Chocolate and confectionery ingredients

Naturex looks for partners to develop natural colours and preservatives

13-Apr-2017 By Niamh Michail

Botanical extract supplier Naturex is looking for partners – both technical and commercial – to work together to develop natural solutions for red, green and blue colours and preservatives.

Radfords Fine Fudge to launch Fairtrade fudge and honeycomb

13-Apr-2017 By Jenny Eagle

Radfords Fine Fudge has started a crowdfunding campaign to launch a range of Fairtrade fudge and honeycomb confectionery.

ANSES: We can’t challenge EFSA’s opinion on titanium dioxide (yet) but industry should find replacements

13-Apr-2017 By Niamh Michail

French food safety agency ANSES has said while it cannot challenge EFSA’s greenlight for titanium dioxide at the current time, it is nonetheless advising industry to replace the white food colouring with suitable alternatives.

EU scientists warn against methods that overstimate carcinogen levels in food

11-Apr-2017 By Niamh Michail

EU scientists have warned against pitfalls in the method used to analyse carcinogenic contaminants 2-MCPD, 3-MCPD and glycidyl esters in food, recommending an additional ‘clean-up step’ to avoid skewing results.

Haribo to downsize two production sites in France

05-Apr-2017 By Jenny Eagle

Haribo will downsize 15% of its workforce in France as part of restructuring plans to improve competitiveness and to focus on its first manufacturing plant in the US.

The big debate: Can sugar survive a public health crisis?

31-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

The world is getting fatter and unhealthier - are smaller portions and diet drinks really going to help when they sit next to full-sugar, supersized products? Is it time to tax or is industry doing enough? Catch the highlights from our live debate.

Ferrero names internal candidate as next CEO

30-Mar-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Ferrero has appointed a CEO to take over duties from Giovanni Ferrero, who will become executive chairman.

First solid chocolate Easter Egg hits UK shelves

30-Mar-2017 By Jenny Eagle

The Solid Chocolate Company has launched what it claims is the world’s first Solid Chocolate Egg.

Sugar, salt and fat taxes are 'very positive', says Health Commissioner

30-Mar-2017 By David Burrows

The EU Health Commissioner has said that taxation on certain ingredients and products can be a “very powerful” tool for tackling health issues, including obesity. Campaigners have welcomed his comments but food industry representatives said small businesses...

KitKat cocoa content upped 13% in sugar reduction push

28-Mar-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Nestlé UK & Ireland has upped the cocoa and milk content of KitKat in its bid to cut sugar by 10% across its confectionery range.

Nestlé "very concerned" over deforestation links to Wilmar palm oil

27-Mar-2017 By Louis Gore-Langton

Nestlé says it is "very concerned" by allegations that its palm oil supplier Wilmar International has again been implicated in sourcing palm oil from the protected Leuser ecosystem in Indonesia, according to a report by the Rainforest Action...

Blood fat levels an indicator of kids’ diet quality and disease risk: Study

27-Mar-2017 By Will Chu

Family-based lifestyle interventions, such as a diet high in unsaturated fat, can have a dramatic impact on children's blood fatty acid make-up, Finnish researchers have determined. 

EFSA to recommend daily intake values for added sugar by 2020

24-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) will publish a scientific opinion on how much sugar can be included in a healthy diet by 2020, it has confirmed.

A 20% sugar cut by 2020? ‘It won’t be possible,’ says FDF

23-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

A 20% sugar cut across all food categories by 2020 – as per voluntary targets set by the UK government – is not technically possible, nor would it be acceptable to consumers, industry lobby the Food and Drink Federation (FDF) has said.

'This is the largest emotional dataset linked to real business outcomes in existence'

Facial expressions show Mars the adverts that will drive sales

23-Mar-2017 By David Burrows

It’s a claim that will raise a few eyebrows: researchers working for Mars can identify with 75% accuracy whether or not an advert will deliver a big sales uplift by studying facial expressions.

'The best kind of bad': Chocolate makers need premium ingredients not sugar reduction

22-Mar-2017 By Douglas Yu

Sugar and calorie reduction has taken its toll on the chocolate category, but focusing on quality ingredients can foster growth, suggests a Euromonitor analyst. 

Interview: WCF President

Big 12 cocoa and chocolate players pledge to end deforestation in cocoa

17-Mar-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

The 12 major players in cocoa and chocolate have united with public sector partners to eradicate deforestation in the cocoa supply chain.

5-C NutriScore to be France's official nutrition label

16-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

The five-colour NutriScore is the most effective nutrition label in promoting healthier food choices and will be adopted as the official (but voluntary) label in France, the health minister has said. 

Snack time? Consumers almost always crave chocolate and high calorie treats

15-Mar-2017 By David Burrows

When consumers crave snacks, it’s chocolate and other high calorie ones they go for, according to new research.

Unilever wants stronger UK protection from foreign takeovers

15-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

Anglo-Dutch giant Unilever has called on the UK government to revisit the country's rules on takeovers and acquisitions to protect ‘national champions’ against foreign takeovers.

Katjes International CFO: Sugar confectionery consumption in Europe may have reached its limits

15-Mar-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Sugar confectionery consumption in Europe may have peaked, but a spike in Germany’s birthrate signals hope for the future, says Katjes International’s CFO.

Natural flavours and colours can reassure health-conscious parents

14-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

Industry used to shy away from scrutiny towards ingredients lists, but by choosing the right colour or flavour firms can add value to products and reassure consumers, according to colouring food supplier GNT and kids' food brand Appy Kids Co. 

Champagne crisps and Tabasco popcorn: Innovations at ife 2017

10-Mar-2017 By Gill Hyslop

UK exhibitors will be showcasing novel products at ife 2017, the international food & drink event in London from March 19 to 22.

Gelatin-free winegums texture problems cracked with starch blend launch - Cargill

09-Mar-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Cargill has developed a starch blend that it claims can more closely match the texture of gelatin and can cut drying time in half.

FOOD VISION 2017

Subscription snacking: How Love with Food is gathering consumer opinions through its products

08-Mar-2017 By Emma Jane Cash

Love with Food is a subscription service that allows food companies to gain consumer feedback on their products.

Nestlé UK to cut 10% of sugar in confectionery range by 2018

08-Mar-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Nestlé has pledged to remove 7,500 metric tons of sugar in its UK confectionery range via reformulation, calorie limits and new technology.

Six industry giants to launch UK-style traffic light labels in Europe

08-Mar-2017 By Niamh Michail

Coca-Cola, Mars, Mondelez, Nestlé, PepsiCo and Unilever will add nutrition logos modelled on the UK’s traffic light label to their European portfolios. However, critics have slammed the use of portion size as a reference.

EU lawmakers to discuss companies selling poorer quality food in Eastern Europe

28-Feb-2017 By Niamh Michail

The EU Agriculture and Fisheries Council will discuss the issue of dual quality foods next week as Slovakia and Hungary push for EU legislation to prevent manufacturers selling poorer quality products in Eastern countries of the single market bloc.

Obesity caused by parents, not social or economic factors: Study

27-Feb-2017 By Louis Gore-Langton

Up to 40% of obesity in children is inherited from parents - irrespective of wealth and social status, new research has found.

Media’s role in cocoa sustainability

Stop the white noise: How can chocolate makers be tempted to bite into cocoa's poverty and child labor crisis?

27-Feb-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Reporting effective approaches to tackle deep-rooted poverty and child labor in the cocoa sector should take precedence over shock headlines, writes ConfectioneryNews’ editor.

Children's sugar intake equivalent to five doughnuts a day: Obesity Health Alliance

24-Feb-2017 By Niamh Michail

Children in the UK are eating the equivalent of five doughnuts a day in sugar, according to the Obesity Health Alliance, as it calls on industry to reformulate its products.

UK minister critical of 'inexplicable' assessment of obesity strategy

23-Feb-2017 By David Burrows

The UK’s health department and agency have hit back at a “quintessentially British” critique of the country’s childhood obesity strategy published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

Nestlé pledges 18,000-tonne sugar cut in European products

23-Feb-2017 By Niamh Michail

Nestlé has pledged to remove at least 18,000 tonnes of sugar from products in its European portfolio by 2020, equivalent to a 5% reduction of current levels.

‘Doy bags conquer more supermarket shelves globally each year’

Bosch launches packaging microsite for confectionery, bakery and snack producers

22-Feb-2017 By Jenny Eagle

Bosch Packaging Technology has launched a microsite for the confectionery, bakery, nuts, snacks and powder industries to help producers find the right machinery systems to meet their needs.

Hungary and Slovakia cry foul over multinational product differences

21-Feb-2017 By David Burrows

Consumers in Hungary on getting a raw deal on the food they buy, at least compared to those just across the border in Austria - and they aren’t alone.

Water emulsions can achieve up to 20% fat reduction

21-Feb-2017 By Niamh Michail

By swapping fat particles for water or air, manufacturers have achieved up to 20% fat reductions in chocolate and cheese - but the technology can be applied to almost any water-in-fat suspensions, according to emulsion experts Micropore.

Sacrificing taste for sugar reduction will ‘kill our category’: Barry Callebaut innovation chief

21-Feb-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Barry Callebaut’s head of innovation expects the chocolate industry will opt for natural fibers to gradually cut sugar and calories, but says uptake for sugar reduction remains low.

BREAKING NEWS

Unilever rejects $143bn Kraft-Heinz mega-merger bid

17-Feb-2017 By Niamh Michail

Dutch-Anglo food giant Unilever has rejected a $143bn (€134bn) merger proposal from US company Kraft Heinz as being too low.

Vegetable juice in a traditional pastry? French consumer group slams industry's 'marketing jargon'

14-Feb-2017 By Niamh Michail

The value of terms such as home-made, artisan and traditional has been lost to clean label jargon and marketing, says French consumer group Que Choisir. Is it time for a legally-binding EU definition?

‘Potentially full scale-up’: Cargill pilots cocoa child labor monitoring system

14-Feb-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Cargill has begun trialing the International Cocoa Initiative’s (ICI) child labor monitoring and remediation system in cocoa growing communities in Côte D’Ivoire.

Fairy Chocolates targets Asia expansion with Cho'clair Minis

13-Feb-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Belgian luxury confectioner Fairy Chocolates has introduced a mini version of its éclair praline fusion Cho’clair as it concentrates on expansion in Asia.

ISM Cologne

E-tail-volution: Why confectionery e-commerce strategies shouldn’t be put on hold

10-Feb-2017 By Oliver Nieburg

Confectioners need to act fast in developing e-commerce strategies because even though online retail remains a small channel, it is rapidly evolving.

Warning messages in kids' advergames may promote rather than protect

10-Feb-2017 By David Burrows

On-screen messages to warn children when digital games are pushing unhealthy snacks don’t work and could in fact encourage them to eat more, according to a study conducted in Spain and the Netherlands.

Industry reacts to RSPO's Impact Report

08-Feb-2017 By David Burrows

FoodNavigator approached industry and campaigners for their reflections on the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)'s 2016 Impact Report. What are the challenges and opportunities in the next 12 months?

'It appears that no safe exposure during human pregnancy exists'

Eating liquorice while pregnant is comparable to prenatal binge drinking: Study

07-Feb-2017 By Emma Jane Cash

Eating liquorice while pregnant could harm the baby's cognitive abilities and increase its risk of aggressiveness and depression, according to a Finnish study.

Preaching to the converted? Only dieters are responsive to healthy eating adverts

07-Feb-2017 By Niamh Michail

Most people choose unhealthy snacks that are high in salt, fat and sugar regardless of whether they have watched adverts for healthy or unhealthy food, with only dieters choosing the healthy snack, according to research.

ProSweets 2017

Döhler Cactus Pear-Kiwi functional gummie equivalent to one-and-a-half cups of espresso

06-Feb-2017 By Jenny Eagle

Döhler has launched a range of gummies and jellies based on 100% ingredients from fruit such as pectin from apple, juice concentrate, and fruit sugars instead of sucrose or glucose syrup.

Smarter than a sweetener? Flavour modifier matches sugar's mouthfeel & sweetness

31-Jan-2017 By Niamh Michail

OmegaSweet is a natural, flavour-modifying ingredient that not only replaces sugar's sweetness but mimics its mouthfeel in beverages - a smarter way to reduce sugar ahead of the UK's sugar tax, says the company behind it, Omega Ingredients.

Playing with portions and price: Manufacturers need to 'downsize smartly', says researcher

31-Jan-2017 By Niamh Michail

For consumers, higher prices are fair game but smaller portions are not, says one food marketing researcher who is urging manufacturers to downsize smartly: "Some food companies act as if they are in the energy business, selling always larger volume...

FDF: 'It's an interesting concept and worth exploring'

Exercise labels are more effective than standard nutrition info for healthy eating, say researchers

30-Jan-2017 By Niamh Michail

'Exericise labels' that say how much physical activity is needed to burn off the calories in food are significantly more effective in encouraging healthy eating than standard nutrition information, according to a new study.