January “Hot Topics”
The Sugar Tax
The government will be launching a sugar reduction program aimed at those foods which children eat most. Industry will be challenged to reduce sugar intakes across a broad range of categories 20% by 2020 with a 5% reduction in the first year. Many product categories will be impacted.
Which products will be affected by a levy?
Soft drinks companies pay a charge for drinks with added sugar, and total sugar content of five grams or more per 100 millilitres. That is about 5% sugar content. There is a higher charge for the drinks that contain eight grams or more per 100 millilitres, or about 8% sugar content. This means that pure fruit juices won’t be taxed, because they don’t contain added sugar. Neither will drinks that have high milk content, because they contain calcium and other nutrients that are vital for a healthy diet.
Read more on this topic ……. http://www.howarthfoodsafety.co.uk/food_safety/file/news.php
Acrylamide in Foods – “Going for gold”
What is Acrylamide?
Acrylamide is a chemical substance formed by a reaction between amino acids and sugars. It typically occurs when foods with high starch content such as potatoes, root vegetables and bread, are cooked at high temperatures (over 120°C) in a process of frying, roasting or baking.
Potential health effects of acrylamide
Laboratory tests show that acrylamide in the diet causes cancer in animals. While evidence from human studies on the impact of acrylamide in the diet is inconclusive, scientists agree that acrylamide in food has the potential to cause cancer in humans as well and it would be prudent to reduce exposure.
Foods high in acrylamide
Acrylamide is found in wide range of foods including roasted potatoes and root vegetables, chips, crisps, toast, cakes, biscuits, cereals and coffee.
Read more on this topic……… http://www.howarthfoodsafety.co.uk/food_safety/file/news.php
