Breaking News on Food & Beverage Development - EuropeUS edition | Asian edition

Study probes organic knowledge, attitudes and consumption

More information and promotional campaigns would help consumers gain experience and expertise of organic vegetables, concludes a study investigating knowledge, attitudes, and consumption.

Premium products and Asia-Pacific market drive growth for Barry Callebaut

Leading industrial chocolate supplier Barry Callebaut reported buoyant third quarter sales volume gains of 11.3 per cent, based it said upon growth in Asia-Pacific and the luxury chocolate category.

New juice drink concepts recall Grandma's garden

Wild has developed new juice concepts based around familiar fruits that grow in gardens in Europe, which taps into a trend towards comforting, nostalgic products.

FSA calls for comments on new additives legislation

The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) is calling for comments from the nation’s food industry on proposed changes to EU food additive legislation to ensure all current additive uses are included in the new lists.

News in brief

Holden to leave Soil Association for international work

Patrick Holden has announced plans to leave his position as director of the Soil Association to spend more time advocating sustainable food systems at the international level.

DD Williamson launches new caramel colour in Europe

DD Williamson is introducing a new class one acid-stable dark caramel colour and burnt sugar flavour for use in beverages with pH below 2.5.

Cargill leverages pectin-starch knowledge for bakery fillings

Cargill Texturizing Solutions has developed a new range of solutions using pectin and starch to deliver the desired texture in bakery fillings.

Omega Ingredients splits tomatoes into flavour variants

Flavour supplier Omega Ingredients has developed a new range of tomato flavours from the whole fruit, which can be used in foods and beverages geared towards the natural trend and as savoury flavour enhancers.

Tea producers urged to bolster demand at home

Tea-producing nations should up their marketing efforts at home to take advantage of domestic market potential, according to a new FAO report.

Antioxidant-rich peanut skins may boost meat shelf-life

Extracts from peanut skin that are rich in antioxidant compounds may preserved the colour of raw beef and slow its spoilage, suggests a new study.

Food prices are highest in Norway, reveal EU stats

Norway and Denmark are the most expensive countries in the European region for food and beverage products, while the least expensive is the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, according to new Eurostat data.

News in brief

Campden reviews meat fat replacement ingredients

Food consultancy Campden BRI has published a new review of ingredients that can be used to lower the fat content in meat products, such as sausages and pies.

Comment

Where next for ingredients since Cognis and National Starch?

‘Billion dollar deal’ was not a phrase bandied about the food ingredients industry much last year. With BASF buying Cognis for €3.1bn and Corn Products International paying $1.3bn for National Starch, M&A looks to be thawing – but best not get over-excited just yet.

Sesame proteins point to reduced milk cheese: Study

The milk protein content of soft cheese may be reduced using sesame proteins, and tap into local tastes in China's booming dairy segment, suggests a new study from China and the US.

News in brief

New president elected for Italian industry association

The Italian food industry association Federalimentare has elected Filippo Ferria as its next president for 2011-2014.

No risk posed from magnolia bark extract in gum and mints, says ACNFP

Magnolia bark extract could be used in chewing gum and mint confectionery and is unlikely to pose any risk to consumers at the use level specified by the manufacturer, according to the draft opinion of the UK Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP).

Seaweed extracts could offer edible flavor films

French scientists continue to expand the potential of carrageenan films to encapsulate and control the release of flavors, with new data showing superiority over established options.

CSM seeks slice of specialty bread market with ancient grains

CSM is introducing a new mix of ancient cereals spelt, emmer and einkorn, in a bid to tap opportunities in the specialty bread segment.

News in brief

Competitiveness dominated 2009 for EU food firms

Most of the food and beverage sectors’ efforts were focused on raising awareness of competitive challenges and boosting visibility of activities, says the CIAA in its review of the year.

EFSA publishes data guidance for flavour approvals

The European Food Safety Authority has published its final guidance for data required to assess new food flavourings, and is looking to build on experience gained during evaluations to establish a positive list.

Satiety and oral health demands drive Asia-Pacific confectionery market

Chocolate that suppresses appetite and delivers oral health benefits has been highlighted in a new survey of confectionery product launches in the Asia-Pacific region conducted by Datamonitor’s Product Launch Analytics.

Eurogerm targets Asian bakery sector with partnership

French bakery ingredients firm Eurogerm is chasing the high potential Asian market, and has entered an agreement with Japanese flour miller Nisshin Seifun to target it effectively – including a 15 per cent share sale.

Honey extract may slow apple juice spoilage

An extract from honey may prevent undesirable browning of apple juice and help the beverage stay on shelves longer, suggests new research from Mexico.

FAO calls for ‘limited’ regulation of food futures markets

Some regulation of commodities futures markets could be beneficial – but should stop short of tight limits or an outright ban, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said in a new policy brief.

Magnetic train technology used to measure fat content

Scientists at Harvard University have applied magnetic levitation, which is best known for enabling high-speed trains to float above tracks, to the task of measuring fat content in food.

Pectin-protein combo may extend ingredient microencapsulation

A combination of pectin and fibrils of ovalbumin may offer interesting and innovative encapsulation materials for formulators as protection for sensitive ingredients like flavours, says a new study.

News in brief

ProteoNic wins F&S award for food enzyme advances

Frost & Sullivan's 2010 European Food Enzymes Technology Innovation Award has gone to Netherlands-based ProteoNic for its contribution to cost and energy reductions in food enzyme manufacturing.

Belgian food industry seeks government partnerships

The Belgian food industry is looking to forge a lasting partnership between the authorities and the private sector in the wake of the country’s elections, helping to create a stable framework that would give sufficient guarantees for long term investment.

Move into human nutrition feeds BASF’s €3.1bn Cognis buyout

BASF’s €3.1bn buy-out of Cognis is driven by interest in all of the German company’s three divisions – personal care, household chemical and human nutrition – but although human nutrition is the smallest part of the acquired operation, it was vital to the deal’s success.

New ‘propionic’ cultures to boost Alpine cheese flavour

Chr. Hansen has developed new ‘propionic’ cultures to support flavour development and eye formation in Alpine cheeses.

Neotame proposed as 'bitter blocker' for functional foods

Recently approved under the EU sweeteners directive, neotame could be used to mask the strong taste of vitamins and minerals in functional foods - as well as more traditional uses in sweet foods, according to its European distributor.

Danisco streamlines ingredients supply function

Danisco is forming a new logistics unit to underlie its three food ingredients divisions covering emulsions, cultures and sweeteners, in a bid to bring greater efficiency in its dealings with customers.

News in brief

World Emulsions Congress returns to Lyon

The 2010 congress dedicated to emulsions and all their industrial uses – in food and agriculture, personal care, and construction – will take place in Lyon, France, from 12 to 14 October.

Fruit pulp replacer launched for mango juice drinks

National Starch has launched a fruit pulp replacer in Europe that aims to bring down the cost of making mango juice drinks without upsetting flavour or texture.

Food industry baffled by NICE salt guidance

An assertion in new guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) that firms making progressive reductions in salt can simply carry on indefinitely without any technical or commercial consequences has baffled industry experts.

Why Corn Products is moving into Europe

The planned acquisition of National Starch will launch Corn Products into Europe, and give it more leverage when dealing with five or six major food manufacturers that aim to cater to global tastes.

Danisco positive on FY despite sweetener struggles

Danisco achieved 6 per cent in revenue for its full year 2009/10 and strong profit growth; all divisions with the exception of sweeteners contributed to its margin expansion.

Comment

Europe must keep cool over country of origin labelling

Always read the small print. Good advice and nowhere more so than in food labelling with today’s increasingly savvy consumers demanding to know what’s in their food, where it came from and what it’s going to do to them.

Combination ingredients to link stabilizers and health

Ulrick & Short, which has made its name in the ingredient world as a clean label manufacturer, is planning to differentiate its ingredient range by creating combination products that can also deliver health benefits.

Resistant starch may replace wheat flour for biscuits

Substituting wheat flour for resistant starch may be an easy way for formulators to boost the health profile of a product without affecting taste or acceptance, says a new study from Spain.

News in brief

European Commission investigates sunflower seed deal

Syngenta’s plan to acquire Monsanto’s sunflower seed business is to come under in depth scrutiny by European competition authorities due to competitive concerns over breeding and commercialisation of seeds and treatment products.

Corn Products buys National Starch for $1.3bn

National Starch is to be sold to US-based Corn Products International for US$1.3bn, current owner Akzo Nobel has confirmed. The news ends over two years of speculation over the business’ future and propels CPI into the European market.

Xanthan–guar gum blend may boost gluten-free rice cake quality

Both xanthan and xanthan–guar gum blend incorporated into rice cake production can help manufacturers overcome some of the structural challenges involved in gluten free bakery, claims a new study.

Special edition: Natural and clean label

Consumers' views on natural and clean label terminology

‘No-additives’, and ‘no-preservatives’ are the most popular clean label claims with consumers, while ‘natural’ struggles because of over-use and lack of definition, according to research.

Spanish researchers point to method for healthy cocoa butter alternatives

Healthy hydrogenated trans-free and short chained fatty acid-free solid alternatives to cocoa butter for chocolate production can be produced from sunflower oils enriched in stearic and oleic acids by means of a solvent fractionation method, claims a new study from Spain.

EU organic sector reviews new regulations

The European organic sector is today meeting in Rome to review the benefits and drawbacks of new organic regulations a year and a half after their implementation.

Apple polyphenols may ease food allergy: Nestlé study

An extract from apples rich in polyphenols may reduce or prevent an allergic response to food allergens, suggest findings from a mouse study by Nestlé scientists.

Confectioners give cautious backing to EU labelling vote

Representatives of Europe wide confectionery, biscuit and chocolate makers have given a cautious backing to the much-anticipated EU parliament vote on amendments to the proposed food information regulation, which has come out in favour of industry supported GDAs.

What ‘natural’ means in food regulations

‘Natural’ has become a word consumers like to see on food product packages, while ‘clean label’ is an industry term to describe an E-number-free ingredients list. But exact definitions depend on who you are talking to, and what additive you are taking about.

News in brief

Kellogg’s eyes up snack firms in Russia and beyond

Kellogg’s management has revealed its future acquisition strategy is to pursue international snack firms and increase its presence in Russia, Turkey and China and surrounding regions.

New soy protein concentrates rival whole bean extract

Solae is introducing new soy protein concentrates made using a patented membrane technology, which can replace or complement dairy proteins and are said to deliver good taste, functionality and nutritional value.

CASH blasts food industry on salt levels (again)

The food industry has been blasted by lobby group CASH (Consensus Action on Salt & Health) for the fifth time this year, this time for adding dangerously high levels of salt to barbecue foods.

Special edition: Natural and clean label

Recent developments in clean label science

In the latest part of our focus on clean labels and natural ingredients, FoodNavigator look at some of the scientific developments that have caught our eye in the growing area of clean label products.

MEPs plump for GDAs over traffic lights

The much-anticipated EU parliament vote on amendments to the proposed food information regulation came down on the side of the industry’s own GDAs – to the chagrin of health groups believe traffic lights are more accessible.

Fats facility opens up major supply of healthier oils

IOI-Loders Croklaan claims to be ushering in a new era of healthier oils and fats with the opening of its new plant, which uses enzymatic technology to interesterify oils and hone their properties in food products.

CSM launches time saving cake frostings

Bakery ingredients supplier CSM UK has announced the launch of its range of frostings designed to help bakers save time.

Nutrient profiles reinstated in EU Parliament vote – just

Members of the European Parliament have voted to put back clauses on nutrient profiling into the proposed food information regulation, after Environment Committee members voted to take them out – but it was a close call.

News in brief

Innovation award for DSM’s cheese enzyme

Ingredients firm DSM Food Specialties has been awarded the 2010 Ringier Technology Prize for its cheese enzyme solution, delvozyme.

News in brief

Nestlé further expands its Russian presence

Nestlé has said it intends to build a new CHF60m (€43.15m) factory in Russia to produce a range of food products under its Maggi brand.

Bakery flakes could boost health and shelf-life profile of baked goods

New flake ingredients, based on an ancient variety of barley, can extend the shelf life of multi-grain breads, rolls and bagels by a least 20 per cent, claims Kampffemeyer Food Innovation.

Last minute industry lobbying before labelling vote

The industry has made some final lobbying calls before the vote at lunchtime today

German consumers relate to energy scale on food packs

A German health consultancy is proposing a simple new scale for displaying nutritional information on foods which it says performs well on consumer understanding in comparison with GDAs.

Special edition: Natural and clean label

Mintel: Natural and clean-label trend still driving NPD

While shoppers’ enthusiasm for low-fat, low-sugar or low-calorie claims (‘minus’ claims) or added functional ingredients claims (‘plus’ claims) has waned; their interest in natural claims has continued to grow, according to Mintel.

Packed lunches should meet school meal standards, says BNF

Policy makers in the UK should consider setting nutritional guidelines for children’s packed lunches that would bring them into line with national school meal standards, according to the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF).

Cracking open the nutritional potential of peas

Small, round, and familiar. Peas might not seem terribly exciting to the consumer's eye, but Roquette thinks otherwise. It has a cross-departmental team investigating new ingredients from peas that can bring functional and nutritional benefits.

Wheat, oils and dairy prices to stay up 40% for next decade, FAO

The FAO is cautiously optimistic about the prospects of food commodities in the wake of economic upheaval in the past two years, but average prices for wheat and grains, vegetable oils and dairy are likely to be higher over the next decade.

News in brief

Sydney symposium tackles sat and trans fats

A one-day event in Sydney, Australia, this week will bring together the country’s experts in fats, in a bid to clarify the state of the science and combat sensationalism.

Special edition: Natural and clean label

Developments in clean label ingredients

With food manufacturers and retailers striving to strip down food ingredient labels to a bare minimum, FoodNavigator.com takes a look at how ingredient firms have stepped up their game to help meet the growing demand for clean label products.

Don’t delete nutrient profiling, say health groups

Health and consumer groups are lobbying against the deletion of nutrient profiling in from the proposed regulation on food information ahead of tomorrow’s Parliament vote over fears that consumers could be misled.

Spices in ‘moderate’ doses don’t help weight loss, finds study

Hot spices like chilli peppers, horseradish, ginger, mustard and wasabi were not found to have any satiety benefits when consumed in amounts consistent with a western diet, according to a new study.

Comment

World Cup is an own goal for food culture

Sorry guys, the World Cup is not all about football. It’s about food too, and this year’s tournament should kick off a whole new debate about our sporting food culture.

Italian industry opposes national provisions of food labelling

The Italian food industry federation Federalimentare is lobbying for the deletion of chapter VI of the draft food information regulation, on the grounds that it will harm competitiveness and confuse consumers.

Exclusive interview

Food industry needs to be pre-emptive to boost image: IFST chief

The food industry must move from the back foot to the front in order to pre-empt future potential scandals and maintain consumer confidence in food, says the IFST’s new chief executive.

Buhler buys flour improvement business in China

The Buhler Technology Group has acquired a Chinese specialist in flour improvement products to extend the range of services it offers clients in the country.

No change in food policy after Belgian elections, says Fevia

Food policy in Belgium is unlikely to be impacted by a shifting political focus, says the country’s food industry association after yesterday’s elections.

News in brief

Dairy Crest slashes stake in Wexford Creamery

Dairy Crest has sold the bulk of its stake in Irish milk, cheese and cream maker Wexford Creamery to help pay off debts and reduce its exposure to “volatile commodity markets”.

Coca-Cola: consumers and regulators are out of sync on 'natural' claims

Regulatory definitions of 'natural' are not in line with consumer understanding of the term, a discrepancy that is causing big headaches for the food and drink industry, according to one senior executive at Coca-Cola.

Centralised food safety agency for Bulgaria

The Bulgarian government has announced plans to establish a food quality control body, according to the country’s national press.

Roundtable signs off responsible soy standards

New voluntary standards for the responsible production of soy have been agreed by the industry roundtable, and the first certified material from South America is expected to be in the market in 2011.

EFSA calls for fresh data on cloned animals

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is appealing for new data on the health and welfare of cloned farm animals as the debate on their regulatory status continues.

News in brief

BfR objects to nanosilver use in consumer goods

The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) has strongly recommended that nanosilver not be used in consumer goods, including foods as well as cosmetics and textiles.

Soy growth boosted by societal change towards sustainability

Food companies and consumers have moved from talking about sustainability to taking action in the last 18 months, says Solae – and the societal change that is taking place will help propel more growth in the soy sector.

Arla develops milk protein for Phenylketonuria sufferers

Arla Foods Ingredients has developed a milk protein to be used in foods for people suffering from the genetic disorder phenylketonuria (PKU).

News in brief

€3bn BASF-Cognis deal could come next week

A deal for chemicals giant BASF to buy ingredients firm Cognis could be announced next week and carry a €3bn price tag, according to Reuters.

Commission planning food chain effectiveness forum this month

The European Commission is planning to set up a new forum on the effectiveness of the European food chain by the end of this month, industry Commissioner Antonio Trajani said yesterday, as part of efforts to improve the agri-food industry’s competitiveness.

Symrise and partner to increase L-menthol production

Symrise is planning a major increase in its capacity of synthetic menthol as demand from confectionery and oral care sectors is surging, especially in emerging markets.

Gum Arabic beats modified starches for beverage stability

Gum Arabic is still the best option for stabilising beverage emulsions, when compared with modified starches, according to a comprehensive new study.

Drink aroma created from latest fermentation development

Netherlands-based biotechnology company Isobionics has developed a fermentation process for the commercial production of its aroma substance, Valencene Pure.

New white wheat concentrate claimed to bring taste and colour benefits

A new white wheat concentrate brings brings taste and colour benefits, claims its producer, Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients (LCI), part of Groupe Limagrain, the EU’s largest seed breeder.

European salt industry sets out five-year vision

Effective communication with consumers about salt consumption to encourage healthy eating and sustainable production lie at the heart of the European Salt Producer’s Association’s (ESA) wish list for the next five years.

Dairy foods linked to lower heart attack risk

Swedish scientists have uncovered evidence suggesting that eating dairy foods could actually lower heart attack risk.

News in brief

Danisco awards student grant for dairy research

Danisco has offered a Food Science MSc student a study grant to pursue research which could help reduce waste and cut costs in the manufacturing of fermented dairy products.

News in brief

Jim May recognised for a life in stevia

Long time stevia patron Jim May has been awarded a lifetime achievement award for his contribution to the burgeoning industry at the Stevia World Europe conference in Geneva.

Benelux ingredients firms combine for EU growth

Two Benelux-based food ingredients groups, Sfinc and Jadico, have joined forces in pursuit of Europe-wide external growth.

National Starch extends native starch range for low to moderate process tolerant systems

National Starch has developed a new native starch for use in products where processing rigours are low to moderate, and with a clean taste profile that makes it suitable for neutral sauces and soups.

News in brief

Swiss food group Aryzta buys US bakeries

Swiss food group Aryzta announced today that it has bought two US bakery companies in separate deals worth a combined $1.08bn as a trading statement for the the nine months to the end of April show its sales in the period were down almost nine per cent.

Commission publishes acrylamide monitoring recommendations

The European Commission has published precise recommendations for the monitoring of acrylamide levels in food products, as the reduction of levels is patchy across categories.

Healthy cereals fuelling Asia Pacific baked goods sector growth

Demand for healthy low-fat breakfast cereals with more fibre or fortification with vitamins/minerals and claims pertaining to weight management, are some of the factors stimulating growth in the bakery and cereals market in Asia-Pacific, claims a new report from Datamonitor.

New garlic range includes 'unique' sterilised pouch garlic

The UK-based global supplier of poultry, red meat and food ingredients, Rectory Foods has launched a new range of premium frozen and dehydrated garlic together with what it describes as an “innovative,” sterilised pouch pack garlic product.

Real Good Food expands to exploit bakery niche

A leading UK bakery, sugar and ingredients company is set to open a new factory this month to develop a larger range of artisan bakery goods which were identified as the source of strong first half performances in 2010.

NIZO heads to Cambridge to engineer foods for battling the bulge

Scientists at Dutch food research organisation NIZO are teaming up with the University of Cambridge as they embark on the first leg of an EU project exploring overeating.

Rice malt shows potential for gluten-free beer

Malted rice could offer formulators a new weapon in their gluten-free arsenal after tests showed the potential to product the ingredient at the pilot scale, Italian researchers report.

Third of European children are obese, warns report

More than one third of European children are obese or overweight, according to the latest report from research organisation Datamonitor.

New studies fail to challenge opinion on ochratoxin A, says EFSA

New research does not contradict or change the conclusions drawn in the European Food Safety Authority’s opinion on ochratoxin A (OTA) in foods such as cocoa products and liquorice, claims the Parma-based agency.

Analyst: Tate & Lyle "unlikely" to buy National Starch

The acquisition of National Starch appears to be off the agenda at Tate & Lyle, with the firm now "set to fall into enemy hands", according to analysts at Investec Securities.

Non-dairy calcium also linked to prostate cancer, say researchers

Consumption of calcium from non-dairy sources could increase the risk of developing prostate cancer, according to the results of a study conducted among Chinese men.

Kiwifruit pectin show health and wellness potential

Pectin extracted from kiwifruit may boost the levels of beneficial bacteria in the gut and may also be used to microencapsulate probiotics for the health and wellness segment, suggests new research.

Don’t ignore indulgence in yoghurts, says Mintel

The magic combination of health and indulgence continues to drive the market for yoghurts and chilled desserts, according to a new review by Mintel.

Cereal prices falling, now meat and dairy cause FAO concern

Global food prices have fallen this year to date as higher cereal production following 2008 spikes kick into the market place, but non-cereals are keeping them way above 2002-4 levels and there may still be trouble ahead.

Scientists dismiss MSG-headache link

Consuming glutamate or the flavour enhancer MSG from food does not produce headaches, finds a new review that supports the safety and tolerability of an ingredient increasing in use.

Radical new twist in Ajinomoto vs Asda 'nasty' battle

The legal dispute between Ajinomoto and Asda over the right to call aspartame 'nasty' has taken a radical new turn following a Court of Appeal judgment effectively overturning last year's High Court ruling.

News in brief

Volac rebrands whey protein for sports drinks

Volac is rebranding its heat stable whey protein as ‘Volactive Hydrapro’, aimed at sports nutrition, to emphasise the benefits of hydration combined with protein.

Doctors call for EU-wide approach to obesity

Medical professionals from Britain and Ireland this week met with EU Parliament representatives to push for a Europe-wide approach to tackling obesity.

Chr Hansen makes IPO today

Chr Hansen is making its initial public offering on the NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen today; with shares priced at DKK90, net proceeds of DKK3152m are anticipated.

Denmark repeals national dairy flavouring rules

Denmark has repealed its national law requiring flavourings for dairy products to go through a risk assessment and approval process, as the EU positive list is finalised and harmonisation is on the cards across Europe.

Natural trumps health claims in adult soft drinks NPDs, analyst

Health and wellness positioning based on growing consumer awareness of inherent properties such as antioxidants along with provenance is proving a market driver in the adult soft drinks sector as it navigates the challenges posed by EU health claims regulation, claims a Mintel analyst.

Special Edition: Nanotechnology

Nano risk assessment a work in progress

The risk assessment framework for nanotechnology in Europe – like so much else connected to the technology – appears to be in its infancy but developing at a rapid pace.

News in brief

BASF’s Cognis takeover agreed ‘in principle’

The proposed acquisition of Cognis by BASF is reported to be entering its end game with a deal ‘agreed in principle’, according to reports.

Bunge rapeseed oil customers face extended disruption

Bunge may increase the capacity of its rapeseed oil plant in Germany as it rebuilds after a fire in its preparation building, but production will be halted for 15 to 18 months in the meantime.

Common protein could boost gluten-free rice bread: Study

The volume and texture of rice bread may be enhanced by simply adding glutathione, a protein and safe food additive, and offer better gluten-free products to a growing market, says new research.

BASF to start supplying mint flavour L-Menthol

BASF is constructing what it calls the world’s largest plant for the mint aroma L-Menthol, which it will start to supply as a flavouring agent to the global food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical markets.

Special Edition: Nanotechnology

Food sector and R&D need to chew the nano fat for wider take-up: analyst

The benefits for nano-packaging, showing how it can overcome current food and drink industry challenges in terms of shelf life, distribution or sustainability, need to become more apparent in order to ensure widespread commercial implementation, says an industry insider.

Climate deal puts brakes on Indonesian palm oil plan

Indonesian palm oil producers will need to increase productivity to meet output targets following signature of a climate deal with Norway that would curb expansion of oil palm estates.

Stevia tops preferences for low-cal chocolate

Beverages formulated with stevia are preferred by consumers over similar products sweetened with sugar or other common high intensity sweeteners, says new research from Croatia.

News in brief

Concern over salt in Australian meats

New data on salt in processed meats in Australia indicate that the majority of products on the market have higher than acceptable levels.

Wild taps sea salt for clean label sodium-reducer

Wild is rolling out a new tool for reducing sodium content in foods without impacting taste, which combines natural sea salt with its flavour modification technology.