Latest News
Animal evidence that negative effects of the artificial sweeteners sucralose and stevia may pass on to the next generation
Scientists in Chile aimed to compare, in mice, the effect of parental sucralose or stevia consumption on the diversity and composition of microbes in the gut as well as short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations. They also considered the expression of Tlr4, Tnf,...
California brings forward new bills relevant to contaminants in food
In April 2026 California’s Assembly Committee on Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials brought forward a bill to phase out, by 2035, pesticides containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) intentionally added as active, adjuvant, or inert ingredients. A...
New York set to ban three food additives and require ingredients to be listed which have been given ‘Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS)’ status
The New York legislature has passed a new Food Safety and Chemical Disclosure Act, which aims to ban three substances from food manufactured or sold in the state: The red food colour FD&C Red 3 (erythrosine or E127 in the EU, a colour banned from all foods but...
Acesulfame-K, sucralose and aspartame are the most commonly used sweeteners in food and drink in Spain
A new study looking at foods and drinks sold in supermarkets in Spain involved systematic search and screening of ingredient label information across representative foodstuffs and beverages, accounting for 85% of the Spanish grocery market. The study looked at...
Food colouring additives and cancer risk: new evidence from a large French cohort
Food colouring additives are substances used to enhance or restore the appearance of foods and drinks. They are commonly found in products such as soft drinks, sweets, baked goods, desserts and ready meals, and are often used in ultra-processed foods to improve visual...
Are environmental pesticide mixtures linked to cancer risk?
A paper published in Nature Health has explored whether exposure to mixtures of pesticides in the environment may be linked to cancer risk. The study focused on Peru, where agriculture is widespread and pesticide use varies across regions. Researchers combined...
French study shows widespread high intakes of cadmium, with food the major source
The latest national French biomonitoring study (ESTEBAN), published by Santé Publique France in 2021 (data from 2014–2016), indicated higher cadmium contamination levels than their previous survey (National Nutrition & Health Study 2006-2007). In addition the...
Delays in approving new natural colours in the USA
In its rush to approve new ‘natural’ food colourings to replace artificial petroleum based dyes (manufacturers are being asked to voluntarily remove these from food and drink as part of the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ campaign), regulators have hit some resistance....
Increasing availability of nitrite free bacon and ham
The Grocer magazine reported that Waitrose has launched nitrite-free ham in response to consumer demand and increased sales of its nitrite-free unsmoked back bacon which has shown a 22% increase in sales since last year (The Grocer, 21.04.26). Sales of nitrite cured...
Convenience at a cost? Microplastics in ready meals
A recent report by Greenpeace International highlights potential health risks linked to plastic packaging used for ready meals and takeaway foods. The report reviewed 24 peer-reviewed scientific studies examining the migration of chemicals and plastic particles from...
Could food contaminants contribute to neurodegenerative disease?
A recent review published in Current Opinion in Food Science examined evidence linking food chemical contaminants (FCCs) with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. FCCs include a wide range of substances that may enter the...
High PFAS levels detected in a population in North Yorkshire
Recent reporting by The Guardian has highlighted elevated levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the blood of residents living in Bentham, North Yorkshire. PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence, are used in a range of...
Could everyday chemicals influence breast cancer risk?
A study published in Scientific Reports investigated whether widely used environmental chemicals, bisphenol A (BPA), nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP), may be linked to breast cancer through their effects on biological pathways. These substances are classified as...
Consumers giving nitrite treated bacon the cold shoulder
According to The Grocer magazine, sales of nitrite free bacon soared at the end of 2025 and into 2026 with consumer spend on nitrite free products up 21.7% in the 12 weeks ending 25th January. In 2016, the World Health Organisation declared that processed meat,...
Born into plastic: What microplastics could mean for the next generation?
A recent scoping review examined the effects of perinatal exposure to micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) on neonatal health, focusing on immune and metabolic development. The review combined findings from human tissue studies, animal models, and in vitro experiments to...
Takeaway packaging – what could be migrating into our food?
A study published in Food Chemistry investigated whether chemicals migrating from common food contact materials (FCMs), such as takeaway containers and coffee cups, may pose potential health concerns. Researchers analysed six products, including coffee-to-go cups and...
Ultra-processed foods and ADHD: association or coincidence?
A recent study published by Scientific Reports has examined the association between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) in children in Israel, drawing on data from a large national health and nutrition...
A new blue colour to be approved in Europe? Hopefully the beginning of the end for the azo dye Brilliant Blue (E133)
A new natural blue colour, Everzure Galdieria received a ‘positive scientific opinion’ from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) in March 2026. The review confirms the safety of blue galdieria extract for use as a food colour additive, positioning the ingredient...
Are there links between the microbiome and autism in children?
A paper published by Italian researchers in Nutrients reported on potential links between the microbiome and autism in children. This small study compared children diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) with their siblings and parents. The study looked at the...
Titanium Dioxide (E171) and heart health
In a paper published in the journal Cardiovascular Toxicity by a team from Mexico, the potential impact of long-term exposure to the white colouring titanium dioxide (E171) in rats led to heart dysfunction and the authors suggest that prolonged exposure to E171 could...
Is there a link between food contaminants and cardiovascular disease?
More data from the French Nutri-net Sante study has been published as an abstract in The European Journal of Public Health[1] and in a previous article in The International Journal of Public Health[2], reporting links between food contaminants and cardiovascular...
Are your mercury dental amalgam fillings contributing to marine mercury contamination?
In new analysis by the Rivers Trust and Wildlife and Countryside Link, more than 98% of fish and mussels from English rivers and coastal waters were found to be contaminated with mercury above EU safety limits[1]. More than half of their samples contained more than...
Letter to the UK Government highlights concerns about harmful chemicals in toys
A group of 50 patient organisations, healthcare professionals and scientists sent a letter to the UK Government highlighting concerns about the risks posed to children from harmful chemicals in toys, and calling for action[1]. The letter calls for the UK to align with...
Nitrites in bacon and ham back in the news
It is ten years since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared that processed meat was carcinogenic to humans and on October 24th the UK group ‘Coalition Against Nitrites’ alongside four of the original authors of the 2015 report from WHO and the International...
EU Food Standards News October 2025
In October 2025, food additive regulations saw significant updates in the EU, including revised rules for sorbic acid, potassium sorbate, and quillaia extract. You can find out more about these additives on our website. Preservatives Sorbic acid and potassium...
High levels of lead found in protein powders in the US
Consumer Reports (the US equivalent of Which? in the UK) recently reported on toxic heavy metals in protein powders sold in the USA.[1] A global obsession with protein has made the selling of high protein foods and drinks a multi-billion dollar market, and this has...
Does regular consumption of low and no-calorie sweeteners affect cognition?
Cognition refers to a person’s ability to learn think, understand and remember and provides us with memory and decision-making capacity. A paper recently published in the journal Neurology reported on data from a longitudinal observational study of civil servants aged...
