Food safety
The latest chemistry news and research on food safety, including microbiological analysis, chemical contaminants and food hygiene, from the Royal Society of Chemistry's magazine, Chemistry World
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News
European Commission to consult on bisphenol A ban in food packaging
The action comes after the EU’s food safety body identified BPA as a human health concern last year
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News
Testing extends range of US chocolate foods containing lead and cadmium
Consumer Reports calls on brands to do more to lower levels of metals in their products
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Europeans’ BPA exposure still exceeds safety threshold but levels may be starting to fall
Europe’s environment agency finds that BPA levels in the urine of 92% of adults from 11 European nations exceeds safe limit
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News
Artificial sweeteners face more bad press – but is it unfair?
A raft of recent studies and World Health Organization advice leave sweeteners on the ropes, but health experts warn they shouldn’t be considered in isolation
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Research
Unexpected reactivity of silica places question mark over safety of food additives
Discovery that silica particles – thought to be inert – can oxidise thiols requires further investigation
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Research
Digestion of artificial sweetener sucralose appears to create metabolite that damages DNA
A compound formed when Splenda is consumed – and is even found in off-the-shelf sucralose – is suspected to be genotoxic
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News
Industry awaits decision on BPA as EU health bodies disagree on safe levels
European Food Safety Authority recommends 20,000-fold reduction in BPA levels
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News
Italian government considers banning lab-grown meat
Proposed law would prohibit the production or sale of cultivated meat in Italy, and other synthetic foods grown from cells
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Research
Sweetener erythritol linked to heart problems
Comprehensive study discovers high dietary intake of erythritol correlates with increased risk of heart attack similar to having diabetes
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Feature
Omega-3s and brain health
Modern diets can leave us short on essential fatty acids. Barbara Pinho looks into how this is affecting our health and our brains in particular
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Feature
Are everyday chemicals contributing to global obesity?
Research in animal models suggests the simple ‘energy in, energy out’ model doesn’t tell the whole story. Anthony King talks to researchers worried about obesogens
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News
Lab-grown chicken nears the dinner table in the US
Upside Foods’ chicken filet product is the first cell-grown meat product to be declared safe for consumption by the FDA
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Feature
Cultured meat flexes its muscles
Rebecca Trager examines an emerging industry that is growing ‘meat’ outside of animals using cell lines cultivated in bioreactors
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News
Question marks over cannabidiol’s safety in food, European agency finds
Food safety body has already received more than 150 applications to add CBD to food products
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Feature
The science of breast milk and baby formula
Nina Notman reveals how breast milk research is inspiring a new generation of infant formulas and opening the door to therapeutic advances
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News
Europe’s food agency changes its mind on titanium dioxide in food
Whitening agent ’no longer considered safe’ as a food additive based on results from thousands of recent studies
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News
EU clears way for the sale of edible insect products
Dried yellow mealworm authorised to hit the European market as a ‘novel food’