The advent of new European legislation on genetically modified
organisms - applicable as of last week - will hit all players in
the food industry. In a bid to render the new rules clearer we have
decided to take the step to publish...
On the back of robust results US agri-giant ADM posted its 288th
consecutive quarterly payment this week, declaring a cash dividend
of six cents a share.
Tesco is to appeal against an 'incomprehensible' ruling by the
Czech courts which appears to give a Czech businessman the right to
seize its assets in payment of an alleged debt.
The impact of higher commodity prices on ingredients manufacturers
continues to impact margins. In October figures show that soybean
prices peaked at their highest levels in six years.
As consumers across the globe add fire to their food through the
red hot ingredient chilli pepper, the 'pope of pepper' traces the
pepper family history and looks at why, exactly, it burns so fast.
If nothing else, the opening decade of the 21st century will go
down in the annals of time as the period the world went to war over
GMOs. When it comes to genetically modified organisms, passions run
deep and the path to reconciling...
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration will revisit its preliminary
determination that food from cloned animals is safe for consumers
after several independent science advisers questionned findings.
Sales for speciality ingredients set first quarter results soaring
for US company MGP Ingredients, offsetting a downturn in figures
for commodity ingredients and in the face of higher energy and raw
material costs.
First half profits for UK sugar and sweeteners group Tate &
Lyle slipped as US figures hit the bottom line but improved results
from European operations helped add sparkle to a generally
lacklustre performance.
US researchers are investigating whether calcium intake, previously
linked to lower weight in girls, could help prevent women from
gaining too much weight when pregnant. They hope to better
understand the link between the mineral...
A hot cup of cocoa - that stalwart of cold winter nights and an all
time favourite for children - could actually boast more
antioxidants than green tea and red wine, say researchers in the
US.
Ahold is to sell off its Spanish retail operations as part of a
long-awaited recovery plan announced today. The programme will also
include a €2.5bn rights issue which will help pay down debt, and
significant efficiency savings designed...
Alcampo, the Spanish subsidiary of French retailer Auchan, is to
introduce labelling in Braille on a wide range of its own label
products, joining Auchan's French, Portuguese and Brazilian stores
in offering this service. But...
The regional parliament of Upper Austria announced this week that
it is to appeal against the EC's decision not to allow the region
to declare itself a genetically modified(GM) free zone, reports
CORDIS.
The European Commission has sent a warning letter to the Polish
government saying that the country must do more to bring food
safety standards relating to meat production in line with current
EU regulations if it is to ensure a smooth...
Tekes, the national technology agency in Finland, is currently
funding an investigation into the use of rare sugar components -
previously deemed as unimportant by-products - as a useful raw
material in food and pharmaceutical industries.
Carmel, Israel's biggest wine producer, is joining forces with six
boutique wineries to mount a joint marketing campaign in the UK and
other important wine markets. The companies will hope to shake off
their kosher-only image...
Prompted by demand from the Philippines, Danish ingredients company
Danisco has
designed and launched two new citrus fruit flavours onto the Asian
market.
Dumeco has been ordered to retrace 78 tonnes of beef this week
following the failure to test a cow for bovine spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE). Some 700kg is thought to have been consumed.
ADM Natural Health and Nutrition has expanded its Novasoy soy
isoflavone further, with launch of the product in a directly
compressible form to make processing easier.
Belgian retail group Delhaize has raised its growth forecasts for
fiscal 2003 after an excellent third quarter performance hampered
only by adverse currency exchange rates. A rapid turnaround for a
company badly affected by adverse...
The British chomped their way through £1 billion worth of organic
products in one year, making the UK the number three outlet -
behind the US and Germany - for organic foods in the world.
The milk industry churns over new findings in the US that claims a
simple supplement can dramatically boost the content of unsaturated
fatty acids in cows' milk
The Big Food Group, owner of the Iceland and Booker chains, posted
a slight improvement in first half sales as it continues to
overhaul the business. Most noticeable was a return to
profitability at Iceland, helped by improved sales...
Leading Irish food ingredients company Kerry brushed off currency
fluctuations and testing market conditions to post a stable set of
figures for the first six months of the year. The following paper
from Irish stockbroker Goodbody...
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) faces more opposition this
week, as the US Organic Trade Association (OTA) criticises the idea
of commercialising cloned animal produce without specific
labelling.
British Sugar's parent company, cash-rich Associated British Foods
(ABF), delivered a strong set of results for the year with the food
and agriculture division pulling in the highest operating profit
for the full year for the...
As the debate in the UK heats up over GM crops, new research
sourced from Spain claims that co-existence between GM and non-GM
crops can occur without economic and commercial problems.
Efforts by the Spanish government to counter what it believes are
excessive price increases for a number of fresh products appear to
be paying off, with a sharp fall in price for chicken, seafood,
green beans and lettuce. But other...
Scientists have developed a new cattle-feed supplement, which
dramatically boosts the content of unsaturated fatty acids over
saturated fats in cows' milk. It could also be used to reduce
saturated fat in meat, suggest the US-based...
The new US government regulations designed to protect against
terrorist threats to the food supply face massive non-compliance
when they go into effect next month, reports a new study.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is en route to lowering
last years high enforcement order figures, despite having
experienced the largest outbreak of E coli the country has ever
seen.
NFU president Sir Ben Gill, meeting key European food industry
leaders over the weekend, has called for international co-operation
between farmer-controlled businesses and trust in the food chain.
A letter attacking the UK government's handling of the genetically
modified (GM)debate has been sent to the UK prime minister Tony
Blair on behalf of 114 individual scientists, reports CORDIS.
Western ingredients companies continue to make inroads into the
massive Chinese food market with Danish company Chr Hansen cutting
the ribbon yesterday on new facilities in Bejiing.
Marks & Spencer, the British retail group, has reported first
half sales growth of 4.3 per cent, helped by a 6.9 per cent gain in
the UK food retail business during the period. Food will continue
to play an important role in the...
Spain's retail sector showed solid if unspectacular growth in
September, with sales rising 6.6 per cent compared to the same
period a year earlier. Food was the main driver of growth, with
turnover from this sector ahead 7.7...
The kaleidescopic world of wine aromas and flavours is to come
under the spotlight as Australian scientists seek to marry industry
demand with ongoing research.
Metro, the German wholesale and retail group, is to roll out a
further 40 cash & carry outlets in China over the next five
years, the company's CEO Hans-Joachim Körber is quoted as saying
today. And profitability is not far...
At the end of last week the USDA published a proposed rule aimed at
ending the ban on imports of Canadian cattle under 30 months old,
deemed to be at low risk for mad cow disease.
