It comprises representatives of all EU Member States, the European Commission, and the European Parliament, as well as representatives of civil society and food chain interests. “In an international context where food safety and food security are interlinked, it is significant that EFSA’s Management Board now includes a wide scope of representatives to help ensure an effective functioning of the food chain”, said Claire Bury, DG SANTE’s Deputy Director for Food Sustainability. The previous structure of the Board consisted of 14 members with expertise relating to the food chain who did not represent a government, organisation or sector, plus a representative of the European Commission. In the new...

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed the list of CBD products that are now one step closer towards being authorised. Last update: 9 May 2022. The FSA is calling on local authorities and industry to help bring the CBD market into compliance by prioritising the removal of products from sale that are not on the public list that the FSA published today. CBD products are ‘novel’ and therefore need to be assessed by the FSA for safety before being placed on the market here. Currently, no CBD products...

EFSA’s scientists cannot currently establish the safety of cannabidiol (CBD) as a novel food due to data gaps and uncertainties about potential hazards related to CBD intake. Cannabidiol is a substance that can be obtained from Cannabis sativa L. plants and be synthesised chemically as well. The European Commission considers that CBD qualifies as a novel food...

The opinions, which will be published between June 2022 and March 2023, were requested by the European Commission as a key component of its Farm to Fork strategy. They will cover the welfare of animals during transport, as well as on-farm welfare of specific species – calves, laying hens, broilers, pigs, ducks, geese and quail, and dairy cows. The methodological guidance will define...

Eating about ½ cup of walnuts every day for two years modestly lowered levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, known as “bad cholesterol,” and reduced the number of total LDL particles and small LDL particles in healthy, older adults, according to new research published in the American Heart Association‘s flagship journal Circulation. Healthy older adults who ate a handful of walnuts (about ½ cup) a day for two years modestly lowered their level of low-density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol levels. Consuming walnuts daily also reduced the number of LDL particles, a predictor of cardiovascular disease risk...

According to research published in Nutrients, the functional ingredient NRT_N0G5IJ peptide, originated from plant-based pea protein and discovered by AI, could prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) as it helps to keep healthy levels of blood glucose and reduce HbA1c—a biomarker for glycaemic control. The majority of prediabetes conditions eventually develop T2DM. Thus, researchers from Ireland used AI and machine learning to search...

Coffee drinkers intuitively recognize the pleasure of swallowing a smooth, rich brew versus a watery one. Aside from added cream or sugar, the coffee itself contributes to this sensation — referred to as body or mouthfeel — but the specific compounds are not well defined. Now, researchers report several coffee compounds that contribute to the feeling of the beverage coating the inside of the mouth, as well as astringency and chalkiness sensations...

The link between vitamin D and a reduction in the risk of older adults suffering from a fall is the focus of IADSA’s latest ‘Mind the Gap’ resource. Available to view on the website, the resource explains that falling is a risk factor for bone fractures among men and women aged 60 years and older. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are 37.3 million falls every year – more than 100,000 a day – that are serious enough to require attention. Multiple factors can increase the risk of fall, including a lack of vitamin D. Scientists believe vitamin D improves muscle function, strength and body balance, which helps to reduce the risk of falling. WHO and the US National Institute on Aging both...

The link between vitamin D and a reduction in the risk of older adults suffering from a fall is the focus of IADSA’s latest ‘Mind the Gap’ resource. Available to view on the website, the resource explains that falling is a risk factor for bone fractures among men and women aged 60 years and older. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), there are 37.3 million falls every year – more than 100,000 a day – that are serious enough to require attention. Multiple factors can increase the risk of fall, including a lack of vitamin D. Scientists believe vitamin D improves muscle function, strength and body balance, which helps to reduce the risk of falling. WHO and the US National Institute on Aging both...