issue 1 2017

08 industry news
Health claims regulation is top challenge for
nutrition companies, survey shows
Nutrition companies view stricter EU regulation as a greater
challenge than the state of the global economy, new research has
shown. Meanwhile, Brexit is not widely expected to have a major
impact on the European nutrition industry.
The organisers of Vitafoods Europe surveyed 190 visitors and
exhibitors to the event, which takes place between 9–11 May
2017, Palexpo, Geneva. When asked to consider the three biggest
challenges facing their company, 43% named stricter regulation,
while 35% were concerned about higher prices for raw materials
and 27% cited the state of the global economy.
Six in ten (60%) said health claims was the main area of EU regulation affecting their companies, ahead of trade
regulations (14%) and labelling regulations (13%). Almost nine in ten (87%) considered it important that a nutrition
ingredient or product is associated with an EFSA-approved health claim.
A quarter (24%) of respondents considered the current EU regulatory environment to be unhelpful to their companies,
although significantly more (37%) considered it helpful.
The findings come as the organisers of Vitafoods Europe announce a new resource to help companies navigate the
regulatory maze. Visitors with any questions about regulation or certification will be able to have a one-to-one
consultation with experts in the new Advice Centre.
Meanwhile, the UK’s decision to leave the EU did not rank highly as a concern for respondents. When asked what impact
they thought Brexit would have on the European nutrition industry, 36% said it would have no impact, 32% said they didn’t
know, 22% said it would be either very negative or fairly negative; and 10% said it would be either very positive or fairly
positive. n
Even one infected chicken could have a global impact
With the USDA’s confirmation of Avian Influenza in southern Tennessee,
Alabama, and now Kentucky, the virus has struck the United States for the
fourth year in a row. Since the first reported case in 2014, over 40 million
chickens and turkeys have died or been euthanised across 15 states in the
US. Until recently, the last highly pathogenic bird flu was found in a
commercial turkey flock in Indiana in January 2016.
According to the World Organization for Animal Health, 13 strains of Avian
Influenza were detected in 77 countries between January 2014 and
December 2016. After the outbreak two years ago, Mexico and Canada
introduced state or regional bans on US broiler exports, and China imposed
a national ban. With news of the recent outbreak, Hong Kong, South Korea
and Taiwan have all halted imports of US poultry.
“Even one infected chicken house could have a global impact,” said Mark Leggett, president of the Mississippi Poultry
Association. “One of the worst impacts from the bird flu in the US is the impact on global trade. We export a large
percentage of poultry products to other countries around the world.”
The USDA’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) cautioned the public that the strain of Avian Influenza
experienced in Tennessee is not the same as the H7N9 virus that has impacted poultry and infected humans in China and
across Asia.
“Fortunately, there have been no reported cases of strains of Avian Influenza affecting humans in the US as a result of the
recent outbreak. In fact, all poultry flocks in the United States are tested prior to processing to make sure they are healthy
and free of any virus,” Leggett continued. “American consumers have a high degree of confidence in the safety of our food
supply, and that confidence is well placed.” n
Source: Sanderson Farms
www.foodmagazine.eu.com issue one | 2017