unilever looks to fat alternatives in quest to hit €1bn plant-based sales target The FMCG giant recently tasked start-ups to find solutions that promise to improve the taste, texture, sustainability and affordability of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives. The winner? A French company with a patented plant-based fat that closely resembles animal-fat both in the pan and in the mouth.
The start-up, called 77 Foods, uses the plant-based fat tissue to make what it calls ‘insanely craveable’ plant-based bacon and lardons. It told FoodNavigator
“the innovation is a game-changing, plant-based bacon that actually sizzles in the pan thanks to a patented technology that replicates animal fat tissue.”
Researchers propose standardised testing methods to crack sensory challenge of plant-based milk Despite rapidly growing consumer demand, the quality of plant-based milk products very often underwhelms. The solution? More consistent testing at R&D stage.
There has been a surge of interest recently on the development of plant‐based milk alternatives due to increasing consumer concerns about the ethics, sustainability, and healthiness of animal‐based milks.
Consequently, producers are having to quickly develop and test new formulations to meet rising consumer demand using a range of protein sources such as soy, oat, pea, almond, coconut and flaxseed.
But a lack of standardized analytical methods and protocols is stifling successful innovation in the area, and the more widespread adoption of plant milks is being held back by products lacking the sensory attributes, stability, and functional performance of real cow’s milk.