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Food Magazine issue 81

April/June 2008

Food Magazine Issue 81Suspect additives to be removed: UK manufacturers will be called upon to voluntarily remove six artificial food colourings from all food and drink by the end of 2009, if advice from the Food Standards Agency is acted upon by Ministers.

Caterers fail to label GM ingredients: Two recent surveys by trading standards officers in North Yorkshire and Norfolk have revealed that many local restaurants were using vegetable oil or mayonnaise which contained oil from genetically modified (GM) crops.

Calorie counts on the menu: New York City law now requires chain restaurants to post calorie counts on menus.

Sharp practice by supermarkets: Following a two year enquiry, the Competition Commission has announced its ideas for curbing the power of the major supermarkets.

Getting tough on ads to kids: A group of consumer and health non-governmental organisations have launched a stiff set of rules to restrict marketing of food to children.

Trans fats and take-aways: Despite Food Standards Agency assurances about the low level of these fats in the diet of UK consumers, The Food Magazine maintains that there is a strong possibility that some people may be consuming them at a level damaging to their health.

Fighting food fraud and fabrication: Our food system does not police itself. Sadly, the foods intended for our tables are sometimes produced by fools, sometimes by crooks and sometimes by the careless. The Food Magazine takes a behind-the-scenes look at the work of the public analysts who test our food and ensure it is safe to eat.

One more cattle disease to worry about? Organic farmer Richard Young considers whether there could be a simple solution to bacteria found in milk which may pose risks to human health.

Education not exploitation: It is five years since The Food Commission exposed Cadbury’s Get Active campaign as an own goal against children’s health. This year, new guidance has been issued by the government on commercial partnerships with schools, but will it stop food companies marketing in the classroom? Jane Landon of the National Heart Forum warns that it looks like business as usual.

Is Royal endorsement warranted? The Royal Warrant is regarded as the ultimate seal of approval and appears on a number of popular food and drink products. The Food Magazine questions whether such Royal endorsement is always deserved.

The right food at the right price: Food prices are escalating, making it harder for those on low incomes to buy fruit and veg. Jessica Mitchell meets a man whose life is devoted to making it easier.

Peddling influence: Jessica Mitchell investigates the murky world of commercial conference organising.

Welsh hospital vending machines get healthier: Hospitals in England continue to dish out junk food through their vending machines while other countries in the UK are moving to make healthier options the norm.

Must the planet go hungry? David Nicholson-Lord investigates whether our planet will be able to feed its ever growing population.

Helping out by handing out: Anna Glayzer visits a project which redistributes surplus food to homeless people.

A new Eden for apples: A project in Cornwall is encouraging landowners and second homers to consider offering unused plots of land to boost local food production.

Legal, decent, honest and true? Misleading food and drink advertisements are supposed to be regulated by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). Here we report on recent adjudications.

+ lots more news, book reviews, what the doctor reads, your letters, backbites and lots, lots more in every issue!