Tony Loeb

📦 MartinoRossi SpA, an Italian company specializing in gluten-free, allergen-free, and non-GMO flours and plant-based products, will participate in four international fairs in March: Expo West in Anaheim, USA (5-7 March), Food Expo Greece in Athens (8-10 March), HIP Madrid in Spain (10-12 March), and Foodex Tokyo in Japan (11-14 March). They will showcase their Beamy and Goodly ranges, Mr. Beans, and MartinoRossi Professional products, including new offerings like gluten-free natural plant protein powders and a new chickpea-based chocolate spread. Founded in the 1950s, MartinoRossi now serves major international food groups and is a leader in food sector research and innovation. For more information, visit https://www.martinorossispa.it/.

🍪 Brussels opts against adopting the Nutriscore, a traffic light nutritional labeling system used in France and Belgium, which requires the support of at least 15 EU countries, representing 65% of the EU population for EU-wide adoption. Countries like Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Spain, and Poland oppose Nutriscore, surpassing the blocking minority needed to stop a proposal. The system is criticized for potentially misleading consumers, for example, by labeling olive oil as unhealthy based on fat content per 100 grams without considering typical usage quantities. The EU continues to seek a fair and personalized nutritional labeling system.

🍪 Bruxelles is set to shelve the adoption of the Nutriscore, a traffic-light nutrition labeling system used in France and Belgium but not officially approved EU-wide. Nutriscore, launched in France in 2017, is used by some European countries including Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, and Switzerland. A qualified majority in the EU Council, at least 15 countries representing 65% of the EU population, is required for adoption. Countries opposing Nutriscore include Italy, Cyprus, Greece, Latvia, Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Spain, and Poland, exceeding the blocking minority (4 countries, 35% of EU population). Criticisms focus on misleading classifications, as Nutriscore evaluates foods per 100 grams, not accounting for actual consumption amounts, misleadingly labeling foods like olive oil as harmful. The EU is challenged to develop a fair, personalized labeling system.