Nutrition and health
UN food agency warns of hidden health-related costs in EU’s food systems
Est. 4minHealth-related costs account for a significant part of the hidden costs of the EU agri-food system, an official of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) explained to Euractiv presenting the results of the UN agency's latest report on the matter.
German minister wants to ban junk food ads for children
Est. 4minMarketing targeted at children and advertising food with too much fat, sugar, or salt could soon be banned in Germany, according to plans presented by Green agriculture and food minister Cem Özdemir.
German minister wants to decriminalise dumpster diving
Est. 3minTo tackle the problem of food waste, German Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir is looking to decriminalise the practice of rescuing food from rubbish containers, including outside supermarkets, called dumpster diving.
German animal welfare label risks distorting EU market, critics say
Est. 5minThe German cabinet approved Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir's bill for a mandatory animal welfare label on Wednesday (12 October), but the opposition and farming associations warn of inconsistencies within the EU single market.
1 million EU citizens ask Commission to ban wild animals in circuses
Est. 4minMembers of the Stop Circus Suffering campaign gathered outside the European Commission's Belraymont building on Wednesday (13 October) to celebrate the collection of 1 million signatures on a petition to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.
COVID highlights need for EU to regulate wildlife trafficking
Est. 4minThe COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the need to regulate the trade in live wild animals, who could carry viruses. In Europe, the lack of regulation on this subject represents a major health risk.
First gene edited ‘cancer-cutting’ wheat trials get the go ahead in UK
Est. 4minThe UK government has granted permission for a series of field trials of gene edited wheat for the first time in Europe, marking a move away from the EU’s stance on the matter.
Gut instinct: Innovative feedstuffs hold huge potential for boosting microbiome
Est. 5minThe potential of innovative feed solutions for boosting gut microbiome health of animals remains underexplored, despite mounting scientific evidence indicating that it underpins both animal health and welfare, stakeholders have highlighted.
Almost half of French people have cut meat consumption in last three years
Est. 5minFrench people tend to eat less meat than before, according to the results of the Harris Interactive survey published on Thursday ( 25 February). This change in eating habits can only be welcomed, both from an environmental and health perspective. EURACTIV France reports.
Italy, Slovenia await Commission to settle balsamic vinegar dispute
Est. 4minItaly is up in arms, trying to defend the world-famous balsamic vinegar of Modena from an attempt to 'standardise' its production made by Slovenia, and the European Commission appears to have until 3 March to settle the issue.
EU regions’ advisory body proposes ‘Mediterranean diet’ label
Est. 5minAn ad hoc label for food products belonging to the Mediterranean diet is the latest suggestion in the EU-wide food labelling fray to cope with negative effects caused by colour-coded Nutri-score.
Commission dampens bid to end EU meat promotion
Est. 5minThe European Commission has softened its stance on phasing out the promotion of red and processed meat in Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, and the latest change has received a mixed reception from stakeholders.
Feed additives ‘key tool’ in achieving farming sustainability goals, say stakeholders
Est. 4minFeed additives hold enormous potential for reducing the environmental impact of the farming sector, but are not getting the attention they deserve according to farming sector and feed industry stakeholders, who are calling for more focus on the role of feed additives in contributing to sustainability goals.
Spirulina: latest trend or future food?
Est. 5minAfter France's National Assembly discussed its "National Strategy on Plant Proteins for Human and Animal Nutrition" on Monday (26 October), EURACTIV France reports on spirulina, a high-protein food and favourite among the French that can help combat malnutrition.
MEPs want Commission to enter the veggie burger fray
Est. 4minEuropean Parliament lawmakers are considering asking the European Commission to step in and help nix any doubts about the terminology used for plant-based meat substitutes, which are gaining in popularity across the EU.
Food security is no longer an issue in the EU, says Commissioner
Est. 4minEnvironment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius has cast doubt on the long-standing primacy of food security over environmental aspects in the current EU food system, suggesting that traditional concerns might give way to issues like climate change, sustainability, or biodiversity.
COVID-19 could be ‘straw that breaks meat industry’s back’ says new report
Est. 5minNearly three-quarters of the world’s largest meat, fish and dairy companies have been graded as a ‘high' pandemic risk and criticised for their inability to prevent the emergence of new zoonotic diseases in a new report released on Wednesday (3 June).
EU food stocks: Should gear up for a rise of food protectionism?
Est. 4minThe EU is preparing to change its agricultural storage policy at a time when the COVID-19 health crisis has highlighted the weaknesses of its reserves. EURACTIV France reports.
Farm to Fork strategy softens stance on meat but backs alternative proteins
Est. 5minThe EU's pivotal Farm to Fork (F2F) strategy, presented on Wednesday (20 May), softened its stance on meat compared to the previous draft versions but offered staunch support for alternative proteins, which campaigners said was the first step in the right direction.
Commission upholds highly ambitious targets to transform EU food system
Est. 4minAfter several delays, the EU's new flagship food policy was finally released on Wednesday (20 May), confirming the aspiration of the EU executive to transform the European way of producing, distributing and consuming food.
Kyriakides: No mandatory front-of-pack labelling in the Farm to Fork
Est. 4minFood Safety Commissioner Stella Kyriakides scaled back the ambition of the EU's new food policy during a meeting with agriculture MEPs on Monday (11 May), revealing that it will not provide a compulsory EU-wide nutritional food label scheme.
EU-wide food label should not fall to the back-burner, say advocates
Est. 4minAdvocates for an EU-wide mandatory Nutri-score food label want the European Commission not to overlook the long-awaited harmonisation of front-of-pack nutritional labelling, despite the focus on tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.
EU food safety passed COVID-19 test, MEP says
Est. 3minThe European food supply chain and food safety system are proving to be extremely resilient, according to Europe's People Party (EPP) coordinator at European Parliament's Agriculture Committee, Herbert Dorfmann, as people still manage to find available and safe food on supermarket shelves even in time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
French farmers and MPs call for the creation of European food stocks
Est. 3minFrench agricultural producers and MPs are urging the European Commission to set up food stocks to avoid falling prices and the destruction of certain food products. EURACTIV France reports.