When nutritional labeling comes into force in Canada later this
year, manufacturers may also take advantage of the need to change
their labels to stipulate whether their products' ingredients are
genetically engineered.
Rexnord is using the up-coming Interpack 2005 event to display the
latest developments in conveying technology, including
wear-resistant belts and high-speed applications for PET bottles.
Pressure on food makers to more frequently track ingredients for
contaminants intensifies as the UK's food watchdog on Friday pulls
over 350 food products from the shelves after detecting the illegal
ingredient, the red food...
Britain's biggest food retailer Tesco is being accused of delaying
an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading into the oft-fraught
relationship between food suppliers and their retail customers,
reports Chris Jones.
South Africa has slapped an import tariff on Irish cheese, alleging
that dumping has priced domestic cheese producers out of the market
and also led to a 15 per cent fall in milk prices, Tom Armitage
reports.
A Russian dairy company has created a new ice cream brand called
UFO whose extra-terrestrial name reflects its 'unearthly' ability
to avoid melting. But this is just one of a raft of innovative
products launched recently...
Prices for a number of key food ingredients in Russia have risen in
January and February, according to a recent survey, and supply
difficulties are expected to keep costs high for the foreseeable
future, reports Angela Drujinina.
The completion of its nationwide distribution network and increased
investment in advertising helped brewer Baltic Beverages Holding to
shrug off a difficult first half for its Russian brewing business
and end the year with an increase...
German retailer Rewe has made two acquisitions in eastern Europe
this week, strengthening its position in the Slovak and Croat
supermarket sectors, writes Chris Jones.
The Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling company, which this week announced
solid sales growth led by emerging markets in Eastern Europe, has
confirmed its interest in Serbia's second largest mineral water
bottler as the company plans...
The Florida Consumer Action Network (FCAN) on Wednesday added its
voice to the chorus calling for the FTC to examine the McNeil
Nutritionals led advertising campaign for the artificial sweetener
Splenda, writes Philippa Nuttall.
Diageo, the world's biggest spirit group, has announced a drop in
first half profits, caused by foreign exchange rates, weak demand
in Europe and the continued decline of the ready-to-drink segment,
writes Chris Jones.
With the countdown extended, talks continue this week in Geneva
between the US and Brussels to move the entrenched trade dispute on
genetically modified organisms forward.
A new study reminds food manufacturers that the distinct €14
billion children's food and drink market must not be "overlooked",
with opportunities still ripe in a host of product sectors,
reports Lindsey Partos.
Improving communication between food scientists working on the
harmful chemical acrylamide identified in starch-rich fried foods
two years ago, Europe's food agency this week publishes an
'information base' with updated...
Democrats Tom Harkin and Eliot L. Engel wrote a hard-hitting piece
in the LA Times on Monday about the human cost of the chocolate
trade, but the cocoa industry has hit back by reaffirming its
commitment to responsible farming.
Ongoing research into the impact proteins - both meat and soy - can
have on the bone health finds that calcium absorption from these
two important sources of dietary protein is similar.
The practice of partnering computer simulations with real-world
experiments is becoming more vital as scientists delve deeper into
the potential of nantechnology, according to a US scientist.
Anthony Fletcher reports.
DSM, the largest food fermentation company in the world (in value
terms) sees its combined food units beating industry growth for the
year, but bakery still under pressure, reports Lindsey
Partos.
There are rich pickings for food makers focusing on innovative
products for the breakfast market, as a UK think tank finds less
than one in five consumers actually enjoys the first meal of the
day.
A legal action brought by a northern English cheese producer
against the European Commission over the right to use the label
feta on its products has finally reached the European Court of
Justice - the UK, however, has declined to...
Swiss Research believes it has created the "holy grail" of
sweeteners, a natural alternative to the synthetic varieties
frequently lambasted by the media, it officially announced on
Tuesday, Philippa Nuttall reports.
Archer Daniels Midland said yesterday that it has acquired Solae's
global soy isoflavone business, including its entire portfolio of
US and foreign patents.
Benefits and risks of coffee drinking on consumer health are the
focus of two new studies that ultimately reveal the positive, or
negligible impact, of this popular beverage.
Against the backdrop of tighter traceability rules the UK's food
watchdog will focus on the relationship between food ingredients
and the final food label, at an upcoming seminar between
stakeholders next month.
House of Bread Franchising has finally decided to start producing
organic bread after a decrease in ingredient prices makes
production a viable business option, reports Philippa
Nuttall.
Campina, the ambitious owner of dairy ingredients supplier DMV
International, will buy Belgian milk fat specialist Aveve Zuivel,
in a deal that brings the Dutch firm a new platform for innovations
in butter oil specialities, and improved...
GM food ingredients under attack, again, this week as environmental
group accuses Brussels of 'exposing EU states' to risk from
genetically modified corn.
Food is the most common source of zoonotic infections in humans,
suggesting that tightening biosecurity measures at the beginning of
the food supply chain is vital.
Strong sales growth at a young, up-market coffee and sandwich chain
in Poland, Latvia and the Czech Republic reveals opportunities for
suppliers and retailers as rising economic prosperity points to a
growing eastern European 'Starbucks...
The number of imported chocolate products into Switzerland has
increased for the fourth year running - but will the EU's looming
CAP reforms soon bring this burgeoning trend to an end, asks Tom
Armitage.
Merrydown, the British beverage group whose focus on adult soft
drinks has helped it overcome the declining fortunes of cider, has
agreed to a takeover by SHS, a consumer goods sales and marketing
specialist. The group hopes that...
Rising raw material costs lead to decline of $0.58m in Galaxy's
gross margin for 3Q 2005, leading to price hikes and expense cuts
throughout the remainder of the fiscal year.
Non-carbonated soft drinks in emerging Eastern European markets,
especially Russia, held up sales growth during a challenging period
for the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company (CCHBC), despite a €49
million one-off charge sending...
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will encourage
Uzbekistan to implement economic reforms by pledging nearly €3
million to improve quality and double capacity at a private
domestic brewer, reports Chris Mercer.
InBev has spread rapidly beyond the borders of its native Belgium
in the last few years, with major acquisitions in Asia, Latin
America and Europe. But the world's biggest brewer is not always
successful in its takeover bids,...
US agri-food firm Cargill will consolidate its position in raw
materials - the building blocks for a range of common ingredients
also supplied by the company - with the acquisition of Italian firm
Pagnan.
Ter Beke is reported to be interested in buying some of Sara Lee's
French and Benelux charcuterie businesses, a move that would
further consolidate the Belgian food processor's market presence in
Northern Europe.
Food safety comes to the fore again as new study builds on growing
evidence that foods of animal origin, contaminated with
Escherichia coli, can lead to urinary tract infections in
women.
Speciality oil firms will have the chance to voice their concerns
on global food codes as 100 government delegates meet to discuss
the fats and oil industry at a week-long session, kicking off in
the UK next week.
Several recently published studies have revealed the nutritional
benefits of peanuts and USDA figures released last week show that
there is no shortage of supply for food manufacturers.
Global stocks of soybeans continue to rise after last year's price
spiking draw-down, with oilseed production for 2004-05 projected to
reach 390.2 million tonnes, providing a 'comfort-zone' for
inventory levels.
An increase in research and development and other expenses caused
Senomyx's revenue to slip 23 percent in Q4, according to the
results published by the company last week.
A landmark settlement on trans fats in the US last week will incite
global food makers, fearful of litigation, to delve further into
new food formulations that use alternative ingredients to eliminate
harmful fatty acids, reports...
