Breaking News on Food & Beverage Development - Europe US edition

UK to miss obesity targets, warns new report

Halting the deadly rise in childhood obesity will not be achieved without stronger leadership from the top, warns a stark new report from three UK watchdogs.

Tate & Lyle targets low calorie ice cream

Tate & Lyle's Rebalance 022 ingredient product is being used in a new range of lower fat, reduced-calorie ice cream.

EU food chemical study could tighten regulations

An EU-funded project into maternal exposure of certain chemicals found in foods could lead to more effective food regulations.

EC acts against GM food contamination

The EC has published a guidebook to help farmers reduce the adventitious - unintended and unavoidable - presence of GM material in non-GM food.

Cocoa flavonols linked to low blood pressure

Regular eating of flavonol-rich chocolate can cut the risk of death from cardiovascular disease (CVD) by half, reports a long-term study of elderly men.

Soft drinks industry pledges to tackle benzene in drinks

America's soft drinks association said it would have to look again at benzene in drinks, after new tests revealed to BeverageDaily.com suggest it and food safety authorities failed to stamp out a problem.

GM potato no threat to health, says EFSA

A genetically modified potato product with altered starch composition poses no threat to human health, according to an EFSA panel ruling.

New guidance fuels food labelling debate

A new guidance document for food manufacturers on the best way to present GDAs (Guideline Daily Amounts) on their products has reheated the ongoing debate on nutrition and health labelling.

Lack of good graduates crippling food industry

Declining numbers of graduates entering the food industry is seriously threatening the sectors ability to meet the needs for further growth, warns the IFST.

Weekly Comment

The bad research debate

The dust is settling on the WHI trial. First came the news that low-fat diets didn't reduce the risk of breast or colorectal cancer or cardiovascular disease, then came news that vitamin D and calcium supplements don't protect against fractures.

EFSA hails GM summit despite conflicts of opinion

EFSA's acting director claims that this weeks meeting with environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) was a success, despite a huge gulf in opinion.

Sudan red colouring fine a warning to food industry

The successful prosecution of a UK food company over the presence of illegal Sudan food dye should serve as a warning to the whole industry.

Dietary supplements and bird flu - the debate

As the bird flu grip on Europe increases by the day, scientists have begun to publicly debate the role of nutraceuticals as possible preventatives in the wake of news that availability of anti-viral drugs may be "too little, too late."

Tate & Lyle commended for green policies

Tate & Lyle has demonstrated excellence in environmental practice by developing supply chain partnerships, according to Environwise.

Scientists uncover secrets of how taste functions

A new scientific breakthrough could help food makers achieve a much better understanding of taste and how it functions in nutrition.

EC warns of looming sugar oversupply

The European Commission argues that quotas will have to be cut for the 2006/07 marketing year to prevent a serious oversupply of sugar.

Givaudan's new flavour head has work cut out

The announcement that Mauricio Graber will take over as head of Givaudan's flavours division comes after the firm reported modest flavour results for 2005.

Industry targets creation of perfect sports drink

The addition of protein to a carbohydrate-containing beverage provides benefits superior to traditional carbohydrate based beverages, claims the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) on sports nutrition and performance.

Romanian GM ban slammed by biotech industry

Europes biotech industry has criticised Romania's proposed ban on transgenic soybeans, claiming that the decision will negatively impact both the European food industry and consumers.

More evidence that grape juice may 'reverse' brain aging

Drinking Concord grape juice appears to reverse the course of neuronal and behavioural aging in rats, an effect that is proposed to be due to the complex mix of polyphenols.

Revision of EU organic rules slammed

Revision of the EU Council regulation governing organic food would allow GM contamination and obscure the local origins of organic food, according to the Soil Associations Peter Melchett.

Food firms target value-added milk sector

Food firms are increasingly targeting the UKs value-added milk sector as they re-align their businesses and move away from commodity products, says a new report.

Sugar reform was vital and overdue, says EU

Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel explains why the formal adoption this week of the EU sugar reforms was vital, and why it doesn't mean the end for Europe's sugar industry.

EU vending summit to tackle obesity issue

Philippe Brunet, the European Commission's deputy head of cabinet, has been unveiled as the keynote speaker at a pivotal conference on the future of vending in Europe.

Gum and emerging markets drive Cadbury's 2005 growth

Cadbury Schweppes has exploited the continued global growth of chewing gum and tapped into emerging new markets to report increased sales for 2005.

Ingredients for innovation: New Zealand

Joint health from sheeps' wool, kiwi fruit crossed with berries and calcium-boosting bone extract… innovative ingredients from a small Pacific archipelago are starting to make a disproportionately big impact in the world of nutrition.

Givaudan confident despite flat flavour sales

Flat European flavour sales for 2005 should not stop Givaudan from consolidating its leading position in the European fragrance and flavour industry.

Aquanova Degussa alliance promotes nanotech ingredients

Aquanova's alliance with Degussa could result in a dramatic increase in the use of nanostructured solubilisates in various food applications.

Eastern Europe leads global sports drink growth

The global sports drinks market grew by 10 per cent in 2005 to 9,700 million litres, with the fastest growth recorded in Eastern Europe.

Doubts cast over value of low-calorie sweeteners

A lack of convincing evidence means that firm conclusions on the role of artificial sweeteners in weight loss cannot yet be made, according to a scientist.

Danisco targets Chinese cultures growth

Danisco Cultures is expanding its involvement in the Asian market with the launch of its patented Yo-Mix Real Quick freeze-dried cultures.

EU to formalise new sugar regime today

The Agriculture & Fisheries Council will formally adopt new sugar reform regulations today after months of fine-tuning the final wording.

EFSA opens up to discuss future of GM in Europe

Europe's food safety authority is holding a high level meeting with scientists this Wednesday to discuss the future development of Genetically Modified (GM) food within the bloc.

UK, Germany checking soft drinks for benzene

Food safety authorities in Britain and Germany are checking soft drinks for benzene after tests suggest a private deal with soft drinks firms in the US, 15 years ago, failed to fix the problem.

Salmonella discovery could help beat food poisoning

The discovery that Salmonella might have an unwitting ally could lead to new ways of tackling food poisoning in meat and fresh produce.

HortResearch breeds blackcurrants for health

Blackcurrants have already earned a reputation amongst the healthiest fruits thanks to a high antioxidant content. But in New Zealand, where five per cent for the world's crop is grown, researchers have been investigating ways to make them even better.

Food law briefing: industry should fight for interests

Law firm Eversheds tells FoodNavigator why Europe's food industry needs a voice in the ongoing debate over labelling, and outlines some of the battlegrounds to come.

Regulators debate standardised labelling system for EU

Regulators and industry representatives from across the EU yesterday wrapped up a meeting in Rotterdam debating standardised system for food labelling across the bloc.

Nestlé appoints chef to enhance Cailler

Nestle has appointed the Spanish chef Ferran Adria to develop flavours for its Cailler chocolate brand in Switzerland.

EFSA approves food supplement coating agent

The use of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as a coating agent for food supplements poses no health risks, according to a recent EFSA investigation.

Why chocolates on your desk seem to vanish

Confectionery on your desk is likely to be gobbled up without you even so much as noticing, warns a quirky new study from Cornell University.

Premier Foods to compete against Heinz-HP superbrands

Following a year of restructuring, the manufacturer famous for iconic British brands Sarson's Vinegar and Gale's Honey has announced plans to enter the brown sauce and ketchup sector as a direct rival to Heinz-HP.

Food body urges caution in brave new nanotech world

The Institute of Food Science & Technology has identified possible deficiencies in current regulations concerning the impact of nanotechology on food and packaging.

CSM to sell European sugar operations

CSM plans to sell its sugar division in order to concentrate on high value ingredients.

Tate & Lyle alerted to potential sucralose competitor

The re-appearance of a low-calorie tabletop sweetener product branded as Altern in a small number of Wal-Mart stores in the US has attracted the attention of Tate & Lyle.

Special report

FDA re-opens probe into benzene contamination of soft drinks

US food safety authorities have re-opened an investigation closed 15 years ago into soft drinks contaminated with cancer-causing chemical benzene, following evidence the industry has failed to sort out the problem, BeverageDaily.com can reveal.

Danone: strong results despite testing market conditions

Danone has ridden out difficult market conditions to report strong full-year earnings and improved margins.

Cargill targets polyol growth with new maltitol facility

Cargill's first North American maltitol plant is now in full operation, helping the firm to target the steadily growing polyol branch of the sweeteners market.

Food industry responding to labelling needs

The UK food industry has come out on top in two UK surveys investigating whether manufacturers are meeting Country of Origin and Clear Labelling guidance.

Remineralisation vital for future of food

Pioneering research into the demineralisation of the earth could have significant consequences for food quality - and even the future of the planet.

Obesity rocketing despite record diet food spending

The US might be consolidating its position as the fattest nation, but Europe is catching up fast - and all this despite record spending on diet products.

Danisco hails scientific backing for sweetener xylitol

Danisco says that two new scientific studies support its claim that the sweetener xylitol is effective in fighting tooth decay.

Alliance targets growing rosemary extract market

Slovenian rosemary extract firm Vitiva has formed an alliance with UK firm Food Ingredient Technology (FIT) in order to penetrate the growing functional ingredients markets in the UK and Ireland.

Supplements better than fortification for folic acid?

Pregnant women who do not take folic acid-containing supplements are eight times more likely to have low serum folate values, despite eating folate-fortified foods, claims a new study.

New alliance targets fruit cultivar innovation

A leading European horticultural research institute has launched a partnership with a New Zealand science organisation in order to develop new fruit cultivars.

Traffic light labelling too crude says food lawyer

Food law experts at Eversheds have warned that the adoption of an industry standard for nutritional information looks increasingly unlikely.

Weekly Comment

The cost of bad research

The science has spoken. Low-fat diets don't work: Forget the carrots and broccoli sprouts, I can now have my cake and eat it, and put extra cream on top.

WTO GM ruling will change nothing, say campaigners

The WTO ruling backing the US, Canada and Argentina in their efforts to open Europe up to genetically modified (GM) food has been dismissed as 'irrelevant'.

From vitamins to new nutrition: DSM's FY 2005

DSM Nutritional Products has reported operating profit of $252 million in full year 2005, up 25 per cent on 2004. But with sales hampered by price pressure on mature vitamins, the company is looking to reduce its reliance on these in favour of innovative new products.

Why we like fatty food

A study attempting to find out exactly why we prefer fatty foods could help manufacturers to design tasty, low-fat foods that are less likely to make people overweight.

Quest heralds major flavour breakthrough

Quest claims it has achieved its biggest flavour breakthrough in a decade with ImpaQ, a solution designed to tackle food and beverage taste issues linked with salt, fat and sugar.

Ingredients crucial to Raisio's FY 2005

Raisio has reported results for full year 2005 that are more or less on a par with the previous year. While Raisio Nutrition was impacted by one-off costs and write-downs, Life Sciences performed better as ingredients showed respectable growth.

Syngenta follows WTO GM ruling with strong results

Syngenta's announcement of a 9 per cent sales increase last year comes just days after the WTO ruled that the EU was wrong to bar entry to GM crops and foods.

Danisco prepares for sugar reform to hit

Danisco has unveiled a series of closures to safeguard its sugar activities in the face of widespread regulatory reform and increasing competition.

Consumer groups slam food industry labelling initiative

The UK food industry has been slammed by consumer groups for its rejection of an industry-wide colour-coded labelling scheme, just as consultation on a voluntary front of pack labelling scheme ended yesterday.

Still drinks market growing faster than carbonates

The global still drinks market has lost its cheap image and is booming because beverage companies are concentrating on the premium end.

Lamy urges commitment in global agriculture talks

WTO director-general Pascal Lamy has urged countries to intensify negotiations in order to conclude the current round of agricultural trade talks - but will they listen?

Low fat diet: breast cancer link 'due to chance'

Five servings of fruit and vegetables per day and a diet low in fat reduced the risk of breast cancer by nine per cent, a figure dismissed as not significant and due to 'chance'.

Mineral deficiency in food must be tackled, says expert

An innovative mineral supplement could help food makers overcome the poor nutritional value of food that is currently undermining consumer health, claims a nutrition expert.

Crunch time: how food talks to us

The crunchiness of food can be as significant as taste, look or smell in informing our perceptions of what we like, claim researchers.

WTO rules against EU in pivotal GM case

The EU and six member states broke trade rules by barring entry to GM crops and foods, according to the WTO but will the ruling change anything?

Chr Hansen expands US dairy cultures production

Chr Hansen is increasing the fermentation capacity of its US cultures plant by 35 per cent in order to tap potential growth in the probiotics market.

Tests reveal diet benefits of new potato variety

A new variety of potato has been shown to contain significantly less carbohydrate and calories than the average spud, presenting an alternative to dieters and disuading them from avoiding potatoes altogether.

DSM targets China with new flavour technology

DSM's development of a patented new flavour technology in China illustrates how increasingly important this region is becoming to European flavour firms.

Nestlé moves to dodge Middle East boycotts

Nestlé, the world's biggest food firm, has taken out adverts in Saudi Arabia to refute rumours that two of its dairy products are Danish, as unlucky Arla Foods continues to suffer from 'those cartoons'.

Aromatech taps demand for organic flavours

Aromatech, which claims to be the first French firm to supply a range of sweet and salty organic certified flavours, is set to display its range of products at BioFach 2006.

Europe 'missing out' as GM issue comes to a head

Europe is missing out on the biotech revolution in agriculture, said the president of the European Federation of Biotechnology.

EU proposes sugar quota cut to prevent serious oversupply

EU sugar quotas will have to be cut for the 2006/07 marketing year to prevent a serious oversupply, says the Commission.

Obesity study focuses on fast food proximity

Groundbreaking research in the UK will determine whether a link between obesity and the distance to the nearest fast food outlet can be made.

EU accuses US of 'twisting truth' over Doha proposals

The EU has attacked the US for 'seriously twisting the truth about the value of the European Unions agricultural market access offer in the Doha Round'.

Excessive aflatoxin levels found in UK spice

A spice powder in the UK has been discovered to contain excessive levels of aflatoxins.

Weekly Comment

Marketing the risky way

Nationality is a dangerous brand.

AquaNova applies NovaSOL to isoflavones

AquaNova has applied its solubilization technology to soy isoflavones, resulting in a fat- and water-soluble form that has been shown to greatly improve bioavailability.

European vanilla supplies strengthened

The recent authorisation of vanilla imports from Madagascar could help secure the supply of a valuable food and beverage ingredient.

Irradiation study shows improvement, says HFMA

The results from an FSA study into the occurrence of irradiated ingredients in food supplements shows that the industry is tackling the problem, argues the HFMA.

Plummeting mineral levels suggest nutritional crisis in UK

The plummeting mineral content of milk, meat and vegetables over the past 60 years will have grave consequences for the future health of the UK, according to a shocking food analysis.

Fonterra partners US dairy for whey protein research

Fonterra, New Zealand's largest dairy co-operative, has formed a research partnership with the US dairy industry, in an international approach to promoting and proving health claims for dairy products.

Parmalat to take on Bank of America

Parmalat can proceed with its legal action against Bank of America over the dairy company's financial collapse in 2003, according to a US judge.

Natraceutical targets organic pectin growth

A Spanish company has submitted a patent for the production of the world's first organic pectin through Swiss subsidiary Obipektin.

Food industry engaged in obesity battle, claims FAU

The UK's Food Advertising Unit has responded to calls for the government to intervene in the current marketing of foods high in salt, sugar and fat to children.

Terminator biotechnology could be back

Terminator biotech technology is being relaunched despite being overwhelmingly discredited, claims the UK's Food Commission.

FSA finds irradiated ingredients in samples

Some 50 per cent of food supplements tested in the UK have been found to have been irradiated or contain an irradiated ingredient.

Purac ingredient range tackles Listeria threat

Purac claims to have developed a line of ingredients that can help food makers meet new European Commission regulations on microbiological criteria.

Puleva Biotech's human milk probiotic debuts in Spain

The first consumer product containing a probiotic strain derived from human milk by Puleva Biotech has launched in Spain, and the company hopes it may find a home in other foods for infants and adults.

Middle East recovery could take years, warns Arla

Arla Foods said its future on the key Middle East dairy market was in jeopardy, after the group stopped production for the area amid a widescale boycott on Danish products by Muslim consumers.

Variety not necessarily the spice of life

Scientists suggest that we get more satisfaction from eating our favourite foods repeatedly than from having a wide variety of options.

France heading for US obesity levels says study

France is heading towards American levels of obesity, diabetes and heart disease, claims a new study.

Hygiene law help open to Irish food makers

New EU food hygiene laws have important ramifications that every food business should be aware of, says the FSAI.

FSA upbraided for misleading salt claims

The UKs advertising watchdog has ruled that the FSA was untruthful to claim that a family reduced their blood pressure after eating less salt.