The U.K. Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled that an advertisement for a range of lactose-free products made “sufficiently clear that the Lactofree products were not suitable for dairy allergy sufferers but were suitable for those intolerant to lactose.” Responding to a complaint alleging that the ad failed to adequately differentiate between lactose intolerance and dairy allergy, Arla Foods Ltd. reportedly noted that its TV commercial included an on-screen footnote stipulating that the products displayed were “Not suitable for milk allergy sufferers,” and that consumers in doubt should consult their physician. Warning that the ad’s voice-over—“Listen up hedgehogs, you’re not intolerant to dairy, you’re just intolerant to lactose, the sugars in dairy”—could be misunderstood as a stand-alone statement, ASA nevertheless agreed with Arla’s position, dismissing the complaint on the ground that the on-screen text not only provided a clear reference to milk allergy, but also instructed consumers to “Search Lactofree”…
Tag Archives UK
The U.K. Food Standards Agency (FSA) has requested public comments on a novel foods application submitted by a Swiss company seeking permission to use algal oil in its food products. The company suggests in its application that the oil, extracted from a newly isolated strain of microalgae, is a rich source of omega-3 fatty acid and proposes to use it as a source of the fatty acid in infant formula. The omega-3 fatty acid currently used in infant formula is derived from tuna fish oil or the microalgae, Crypthecodinium cohnii. FSA has also requested public comments on a second application, submitted by Unilever, seeking permission to extend the use of phytosterol esters. Used in the food industry for their cholesterol-lowering properties, phytosterol esters are naturally present at low levels in vegetable oils. This is the third application made by the Unilever for this ingredient. An application for margarines with added…
The U.K. Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has upheld two complaints alleging that Heineken UK Ltd.’s print and TV advertisements gave the impression that its Kronenbourg 1664 beer was brewed in France and made primarily from French hops, despite text disclaimers stating that the product was “Brewed in the UK.” According to the February 12, 2014, ruling, the ads in question touted Kronenbourg 1664 as a “French beer… brewed with the aromatic Strisselspalt hop” sourced from Alsace, France. Although Heineken noted in its response that “Kronenbourg 1664 was an inherently French beer… first brewed in 1952 in Alsace by Brasseries Kronenbourg,” ASA ultimately agreed with complainants that the print ad’s “degree of emphasis… on the connection with France would lead consumers to believe that the entire brewing and manufacturing process took place in that country,” while the TV ad’s focus on the Strisselspalt hop “implied that all, or a significant majority…
A recent report issued by the U.K.’s National Obesity Forum suggests that a 2007 prediction that 50 percent of the British population would be obese by 2050 significantly underestimated the scale of the country’s obesity crisis. Titled “State of the Nation’s Waistline,” the report notes that “it is entirely reasonable to conclude that the determinations of the 2007 [report], while shocking at the time, may now underestimate the scale of the problem.” Noting that health professionals could do more, such as intervening earlier, initiating discussion with patients on obesity and weight management issues, routinely measuring children’s height and weight and adults’ waist circumferences, and encouraging citizens to take a more proactive approach regarding their own health, Forum Chair David Haslam says that these actions go hand in hand with government leadership and ensuring responsible food and drink manufacturing and retailing. “We need more proactive engagement by healthcare professionals on weight…
A group of international health experts has launched a new campaign intended to reduce the amount of sugar in processed foods and beverages sold in the United Kingdom (U.K.). Modeled after the Consensus Action on Salt and Health and chaired by Queen Mary University of London Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine Graham MacGregor, Action on Sugar includes a number of U.K. scientists and academics as well as National Obesity Forum Chair David Haslam and University of California, San Francisco, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics Robert Lustig. The campaigners aim to set gradual sugar reduction targets for the food industry similar to those established for salt content, warning that failure to meet such targets would prompt the group to pursue legislation or a sugar tax. They also seek to (i) educate the public about “the impact of sugar on their health,” (ii) identify children as “a particularly vulnerable group whose health is more…
The U.K. Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment (COT) has released a December 2013 position paper on the purported health effects of aspartame, which is currently being reviewed by the European Food Safety Authority as part of its re-evaluation of all food additives. Commissioned by the U.K. Food Standards Agency (FSA), the paper apparently analyzes a double-blind randomized crossover study conducted by University of Hull York Medical School researchers, who asked 50 participants with self-diagnosed adverse reactions to aspartame to consume a snack bar without knowing whether it contained the substance in question. Based on the study’s findings, which compared the responses of these participants to a control group, COT has concluded that “the results presented did not indicate any need for action to protect the health of public.” The committee will release the full minutes of its discussion once the study has been…
The U.K. Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has upheld a complaint claiming that a TV advertisement with a “prices may vary” disclaimer was misleading because the complainant was unable to purchase the product for the stated price. Created by Kentucky Fried Chicken (Great Britain) Ltd. (KFC), the commercial in question indicated that families could “save a fiver” by purchasing “the new KFC Family Burger Box,” instead of buying the components a la carte. On-screen text apparently clarified, “Item[] shown £20.51 if bought individually. Prices may vary.” According to ASA, Kentucky Fried Chicken explained that the phrase “prices may vary” “referred to both the a la carte menu pricing of individual items, the price of the Family Burger Box and the exact saving made between those two prices.” To convey this information, the company chose the text “prices may vary” rather than “price may vary” “to be clear that this referred to…
In response to evidence that British children appear to be getting fatter, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges in London has reportedly recommended imposing a 20 percent tax on sugary soft drinks for one year as an experiment to see whether it reduces consumption by kids. The group has also called for a ban on TV ads for foods high in saturated fats, sugar and salt until 9 p.m., and has suggested that the government develop “formal recommendations on reducing the proximity of fast food outlets to schools, colleges, leisure centers and other places where children gather.” Meanwhile, the British Soft Drinks Association and other industry groups have publicly opposed such steps, claiming that most soda sold in Britain does not contain added sugar and that a new tax would hurt consumers who can “ill afford it.” The country’s Food and Drink Federation has also contended that existing restrictions on TV ads…
The U.K. Food Standards Agency has reportedly issued a nationwide warning about misleading and illegal claims for manuka honey, a product derived from the manuka tree in southeastern Australia and New Zealand and endorsed by many celebrities who claim that it contains unique anti-bacterial and medicinal properties. According to news sources, manuka honey commands prices 10 to 20 times higher than other types of honey. Tests by the U.K. Food Environment Research Agency (Fera), New Zealand’s Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA) and others, however, suggest that many of the products labeled “manuka honey” contain none of its unique active properties, prompting industry leaders to demand a crackdown on a “potentially huge fraud.” Industry data have apparently revealed that New Zealand—the main source of manuka honey—produces only 1,700 tons of the honey each year, while consumption data show that an estimated 10,000 tons is sold worldwide annually, with 1,800 tons…
The U.K. Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) has ruled that pasta manufacturer NAH Foods, Ltd. cannot use a magazine ad for its “Slim Pasta” that features the heading “Zero Calorie Pasta?” and the subheading “UK & Ireland’s No.1 Best Selling Zero Calorie Pasta, Noodles & Rice” because tests of the product revealed that it actually contains 7.7 calories per 100 grams. In its defense, the company pointed out that the advertisement’s heading, “zero calorie pasta?”, contained a question mark and argued that it had not claimed “zero calorie pasta,” but ASA, while noting the question mark, decided that “consumers would infer that the advertiser was selling zero calorie pasta.” According to European regulation, a food can claim to be energy-free if it contains no more than 4 calories per 100 ml, and to make a low-energy claim, a food must contain no more 40 calories per 100 g for solid foods,…
