A major EU funded trial on European children is to examine how
early diet can reduce obesity in later life. The findings could
lead to new infant foods and a safer formulation of protein
contents.
Leading cocoa and soybean processor ADM is making a few changes in
Europe announcing two new appointments at its product support and
development (PSD) Centre in Koog aan de Zaan, the Netherlands.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic sweetener...
Carrefour is reported to have pulled out of the race to buy Ahold's
supermarket assets in Brazil, leaving Wal-Mart of the US and local
market leader CBD as the sole bidders. Carrefour will focus on
organic growth in the Brazilian...
Growth is ahead of schedule for wheat-based ingredients supplier
MGP Ingredients with the Kansas-based company moving expansion of
its textured wheat proteins to phase two as demand for their
speciality ingredients continues to gain...
A cross-continent project is to get further backing to target the
emerging prevalence of Campylobacteraceae, a bacteria family
that causes 400 to 500 milion cases of diarrhoea a year.
Cereal scientists have honoured a longtime employee of food
processing giant General Mills with one of the highest awards from
the American Association of Cereal Chemists.
Unilever must allow other ice cream makers access to its freezer
cabinets in Ireland, while Wrigley cannot register its Doublemint
brand as a trademark with the EU because it is a descriptive name -
two rulings from the European courts...
The EU Commission this week unveiled €166m in funding for projects
under the food quality and safety priority of the Sixth Framework
Programme (FP6). Thirty-six projects have so far been confirmed.
The Netherlands, the world's fourth largest poultry exporter could
be facing another bird epidemic this week as the cure for blackhead
disease found in two turkeys has been banned.
Ecolab is to present its health and safety solutions at the
forthcoming Food Safety & Hygiene show in Frankfurt. Company
spokesperson Marcus Ley reveals what the firm has in mind.
Casino has reported good growth in like-for-like sales for the
first nine months of the year, driven mainly by its domestic
discount and convenience store operations. But international sales
continued to feel the force of exchange...
Stating the obvious perhaps, keeping food safe for consumers is
undeniably a key priority for the food industry and governments
alike. European funds are being injected into understanding the
bacteria that find a home in our food...
A settled policy environment is in store for Irish farmers
following reform to the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and
imminent decoupling, said Jim Flanagan director of Irelands'
Teagasc.
Scientists will soon huddle together to unravel the third plant
genome to be sequenced to date. Their work - boosted recently by a
$10.8 million (€9.2m) slice of funding - should shed light on the
health-promoting properties buried...
Belgian retailer Delhaize is considering the sale of its stake in
Singapore's Stop N Save chain after receiving an offer from an
unnamed bidder. Could this be Delhaize's solution to the problem of
reducing its massive debt...
Philip Green could still try and spoil the party for Morrisons in
its bid to acquire Safeway. The retail entrepreneur this week asked
for updated financial information about Safeway, perhaps an
indication that he will still make...
A new US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) study has found that
dairy products are best consumed close to the date of purchase and
leftovers refrigerated to reduce the risk of Listeria bacteria.
Meeting targets for the year, US ingredients company Corn Products
International brushes off a tougher economic climate to post a
solid set of third quarter results with earnings rising by 15 per
cent. A strong performance in South...
The European Commission has started legal proceedings against the
German government over its widely criticised deposit scheme for
one-way packaging after concessions from Berlin failed to go far
enough to remove barriers to trade...
Germany's third-largest chemicals company Degussa has taken a €500
million charge in its fine chemicals business unit as it continues
to feel the impact of adverse changes in market conditions.
Mislabelling is leading customers to pay up to €50 per tonne more
for the same quality of potato, reports new findings issued by the
UK Food Standards Agency this week.
Improving the texture of food products through a new emulsification
technology forms the focus of a recently launched EU-funded project
that will concentrate in particular on low-fat products
Which do we prefer - the light or full-on version? Food scientists
investigating sweeteners in soft drinks find the consumer palate
might be perverse, preferring regular cola over its lighter sister,
but non-plussed over orange drinks.
The Co-op group, the UK's biggest farm group and one of its largest
retailers, has responded to a recent customer survey on attitudes
to GM by pledging never to plant genetically modified crops or sell
GM products in its stores,...
As trading nations get to grips with globalisation in the 21st
century the issue of sustainability is increasingly compounded for
commodities on today's market. Nowhere is this more evident than
for coffee - arguably one of the...
Food industry players in France are concerned that legislators
there will go down the same draconian route as their counterparts
in Germany when they come to update the country's packaging waste
legislation early in the new year.
The EC has approved a financial package to fight animal disease
with human health implications. The move is aimed to tackle
diseases that constitute as a barrier to intra-EU or international
trade in 2004.
Moves by the EU to introduce new health food labelling requirements
have been fiercely criticised by the food industry - with the
British Retail Consortium the latest to add its voice to the
debate.
The National Food Processors Association (NFPA) has criticised new
requirements enforced by the EU's Council of Ministers on labelling
and traceability of food and feed containing GM ingredients.
More evidence revealing the efficacy of HACCP systems in the battle
for food safety comes from figures released this week by the US
department of agriculture that show a 25 per cent dive in Listeria
samples in the past year, and a...
The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) has
accused the American National Dairy Council of launching a
deceptive health campaign suggesting that dairy products could aid
slimming.
The food and agriculture organisation of the United Nations (FAO)
has launched an initiative to help students, researchers and
scientists from developing countries gain free and low cost access
to scientific literature
Labelling issues have come to the fore for US jam maker JM Smucker
with a Californian woman suing the company over 'Simply 100 Per
Cent Fruit' that might actually be less than 50 per cent fruit.
Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA) has
produced a CD-Rom to provide food industry managers with a
reference tool and training aid on the microbiological safety of
foods.
Primary Production and Processing (PPP) Standards for poultry &
meat, and further possible industries, are to be revised by Food
Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).
Threshers, the drinks retail specialist, has extended its
operations in the petrol station forecourt sector, part of its move
into a wider range of markets which also includes leisure centres
and students' unions.
Albert Heijn, the flagship supermarket business of troubled
retailer Ahold, is to slash the prices of a wide range of food
products by as much as 30 per cent in a belated attempt to win back
consumers. But will this be enough to tempt...
Slacker US sales across all sectors hit third quarter results for
US Sensient Technologies with the colour and flavours company this
week reporting a slide in operating income.
With the European Union soon to represent 450 million consumers,
which common agricultural policy will best serve an enlarged
Europe? "A single CAP that serves a single, united Europe,"
said the leading crusader of CAP reform...
Results from an ongoing Irish initiative to boost product
innovation - new ingredients and finished food and drink products -
unveiled at an industry food event this month in Ireland imply that
investment could be paying off.
Metro has opened its first cash & carry outlet in India, in the
city of Bangalore, the 28th international market for the German
group. A second store will open next month, and the company clearly
sees significant potential in...
Cognis Nutrition and Health and Kemin Foods have finally reached an
agreement in court over the marketing and promotional issues for
lutein and lutein esters products.Specific terms of the agreement
are to remain confidential between...
US dairy associations are rolling out a new 'Healthy Weight with
Dairy' advertising campaign next week to tout scientific research
linking dairy consumption with reduced body weight.
Sensor Wireless has partnered with WebTech Wireless to provide a
new GPS tracking and web based monitoring system aimed at the food
and beverage industries.
The Spanish authorities look set to introduce dual labelling for a
number of non-processed food products in order to provide clear
information to consumers regarding the difference between the farm
gate and retail price - yet another...
Increasing numbers of young females drinkers, especially in markets
such as the UK, Germany and Spain, are having a major influence on
the on-trade across the continent, with pub designs and the
products drunk there both changing...
This week findings from the long-awaited and widest ever study in
the UK on the impact of GM crops were made known. The focus may
well be on whether or not transgenic crops are a risk to wildlife,
but have the mixed results raised...
Soy Fantastico, a vitamin- and mineral-rich soy beverage
specifically targeted at the Hispanic consumer, will be introduced
at the Expo Comida Latina trade show next week.
Already burdened with losses of €1bn under Dutch accounting rules,
retailer Ahold has today reported that the US accounting system has
effectively pushed it even further into the red - some €4.3bn to be
precise. And there is little...