== Sweeteners debated ==

In April, the EU is to consider allowing the use of artificial sweeteners in confectionery, biscuits and cake. Confectioners have been lobbying in Europe to get laws changed in light of the pressure on the food industry to reformulate products to reduce sugar. Chocolate, biscuit and confectionery trade bodies say that aspartame, saccharin and its salts, sucralose and aspartame- acesulfame salt are safe to use - even for children.

== Fox’s decision delay ==

Workers at two Fox’s biscuit plants are to face continued job uncertainty after parent company Northern Foods decided to delay the decision over the location of its super-site until next year. Northern Foods plans to merge its Fox’s biscuits plants in Batley and Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, and build a new £40m super-factory at one of those sites.

== FoB conference ==

The Federation of Bakers’ annual conference takes place on Wednesday 20 May, 2009, at the Dorchester Hotel, London. Speakers include Scott Clarke, bakery category director at Tesco. Tim Smith, chief executive of the Food Standards Agency will be the guest speaker. For details visit bakersfederation.org.uk, contact Julie Pierce on 020 7420 7190 or email: julie.pierce@bakersfederation.org.uk.

== Organic guide ==

A new free 24-page guide has been launched to help food manufacturers looking to achieve organic status for new or existing product lines. The Guide to Organic Certification: Food Processing, produced by Organic Farmers & Growers (OF&G), is available as a free download from the OF&G website: organicfarmers.org.uk/guide, or call 0845 3305122 or email processors@organicfarmers.org.uk.

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