The English government has published its Childhood Obesity Strategy, which is already drawing harsh criticism, such as accusing ministers of “caving in to the junk food lobby,” The Daily Mail reported.
Instead of putting mandatory rules in place to force companies into hitting a lower sugar target, the government is simply “challenging” the food industry to cut 20 percent of sugar content from children’s food by 2020. This challenge focuses on foods that Public Health England says to contain the most sugar: breakfast cereals, yogurts, biscuits, cakes, pastries, puddings, ice cream, and spreads.
There are no concrete laws to enforce this, only a vague promise of “alternative levers” if the goals are not met in 10 years.
“This is a truly shocking abdication of the Government’s duties to secure the health and future of the next generation,” said Malcolm Clark of the Children’s Food Campaign.
By Abigail Abesamis
Source: The Daily Meal
Coca-Cola is unveiling a fully plant-based PET (bPET) bottle prototype, excluding the cap and label. The beverage giant has produced a limited run of 900 bottles, confirming the prototypes are recyclable within existing recycling infrastructures, alongside PET from oil-based sources.
McDonald’s and Starbucks are committing an additional US$10 million to the NextGen Consortium, an initiative aiming to improve environmental sustainability standards in the foodservice industry. Founded by investment firm Closed Loop Partners, the Consortium is investigating methods of advancing the design, commercialization and recovery of packaging materials.
Hortifrut is purchasing Atlantic Blue for US$280 million. Atlantic Blue is a key player in the growing and marketing of berries in Europe and Northern Africa, based in Huelva, Spain. The transaction will allow Hortifrut to expand its growing area by about 20% and consolidate its position as the largest fresh blueberry platform in Europe and the UK.
