On 25 March, the French food safety agency ANSES published a report calling for urgent action to reduce cadmium exposure, warning that the population is primarily exposed through food due to widespread soil contamination. Its assessment shows that dietary intake accounts for up to 98% of cadmium exposure in non-smokers, with staple foods such as cereals, potatoes, and vegetables as the main contributors, while smoking further increases exposure. Biomonitoring data also point

On 23 March, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) closed the proposal to list added sugars separately in the nutrition information panel, concluding that it would be unlikely to deliver a clear public health benefit and could impose significant costs across the food system. The proposal assessed whether the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code should be amended to mandate separate added sugars labelling, following a request from food ministers to review whether

The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) Board responsible for technical regulation and the WHO Regional Director for Europe signed a 2026–2028 action plan to implement the Memorandum of Understanding between the EEC and the WHO Regional Office for Europe. Aimed at preventing and reducing non‑communicable diseases, the action plan includes: Joint consultations on updating Union legislation to strengthen requirements for reducing salt and added sugar levels in foods, as well as

The Bolivian Institute for Standards and Quality (IBNORCA) has opened a public consultation on two draft standards aimed at updating the regulatory framework for non‑alcoholic beverages. APNB/IBNORCA 325001 – Non‑Alcoholic Beverages: Requirements This draft standard sets out the characteristics that non‑alcoholic beverages must comply with. Its scope excludes the following products: Beverages made entirely from fruit or vegetables, whether sweetened or unsweetened, concentra

The South African Department of Health has published revised Regulations establishing maximum levels for mycotoxins in foodstuffs under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, 1972 (Act No. 54 of 1972). The amendments were issued in Government Gazette No. 7091 on 6 February 2026 and update the national framework governing permitted contamination levels in foods placed on the market. The new provisions introduce updated compliance requirements for food business operat

Authorities in Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland have launched consultations on updated criteria for the Keyholefront-of-pack nutrition labelling scheme. The revision aims to align the voluntary scheme with the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023 (NNR 2023). The Keyhole symbol identifies products with a healthier nutritional composition within a food category, such as lower salt, sugars and saturated fat and/or higher fibre and whole-grain content. The most significant pr

On 6 February 2026, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of a draft technical regulation, SFDA.FD 2539:2025 – “Vitamins and Minerals Permitted in Food Products.” The notification was circulated through the WTO Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) system, which allows trading partners to review and comment on proposed national measures that may affect international trade. The draft standard establishes specifications, conditions of

The Australian Government will propose mandating Health Star Ratings on all packaged food products at next week’s Food Ministers Meeting. The Front-Of-Pack (FOP) labelling scheme has been voluntary since their introduction in 2014. In 2020, Food Ministers agreed to mandate the system if update failed to reach 70% by 2025. Recent data from Food Standards Australia New Zealand shows that only 37% of products currently display a Health Star Rating, well below the agreed target.

The Chilean Ministry of Health has launched a public consultation proposing targeted amendments to Article 4 (points 2, 3, and 4) of Exempt Resolution 394/02, which sets out the Nutritional Guidelines for Food Supplements and defines permitted vitamin and mineral contents. The proposed changes aim to clarify which types of products may not be formulated or marketed as food supplements. In particular, they seek to refine the interpretation of the term “similar” as used in seve

We are thrilled to announce that our team member Efi Leontopoulou – Manager, Scientific and Regulatory Affairs - will be participating on the judges panel of the Vitafoods Europe Innovation Awards 2026 ! These awards recognise the innovation of companies in several areas of health and nutrition. The awards will take place as part of Vitafoods Europe on 5-7 May 2026, in Barcelona, Spain. Don't miss the opportunity to participate!

In January, the Food Safety Agency of Azerbaijan launched a new “Food Safety Registry” section on its official website. The registry is designed to provide consumers with quicker and easier access to food safety information. It publishes details on food products and food processing facilities that have been found non-compliant during inspections carried out by the Agency. According to the Food Safety Agency, the initiative is intended to strengthen transparency and encourag

A new set of national guidelines from the Swedish Food Agency (Livsmedelsverket) aims to encourage more students to eat school lunch, as one in three lower‑secondary pupils currently skip it. The Management Report of 2026 National Guidelines for Meals at School highlights that many replace the meal with snacks, sweets, and sugary drinks, which negatively affects both health and academic performance. According to the agency, the main reason students avoid school lunch is not t