Paris, France-based speciality chemicals company Rhodia has
reported a disappointing set of first quarter figures that reflects
what the firm describes as "a difficult economic and geopolitical
environment" and "a trough...
Metro has shrugged off currency concerns and the tough German
economic conditions to post a rise in sales for the first quarter.
But most of the improvement came from non-food operations, and
there is still work to do to improve the...
As savoury marinades and cooking sauces gain in popularity, some
industry forecasters are predicting that the next product to fly
off grocery shelves will be dipping sauces. Meeting the trend, food
ingredients company Danisco has...
Edible oil sales were the highlight of food consumption in Spain
with consumers reaching for a healthy alternative and driving sales
forward. Total food consumption rose by 1.9 per cent in 2002
compared to the previous year.
The global economic downturn marked 2003 first quarter results for
Dutch life science company DSM, but strong autonomous volume growth
boosted figures to higher than 2002.
The US Food and Drug Administration has released a statement on the
National Academy of Sciences' report, 'Scientific Criteria to
Ensure Safe Food'. The report has been received as a reinforcement
of the FDA's...
The UK complementary medicines market has grown by almost 60 per
cent in the last five years to an estimated value of £130 million
(€187m), despite the impact of new legislation and negative
publicity regarding herbal remedies and...
Ahold is to sell its Indonesian supermarket chain Tops to the local
market leader Hero, the latest phase of the Dutch group's programme
of disposals of non-core assets.
Novis, a European online publisher of global industry and science
news for the food and beverage industries, has undertaken a major
partnership with 15 leading international market report publishers.
This agreement provides Novis'...
The importance of adequate nutrition levels for women at the time
of conception is under the spotlight as new animal research
suggests even modest restrictions in maternal nutrition around the
time of conception can lead to premature...
Future co-existence of GM and non-GM foods is further put under
question as Friends of the Earth claims to have obtained a report
destined for the UK government revealing that if GM crops are
commercially grown in the UK it would...
Studies continue on the impact of folic acid levels in babies with
scientists reporting on possible link between folate deficiency
during pregnancy and leukaemia in children.
Global Food Technologies, a privately held biotechnology company
targeting the food safety market, has announced a scientific method
for significantly reducing and eliminating disease-causing surface
and foodborne bacteria in seafood.
From the beginning of June this year Denmark will become the first
country in the world to introduce restrictions on the use of
industrially produced trans fatty acids. The move follows an
extensive review of all current knowledge...
US food ingredients company Applied Food Sciences announced last
week that it has begun shipments of its green coffee bean extract
product - Green Coffee Antioxidant (GCA) - to customers.
An emphasis on convenience and ethical business practices has paid
off for the UK's Co-op group, with both sales and profits
increasing substantially in 2002. The company has also invested in
increasing its store portfolio -...
Despite an increasingly competitive environment and the impact of a
global economic downturn the biscuits market in Europe is alive and
well, according to a news report from Esmerk.
UK-based Food Industry Training - Reading is to organise a seminar
on current key issues affecting food safety, particularly in the
UK. 'Due diligence underpins everything that the UK food
industry does,' said the group...
Agr TopWave LLC, a manufacturer of laboratory and on-line
testing/quality control devices for plastic containers is about to
launch a number of new devices to measure the consistency and
quality of container packaging.
Despite a tougher economic climate, Swedish ingredients company
Karlshamns managed to achieve volume growth in all business areas
for the first three months of the year with group net sales
increasing by some 9 per cent to SK 853...
A new chickpea variety called Sierra has been released by
Agricultural Research Service scientists and their co-operators in
the US. Sierra's high yield and disease resistance to Ascochyta
blight are expected to appeal to the...
Lower sales volumes and higher selling expenses resulted in a drop
in net sales for the first quarter ended 31 March 2003 for US
company Technology Flavors & Fragrances (TFF).
A new alternative to the traditional egg wash for bakery products
has hit the market with ICI subsidiary National Starch &
Chemical launching Versa-Sheen glazing agent.
Risk assessors from the German Federal Institute for Risk
Assessment (BfR) repeated their call for the levels of acrylamide
in foods to be reduced as far and as quickly as possible. Speaking
one year after the Swedish National Food...
In the face of mounting pressure and a distinctly aggressive
attitude from the US sugar industry, the UN Food and Agriculture
Organisation (FAO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) went
ahead on Wednesday and published a report...
As evidence to suggest that folic acid during pregnancy could
protect against neural tube defects continues to mount, scientists
in Israel suggest this week that folic acid could also help prevent
Down's syndrome.
A proposed takeover bid for the UK retailer Somerfield was rejected
yesterday by the company's board on the grounds that it undervalued
the company. But this will not necessarily be the end of the
affair, with a higher offer...
Britain's third largest food retailer Asda has pledged its support
for British farmers with the launch of a new campaign designed to
promote British food and educate consumers as to the source of what
they eat. But is it just...
A challenge from the UK Food Commission accusing US-based food
group HJ Heinz of misleading consumers about the '5-a-day'
programme has broadly failed to win the support of the UK
Advertising Standards Agency - a victory...
Franco-German pharmaceuticals company Aventis continues the
divestment of French speciality chemicals company Rhodia with the
announcement on Tuesday that it has reduced its stake from 25.2 per
cent to 15.3 per cent by selling 17.8...
Ecolab, the global cleaning and pest elimination provider, has
announced record first quarter sales reflected largely by the
growth of its global foodservice markets.
The Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health at the
European Commission has adopted a series of transitional and
permanent implementing measures in preparation for the application
of the Animal By-Products Regulation...
Can gelatine play a role in preventing and treating degenerative
arthritic disease? New research from Germany supports previous
evidence and suggests that gelatine could stimulate collagen
synthesis in cartilage cells.
"Free trade has to be safe trade," said Dr Patrick Wall, chief
executive of the Irish Food Safety Authority commenting on a new
agreement in Ireland that aims to tighten up food safety procedures
for imported foodstuffs...
Sales for US food ingredients company Corn Products International
were on target for the first quarter of 2003 ended 31 March 2003
with the company announcing on Tuesday that sales had risen 23 per
cent, lifting earnings and increasing...
With the French poultry sector in decline as a result of falling prices, increased competition and overproduction, Duc is looking to foreign markets - and innovative products - to help it survive.
The US sugar industry, in Rome this week, will continue its crusade
against a recent report from the World Health Organisation that
suggests a severe reduction in sugar could help stem the global
rise of obesity-linked diseases.
An increase in taxation levels on RTD products introduced by
Chancellor Gordon Brown in 2002 was one of the reasons for the
decision to withdraw the Gordon's Edge gin-based premix, claims
brand owner Diageo.
Smaller suppliers can offer retail chains such as Marks &
Spencer products which have a real point of difference compared to
their rivals - but the trick is not to overextend production and
diminish the very elements which make...
With the demise of breakfasts at home, spreads are coming under
increasing pressure as consumers demand increasingly convenient and
on-the-go foods, reveals the latest report from marketing analysts
Euromonitor.
"Too little information is dangerous", for European suppliers of
the food additive E425, otherwise known as konjac, the full force
of this dictum has fallen on their increasingly broad shoulders in
recent weeks.
Despite a more challenging global economic environment US
agribusiness giant Cargill this week reported a substantial rise in
earnings to $241 million (€221m) for the 2003 third quarter, up
from $151 million a year ago. Proceeds received...
US manufacturer of colours, flavours and fragrances Sensient
Technologies saw revenue rise for the first quarter ended 31 March,
2003 by 10.3 per cent to $235.1 million (Euros 215m), up from
$213.1 million for the same period in 2002....
French dairy ingredients company EPI Ingredients launches new
product, designed for use in high protein foods and supplements,
under its Epilac line of fermented dairy proteins.
The European Commission's Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) has
closed its door to the business of dispensing scientific advice,
but not before finalising 19 outstanding opinions and two reports
related to bovine spongiform...
As the European Commission tells member states to tow the EU line
over genetically modified organisms, the issue continues to gain
pace elsewhere in the world. A report released today in New Zealand
on the economic risks and opportunities...
The FSA is inviting comment on the draft Collagen and Gelatine
(Intra-Community Trade) Regulations for Northern Ireland 2003.
Comments are particularly welcome regarding the impact on business,
identification of additional costs and...