News update
2006 Summit - praised for it's unrivalled information and opportunity The European Food & Beverage gathered at this high level annual event in London to hear and debate some of the hot issues and topics facing the industry. Senior Regulatory, R&D, Marketing, Development and Academics gathered in the auspicious surroundings of One Whitehall Place over two days to experience insightful views from some 24 speakers.
On the first day subjects ranged from the latest on Brussels politics and EU regulations to the latest national government health initiatives andexciting new research about the effects of diet on behaviour.
Day two saw insights into new global markets, a look at what might be happening in 2010, the latest innovations and developments, previously unseen consumer research, advertising and branding and some fascinating case studies.
Comments from delegates "Real value for money - very good topics and excellent speakers""Excellent venue - highly professional organisation""Very informative- excellent""Good mix of presentations, topics and breaks" It was excellent: the programme and the speakers""Good level of detail on each topic"
Some Highlights
Keynote speaker urged stronger industry involvement
Avril Doyle, Fine Gael Member of the European Parliament, and member of the EU Committee for Environment, Public Health & Food Safety, urged the food industry to take more notice of the political process underway in Brussels and have its say on how policy should be shaped. She said that as the third-largest employer in the EU with a market share of €800bn they should be better informed about the processes and have a more significant voice. She also urged the industry and consumers to hold the elected MEPs to account and make sure their interests were represented at Brussels.Looking at the health claims timetable she said that many companies, especially small and medium-sized enterprises are simply not prepared
……and biotech industry told to do more
Mrs Doyle also urged the biotech industry to do more saying “get out there and defend your products, as you appear to have gone to ground.” She added that they needed to spend more money and convince consumers that their products were safe - in a language that ordinary consumers could understand.
Health claims – what to do now
On the health claims proposals delegates were presented with a"to do list" to prepare for the legislation and given much practical advice on timings of the multitude of different elements of the regulation. Nutrient profiles, well-established and new claims were highlighted. There were warnings that a lot of companies would be confronted with disasters, finding themselves having to withdraw products immediately unless they took steps in time. The panellists (Guy Valkenborg-EAS, Eva Hurt- Nestle and Andre Huyghebaert-Ghent Universtity)expressed strong concerns about EFSA’s resources and reservations about the regulation, saying that it could do with some re-writing – Avril Doyle went a step further saying it “should be sent back for re-drafting.” Of serious concern was that the slow and costly process for getting a new claim accepted would stifle innovation because food manufacturers, especially smaller ones, would be put off from making any health claims at all.
Nutrigenomics seeing results
HortResearch’s Karl Crawford said that their six-year collaboration involving AgResearch, the University of Auckland and Crop & Food (called Nutrigenomics New Zealand) had seen positive resultson how apple extracts impact genes associated with Crohn's disease. The programmes ultimate aim is to kick start the development of gene-specific foods that will deliver proven health benefits to consumers.
Technology enabling personalised health management.
Stephanie French, nutrition strategy consultant, took a look at the future; saying thatas consumers increasingly self-manage their health with the aid of new technologies, the current debates over labelling was just transitional. She said that many self health management devices were already in existence which help consumers measure the results of a diet - for example for things like blood pressure, sugar levels, self-diagnosis of various intolerances, metabolic rates etc.For the future she foresaw intelligent clothing to measure levels or even warn the wearer that they were eating excessively fatty food. Perhaps her vision of shoes that complain when entering a well known fast food chain for the third time in a week will come true!
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California show - Natural Products Expo West breaks records
The US Healthy Products industry trade show celebrated its 25th Anniversary with the largest attendance in history. Record-setting crowds visited more than 3,000 exhibits at this year's wall-to-wall industry event - Natural Products Expo West/SupplyExpo
Already one of the top 100 largest trade shows in the U.S - more than 43,000 industry attendees learned about the latest products for health-seeking consumers.
"This has been the best Expo West to date. The rate of innovation is accelerating and I've never seen so many genuinely creative products coming to market so quickly," said Jamie Brent, National Category Manager, Grocery, for Wild Oats Markets, Inc.
Natural Products Expo West is produced by New Hope Natural Media, a division of Penton Media, Inc.
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