Tea makers looking to bolster flagging sales should turn to
speciality and herbal teas with new research revealing these two
categories are flying off the shelves, grabbing market share away
from traditional tea products, reports...
In our current uneasy climate of product recalls, sensitivities are
high and Brussels can ill afford to fuel confusion, but in the
latest document from Europe's central alert system, the reference
to annatto, bixin and norbixin...
Eastern Europe continues to offer an immediate solution for the
world's major brewers in the face of declining western markets, as
SABMiller cautiously buys up Slovakian brewer Topvar, writes
Chris Mercer.
UK food agency launches 'the largest research project to date', to
establish the clearest route for food makers to use food labels to
flag-up healthy foods.
Children of obese mothers might follow the same road, say US
researchers, suggesting infancy may be one of the critical periods
for the development of childhood obesity.
Members of Codex fail to reach a decision on the creation of
labelling guidelines for genetically modified foods as divisions on
biotech foods remain entrenched between the countries.
The American Soybean Association (ASA) has expressed concern that
fungicide supplies may be inadequate to control a major outbreak of
soybean rust, reports Anthony Fletcher.
Functional flavours and ingredients manufacturer Danisco, one of
Europe's largest sugar suppliers, is to cease the processing of
sugar beet at one of its sites in Lithuania, Tom Armitage
reports.
Publicly-floated US flavour supplier Technology Flavors &
Fragrances is set to go private, as industry rival FFG Industries
begins a tender offer to acquire all of the firms outstanding
shares of common stock.
The first ever survey of research and development (R&D)
personnel across all industrial sectors in Europe reveals most
participants predict there will be little change in their
companies' R&D investment levels over the...
As the food industry collaborates with the European Commission on
efforts to slash soaring rates of obesity, a new study compounds
the need for change, linking the condition with an increased risk
of developing colorectal and oesophageal...
International drinks supplier Brown-Forman embarks on new
opportunities in the increasingly affluent Indian society,
targeting the beverages market with the launch of its fruit
flavoured Finlandia brand of 'luxury' vodka.
Cargill argues that food and beverage manufacturers in the U.S. can
positively impact today's rising healthcare costs by developing
products that address specific health and lifestyle issues.
British confectioner Cadbury is to enter the flourishing organic
chocolate sector for the first time, after acquiring Green and
Black's - the company behind the UK's fastest growing confectionery
brand, Tom Armitage reports.
Postmenopausal women who consume even moderate amounts of alcohol
may face an increased risk of breast cancer, say US researchers,
particularly if their cancer is fuelled by the hormones estrogen or
progesterone.
A large-scale study into the bacterial pathogen responsible for
major vegetable crop losses worldwide could lead to significant
savings for food producers.
Fake food and drink products in Russia control up to 94 per cent of
the market in some sectors and their numbers are rising in others
as authorities redouble efforts to fight back, says the country's
consumer agency in a special...
French dairy ingredients firm Armor Proteines has added a
US-produced soy protein isolate to its range to give customers an
alternative to the increasingly expensive caseinates, reports
Dominique Patton.
Cereal bar makers looking to slash carbohydrate and sugar levels
could find the solution in a new 'rebalance system' from sweetener
supplier Tate & Lyle, the company claims, writes Lindsey
Partos.
Private label organic juices are boosting sales volumes, helping to
propel the organic juice sales in North America to increase by a
considerable 21.4 per cent in 2005, claims UK market analysts
Organic Monitor.
The most recent forecast for this year's California almond crop
signals a decline on that reaped 12 months ago, heralding an almost
certain price rise, reports Philippa Nuttall.
A UK research institute believes it has identified safe and
effective antimicrobial nanoparticles for food packaging, a
discovery that could revolutionise how food is packaged in the
future.
Feeding the debate on food fortification, researchers in the US
find that iron-fortified foodstuffs do not pose a health risk to
people who absorb "too much iron".
Exports of chilli and chilli products from India have not been
affected by the discovery of banned red colours in European
processed foods, claims an upbeat Indian Ministry of Commerce and
Industry.
Fall in milk price paid to farmers brings gains in first half for
Arla Foods, the owner of Arla Food Ingredients, but the
co-operative warns the full year remains 'uncertain'.
White adolescent and African-American girls assimilate salt and
calcium differently, say researchers, claiming this may explain why
races have different rates of high blood pressure and osteoporosis.
UK private equity firm 3i will shed food ingredients business Braes
Group to Spanish biotech firm Natraceutical in a €80 million deal
announced last week, reports Lindsey Partos.
Reacting rapidly to the discovery of the banned colour Para Red in
processed foods, UK food laboratory RSSL has a new method to help
food makers detect this potential carcinogen, reports Lindsey
Partos.
The health ingredients unit of Irish dairy firm Glanbia has taken a
further step to diversify away from milk-based products, adding an
oat beta-glucan to its ingredients range through a new distribution
deal, reports Dominique Patton.
German firm AB Enzymes has launched a new enzyme preparation which
claims to extend the shelf life of baked goods and significantly
reduce manufacturers' production costs, reports Lorraine
Heller.
Melville, New York headquartered Comax Flavors, has opened a new
factory in Shanghai to serve the rapidly growing Chinese market,
the company reported yesterday.
Multispectral Solutions (MSSI) has been awarded a patent for ultra
wideband RFID, a technology that promises more accurate tracking of
products and the possibility of cheaper tags in the future.
Consumers watching their waistlines continue to drive low fat
formulations: ice cream giant Haagen-Dazs launches its first
'light' ice cream version of its classic brand.
Ice-cream manufacturers gearing up for the season should take note
as Haagen-Dazs and Unilever announce in the same week the
introduction of low-fat offerings for this summer, writes
Philippa Nuttall.
Meeting yesterday to discuss the advent of banned colour Para Red
in the UK food products, European member states and the Commission
remind the food industry of its duty to supply safe food to
consumers.
The trickle of food products contaminated with the illegal colour
Para Red continues in the UK, with the country's food agency
identifying nineteen more food products for recall yesterday,
writes Lindsey Partos.
Genetic ID's taste evaluation test could help exporters objectively
evaluate key taste qualities in order to better meet the
preferences of local consumers.
Dairy food makers looking to drill further into the health benefits
of their primary foodstuffs will welcome new findings that suggest
two servings of low-fat dairy foods a day could reduce men's risk
of developing type 2 diabetes.
Chr Hansen is already on the look out for new acquisitions as the
firm enjoys a fresh financial thrust from its new private equity
owners, PAI partners, reports Lindsey Partos.
New international standards for GM labels could be on the way as a
meeting of the United Nations' Codex Alimentarius committee on food
labelling kicks off in Malaysia this week.
Price rises for soy-related ingredients are still under pressure as
drought, high production costs and a strong real all impact soybean
production for Brazil's 2004-05 crop, writes Lindsey Partos.
Europe's food watchdog concludes soft drink makers should propose
limits for heavy metals and aromatic hydrocarbons used as carrier
solvents for flavouring preparations in soft drinks.
RSSL is launching a single screening service to test for the
presence of illegal food colourings such as Sudan I-IV, Para Red
and Orange G just as public concern over contamination grows.
There will be fewer young adults around for alcoholic drink firms
to target over the next five years but those that are will drink
more and be more demanding, with women the driving force,
reports Chris Mercer.