Focus on resource efficiency: Anuga FoodTec 2018
Resource efficiency is the focus of Anuga FoodTec in 2018. Visit the opening conference with its starstudded line-up and gain new impulses on how you can use less water and energy and waste less food.
Overall, the theme is a thread at numerous events of the trade fair.
The International FoodTec Award is conferred for pioneering developments regarding innovations, sustainability and efficiency within the food technology segment and the BUTCHERS TECHNOLOGY AWARD & the BUTCHERS TRADE AWARD for advanced innovations in terms of quality improvement, cost reduction, sustainability and effective process design.
Here you can find the complete event programme for 2018 - the events on the theme re-source efficiency can be easily recognised from the "Resource Efficiency" seal.
Experience sustainable and future-looking solutions for the entire process chain live. Discover the latest technologies and machines, from processing to packaging, through to food safety & analytics.
Reserve your tickets now and save 50% compared to the regular price.
My team and I look forward to your visit!
Best regards from Cologne,
Matthias Schlüter
Director
Regulation frustration: One in three industry professionals finds EU framework unhelpful
The number of nutrition industry professionals who find the EU regulatory framework unhelpful has risen sharply over the past year, research shows.
One in three (33%) industry professionals surveyed by the organisers of Vitafoods Europe said the current EU regulatory environment is unhelpful,up from 25% at the start of 2017.* Although 34% find the framework helpful, this figure has dropped from 37%.*
Experts believe dissatisfaction has risen because of the EU’s tough stance on health claims and the continuing regulatory deadlock on botanicals.“The increasing frustration is not surprising,” says Dr Annegret Nielsen, Senior Consultant at analyze & realize.“Despite progress in some areas, the regulatory challenges for the industry have remained, or even increased, over the past year. It is currently very hard for companies to develop innovative products that comply.”
Call for overhaul of health claims regulations
Over a quarter (28%) of respondents to the Vitafoods Europe survey said the EU policy change that would most help their business was an overhaul of health claims regulations.
This may be because it has become too difficult to get a health claim approved. “I think many in the food and supplement industry are frustrated with EFSA’s tough stance on the Nutrition & Health Claim Regulation,” said Dr Elinor McCartney, President, Pen & Tec Consulting Group.“Once they established the GAS (Generally Accepted Science) claims list, companies found it extremely hard – and very expensive – to achieve new claims. The industry has worked hard to comply but many feel the compliance pendulum has swung too far towards ‘mission impossible.’”
Dr Iris Hardewig, Head of Consulting & Strategic Innovation at analyze & realize, said the low number of approvals is a disincentive to research and development.“The frustration is high because clinical trials are a major investment for food companies.If it doesn’t lead to any competitive advantage, they refrain from investing in science.In that sense, the execution of the health claim regulation is not satisfactory, either for the industry or for the consumer.”
Botanical bottleneck
A particular area of concern is the current deadlock on the regulation of botanicals. Thousands of botanical health claims have been on hold for several years while EFSA considers how to evaluate them.
“The regulation of botanicals is a hot topic and a legal disaster area” said Dr McCartney. “The EC and member states seem unable to agree on how to sort out the anomaly that health claims are allowed on traditional herbal remedies, but the same claims are prohibited on food botanicals unless a dossier passes EFSA.”
One solution that has been proposed is sector-specific regulation for botanicals.A fifth (19%) of respondents to the Vitafoods Europe survey said this was the policy change that would most benefit their business.
Whatever the way forward, experts believe the current regulatory void is stifling innovation. “For large companies who invest strongly into product development, legal certainty is absolutely necessary,” said Dr Hardewig. “Not only are botanical claims applications on hold, but the situation also discourages new developments.”
Guidance through the regulatory maze
Vitafoods Europe 2018 (May 15-17 in Palexpo, Geneva) offers a range of support and advice for visitors trying to navigate the regulatory maze. Resources will include the Advice & Expertise Trail – a self-guided tour leading visitors to top consultancy agencies with expertise in regulation (as well as product development, clinical research, market research and marketing). Many of the event exhibitors will offer a wealth of knowledge on regulation and there will also be expert presentations on Vitafoods Centre Stage, as well as sector-specific advice in areas such as the Sports Nutrition Zone.
Meanwhile, a series of Business and Development Forums in the Vitafoods Education Programme, which runs alongside the Exhibition, will provide insights on recent and upcoming regulatory developments. In one of these, Patrick Coppens of EAS Strategies will outline the step by step process to register health claims.As a case study, the Forum will evaluate the current status of probiotics and why it is so difficult to register a claim in this category. Other Forums will explore topics such as microbiome product development and the new Novel Food Regulation and authorisation process.
Hope for the future
The EU is currently reviewing nutrition regulation through the Commission’s Regulatory Fitness and Performance (REFIT) programme, which aims to keep EU law simple. Experts hope it will reduce the burden on the industry: “REFIT will hopefully bring a sense of proportion as well as insights into how the situation can be improved” said Dr Nielsen.“There are useful products between conventional food and drugs that might evaporate due to the current regulations.”
“EFSA plays a key role in the evaluation of existing and new food components” said Dr McCartney. “But it would be even better if they looked at reducing bureaucratic delays. They should listen to stakeholders then do what needs to be done, focusing on maximum effect for minimum investment while preserving the EU’s excellent food safety record.”
Vitafoods Europe takes place between the 15th and 17th of May in Palexpo, Geneva.For more information visit:
http://www.vitafoods.eu.com/?utm_source=PR&utm_campaign=REG&utm_medium=PRE
* Vitafoods Europe surveyed 208 nutrition industry representatives between 14 November and 4 December 2017. The same questions about regulation were previously asked in a survey of 190 nutrition industry professionals between 6 December 2016 and 3 February 2017.
About Vitafoods Europe
Vitafoods Europe is the global nutraceutical event, featuring exhibitors from all over the world in four key market areas: ingredients & raw materials; branded finished products; contract manufacturing & private label; and services & equipment. The event offers a range of visitor attractions, including an industry-leading Education Programme.
Vitafoods Europe is part of Informa Exhibitions’ Global Health & Nutrition Network (GHNN), which brings together a portfolio of events, digital media and publishing for marketers, manufacturers and formulators of nutrition and dietary supplements, healthy foods/beverages and personal care products. GHNN’s events include Vitafoods Europe, Vitafoods Asia, SupplySide West, SupplySide East and SupplySide China.
Natural Products INSIDER is the global media brand covering healthy ingredients and finished applications. Vitafoods Insights offers expert online content and a series of topic-specific digital magazines that bring highlights of the Vitafoods events to a global audience. SupplySide Connect is the always-on directory of ingredients, products and services that provides in-depth information about the companies that supply to the market. For more information, visit www.informaglobalhealth.com.
Informa’s Global Exhibitions Division organises transaction-oriented exhibitions and trade shows, which provide buyers and sellers across different industries and communities with a powerful platform to meet face-to-face, build relationships and conduct business. Informa has a portfolio of more than 150 exhibitions, serving a number of core verticals, including Health & Nutrition, Beauty, Property & Construction and Pop Culture.
Novomilk – milk is a source of life
Trade House Novomilk is now preparing for the participation at the ХХIII International Industrial Trade Fair “MVC: Cereals – Mixed Feed – Veterinary - 2018” Novomilk is a wholesaler of ingredients for dairy industry since 1996.
Welcome to Novomilk booth in pavilion 75 VDNH (January, 30 – February, 1, 2018)
More than 410 companies from 25 countries: Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Great Britain, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Canada, China, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, USA, Turkey, Ukraine, France, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Finland, as well as 44 regions of Russia have already reserved booths for the participation in "MVC: Cereals - Mixed Feed – Veterinary-2018» exhibition.
Vitafoods Europe to tackle the personalised nutrition challenge
How can personalised nutrition break out of its niche and achieve mass market appeal? This will be one of the major questions tackled at next year’s Vitafoods Europe, which returns to Palexpo, Geneva between 15 and 17 May 2018.
Advances in genomics and wearable technology have created new opportunities for products tailored to individual consumers. And in a new poll, personalised nutrition ranks as one of the most important industry trends for 2018, behind only clean label and scientifically supported health claims.
The organisers of Vitafoods Europe surveyed 208 industry representatives between 14 November and 4 December 2017. They were asked to identify the three most important industry trends over the coming year. Clean label came first (chosen by 49%) followed by scientifically supported health claims (39%) and personalised nutrition (21%).
Yet despite its potential, personalised nutrition is yet to fully hit the mainstream. This challenge will be the subject of a new full-day interactive workshop in the Vitafoods Europe 2018 Education Programme. Experts will explore issues such as ways to improve consumer awareness, and legislative and policy changes that could benefit the category.
Chris Lee, Managing Director at Informa Exhibitions, Global Health and Nutrition Network, Europe, said: “The potential of personalised nutrition is huge. Everyone is talking about how businesses can harness the opportunities it creates to meet consumer demand.It hasn’t quite conquered the mass market yet, but we’ll be asking what needs to happen to help it hit that tipping point.”
The new workshop is one of a range of changes designed to enhance the Vitafoods Europe Education Programme. Additionally, the Research & Development Forums and Business & Marketing Forums will for the first time include round table discussions, creating a more interactive experience. They will address questions such as the impact of Brexit and the use of trends in product positioning.
Chris Lee added: “Vitafoods Europe is a unique platform for the industry to tackle common challenges. In 2018, there will be particular focus on different routes to successful product development and market access. There will also be more opportunities for visitors to interact with experts who can help them meet their business objectives.”
About Vitafoods Europe
Vitafoods Europe is the global nutraceutical event, featuring exhibitors from all over the world in four key market areas: ingredients & raw materials; branded finished products; contract manufacturing & private label; and services & equipment. The event offers a range of visitor attractions, including an industry-leading Education Programme.
Vitafoods Europe is part of Informa Exhibitions’ Global Health & Nutrition Network (GHNN), which brings together a portfolio of events, digital media and publishing for marketers, manufacturers and formulators of nutrition and dietary supplements, healthy foods/beverages and personal care products. GHNN’s events include Vitafoods Europe, Vitafoods Asia, SupplySide West, SupplySide East and SupplySide China.
Natural Products INSIDER is the global media brand covering healthy ingredients and finished applications. Vitafoods Insights offers expert online content and a series of topic-specific digital magazines that bring highlights of the Vitafoods events to a global audience. SupplySide Connect is the always-on directory of ingredients, products and services that provides in-depth information about the companies that supply to the market. For more information, visit www.informaglobalhealth.com.
Informa’s Global Exhibitions Division organisestransaction-oriented exhibitions andtrade shows, which provide buyers andsellers across different industries andcommunities with a powerful platformto meet face-to-face, build relationshipsand conduct business. Informa has aportfolio of more than 150 exhibitions, servinga number of core verticals, includingHealth & Nutrition, Beauty, Property &Construction and Pop Culture.
Five strategies for harnessing the Good Carbs, Bad Carbs trend
Consumers’ quest for better carbohydrates and fewer carbohydrates is creating a wealth of large and growing opportunities, even in the mass market, according to 10 Key Trends in Food, Nutrition and Health 2018, the annual trends report from New Nutrition Business (available at www.new-nutrition.com).
The trend is fuelled by emerging science – discussed in the media and online – that’s associating carbs with health issues such as weight gain and blood sugar response.
“Consumers are increasingly experimenting with lowering their carb intakes, or improving the carbs they eat, in the hopes of benefiting their health and/or their waistlines,” says Julian Mellentin, author of the report.
In Spain, as many as 63% of consumers are regularly trying to eat fewer carbs, according to an NNB survey; in the UK, that figure is 48% and in Australia 47%.
And in North America, 36% of consumers believe they should eat less bread, pasta, potatoes and rice.
In Japan, food service operators are cutting carbs, with one restaurant chain kneading spinach and chlorella into noodles to lower their carb content by 25%.
“Companies are responding to these opportunities by adopting one or more of five strategies,” says Mellentin. “The biggest of these strategies is Reformulation – not only substituting whole grains for refined wheat, for example, but offering gluten-free variants to take away a big digestive health issue that many consumers have with carbohydrates.”
One area that is moving quickly is the re-formulation of pasta. Explore Cuisine is one of several companies offering pastas and noodles made not from wheat but from dried peas, beans, lentils and chickpeas.
Even the potato industry is experimenting with new low-carb varieties such as Lotatoes, successfully marketed in New Zealand by one of the country’s biggest fruit and vegetable companies.
Some companies are going yet further in changing “bad” carbs into “good” carbs. Hamburg-based milling giant Good Mills has launched a new type of wheat that directly addresses consumer concerns about gluten and difficult-to-digest carbs. Called 2ab Wheat, it is free from gluten and addresses concerns about FODMAPs, a rapidly-emerging consumer concern.
Another powerful strategy that many companies are following is Greener Carbs.
Convenient vegetables, and vegetables in forms that can be substituted for traditional carbohydrates, are the fruit of creative NPD and skilful food technology.
For the first time, vegetables can be as convenient as traditional carbs. For example:
- Green Giant in the US markets riced cauliflower (for use instead of rice) as well as spiralised vegetables and has massively expanded its range in 2017.
- Fazer, the Nordic bakery group, successfully markets bread with a 30% vegetable content.
The Good Carbs Bad Carbs trend shows that Key Trends often overlap with, and fuel, one another. Digestive Health, Plant-Based and Snackification are all connected to this trend.
Another trend that’s a powerful driver of Good Carbs is Personalisation. Increasingly, people are going online, doing their own research and crafting their own eating style that they believe matches their needs as individuals. The belief that diet cannot be “one size fits all” is gaining ground.
For about 50% of the population, according to a survey by New Nutrition Business, the idea that each of us has unique nutritional and metabolic needs is becoming an accepted fact. These people, no matter what official dietary guidelines say, look upon carbs as a menu from which they feel free to select some as “good” and reject others as “bad”.
This creates opportunities for companies willing to respond creatively to this much greater variety of needs and beliefs.
eatmaker@list.ru