All news articles for October 2008

PAVA’s future starch sales negotiations to minimise financial risk

Russian grain processor PAVA says it is already in negotiations with major firms to supply products from its new grain fractionation plant, due to be up and running by 2010.

CIAA keeps up pressure over labelling free-market fears

The issues of font size and co-existence of European and national front-of-pack nutrition schemes are still vital topics for discussions on the new labelling regulation, says the CIAA in advance of the rapporteur’s report.

Flatulence-free soybeans pass the prototype test

Germinating black soybeans under stress from a fungus may give food formulators soy with less flatulence-causing carbohydrates, says new research from Singapore.

Falling vegetable oil prices to improve AAK cash flow

Specialty fats firm AAK has said that the falling price of vegetable oils will help keep its financial situation in good health – especially useful when acquisitions and organic growth in food ingredients are on the horizon.

Defra traces UK food price story for 2008

Defra has published its annual Food Statistics Pocketbook, which traces the precise direction of food prices in the UK over the last 12 months and gives insight into the tough implications for low income households.

News in brief

ADM completes purchase of rapeseed plant

Archer Daniels Midland has received antitrust approval to acquire Campa’s rapeseed crushing plant in Sraubing, Southern Germany, a plan originally announced in August.

News in brief

Choices appoints ex-Commissioner as chair

The organisation behind the Choices nutrition logo has appointed former EC Commissioner Pavel Telička as its independent chairman.

Ajinomoto confirms aspartame price increase for Europe

Ajinomoto Europe has announced a 15 per cent price increase for aspartame produced at its plant in Gravelines, France, just weeks after the US business made a similar announcement.

Red meat may help toxins stick in the body: Study

A molecule present in red meat may increase a human’s susceptibility to food poisoning, suggests a new study in the journal Nature.

DP Supply invests in fat powder and creamer capacity

DP Supply is radically increasing its capacity for producing spray dried fat powders and vegetable-based creamers with the purchase of Nordmich’s plant in Beesten, Germany.

BASF helps retailer with sustainable fruit and veg standards

BASF Crop Protection is developing a new set of criteria and standards for sustainable fruit and veg production for supermarket chain Rewe, which are intended to give sustainability assurances throughout the food chain, right through to consumers.

British Sugar certifies carbon footprint with new method

The UK’s British Sugar has become the first sugar company to use a new method to certify the carbon footprint of its granulated sugar.

Cocoa supply chain and sustainability headline African symposium

With sustainability a buzz word for today's confectionery makers, a symposium that kicked off in Ghana today will attempt to get to grips with current issues impacting sustainability in Africa's cocoa supply chain.

DG Sanco debates consumer reception of new technologies

A conference taking place in Brussels is examining how best to deal with emerging technologies like cloning and nanotechnology, and to ensure that consumer confidence is addressed.

How chefs set standards for new food flavours

IFF's master chef talks through the process of establishing gold standards that new flavours aim to meet - from selection of the finest materials, to collaboration with the technical team.

New yeast strain could biofortify bakery with folate: study

Carefully selecting the yeast strain for bakery could result in natural biofortication of the product with folate, and remove the need to add synthetic folic acid, suggests a new study.

Food allergy programme a success, says FSA

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) says that its Food Allergy and Intolerance Research Programme has directly influenced FSA policy concerning allergies, which has in turn informed manufacturers.

News in brief

ADM makes cocoa management appointments

ADM Cocoa International has appointed Benoît Villers as its new director of chocolate, and Steven Laning as innovation and marketing director.

Indian food show reports record visitors

This month’s Food Ingredients India 2008 trade show in Mumbai received more than 3200 visitors over two days – 106 per cent more than last year, say the organisers.

Purac takes lactic acid message direct to consumers

Purac has launched an effort to assure consumers that lactic acid is a safe and natural ingredient, and dispel misconceptions about its origins and association with muscle stiffness.

Price-fixing in the food industry

Competition authorities are sniffing about the food industry for evidence of price-fixing activities. A partner at law firm Eversheds explains how cartels come about, and why food may be a fertile breeding ground.

Raw broccoli best for anti-cancer potential: study

Consuming cooked or processed broccoli may result in less of the potential anti-cancer compounds being available for absorption, suggests a new study from TNO Quality of Life.

Whey-protein could give reduced fat deep-fried foods: study

Whey protein isolates may reduce the fat content of deep-fried foods without affecting the hardness or crunchiness of the finished food, says new research.

Symrise optimistic in face of financial crisis

German flavour and fragrance manufacturer Symrise remains confident of seeing growth for the remainder of this year and next, despite the financial downturn which is gripping the world markets.

Weekly comment

The hour of stevia is nigh

The course of true love never did run smooth. The same could be said of stevia’s road to regulatory approval as a food ingredient. One final concerted effort is needed to ensure approval of this hot ingredient.

New icing stabilisers provide better melting and spreadability

Cargill has developed two new stabiliser ranges, including one for use in remotely prepared icings, which it claims simulate the easy-application properties of direct use icings.

Drink your way to five-a-day

Drinking vegetable juice is an effective and acceptable way to increase an individual’s vegetable intake, according to new research from the US.

Industry won’t ignore health for cheap food, says FDF

The food industry will keep up momentum on healthier products, despite economic gloom and consumer focus on price, says the head of the Food & Drink Federation.

News in brief

ISO launches new spaghetti standard

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has launched a new standard to determine a minimum cooking time for durum wheat pasta, using sensory analysis.

ETP reaches for the future – quickly and efficiently, says chairman

The next phase of the European Technology Platform (ETP) Food for Life is now underway to identify specific research needs and funding sources, its chairman said following the launch of the implementation action plan last week.

Enzymes enable greener value-added products, review claims

Enzyme technology can be a more economical and environmentally friendly way of converting low value agricultural produce and transgenic plants into high-value industrial products like health foods and sweeteners, says a new review.

Adapting to price volatility

Cargill Texturizing Solutions explains how the food industry must adapt to ongoing raw material price volatility, and what consolidation amongst manufacturers means for their suppliers.

Price tumble for cocoa aids confectioners

Prices for cocoa continue to tumble compounded by the global financial crisis, offering further relief in costs for confectioners.

Kids want to eat healthily, says survey

Children and teenagers in the UK are becoming increasingly conscious of the importance of healthy eating, according to data from TGI Youth.

Grim Christmas prediction shows need for cheap treats

UK shoppers are expected to spend money on Christmas food, treats and presents but buy less due to high food inflation – a message that reinforces the need for product innovation in a tough economic environment.

Stevia potential bigger than we thought, PureCircle

PureCircle is reviewing its operational strategy and development plans, as high purity Reb-A, derived from stevia, is attracting attention as a potential complement to sugar as well as a replacement for existing high intensity sweeteners (HIS).

Melton Mowbray pork pies win EU protection

After a ten-year struggle, Melton Mowbray pork pies have secured Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status to become the first cooked recipe-based product in the UK to receive the protection.

Natural compounds can boost pasta shelf life: Study

Natural antimicrobial compounds could be used to improve the microbiological stability of amaranth pasta, suggests an Italian study to be published in a forthcoming issue of Food Microbiology.

Dispatches from SIAL

Confectionery ideas flourish at food design event

Continuing our focus on innovative product ideas showcased at this year's SIAL event in Paris, we present a round-up of new food designs yet to hit the market.

Banana under-used in prepared foods, say researchers

Bananas are not being as exploited as much as they could be in prepared food, according to researchers, and research could stimulate greater interest from industry in a fruit that has long-standing popularity with consumers.

BakeMark launches butter-margarine baking blends on UK market

BakeMark UK has launched a range of baking fats containing a mix of butter and margarine designed specifically for use in cakes and pastries.

ADM makes cocoa liquors in Asia, for Asia

ADM has launched a new range of cocoa liquors for Asian chocolate-makers, which is said to leverage the characteristics of specific cocoa beans – including fine Papua New Guinean beans.

Health claim embarrassment for Nestle, GSK, over wrong ads

The UK’s Advertising Standards Agency has upheld complaints against two ‘misleading and inaccurate’ adverts for Nestle’s Maggi Noodles and GlaxoSmithKline’s Horlicks which made unsubstantiated health claims.

News in brief

Weight gain linked to eating fast

A new study published in the British Medical Journal has observed a link between eating meals quickly and putting on weight.

News in brief

Groups launch campaign for better nursery food

A Soil Association and Organix report says a loophole that allows for UK nurseries to serve up poor quality and nutritionally void food to under-2s that is banned in establishments for older kids.

Acrylamide not linked to GI cancer risk: Study

Dietary intakes of acrylamide are not related to cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, says a new study from The Netherlands.

Dispatches from SIAL

Gourmet Pidy edible spoon targets baking sophistication

Surviving, and thriving, in a pressing economic climate will dominate the modus operandi for bakers and pastry makers active in today's, and tomorrow's, market and innovative concepts that can ramp up underlying growth are essential, such as the award-winning edible spoons from Belgian firm Gourmet Pidy.

Russian regions present new possibilities for food firms

The high potential of the Russian market is no longer centered solely on Moscow and St Petersburg, according to National Starch Food Innovation, but prosperity in the regions is opening up broader opportunities.

Cadbury’s Olympic game draws criticism from campaigners

The announcement that Cadbury is to be a sponsor of the 2012 London Olympic Games has re-opened rifts over the role that food companies that market less-healthy foods should play in sporting events.

Dispatches from SIAL

PCB Creation plugs firmly into chocolate design innovation

When the going gets tough, the tough innovate. So is the message underpinning this year's food trade exhibition SIAL, with swathes of new product designs potentially injecting innovative ideas into the portfolio of confectionery firms operating in today's testing economic climate.

EFSA draft opinion flags need for more nanotech research

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has issued a draft opinion that there are broad uncertainties over the safe use of nanotechnology for foodstuffs, and more research is recommended.

Dispatches from SIAL

Innovation in food products essential to weather economic storm

Food makers confronted by today's challenging economic times must continue to invest hard in innovation to beat the downturn. This year's SIAL, which opened yesterday in Paris, is a showcase of new ideas that could help to boost margins and weather the economic storm.

Eco factors top of the list for French and Spanish consumers: survey

Environmental concerns have a huge influence on the food shopping habits of Spanish and French consumers, a new survey has found.

Weekly comment

Banks’ rescue package points the way for food crisis remedies

Question: When is a crisis not a crisis? Answer: When it’s a food crisis. Compare the two responses to failures in the food system and financial markets.

European Union to reintroduce grain import duties

The EU has announced plans to reintroduce import duties on cereals in order to safeguard European farmers from plummeting grain prices.

Maltesers “less than 11 calories” ad misleading, says watchdog

Raising the benchmark for the confectionery sector regarding nutrition claims, a UK watchdog has concluded a Maltesers advert from confectionery giant Mars misled the public by implying they were a low calorie snack.

Symrise moves on authenticity, bringing new trends on board

Symrise is putting strategic emphasis on restaurant-driven trends and home-cooked flavours, and is working on its meat, fish and vegetable flavour offerings to make them more authentic.

News in brief

Suiker Unie to sell sugar factory site

Suiker Unie is at an advanced stage of negotiating the sale of the site of its sugar factory in Puttershoek to investor and developer DHVG. Suiker Unie is no longer using the factory.

Friesland Kievit launches creamers with low saturated fat

Friesland Foods Kievit is launching a new range of savoury creamers based on non-hydrogenated fat (HVO), its first to contain up to 80 per cent less saturated fatty acids than other creamers.

Study backs PGMS for ice cream formulations

The ability of propylene glycol monostearate (PGMS) to prevent ice recrystallisation in ice creams is “quite dramatic”, says new research from Canada.

World Food Day

Rescue efforts for food 'should parallel bank bail-out'

The scale of the global food crisis merits the same swift fund-raising as the banking crisis, says Egypt’s first lady, as it emerges that just ten per cent of the help pledged this year has materialised so far.

News in brief

Euro green paper turns spotlight on quality

The European Commission has adopted a green paper that looks at standards, quality and certification schemes, with a view to using quality as a ‘weapon’ against competing products from outside the bloc.

News in brief

Banana cartel fined €60.3m

The European Commission has slapped fines totaling €60.3m on banana importers Dole and Weichert, the latter including the Del Monte brand, for price fixing between 2000 and 2002.

Symrise invests to understand Russian tastes

Flavour firm Symrise has added new development labs and a sensory and consumer research centre to its site in Moscow, as it aims to increase understanding of Russian tastes.

Low cost, high purity fish protein isolate hits global market

Advances with membrane technology means lower price protein from fish are available to food manufacturers globally, with potential to not only replace whey proteins in some applications, but offer a base protein ingredient.

New system to save energy in baking process

MIWE has developed a heat recovery system which could provide bakers with significant energy savings by converting up to 25 per cent of energy used in baking back into hot water.

World Food Day

Spotlight on climate change’s effect on food security, safety

The message blasting out from World Food Day events is ‘adapt now, or the consequences will be grave’. While the world’s poorest will bear the brunt, food safety could be affected everywhere.

Taking starch into the future

Cargill gives an insight into evolution of the starch market, and trends that are driving the development of new technologies.

European shoppers do not steer clear of GM labels, says study

European consumers do buy GM foods when they are available in supermarkets, an EU survey has concluded – despite shoppers’ protestations that they would avoid products bearing a GM label.

Commission tightens rules on Chinese products further

The European Commission has adopted a new decision to prohibit the import of all composite infant formula products containing milk and milk from China, and to require testing of all other Chinese milk-containing products.

Rousselot to increase prices for gelatins and hydrolysed collagens

European gelatin company Rousselot has announced that it is increasing prices for all its gelatin and hydrolysed collagen products.

Europe looking beyond recycling in drink sustainability push

As groups like Coca-Cola push ahead with new consumer-targeted recycling schemes in the US, their European counterparts claim to favour a different approach to help ensure environmental sustainability.

Solae, Novozymes soluble soy protein gets closer to market

Solae and Novozymes are expecting the publication of some patents related to the joint development of new soluble protein isolates, brining the products one step closer to commercialization.

Hochdorf takes lupin ingredient into new food types

Hochdorf Nutrifood is extending the application possibilities for its lupin seed-derived ingredient, introducing it as a fat replacer for meat and bakery products as well as a milk and lactose alternative in confectionery.

Open innovation: Food industry needs better strategies, says review

The food industry should embrace the possibilities offered by open innovation if they are to succeed in an increasingly competitive market place, says a new review.

Milk farmer concerns persist over processor payouts

As a leading UK Dairy Processor prepares to increase payouts for their milk supplies from next month, the issue of sustainable pricing for supplies looks far from resolved.

Children less exposed to junk food advertising on TV, says DoH

The UK Department of Health (DoH) says that measures taken to combat the promotion of junk food to children seem to be taking effect – at least in terms of television advertising.

News in brief

Supermarkets, manufacturers told to pay on time

UK environment secretary Hilary Benn has warned that just one late payment can make the difference between survival and going out of business for a small supplier, according to The Guardian.

News in brief

CSM completes gluconates plant sale

CSM has sold its gluconates plant in Ter Apelkanaal to Avebe, as part of its manufacturing restructuring. The sale agreement was announced in July, and all 68 employees have transferred to the new owner. The value of the sale is not disclosed.

Melamine crisis makes manufacturers extra-cautious over safety

The fall-out from the melamine crisis in China is prompting manufacturers to be super careful about sourcing safe ingredients, say industry sources – not just dairy and not just those coming from China.

Study expands additives' effects on gelling properties

Food additives in alginate-based gel will affect the characteristics of the resulting gel, with new information from the US sure to help food scientists optimise formulations.

Testing could reveal ‘perfect egg’ for bakery

Researchers at Campden BRI have devised a way to measure eggs’ performance during cooking which they say could lead to the discovery of the perfect egg for use in bakery products.

Weekly comment

Waking up to smell the caffeine

Before reading this you’re probably going to need a coffee, in fact why not have a few? After all who’s to say when enough is enough in our hunt for a caffeine kick.

FSA to change advice following sustainability commitment

The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) has formalised a commitment to bring its decision-making process more in line with the government’s policy on sustainable development, meaning it will have to reconsider some of its advice.

Wide scepticism of industry interest in cloned food, Commission survey

A new Eurobarometer survey that has revealed consumers’ views on animal cloning for food production to be overwhelmingly negative will be used by the Commission in its analysis of whether action is required on the subject, and if so, what kind.

Product and market diversity aiding drink maker resilience

The European beverage industry will find strength in variety in its attempts to offset the impacts of the current economic downturn, according to a new report.

Scientists deliver key info about soy-stabilised soy emulsions

Modifying the ingredients and manufacturing parameters may enhance the stability of soy stabilised emulsions for food, says a new study from Ireland.

DSM targets soft-cheese culture development

A manufacturer of thermaphilic cultures for cheese production has extended the range’s applications with a new product it claims can improve the cost effectiveness of manufacturing softer products such as camembert and brie.

IFOAM and UN unveil tools to smooth organic trade

A six-year effort to harmonise trade in organic produce between markets with different standards and environmental conditions has yielded fruit, with the launch of two tools to establish equivalence between standards and improve market access for farmers in developing countries.

Food makers to stay on the alert for contaminated guar gum

Food makers must be on the alert for contaminated consignments of guar gum after Czech authorities detect unacceptable levels of toxic dioxins in a border batch.

New process could deliver better milk powders for chocolate

A new treatment could be on the horizon for dairy processors as German scientists report it leads to better processing behaviour of spray-dried milk powders.

Mushroom extract may stabilise meat colour: Study

An extract from the edible mushroom Flammulina velutipes may stabilise the natural colour of meat, according to new research from Japan published today.

Wild blueberries take antioxidant crown

Wild blueberries have greater antioxidant content than common fruits such as apples, bananas, red grapes and strawberries according to Cornell University researchers.

China announces new melamine guidelines

China is taking steps to reassure countries that are banning its imports following the melamine crisis with the introduction of new safety levels for food and drink.

Givaudan seek to disrupt orange flavour expectations

Givaudan is introducing eight new orange flavours that it has developed using its TasteTrek system, which it expects to disrupt consumers’ preferences of orange and move the market forward.

Stevia gets Australian approval for food and beverages

The Australian food authority FSANZ has approved the natural sweetener steviol glycosides (stevia), as an ingredient in foods and beverages in Australia and New Zealand.

Patent for palm oil process to boost yield

A new process for producing palm oil seeds which researchers claim has the potential to triple crop yield and address both sustainability and supply issues is expected to become commercially available within 10 years.

Tate & Lyle disputes Roquette’s maltitol patent

The UK-based food ingredient processor Tate & Lyle is challenging Roquette’s UK patent for maltitol.

Camembert purists drive Lactalis production shake-up

France–based Lactalis is shutting down production at one of its sites amidst an ongoing battle of wills in the country over the ‘traditional’ manufacture of camembert cheese.

Rosemary as antioxidant up for regulatory inclusion

Antioxidant rosemary extracts are expected to be included in existing regulation on food additives while FIAP is being implemented, which will allow high purity extracts to go head-to-head with synthetic antioxidants in food products.

Organic sweets: opportunities open up for confectioners

New product launches for organic sweets in Europe increased by a factor of six from 2006 to 2008 suggesting confectioners are starting to tap into new organic revenue streams as this burgeoning food trend spills over into confectionery.

Food could influence election outcomes, report

The UK government is taking a grim view of effect of food prices on the political landscape and is establishing a council of food policy advisors – just as a report warns that food could be a factor to influence elections.

Gelatine costs rise amidst financial wobbles

A global producer of Gelatin-based products for use in functional food formulations says it has no choice but to raise the prices for its goods, owing to increasing material and energy costs.

Colour and flavour rule consumer preferences: Study

The intensity of colour and the flavour are the key drivers behind consumer acceptance of beverages, says a new study involving Danone.

Weekly comment

Bringing organic back down to earth

Organic has an image problem. As some consumers fear they are, quite literally, priced out of the farmers market, it’s time to stir up more debate about organic as a set of principals, not as a status symbol.

Melamine in confectionery detected on UK shelves

Confectioners and food firms in the UK are on the alert after the country's food watchdog announces the recall of certain batches of White Rabbit products from China containing up to 60 times the melamine limit.

Australia ponders global inspiration for dairy innovation

Australian dairy manufacturers are looking beyond their borders for new forms of innovation to shake up product manufacturing as part of an inaugural award designed to encourage global thinking amongst processors.

EFSA outlines future food safety risks

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published a draft strategic plan on Thursday pinpointing the areas where it foresees food safety issues to arise over the next five years.

Certifier launches new sourcing standards for soy

UK food manufacturers can now source soy that is certified as Non-GM and Responsibly Produced, as two new standards have been developed in response to retailer demands.

Dairy Crest reshuffles business in face of economic downturn

Over 200 people could lose their jobs with the major UK dairy products company Dairy Crest as it attempts to streamline its operation.

Hope among EFSA’s harsh health claim rulings

The European Food Safety Authority’s hard line stance on health claims is bewildering some, resigning others, but steeling most to meet its ‘gold standard’ scientific demands.

Caloric overload may disrupt brain functions: Study

Consuming too many calories may disturb the pathway in the brain that directly affects food intake and body weight, according to a new study.

Can the food industry effectively self-regulate?

The issue of whether businesses are solely driven by profits and will not respond to voluntary guidance to improve the health effects of their products is a matter of hot debate in the British Medical Journal this week.

‘No great panic’ on organic compliance

This story has been updated from the original published at 1400 CET, which erroneously stated that compliance was needed on labelling aspects of the new regulation by January 2009. FoodNavigator.com apologises for the confusion.

Sweeteners and seaweed science stand out during September

Studies reporting stevia’s photo-stability in beverages, Splenda’s effect on gut bacteria, and seaweed’s potential as a salt replacer, dominated September’s headlines.

Round two in Which? versus the 'cartoon villains'

A new report from Which? has struck out again against the use of cartoon characters to market foods for children, accusing the industry of exploiting a loophole that allows for company-owned characters to be used on unhealthy products.

Pectin plus fish gelatin could lead to cheaper low-fat spreads: study

Pectin could be the ideal partner for gelatin in the production of low-cost, low-fat spreads, according to a new study from Malaysia.

Processes can bring ‘new’ hydrocolloids, Leatherhead

Leatherhead Food International has completed a three-year research project that aimed to improve the performance of hydrocolloids using physical processing – methodology likely to be better-perceived by consumers in the natural-centric era.

Ivory Coast cocoa hit by disease, politics

Costs for cocoa have fallen from a peak of $3000 per tonne in July, to $2551.33 on Monday, but reports of the damaging black pod disease in Ivory Coast could drive prices upwards, compounded by political uncertainty that may see chocolate buyers eager to build stocks.

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