The European Food Information Council (EUFIC) recently published a study on food processing entitled  “Even We Are Confused”: A Thematic Analysis of Professionals' Perceptions of Processed Foods and Challenges for Communication. 

One of the main findings is that lack of professional consensus hinders public health communications about processed foods. In particular, the research highlighted the ambiguity and confusion surrounding terms such as “processing”, ultra-processed”, and even “healthy” foods.

 EUFIC has summarised the results of the study in webinar focused on “professionals’ perceptions of processed foods.” EUFIC also published a press release highlighting the need for further interdisciplinary collaboration to seek on consensus on the scope of processing, the degree of processing and the aspects used to evaluate the healthiness of processed foods.

After two years of absence, the return of our iconic “Share a Snack” event in the crowded Place du Luxembourg (in front of the European Parliament) last week in Brussels was a success!

Share a Snack is a unique occasion to engage, share information about ESA and our products, debunk some myths and raise awareness on some issues we are facing as a sector.

Visitors were again invited to challenge their knowledge of the sector with a short quiz on Ipads which was very successful with more than 260 quiz taken during the evening!

You can have a look at our Twitter to see some pictures of the event. Stay tuned on our channel, an after movie will also be published soon! 

The secretariat would like to warmly thank members for supporting our efforts and sending tasty snacks samples from all over Europe!

As a recognition of ESA’s constructive engagement with DG SANTE along the years and more recently with the EU Code of Conduct for Responsible Food Business and Marketing Practices, ESA was granted a seat in the new Advisory Group on Sustainability of Food Systems (AGSFS).

The purpose of the group is to consult stakeholders in an open and transparent way during the preparation, revision and evaluation of EU food legislation. The AGSFS will replace the existing Advisory Group on the food chain and animal and plant health, and will now include issues relating to the implementation of the Farm to Fork Strategy and food systems’ sustainability in general.

Members are appointed for a period of  five years. The first meeting will take place in Autumn 2022.

#FoodFuture is a public conversation to engage European citizens, policymakers, NGOs, academics, and the industry in a constructive dialogue about the future of our food. The monthly email feature is sent across the FoodDrinkEurope network to thousands of relevant stakeholders in Brussels and beyond.

Our Public Affairs and Communications Manager, Olivier Devaux, participated in the latest edition to explain how the savoury snacks industry is navigating the challenges to reformulating products and delivering more nutritious offerings to consumers. Check out the video interviews here and here.

The ESA’s 2021 annual activity report is now available for download here.

The report focuses primarily on the key milestones for the association in 2021 and briefly covers the most important issues dealt with in the different working groups. As in previous reports, we have made it neat and concise for you and our stakeholders to read through!