All posts tagged: Food safety

Phil Hogan emerges as front-runner in EU race for world’s biggest food agency – POLITICO

Phil Hogan emerges as front-runner in EU race for world’s biggest food agency – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Hogan, Planas and Martina did not respond to requests for comment. The danger of dithering The EU’s agriculture ministers tried to settle which of the three should represent the bloc, but couldn’t agree. For six months, Cyprus, which has chaired the meetings, pressed them to coalesce around one name, but Cypriot Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou told POLITICO that no decision had been made on how to move it forward. The choice will now be made by EU leaders, possibly folded into a broader deal over other top international posts. That pushes any decision to a European Council summit, with the FAO race playing only a small part in the late-night horse-trading. The risk is that the deadlock holds and the EU enters the 2027 vote divided. “The most important thing is to pick one from these candidates,” Polish Agriculture Minister Stefan Krajewski told POLITICO. “Because otherwise, we may lose, and a candidate from outside the EU could win.” Three African contenders are already in the field, including Morocco’s Ismahane Elouafi, the FAO’s former chief scientist, …

Austrian Police Detain Suspect in Case of Rat Poison Found in Baby Food Jars on Supermarket Shelves

Austrian Police Detain Suspect in Case of Rat Poison Found in Baby Food Jars on Supermarket Shelves

Published by Sam Flores

VIENNA (AP) — Police in eastern Austria say a 39-year-old suspect has been arrested after rat poison turned up in some HiPP baby food jars on supermarket shelves in central Europe. HiPP, which recalled some of its baby food jars in Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic after the case came to light last month, said in a statement Saturday it was “greatly relieved” by the arrest, and would provide further updates as verified details come in. The Burgenland State Criminal Police Office, under the direction of prosecutors, said a probe was launched after poison turned up in a baby food jar purchased at a supermarket in the city of Eisenstadt on April 18. It said the suspect was being questioned, and that no further details would be immediately provided. The Burgenland public prosecutor’s office has announced an investigation into suspected “intentional endangerment of the public.” In an email to The Associated Press on Sunday, the Burgenland police office said the suspect was arrested in Salzburg state, to the west. The Austrian Press Agency reported …

Blame Berlin and Paris for red tape, not us  – POLITICO

Blame Berlin and Paris for red tape, not us  – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Since the start of Ursula von der Leyen’s second mandate as Commission president, the EU executive has put forward 10 so-called omnibus proposals that reopen existing laws to get rid of anything deemed overly burdensome.   “We are determined to bring about change so that in Europe and in the member states we can more quickly and effectively create an environment where companies can grow and develop the global competitiveness they need,” von der Leyen said during a meeting with leading conservative politicians in Berlin on Monday. So far, EU decision-makers have agreed to reduce environmental disclosure obligations for companies, make it easier for small-scale farms to access EU money, and delay new requirements forcing companies to track and disclose where they source their raw materials. More omnibus proposals are expected later this year, including on energy and taxation. But the Commission also wants to rethink the lawmaking process itself, including by reducing the length of impact assessments and public consultation periods.   The plan to speed up lawmaking has alarmed civil society groups, trade unions, academics, …

Don’t count on Starmer’s EU reset to bring down food prices – POLITICO

Don’t count on Starmer’s EU reset to bring down food prices – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

By pursuing an agreement, the government appears ready to adopt “unnecessarily stringent” EU SPS controls on imports from non-EU countries, said Jenney. This risks triggering “thousands of additional and unnecessary border delays, considerably more inspections, more paperwork and port congestion — every added layer acting as a compounding financial penalty on trade,” he warned.  Analysis conducted by the Fresh Produce Consortium — seen by POLITICO — suggests that a number of staples from the weekly shop could be negatively impacted as border checks for non-EU produce are ramped up — from Moroccan cucumbers and Indian mangoes to South African citrus fruits and U.S. sweet potatoes. This is expected to add a cost of around £400 million to the supply chain, the consortium estimates.  U.K. Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds leaves No. 10 Downing Street after a Cabinet meeting on March 24, 2026. | Leon Neal/Getty Images Beyond imports, firms have warned that the SPS deal risks imposing costly burdens on domestic growers, who are forced to impose EU standards even if they have no plan to …

World Food Prize Goes to Food Safety Scientist for Preventing Millions of Cases of Foodborne Illness

World Food Prize Goes to Food Safety Scientist for Preventing Millions of Cases of Foodborne Illness

Published by Sam Flores

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A scientist who pioneered the modern food processing safety standards used around the world was awarded this year’s World Food Prize, the organization announced Wednesday, crediting his work for averting millions of cases of foodborne illness and reducing food waste. Huub Lelieveld of the Netherlands earned the award after six decades spent advancing ways to improve food safety and advocating for trade regulations that allow safe food to get around the world more easily. “I just did what I thought was right,” Lelieveld said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I want everybody to have enough food but … it should also be safe.” Lelieveld began his career as a food researcher at Unilever at a time when mechanisms for manufacturing safe food products were, to him, “illogical,” he said. Food was often sterilized or chemically preserved after production, and equipment needed to be shut off once or twice each day to be cleaned, which was both difficult and time consuming. The processed food also required heavy use of …

SFA investigating after video emerges of rat at Lucky Plaza food court

SFA investigating after video emerges of rat at Lucky Plaza food court

Published by Sam Flores

SFA told CNA that while it imposes and enforces regulatory measures, food operators must also adhere to good food hygiene and preparation practices. “Food operators should also ensure their premises are clean and well-maintained,” SFA said.  “As part of the enquiry and gathering of evidence, SFA may engage the feedback provider for more details and will not hesitate to take enforcement action if sufficient evidence has been obtained,” it added. CNA has contacted the Lucky Plaza management office and Asian Food Mall, which is located in the basement of the mall, for more information. Source link

Low risk of exposure to toxin in baby milk, EU authorities say – POLITICO

Low risk of exposure to toxin in baby milk, EU authorities say – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Seven countries in Europe — Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Spain and the U.K. — have reported gastrointestinal issues in infants who had consumed formula. However, investigations are still ongoing to establish whether these cases are linked to the formula products. The agencies cautioned that linking common symptoms to the toxin “can be challenging.” The assessment comes after large-scale recalls began in December of last year, when cereulide was found in formula products containing an ingredient supplied by a Chinese based producer. Even more products were pulled off shelves in February following an EFSA assessment on safe levels of cereulide. Source link

Keir Starmer secures visa-free access to China in services partnership – POLITICO

Keir Starmer secures visa-free access to China in services partnership – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Britain and China have also agreed to conduct a “feasibility study” to explore whether to enter negotiations towards a bilateral services agreement. If it proceeds, this would establish clear and legally binding rules for U.K. firms doing business in China. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “As one of the world’s economic powerhouses, businesses have been crying out for ways to grow their footprints in China. “We’ll make it easier for them to do so – including via relaxed visa rules for short-term travel — supporting them to expand abroad, all while boosting growth and jobs at home.” Downing Street said China has also agreed to halve tariffs on Scotch whisky — restoring the rate to where it was a year ago. The U.K. and China also signed pacts covering co-operation on conformity assessments for exports from the U.K. to China, food safety, animal, and plant quarantine health and the work the UK-China Joint Economic and Trade Commission. The two sides aren’t planning to publish the full texts of the pacts. Source link