Advitech is embroiled in discussions with potential partners to
bring its XP-828L product to market, targeting sufferers of mild to
moderate psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases.
Tate & Lyle's European food and industrial ingredients division
proposed increase of 10 to 15 per cent on new contracts for certain
products highlights again the impact of rocketing energy prices on
the ingredients market.
Ingredients giant Cargill has launched a new line of sweeteners
designed to reduce the number of calories in frozen dairy desserts
and sweetened bakery products such as cake, muffins and brownies,
without altering the taste.
Continual productivity improvements are behind Novozymes' solid
performance since it was floated on the stock market in 2000,
according to CEO Steen Riisgaard.
The imminent assault on the over-priced Swiss grocery market by
discount retailers Aldi and Lidl has prompted supermarkets to mimic
UK-style price wars to marginalise the threat.
Blue Pacific's new functional flavor system offers health-minded
beverage makers the promise of shelf stability without the threat
of ringing or separation.
Swedish probiotic biotech company BioGaia is making headway in its
short-term mission to attain profitability, reporting a 39 percent
increase in sales to SEK 16.4 million for 3Q 2005.
Proposed regulatory changes in the Italian market has led a
Canadian machine maker to team up with two other companies in
developing what they say is a cheaper way of making a lighter
single-servebottle.
An ambitious Italian gourmet food promotion programme could
transform the fortunes of a revitalised sector - as long as EU
bureaucracy doesn't ruin everything.
Good food may stimulate our senses, but it also reflects centuries
of culinary culture, customs and unique aspects of life, as
highlighted in a recent Slow Food exhibition in Montpellier.
Two new companies in the supplements market, one each on either
side of the channel, are looking to launch an organic selenium
yeast in Europe after gaining derogation from the supplements
directive.
National Starch's plan to increase the cost of its European
starches by up to ten per cent reflects growing industry concern
over rocketing energy prices.
A UK survey of contaminant levels in fish and fish oils should help
back up health claims and ease fears over the safety of consuming
fish-based products.
International Flavors & Fragrances saw a further drop in sales
in its third quarter, as it still struggles to overcome the impact
of the sale of one of its businesses last year.
A dairy peptide shown to protect liver health is also an effective
cosmeceutical ingredient, says innovative ingredients firm DMV
International, which is exploiting milk fractions to build a new
skincare range.
Tesco has been cleared to acquire 21 former BP/Safeway petrol
stations from Wm Morrison after the UK's Office of Fair Trading
(OFT) chose not to refer it to the Competition Commission.
Britain's biggest retailers are responsible for the indiscriminate
destruction of fish stocks according to Greenpeace's latest report
revealing a list of the top-offending supermarket chains.
Potato waste could offer the food industry a cheap, renewable and
as yet underutilised source of chitin and lactic acid, according to
a university scientist.
A European Commission programme designed to promote EU food
products outside the bloc has been welcomed by the food industry,
though criticism over European bureaucracy remains a recurrent
theme.
The European Court of Justice's feta ruling may give sole rights to
Greece, yet one of Europe's leading dairy producers has been
preparing for years to find a way round the new rules.
Processors will not have to change any of their large scale holding
tanks or pipe fittings covered with novolac glycidyl ethers (NOGE)
after the EU's food safety regulator ruled that the epoxy coating
is safe as a coating.
International food retailers pile on competitive pressure as they
show interest in an Italian supermarket chain - forcing smaller
local franchises to consolidate their efforts to survive.
The UK's Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has referred Heinz'
acquisition of HP to the Competition Committee (CC) after growing
concerns that the merger will distort the grocery market.
A new fruit ingredient claimed to have all the attributes of fresh
fruit - but with the added benefit of retaining its texture in both
dried and frozen form - has been developed.
Retailers may have to do more to reassure consumers of the safety
of their poultry products as the fears surrounding avian flu lead
to heightened awareness of the dangers of uncooked meat.
Processors making products like mayonnaise, mousse and icing will
be looking for a consumer reaction to the latest bird flu advice
from the EU's food safety regulator, which yesterday called
onconsumers to avoid eating raw eggs.
Butter is making a comeback on lower fat margarine as UK consumers
trade up to treat themselves, but the overall fats market is
shrinking and imported brands are taking the biggest winnings.
ConAgra's attempt to inextricably link itself with current health
trends is evident in the launch of its latest range of products
under the "Eat Well, Live Well, Choose Well" slogan.
Europe's food industry will significantly benefit from a
satisfactory WTO agreement, but for this to happen the EU must
maintain its multilateral approach and issues such as export
support must be addressed.
EuropaBio has slammed the EU Agricultural Council's decision to
uphold a Greek ban on genetically modified (GM) corn, claiming that
the judgement flies in the face of EFSA advice on biotech crops.
Up to 15 percent of Florida's citrus crop was destroyed when
Hurricane Wilma hit the southern part of the state on Monday,
according to preliminary estimates by Florida Citrus Mutual, the
state's largest citrus grower organization.
Budget supermarkets and premium retailers are rejuvenating
Britain's mature grocery sector by responding to new consumer
trends - while the stale supermarket centre-ground has reached full
saturation point.
Innovation must be a priority for microencapsulation and food
ingredients companies to meet the challenges in today's competitive
market, says a new study.
The Forum of Private Businesses (FPB) has condemned government
plans to introduce the "Tesco law", which would allow UK
supermarkets to offer legal services.
EU farm ministers clash yet again on the contentious issue of GM
food ingredients, failing to clear a new GMO corn from US biotech
firm for import into the EU bloc.
Researchers in Ireland may have developed a naturally occurring
enzyme preparation for baking, which increases loaf volume and
crumb softness while also extending shelf life by three days.
Advances in acrylamide research as UK food scientists take a look
at analytical methods currently used by the food industry to
monitor the formation of acrylamide during the heat treatment of
potato and cereal based food products.
A next-generation enzyme solution that increases mozzarella yields
for dairy firms is the first major launch to emerge from
ground-breaking collaboration between top ingredients firms Chr
Hansen and Novozymes.
Growing demand from food companies for quicker pathogen testing to
free up both time and inventory should benefit microbiology firms,
according to a business consultant.
Europe's watchdog continues to wade through the risk assessment of
1000 flavouring substances, concluding that seven out of eight in
the latest batch need more data to determine 'reliable exposure'.
A lift in consumer demand persuades food makers to cut the salt in
their formulations, but ongoing research is essential to keep up
the pace of change, says Irish food authority.
A patent covering the use of the human sweet taste receptor to
screen for compounds could give Senomyx a significant edge in the
race to identify new sweet flavor ingredients.
This week's passage of the so-called Cheeseburger Bill looks like a
straightforward victory for food makers, but the industry should
still be wary over the possibility of future litigation.