Top stories on just-food this week

By just-food.com | 29 February 2008

This week, just-food has seen a report in the UK question the real value of Fairtrade, EFSA issue advice to the EU on foods that should carry nutritional information and Unilever launch the first probiotic ice lolly.

UK: Fairtrade leaving farmers "worse off" - think-tank
Demand for Fairtrade products may be soaring in the UK but the scheme is leaving Third World farmers worse off and does not aid economic development, a UK think-tank has claimed. A report by the Adam Smith Institute claimed the Fairtrade brand is a "nice idea" but questioned whether it helped farmers.

EU: EFSA outlines advice on nutrient profiles
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has today (26 February) issued advice to the European Commission on which foodstuffs should carry nutritional or health claim information. EFSA said its guidance would help the European Commission draft an approved claim list by 2010.

UK: Unilever launches probiotic ice lolly
Unilever UK has claimed the launch of the first probiotic ice lolly, the latest edition to its Walls Milk Time range. The Milk & Strawberry probiotic lolly has been introduced to allow parents to "reward their children" with a healthy treat.

US: ConAgra acquires vegetable business
US food giant ConAgra Foods has acquired a privately-held vegetable processing and agricultural company in a bid to grow its potato business. The acquisition of Washington-based Watts Brothers was made to strengthen the company's Lamb Weston brand, one of the largest potato groups in North America with annual sales of US$2bn. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

UK: Nutella ad "misleading", says watchdog
The UK's Advertising Standards Authority has ruled that a recent television advert for Nutella was misleading to parents. The ad, which targets parents trying to find a balanced breakfast for their children, described Nutella as being part of a balanced breakfast and claimed each jar "contains 52 hazelnuts, the equivalent of a glass of skimmed milk and some cocoa."

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