Regulatory review: Functional foods in Indonesia, fortification in India and elderly care products in China featured
Indonesia's diabetes dilemma: Can regulations keep pace with need for innovative functional ingredients?
Indonesia will be home to 16.7 million people with diabetes by 2045 – up from 10.3m last year – but it is far from clear that health claim regulations are keeping pace with the public health challenges faced in the nation.
The International Diabetes Federation, which released the figures, also states that more than half of the number of people living with diabetes will be undiagnosed.
The issue took centre stage at the recent FI Asia show in Jakarta, with several firms highlighting the potential for functional ingredients and reformulation to help tackle the problem.
Food for the elderly in China: Authorities to regulate definition, labelling, and ingredients for the first time
China's National Health Commission and the State Administration for Market Regulation have introduced draft regulations that standardise the manufacturing and labelling of food for the elderly.
It requires the definition, categorisation, and stating the nutrition make-up of elderly food, and this is reportedly the first time that authorities have drafted such regulations.
The draft regulations are available for viewing and the public can provide relevant feedback on the China National Centre for Food Safety Risk Assessment website.
Will India's mandatory oil fortification scheme leave producers over a barrel?
The FSSAI's continuous push for mandatory fortification of staple foods has been criticised by several edible oil firms, which claim it may be too difficult to implement in their specific industry.
The main contention surrounds potential costs, as well as the practicality of mandatory edible oil fortification.
While it is not mandatory yet, direct pressure from the FSSAI, and indirect pressure market leaders who have begun fortifying their edible oil products have led some firms to express their concerns.
Pakistan authority signals restart of tough infant formula sanctions amid confusion over enforcement dates
The Punjab Food Authority (PFA) has said it has restarted its action plan against infant formula firms that violate local regulations, ahead of the date previously communicated to industry representatives.
In early September, the PFA declared it would restart its plan after the business adjustment period, which it said would end on September 20 this year.
its recently appointed director general Muhammad Usman Younas has given the the green light for strict action to be taken against any company that continues to flout the rules after the deadline.
Kellogg's, Mars, Nestlé pledge to reduce sugar, salt and fat as Saudi authorities launch the Healthy Food Strategy
Global food and beverage manufacturers such as Kellogg's Arabia, Mars Saudi Arabia and Nestlé Middle East have signed a voluntary pledge with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) that seeks to reduce sugar, salt and fat content in their products.
Besides cutting down on sugar, salt and fat, the companies also pledged to place clear nutritional labels on their products.
Other companies which have signed the pledge include included Mondelez Arabia, Ferrero, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo International, Unilever, and Freeze Land.
They are all members of the International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA), an organisation founded by food and beverage companies to drive the promotion of healthier diets. The alliance boasted a combined annual revenue of over USD$410 billion in 2016.
